Viking Ship Museum Review: Step into Denmark’s Seafaring Past
Viking Ship Museum • travel review post & photos by Jeanie A
Is the Viking Ship Museum worth your time when in Copenhagen? This review goes over what my experience was like and I hope it helps you decide to carve out a bit of time to visit the Viking Ship Museum
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If you’ve ever been intrigued by the Vikings and their world, then the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde is the perfect place to visit. The Viking Ship Museum will bring the legendary Vikings to life through their beautifully preserved ships, hands-on exhibits, and will give you an opportunity to see how they constructed their famous Viking ships. This review will go over my experience when visiting the Viking Ship Museum and some tips to make the most of your adventure.
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Viking Ship Museum Location
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Why the Viking Ship Museum is Special
The Viking Ship Museum is centered around an incredible archaeological find in Denmark: the discovery of five original Viking ships that were sunk at the bottom of the Roskilde fjord. The ships were found to be deliberately sunken in the fjord over 1,000 years ago to act as a marine blockade from enemy access to the area. These Viking ships were then carefully recovered from the fjord, re-constructed and put on display in the museum’s main hall where you can get an up-close look at Viking craftsmanship and engineering.
Highlights of the Museum
Five Viking Ships
The five original Viking ships found in the Roskilde fjord are in the main hall of the museum. Each ship ranges in size and had a different purpose. The larger ship is assumed to be a warship that carried Viking warriors, while another one seemed to be used for long Viking voyages across the North Sea.
Some of the boats also have short steps where you’re able to get a higher view of the interior of the boat and see the real scale of the ships.
Five Original Viking Ships • photos by Jeanie A
Boatyard
Right outside the main hall is a working boatyard. Here you can see craftsmen build Viking ships using the same tools and methods that the Viking would have. There will likely be a ship in the middle of reconstruction here.
Boatyard & Reconstructed Ships • photos by Jeanie A
Sailing Experience
If you visit during the summer months, the museum offers sailing experiences where you can go on a boat ride on a reconstructed Viking ship in the Roskilde fjord. You can literally experience Viking life aboard a Viking ship.
Sailing Viking Ship • photo by Jeanie A
Interactive Exhibits
The Viking Ship museum also has interactive exhibits where you can play traditional Viking games, and even board on a docked Viking ship. Boarding the ship is perfect if you’re visiting when Viking ship sailings aren’t available but you still want to experience being on a ship.
Docked Viking Ship • photos by Jeanie A
Tips to Make the Most of Your Adventure
1. Sailing Experience: Arrive Early or Book in Advance
If you’re visiting in summer, arrive on the earlier side so you can go on the sailing experience. If you have a desired day/time, then book the sailing experience in advance!
2. Check the Sailing Trips
Be sure to check the Viking Ship Museum’s website to see if they’ll have sailing experiences during your visit. If they do, try to book it! It also include museum ticket entry.
3. Check the Workshops
Be sure to also check the Viking Ship Museum’s website for any interesting workshops they might be offering during your visit.
4. Combine with the Roskilde Cathedral
The two sites complement each other perfectly. You can get royal history and Viking culture all in one day.
The Viking Ship Museum is Roskilde gives you the opportunity to see real life Viking ships. You can see centuries-old ship and even board and ride on a reconstructed Viking ship. I hope this review encourages you to add visiting the Viking Ship Museum to your Copenhagen itinerary.
Have you visited the Viking Ship Museum? What was your favorite memory – Let me know in the comments below!
Jeanie has traveled to over 50 countries and has a love for new experiences, visiting iconic attractions, and finding breathtaking views. Hoping to help plan unforgettable adventures, Jeanie aims to inspire others to visit new places through her travel stories and photography.
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