The ultimate day-trip involves the 30 minute journey to Roskilde. With its 800-year-old cathedral and the awesome spectacle of the Viking Ship Museum, Roskilde is a once-in-a-lifetime touring day. If you go by train, purchase the Roskilde soertilbud (Roskilde ticket) at Copenhagen Central Station, this will cover the transportation to town and entrance to the cathedral and the Viking ship museum. Getting off the train in Roskilde gives you a glimpse of a Danish suburb. The spacious houses with their red-tiled roofs have a distinctive look unlike similar communities in the US or the UK. It can be entertaining to note the differences as you walk around.

        The cathedral contains the tombs of thirty-seven monarchs dating back to 1412. Throughout the years various bishops have left their mark on the edifice by addition or alteration so that a tour of the cathedral is a walk through time. The splendor of the Viking Ship Museum is inexpressible. Resting on the edge of the Roskilde fjord, one wall of the building is entirely glass, visually bringing the cobalt water into the room. Five salvaged Viking ships are on display. Each ship has been reconstructed with phenomenal expertise. Films and exhibits, in English, describing the history of Viking conquest and the salvage of the ships leave no question unanswered. The museum and cathedral are open year round. The town of Roskilde is charming, with out door cafe tables and fjord boat trips in the summer.