Roskilde.
Your next chapter?

Overview

Roskilde is in West Zealand, Denmark, 35 km west of Copenhagen. Roskilde is an ancient city dating from the Viking age. The most important historical sights are the Viking Museum and Roskilde Cathedral, World Heritage site. Roskilde is also home to the giant rock music event, Roskilde Festival.

Understand

Orientation Roskilde is south of Roskilde Inlet with the Viking Museum and some of the accommodation and restaurant options nearby. Central Roskilde is 1 km further south centred on the pedestrian street Algade/Skomagergade and Roskilde Cathedral. The city centre is quite small at around 1 km² bordered by a ring road. The train station is at the southern end of the city centre. Roskilde Festival is 4 km south from the train station along Køgevej.

History Roskilde was established more than 1,000 years ago, at which time it had a wooden church and a royal farm. In the 12th century, Roskilde Cathedral was built and Roskilde became the seat of the bishop and was also granted the status of a market town. The town was one of the most important in Denmark for the next few centuries until the reformation ended the importance of the church.

Get in

By train From Copenhagen Central Station (København H), it is about a 25-minute trip to Roskilde Station, with multiple trains every hour throughout the day. On weekdays, there are also direct trains from Copenhagen Airport that go to Roskilde bypassing Copenhagen Central Station, though these are much less frequent. There is also a small branch line with local trains from Roskilde to Køge and onwards to Rødvig.

By bus Intercity buses to and from Jutland lines 882 to Fjerritslev and 888 to Aarhus/Aalborg, makes stop at the Q8 gas station at Darupvej 2, by the highway. It is quite far from the city centre, but there are several bus lines connecting from Roskilde Station, e.g. 600S.

Important regional buses includes 600S which runs an arch around Copenhagen proper from Hillerød in the north (Frederiksborg castle) to Hundige Station in the south. 233 runs between Roskilde and Lejre Forsøgscenter, 234 connects with Slagelse and finally 229E and 239 with Frederikssund.

Get around

You can easily walk from the train station to the main square with the cathedral and from there to the Viking Ship Museum.

There are a few local buses running from the train station.

See

Roskilde Cathedral. On UNESCO World Heritage List. This is where Danish kings and queens have been buried for a thousand years, 20 kings and 17 queens lie in the four chapels here. Most impressive are the temple like monuments for King Christian III and his wife. A wooden church was built here in the 10th century; the present church was built in early 13th century. Home to the Cathedral Museum. See also Nordic monarchies.

Roskilde Former City Hall. Built in 1884 in Gothic style. Now home to the local tourist information office.

Roskilde Palace. Home to two exhibitions, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Palace Wing. A four-wing yellow baroque building built in the 18th century. It was home to the king and his family when around.

Roskilde Station. The oldest train station in Denmark built in 1847 in connection with opening of the first railway between Copenhagen and Roskilde.

Historic granite tiles. 15 granite tiles in the pavement illustrating the history of Roskilde. It was created by sculptor Ole Knudsen in 2009.

The Giant Jars. Three 5-m-high jars created in 1998 by sculptor Peter Brandes. They symbolise life and death and were placed here to mark the city's 1,000 year anniversary. One of the jars has inscribed a poem by Henrik Nordbrandt.

Boserup Forest. Hilly, primarily beech mixed forest. 5-km trekking path.

Bypark. Established in 1915 by Roskilde's patron, O.H. Schmeltz. Comprises a playground for children, a snake-like walking path and other areas well suited for a stroll or for hanging around. The park is home to cultural events including summer concerts Tuesdays in July. You can walk from the city centre to the Viking museum through the park.

Folkepark. Consists of a number of combined parks primarily based on former monastery land. It was established in early 19th century and found its present form in the 1930s. The park is home to cultural events including performances for children at the amphitheater on summer Thursdays.

Land of Legends Lejre. Theme park with reconstructions of an Iron Age village, a Stone Age camp, a Viking market, a 19th-century farm, and cottages.

Ledreborg Palace & Park. Built 1740-45 by Count Johan Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg and still the family residence. Houses a collection of original furniture and paintings. The baroque park has been restored. Houses an open air concert every summer.

The Viking Ship Museum. A museum with several original viking ships, a viking research centre, a harbour with copies of viking ships, and a shipyard making new ships.

Roskilde Museum. Local history museum, but well in tune with other attractions, it also has a good collection of viking archaeological finds, some connecting to the sagas about the legendary Beowulf.

Museum of Tools. Exhibits tools from 1850-1950 used by coach makers, carpenters, joiners, coopers, clog makers and other craftsmen.

Lützhøfts Old Grocer's Shop. The shop existed from 1892 to 1979. It has been led back to its appearance around 1920. Here you can buy goods like the ones sold in the 1920s, you can also see the grocer's office, inventory and old magasine buildings.

O. Lunds Eftf. Butcher's Shop. Butcher shop as it was in the 1920s.

Roskilde Mini Town. Model of Roskilde as it might have looked in its heyday around 1400. The model is at scale 1:200 and is around 50 m². It was finalised in 1999 but was not displayed at its present location until 2005.

St. Hans Hospital Museum. The psychiatric hospital was established in 1860 as one of the most modern of its time. The museum shows the history of the hospital.

The Ruins of Skt. Laurentii (St. Lawrence) Church. Ruins of a church built in early 12th century.

Lejre Museum. Exhibits of Lejre's historical influence on the history of Denmark. Also exhibits of the historical development of the area.

