Things to do in Roskilde

2026 Europe 50 - Family-friendly Attractions

Tivoli Gardens

• An amusement park that integrates various artistic styles, with a variety of amusement facilities, musical theatres, open-air stages and etc. • The best choice for family gatherings to embrace happiness △ Enjoy a day of amusement featuring nonstop entertainment, exhilarating rides, lovely gardens, and delectable cuisine △ Embrace happiness with your beloved children and family.

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Denmark

New Harbor

New Harbor is a 17th-century canal district that retains its historic charm to this day. Colorful old townhouses and historic mansions line both sides of the canal, their vibrant facades reflecting on the water, creating a striking contrast in architectural styles. The north side is bustling with numerous bars and restaurants, making it perfect for casual gatherings, while the south side is relatively quiet. Both sides offer unique charm for photography. Several historic wooden ships are moored in the canal year-round and can be viewed up close. The fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen once lived here, and a commemorative plaque in the district records this history. Taking a canal cruise from here is a classic way to experience the charm of the city's waterways. You can explore by walking along the canal or by taking a boat to admire the architecture from the water.

Roskilde Cathedral

Roskilde Cathedral is one of the more outstanding architectural masterpieces in Denmark. It is a red brick Gothic church in Denmark, built in the 12th and 13th centuries. Many of Roskilde's medieval buildings have been destroyed by fire over the centuries, but this stately cathedral still stands today. The church combines Gothic and Romanesque architectural styles. The two imposing spires are examples of Danish church architecture for thousands of years and have been included in the World Heritage List.

No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Denmark

Amalienborg Palace

Amalienborg Palace is where the Danish royal family resides, that is, the royal palace. In 1794, during the reign of Christian VII, Christiansborg Palace caught fire, forcing the royal family members to relocate to Amalienborg Palace for refuge. To commemorate this monarch, people built an equestrian statue of Frederick V, which stands at the center of the octagonal plaza of the royal palace. The four old buildings are Christian VII's Palace, built in 1754 and now the royal reception hall, Christian VIII's Palace, Christian IX's Palace completed in 1758, and Frederik VIII's Palace where Queen Ingrid lived. Christian VIII's Palace officially opened to the public in 1994, displaying items used by the royal family before 1947. The royal guard sets off at 11:30 in the morning, circles through the old town, and returns to the palace, then punctually performs the changing of the guard ceremony in the square at 12:00. Don't miss such a distinctive event.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Denmark

Rosenborg Castle

The Rosenborg Castle is a fairytale palace and one of Copenhagen's landmarks. It was purposely built in 1634 as the summer residence of Christian IV. It was designed in the Dutch Renaissance style, with bronze eaves and red brick walls being the main features. Before King Frederick IV completed Frederick Castle, three previous kings lived here. After 1883, it became the treasure house of successive kings, displaying many cultural relics such as decorations, gorgeous costumes, paintings and pottery. Here, you'll find opulent marble ceilings, priceless Dutch tapestries, lion statues cast in sterling silver, and utensils made of sterling gold. In addition, the Danish crown is also stored in the basement of the palace.

No. 6 of Best Things to Do in Denmark

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

In 1888, Carlsberg, the founder of Carlsberg beer, and his wife, Odilia, donated their life-long collection of artworks to establish this museum. The whole building was completed in 1897, and the appearance of the museum is gorgeous and exquisite. In order to attract the public to visit, the space and lighting here have also been specially designed, creating a quiet visiting environment. The museum mainly displays sculptures or sarcophagi of ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, Etruria, Rome and Greece.

Viking Ship Museum

The Viking Ship Museum is located on Museum Island in the Roskilde Fjord. It is a Danish ship museum, a museum of navigation and medieval shipbuilding culture. The old part of the museum, the Viking Ship Hall, which opened in 1969, houses 5 Viking ships that were excavated from Skuldelev. The hall also houses special temporary exhibitions and a cinema showing videos about the excavations of Viking ships. Documentary. In addition, people can observe the scene of shipbuilders on site, and they can use oak wood and tools for making Viking ships to try to design their own Viking ships with iron, wicker and wood. If it's summer, people can also act as sailors, sailing around Roskilde Bay in replica Viking ships, and experience the life of pirates more than 1,000 years ago.

No. 3 of Night Attractions in Denmark

The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid is located in Langelinie Park in the northeast of downtown Copenhagen, Denmark. It was cast by a Danish sculptor based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Little Mermaid." The bronze statue was unveiled in Langelinie Park in 1913. With over a century of history, it is a world-famous bronze statue and a symbol of Copenhagen, attracting countless tourists. The Little Mermaid is only 1.5m tall, about the height of a teenager. From a distance, this human-bodied, fish-tailed The Little Mermaid sits on a huge rock, looking quiet, elegant, and leisurely. If you look closer, however, The Little Mermaid appears to be a sad young girl. Visitors here can observe the facial features of The Little Mermaid in detail. This beautiful statue has had its head cut off by thieves multiple times, so the head of The Little Mermaid you see now was replaced later and is not the original. Concerned that too many tourists might damage the bronze statue, the local government relocated The Little Mermaid further out into the sea in March 2006. Today, when you come to Langelinie Park, you can only view The Little Mermaid in the water from outside the fence along the shore and take photos with it from across the fence. Please note that there are many tourists outside the fence, so please be careful when taking photos.

No. 9 of Best Things to Do in Denmark

Grundtvig’s Church

Grundtvig’s Church is one of the few Expressionist-style churches in the world. Its signature feature is the west facade: the nearly 50m-high bell tower overlaps with layered, stepped gables, its silhouette resembling a giant pipe organ pointing toward the sky. Except for the baptismal font and the roof, the entire building is constructed almost entirely of millions of handmade yellow bricks, which have a warm tone and blend seamlessly with the surrounding yellow-brick residential complex built during the same period. Stepping inside, rows of yellow brick columns rise toward the pointed arches and ribbed vaults. With almost no ornamentation, the space is simple and ethereal, looking especially moving when daylight pours down from the high windows.

Land of Legends | A Land to Explore