Family Viking Experiences in Roskilde, Denmark

What kid isn’t fascinated by the Vikings and their long, open sailing ships that once roamed across the North Atlantic seas? If your family travels take you to Roskilde, Denmark, your kids can see original ships, learn more about the Vikings, sail on an authentic Viking boat and even learn to build a boat themselves.

Viking Ship Museum is the home of five Viking ships recovered from underwater in the fjord. These magnificent vessels are displayed in a hall overlooking a full view across Roskilde Harbor and the fjord where they were found.

Several buildings make up the rest of the museum, each filled with exhibits telling the fascinating history of the ships and of the Vikings, their way of life and the times they lived in.

The museum doesn’t just feature static exhibits; kids will fully engage in the immersive Climb Aboard exhibition as they feel the movement of the waves, hear the creaking of the timbers, see the horizon move and sense the approaching storm at sea. All this is achieved realistically by projections, LED lights and actual recordings from ships at sea. The ships are stocked for a trading voyage, and visitors can open chests, look into barrels, try sleeping in the fur hides under the tent on the open deck and even take the helm.

Families can book a sail on an authentic Viking-style boat (children over age 4 only), while adults and older teens can spend a day learning to sail a reproduction square-sailed Viking ship. Watch these reproduction ships being constructed in the working boatyard using authentic Viking-era tools and methods. Everyone can try their hand at designing and building a model Viking ship and test whether it’s seaworthy.