The Roskilde Gallery. Danish and foreign artists, primarily painters.

Jeppeart. Exhibit and sale of Danish crafts within jewelry, glass, ceramics, clothing, knitwear, tissues and painting.

Gallery Art Corner. Exhibits paintings by Annemette Møbjerg.

Galleri Working Art. Workshop and gallery exhibiting paintings from primarily local painters.

Galleri NB. Large gallery established in 1987 exhibiting primarily works of North European artists.

Glasgalleriet. Workshop and gallery showing art of glass by artist Skak Snitker.

Do

The legendary Roskilde Festival is still going strong despite more than 50 years of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll! started by a group of friends in 1971 inspired by the Woodstock festival, it has grown from a few thousand guests in its first year, to over 115,000 visitors from all over the world, and is routinely sold out with over half the tickets sold outside of Denmark.

The festival takes place in late June, early July on Roskilde Dyreskueplads south of the city. To Get in there are several options; daily during the festival trains depart from Roskilde Station to the festival's own station inside the camping area (West) every 30 minutes for 20 kr. There are also shuttle buses from Roskilde Station to the camping area (East) all day during the festival. When arriving at the festival you exchange your ticket for an armband/bracelet which gives you access to both the camping area, and the stage area.

Many people show up a week before the music starts to get their tents up so they can sleep close to the stage area, and limit walking as much as possible as the camping area is huge! A good tip is securing a place as far from trees and fences as possible, since they in essence become one big urinal during the festival. If rain is forecast, you should also attempt to camp as far from the marked walkways, preferably on a slope, since mud quickly becomes and issue.

On the camping grounds there are several service areas with food stalls and supermarkets to stock up with eat & drink, some also have first aid, toilets and showers. Inside the stage area there are also many, many restaurants and bars - most of them with a theme, and some of them are really huge and elaborate. There are also many shops where you can buy necessities and other rubbish.

Music is playing from Thursday - Sunday and are usually varied, with some international headline acts, and much experimental and indie music and the smaller stages.

Sagnlandet Lejre. Become a viking for a day, in this spectacular hands on history museum.

Capella Play. Indoor playground best suited for children of 2-8 years. Also a café with limited and mediocre food.

Roskilde Golf Klub. 18-hole course open for guests from other golf clubs with a handicap of no more than 34.0. 9-hole course open for all.

The Path of the Gods. 64-km marked path on asphalt, soil and grass. All of the path can be walked and most is also fine for bikes. The path connects Køge Bay near Karslunde Beach with Ise Inlet near Kirke Hyllinge. A large part of the path is in Roskilde Municipality. A great way to experience the local nature and culture.

Roskilde Congress & Sports Center. A venue for conferences, events (up to 2,400 attendees) and sports activities.

Buy

From Roskilde festival the nearest supermarket is Fakta at Køgevej 108, about 1300 meters (a 15-20 minute walk) due north (past the highway) from the eastern entrance. The downtown area which has a pedestrianized area full of different shops is a further 1½ km away (or 30-40 minutes by foot).

RO's Torv. A fairly attractive mall with 90 different stores and a cinema.

Algade/Skomagergade. Pedestrian street and main shopping street in town.

Fair Trade Butik Karibu. Sells handicrafts from Africa, Asia and Latin America including home accessories, cookware, jewellery, baskets, bags, accessories, toys and paper products.

Club Skin-Dive. Jewellery and giftware.

Bjergtrolden. Shop and café selling a large selection of beer as well as wine, chocolate, goodies, coffee, organic sweets, handicrafts, clothes, hats, jewellery.

Eat

Snekken. Restaurant at Viking Ship museum with a view over Roskilde Inlet.

MS Sagafjord. Old Restaurant ship. You can have lunch, tea or dinner on Roskilde Fjord.

Restaurant Mumm. Small intimate restaurant with a nice patio. Serves Danish, French and Spanish cuisine. Splurge quality at slightly lower prices.

Bryggergården. Restaurant in historical building on the middle of the main pedestrian street. Nice outdoor seating for following the life on the busy street. Danish cuisine.

Raadhuskaelderen Restaurant. Good place to try some traditional Danish food. Also serve interesting elderflower beer and dry Danish wine.

Restaurant Gusto Giusto. Italian gourmet restaurant. The food is better than the service.

Store Børs. Seafood restaurant also serving meat dishes.

Drink

Gustav Wieds Vinstue. Traditional Danish bar, but also has a large selection of foreign and gourmet beers.

Pub Ringstedgade. Local place frequented by workers and occasionally by people returning from concerts in the nearby Roskildehallerne.

Ruder Konge Bodega. Large traditional bar frequented by locals.

Teatercafeen. In a primarily residential area and primarily frequented by regulars. Has billard and slot machines.

Mary's. Combined club and sports café.

Sleep

Slottes Bed and Breakfast i Roskilde.

Danhostel Roskilde Vandrerhjem. Hostel at the harbour next to the Viking museum. It has dormitories and family rooms.

Roskilde Camping. 4 km from the town centre, directly at the fjord. The camping site also offers cabins for rent. Open from end of March to end of September.

Roskilde Bed and Breakfast. Bed and breakfast in a quiet residential area. Offers a single room and a family room for up to 3 guests, with free Wi-Fi, free parking and access to a shared kitchen, shared bathroom and garden. Suitable for short and longer stays.

Hotel Comwell Roskilde. Rooms with free internet, some with view of Roskilde Inlet.

Hotel Prindsen. Four-star hotel with free internet.