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The five impressive Viking ships, excavated at Skuldelev in Roskilde Fjord, bear witness to the story of how important ships were for the Viking society. Learn more about how ships were built for warfare, expeditions and trade in the Viking Age - and the museum's years of work to recreate these amazing ships.

The guided tours are conducted by history and archeology students.
Their stories bring the original ships to life and put the discovery of the five Skuldelev ships in perspective in relation to the maritime culture of the Viking Age.

Tours Changing with the Seasons

The number of guided tours and the themes change with the seasons. See the programme for the coming months and upcoming school holidays here.

Guided tour in English
The guided tour is included in the admission for the Viking Ship Museum.

Meeting point: Next to the ticket sales in the Viking Ship Hall
When: Every day at 11:00 and 13:00 throughout the year.
(NB! During the winter holiday period from 7 to 22 February, the later tour is moved to 14:00).

Groups are advised to book a private tour.

The stories are engagingly told and the audio guide is designed so that there is something for everyone in the family.

The starting point is a captivating story inspired by the Viking Age.

The Museum’s audio guide gives you access to exciting stories about the famous Viking ships, which stand beautifully – but silently – on display, keeping their secrets about a distant past with terrifying Viking raids and trading voyages to far-away shores, about the seafarers on board and their life by the sea almost 1,000 years ago.

A soundscape for the whole family

The stories are engagingly told and the audio guide is designed so that there is something for everyone in the family. The starting point is a captivating story inspired by the Viking Age.

The stories can be heard in three different ‘sections’, aimed at different age groups and depending on how much time you have for your visit to the Museum

Altogether, there are 8 ‘listening-stations’ and you don’t have to listen to all of the stories in one go. Each of the stories can also stand alone, so you can go back and hear the rest of the content another day if needs be.

You can hear the audio guide via the Museum app ‘Useeum’, and it’s both easy and safe as guests use their own smartphones. The App can be downloaded for free. The Museum also has tablets available for loan, if you don’t have your own smartphone.

Info about the audio guide:

• The audio guide is intended for use in the Viking Ship Hall
• The audio guide can be played through the app Useeum
• The app can be downloaded for free in the App Store or on Google Play.
• Bring a smartphone, ipad or tablet
• Don't forget your headphones/earpods so you can get the most optimal experience
• You control the tempo of your journey through the Viking Ship Hall and decide yourself the order in which you want to visit the listening stations

The audio guide has been supported by the Friends of the Viking Ship Museum Association.

The special exhibition In the Wake of the Vikings is the story about how the five Skuldelev ships have shaped the museum to what it is today: how the remarkable find has been of crucial importance for maritime archaeology in Denmark and been the driving force behind far-reaching archaeological experiments within reconstruction and sailing.

» Read more about the special exhibition 'In the Wake of the Vikings' here...

The smell of newly tarred ropes mingles with the expectant murmuring of those in attendance at the port. The sea stallion from Glendalough, Helge Ask, Estrid Byrding, Skjoldungen and Kraka Fyr are still on land but they are all on their way out on their first meeting of the year with Roskilde Fjord.

Safety first 

When ships are launched in other ports around the world at spring time it is mainly done by crane. But when the Viking Ship Museum's ships enter the water on April 11 it will be done with raw muscle power. 

In the case of the Sea Stallion from Glendalough this means that along each side of the ship about 40 people will be standing shoulder to shoulder with their backs against the ship. They are ready to lift and push the 25-ton ship forward. At the same time, they support the ship so it does not tip over to one side.

Along the ships side there are also crew members ready with bucks. They can quickly get a buck under the side of the ship if it starts to tip. In this way the guild ensures that no one is squeezed under the ship.

Wellprepared guild members

The sea stallion is placed on rails, the so-called beding, which ensures that the volunteer guild members push the ship in the right direction. The underside of the Sea Stallion and the slipway are covered with beef tallow all the way down to the water. It provides as much glide as possible in the ship.

The sea stallion is placed on rails, the so-called beding, which ensures that the volunteer guild members push the ship in the right direction. The underside of the Sea Stallion and the slipway are covered with beef tallow all the way down to the water. It provides as much glide as possible in the ship.

On each side of the ship there are ropes in a pulley that makes lifting and pulling of the 25-tons heavy ships possible. At every end of the rope ten people are ready to pull the ship down towards the water when the command sounds.

From the bow and stern of the ship four ropes lead out to strategic points in the harbour. Here four crew members are ready to lead the ship safely through the water and moor the ship.

Raw muscle power

On board the ship is one of the captains at the Sea Stallion.    

"Lift and push on the ship. Okay? Both sides ready? 1, 2, 3. Hey!"

The members of the guild pull, push and lift the ship so it moves steadily forward. When the first part of the ship's bow hits the water the guild members rush to the side to make space.

The Sea Stallion from Glendalough slides lightly and elegantly into the water, while more and more guild members gather as they release their grip on the side of the ship.

When the last part of the ship slides into the water applause from guild members and curious guests spread through out the harbor. Everyone release a sigh of relief as the Sea Stallion is pulled safely into place. 

Experience the Launching of the Boats on Saturday, 11 April 2026

The Viking Ship Museum is open as always from 10:00–16:00. Café Knarr serves Nordic food inspired by the Viking Age, and the museum shop has welcomed new spring items on its shelves.

If you wish to visit the exhibitions in the Viking Ship Hall and the boatyard, an admission ticket is required. Take the opportunity to invest in a season ticket, which gives you unlimited access throughout the year — so you can follow the construction of the next reconstruction at the boatyard and enjoy the changing activities throughout the seasons and school holidays.

» Buy your admission ticket or season ticket here.