Discover Roskilde

Roskilde can be explored through several distinct themes: the cathedral and the city’s history, music and art, and trails in nature by the fjord. If you are looking for a hotel in Roskilde, the focus of your planned trip may help you decide. The cathedral brings together royal tombs and architectural history; museums offer their own chronological and thematic perspectives, while the routes focus on springs, the harbour and the fjord.

Cathedral, Monastery and City History

Roskilde Cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995. Its royal tombs and funerary chapels showcase 800 years of architectural development in a single monument. Visitors interested in architectural history will therefore find several periods represented within the same building. Guided tours cover the history of Denmark, 800 years of architecture and the 40 royal tombs. Check the availability of tours before your trip.

Roskilde Monastery also offers a historical focus: tours cover its history from its founding in 1231, through the Reformation, to its later establishment as a convent for noblewomen. St. Lawrence’s Church offers a different perspective on ecclesiastical history: it is a church ruin with a tower. Together with the cathedral and monastery, these sites offer different ways to explore Roskilde’s religious and architectural heritage.

The Roskilde Museum presents the city’s history from prehistoric times to the modern era. It has been the city museum since 1929 and is located in the heart of Roskilde in two listed historic buildings. One of them is Sukkerhuset, built in 1761 for sugar production, which took place there briefly until 1779. The permanent exhibition at The Rock Museum, by contrast, has a clear thematic focus: it presents seven decades of pop and rock history. The museums thus differ mainly in their perspective—on the one hand, the broad span of the city’s history and, on the other, music history.

Music, Art and Festival

Roskilde Festival is an independent, non-profit festival with a large and varied programme of music, art, activism and food. The 2026 edition was the festival’s 54th. This provides a useful point of reference when exploring the festival’s history; it does not give dates for future editions. The festival’s focus also differs markedly from that of the museums: here, the programme and festival atmosphere take centre stage, while the exhibitions offer a permanent or longer-term perspective on history and music.

Circular Trails, Harbour and Fjord

The signposted “Sti til Naturen” circular route is 12.5 km long. It starts at Roskilde Cathedral, passes Roskilde Harbour and runs along the fjord. Check the route conditions before setting out. At the harbour, you can enjoy a view across the fjord and of the cathedral; the route brings together waterside scenery and city views. Roskilde Oplevelseshavn has aquariums and exhibitions about life in the fjord, the national park, and birds and fish. Check information about the facilities there before your visit as well.

A shorter alternative is Kildestrøget, at about 5 km. The route connects Roskilde’s eight historic springs and passes through the city’s natural surroundings and history. By comparison, “Sti til Naturen” is described as a 12.5 km circular route that includes the harbour and fjord. The two routes thus differ both in length and in their stated themes: Kildestrøget focuses on springs and city history, while “Sti til Naturen” focuses on the harbour and fjord.

Discover more destinations: Svogerslev, Jyllinge, Viby Sj, Gadstrup.

Go to the main travel overview: Roskilde Municipality.