While visiting Copenhagen, don’t limit your sightseeing strictly to the capital city –unless you only have 48 hours, then you will just have to come back! If you have time, why not book a day trip and see what else Denmark has to offer. Day Trips are great because you can sit back and look out the window all day while someone else does the driving. My tour recommendation while visiting Copenhagen would be — Roskilde, Frederiksborg & Kronborg Day Tour

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Our first stop was at Roskilde Cathedral in well, Roskilde. The Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dating back to the 12th century and according to legend, Harold Bluetooth was buried here–maybe. (Bluetooth, yep that is right!) Back in the Middle Ages, people were encouraged to take a pilgrimage to a holy site as a way to demonstrate their devotion to the church. Camino de Santiago, or Way of Saint James was a network of journeys leading to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Roskilde was a stop along the journey and is marked by the scallop shell, a trademark or marker of sorts people would see along the way. The stop we made here was quick but worth it.

Next, we visited the Viking Ship Museum (also in Roskilde) which displays five Viking ships known as the Skuldelev ships. They were found during construction of a cofferdam in the 1960’s and after careful work, their remains are preserved for future generations to learn about the past. The museum’s boatyard works to recreate the ships and if you are lucky you might get to see some work in-action (unfortunately, it was quiet the day I went but we could see what they were working on). The museum also offers a small in-house exhibition, as well as special temporary out-of-house exhibit loans. My Scandinavian Viking blood was happy to see it all.

After, you’ll traveled north a few hundred years down the road to Frederiksborg Palace (or castle depending), completed in the early 17th century by King Christian IV. The largest Rennaissance complex in the Nordic region, Frederiksborg Palace has also housed the Museum of National History since 1878. It is filled with portraits and historical paintings, furniture, stain glass, and so much more. Make sure to look up! Even the ceilings are stunning. Make sure you walk along the 2nd floor gallery in the palace chapel, more like Cathedral, and again point your eyes up…the decorated rib vaulted ceiling is gorgeous. If you visit in the warmer weather, take time to wander the gardens too. This is where you’ll get lunch but you’ll want to grab something quick so you can spend more time exploring!

Last stop of the day– Kronborg Castle or Hamlet’s Castle! Situated at the at the narrowest part of the Øresund – the sound between Sweden and Denmark – Kronborg Castle is said to dwell atop a sleeping Viking and national hero Holger Danske. The legend says that he will only wake up and raise his sword once more when Denmark is threatened by any enemies. Let’s hope he keeps his eyes closed! The castle itself was completed in 1585 and is surrounded by old military buildings and barracks within the moat and ramparts. While not a museum, unlike Frederiksborg Palace, Kronborg is still a work of art itself. The ballroom at the castle was once the largest of its kind in Northern Europe. While the ballroom furniture was lost to fires and plundering raids, the marble floors remain, and they have seen its fair share of kings and queens dancing upon it! Make sure you climb the spiral staircase and take in the view– you can see Sweden!

It is time for a relaxing ride back to Copenhagen— such a fun day full of Castles, Palaces, and Viking Ships!

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Learn more about the day trip from Get Your Guide Here.