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History-filled Roskilde is one of the oldest cities in Denmark, having once been the capital of the country. The city is filled with interesting museums that tell this rich history. Here are the 6 best museums in Roskilde, covering history, music, art, and more.

Viking Ship Museum

For hundreds of years, the Vikings ruled the Scandinavian seas, including Roskilde, which sits at the protected end of a fjord. Today, the Viking Ship Museum houses five scuttled Viking ships that were found near Roskilde in the 1960s. It’s one of the most popular spots for Roskilde day trip visitors.

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The museum hosts informative tours detailing the history of the recovered ships in the main hall. Immerse yourself in the Viking Age by seeing these historic ships along with recreations out in the harbor. In the summer months, you can even take a ride on a Viking ship. Other onsite activities include ropemaking, shipbuilding, and restaurants. Read more about the Viking Ship Museum. Entry is included with the Copenhagen Card.

RAGNAROK Museum

Musicon is a formerly industrial area of Roskilde that is now being revitalized as a center of art & music. The RAGNAROK Museum of Pop, Rock, and Youth Culture is one of the core parts of Musicon. Housed in a gold-studded cube, RAGNAROK is impossible to miss.

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The museum includes interactive exhibits about youth culture in Denmark, with a special focus on how rock & pop music have influenced generations of Danish teens. The area is also home to the famous Roskilde Festival, which takes place every summer. The museum, which is part of the Roskilde Museum, has special exhibitions about the music festival. Entry is included with the Copenhagen Card.

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Museum of Contemporary Art

The Roskilde Museum of Contemporary Art is self-described as an itinerant museum, meaning it no longer has a permanent home. At the moment, it’s located behind RAGNAROK in Musicon, plus there are also online digital exhibitions.

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RoS Gallery

The RoS Gallery is a free art museum & gallery that focuses on works from contemporary Danish artists. It’s located inside a former gasworks near the Viking Ship Museum.

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Roskilde Museum

There are several museums that operate under the larger Roskilde Museum umbrella, including a couple of others on this list. However, their main local history museum is located in a former sugar refinery & merchant’s house known as Sugar House & Liebe House.

Lützhøfts Købmandsgård

The Lützhøfts Købmandsgård is another part of the Roskilde Museum. The historic building is a folk museum that portrays early 20th-century Danish life. Now a restored living museum that is the recreation of a 1920s grocery, the building was actually a store that operated between 1892 & 1979. In addition to providing a glimpse into historic life in Roskilde, Lützhøfts Købmandsgård is also a real store, selling over 1,000 unique gift and craft items.

Here are some great Roskilde tours & activities & other things to see & do in Roskilde.

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Roskilde, check out these hotels. For more restaurant recommendations, go here.

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