Viking Ship Museum
The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde showcases five original Viking ships from the 11th century, offering insights into Viking seafaring and shipbuilding.
Planning your visit
In 1962 five ships were raised from the Roskilde fjord, where they had been deliberately sunk around 1070 to block the channel against attack. They are the Skuldelev ships, and they are the museum: an ocean-going trader, a warship built in Dublin from Irish oak, a coastal trader, a fishing boat and a longship, displayed as reconstructed skeletons in a hall glazed toward the water they came from.
The boatyard alongside is the second half and arguably the better one. Craftsmen build full-scale sailing replicas using Viking-age tools and methods, and the resulting vessels are sailed — the Sea Stallion crossed to Dublin in 2007, providing data no amount of theorising could.
Visitors can go out on the fjord in a replica during the season.
Roskilde is half an hour from Copenhagen. Allow three hours. Current availability is shown below.
Before you book
Where is Viking Ship Museum?
Viking Ship Museum is in Roskilde, Denmark. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for Viking Ship Museum?
Allow three hours. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Do I need to book Viking Ship Museum in advance?
Tickets can be bought on the door at quiet times, but booking ahead fixes the date and avoids the queue at busy ones. Live availability is shown on this page.