Visiting Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral is located in the historic heart of Roskilde.
Since Roskilde Cathedral is one of the top attractions in Roskilde, we couldn't miss it, could we?
The charming town of Roskilde on Zealand Island is known for a few things, but for us, it was definitely the Roskilde Cathedral that made it a must-see. The reasons we wanted to visit this Gothic gem with Romanesque influences were pretty compelling.
First, it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. It was also Scandinavia's first Gothic cathedral built using brick, and its style had a huge impact on how churches were designed in the region afterward. And on top of that, it's been the burial site of the Danish royal family since the 15th century.
There's no doubt that Roskilde Cathedral is the most important church in Denmark, and when you add all of that together, it's easy to see why it was such a priority for us.
Roskilde is located just 30 kilometers west of Copenhagen, and since we were heading out from Stevns Klint that morning, it fit perfectly into our itinerary. So, of course, we made a stop there. And here's everything we learned from the visit.
Roskilde is more than a cathedral as it's also a living timeline of Denmark's royal history.
Roskilde Cathedral: History and Facts
We had already seen quite a few churches around Denmark (in Mon Island, Odense, Svendborg, etc.), but Roskilde Cathedral was supposed to be the most impressive and important one of them all, so we were really curious to see how it would measure up in person.
From the outside, my first impression was that it looked a bit more modest than I had imagined. I am not sure what I was expecting, but it definitely was not on the scale of Notre Dame in Paris or St. Peter's Basilica, either in terms of size or in the kind of majestic presence those buildings have. That might not be a totally fair comparison, but the more modest appearance was the first thing that stood out to me.
Roskilde Cathedral is known for its classic red-brick Gothic style.
I say 'impression' because, at 86 meters in length, 27 meters in width, and 75 meters in height, Roskilde Cathedral is definitely not small. Maybe it felt that way because we had already visited Aarhus Cathedral, which is just slightly larger, maybe it was the red-brick style, or maybe it was just something about the setting. Who knows? That said, just standing there in the cobblestone square in front of it felt pretty humbling, so take what I said with a grain of salt.
The yellow building behind the cathedral used to serve as the Royal family's residence during visits or royal funerals.
Anyway, Roskilde Cathedral was built between 1170 and 1280 CE. According to legend, though, King Harald Bluetooth may have built a wooden church on this site back in the 980s CE. This famous Viking king (whom we learned quite a bit about at the Jelling Monuments) is believed to have been buried here around 987 CE. But again, that's just a legend, and no one knows his actual burial site for sure.
Anyway, the reason for building the cathedral was straightforward. Roskilde had become the seat of the Bishop sometime between the 10th and 11th centuries (although the exact date is unknown), so there was a need for a central place of worship and authority for the Danish Church.
The Renaissance altar is adorned with intricate gilded woodwork and detailed biblical scenes.
While the core structure was completed in the 13th century and blends Romanesque with Brick Gothic styles, many additions were made over the following centuries. Chapels, porches, and spires were added later, bringing in touches of Renaissance and Baroque.
To be honest, we often have trouble identifying each architectural style and feature in the churches we visit (not just here). But Roskilde Cathedral, though, offered us a fairly typical 'church experience' with no major surprises, unlike, say, Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík.
What's There to See in Roskilde Cathedral
The cathedral features a large nave with the choir in the center, a beautiful altar, intricate frescoes, a bishop's paintings, several chapels, a 17th-century organ, and a crypt. Still, the main attractions at Roskilde Cathedral are the Royal Tombs and Chapels, which serve as the final resting places for more than 40 Danish monarchs.
The nave of Roskilde Cathedral is absolutely beautiful.
The most famous monarch buried here is Queen Margrete I, a key figure in Scandinavian history who united Denmark, Norway, and Sweden under the Kalmar Union. Her sarcophagus is located right behind the altar in the choir area (right in the middle of the church), and it is impossible to miss. There were also plenty of info panels nearby that did a good job of explaining what we were looking at.
This sarcophagus holds the remains of Queen Margrete I.
Since Roskilde has served as the official royal burial site for nearly all Danish monarchs since the Reformation in 1536, it's no surprise that Margrete's tomb was just one of many we saw. Other notable monarchs buried here include Frederick II, Christian IV, and Christian IX, among others. However, this is just a small selection of the many names we encountered while visiting other historic sites during our trip.
It was pretty eerie to see the tomb already prepared for Queen Margrethe II.
On the first floor, there's also a small Cathedral Museum included with the ticket. It is housed in a Gothic-style Great Hall that was originally built as a ceremonial space for the Order of the Elephant, Denmark's highest honor. These days, it holds royal artifacts and other items like old books and newspapers.
It was a tiny museum, so the Gothic room really stood out.
My personal favorite thing here was the LEGO model of the cathedral. It was super cool and reminded us of our visit to the LEGO House in Billund a few days ago. The hall itself was nice, and the exhibits looked interesting, but unfortunately, all the information was only in Danish, so we only stayed there for a few minutes.
The LEGO model of Roskilde Cathedral was really cool.
So, the only real downside to the visit was that we could not climb the cathedral towers, as they are closed to the public. It was slightly disappointing since the views of the town and the nearby fjord would probably have been fantastic.
How Much Time for Roskilde Cathedral
Overall, we spent about 90 minutes to two hours at Roskilde Cathedral, including time outside. It definitely did not feel hurried, and I think we managed to see everything the cathedral has to offer. If you are on a tight schedule, one hour is enough to see the main highlights. More than two hours is really only needed if you are deeply interested in history and architecture.
The crypt below the cathedral dates back to the 12th century.
Is Roskilde Cathedral Worth a Visit?
Even though we would not say we are especially into Danish monarchs or Nordic church architecture, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Roskilde Cathedral and definitely think it is worth seeing. And even though there is an entry fee, we feel it is worth going inside. This visit really gave us a glimpse into a side of Denmark we had not really explored yet.
This is the tomb of King Christian IX, known as the Father-in-Law of Europe (because he married his six children into other royal families).
One of the best things about Roskilde Cathedral being a UNESCO World Heritage Site is how easy and straightforward it was to visit, at least compared to some other Danish sites on the list. It is not a sprawling coastal region covering thousands of square kilometers, not a Moravian Church settlement, and definitely not somewhere out in Greenland. It is just a cathedral.
Roskilde Cathedral's organ was originally built in 1555 and restored in the 1990s.
Now, the big question is whether Roskilde Cathedral is worth visiting as a day trip from Copenhagen, or if it is not already part of your planned route. Honestly, that really depends on how much time you have and how interested you are in UNESCO sites or Danish history. All we can say is that it is one of the top historical buildings in Denmark, but so are places like Kronborg Castle, the Viking Ring Fortresses, and Frederiksborg Castle.
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Getting to Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral is located about 35 kilometers west of Copenhagen, and getting between the two cities is really easy, whether by car or train.
By Car: We drove from Roskilde to Copenhagen in about 35 minutes, but that was because we stayed at the AC Hotel Bella Sky Copenhagen, which is a bit farther from the city center. If you are going all the way into the center, you should add about 15-30 extra minutes, depending on traffic. From Odense, Roskilde Cathedral is less than a two-hour drive.
Since Roskilde is not that large, it is also easy to squeeze in another stop, like Frederiksborg Castle, Stevns Klint, or the nearby town of Køge. If you are planning a road trip, you can check rental car prices in Copenhagen here.
The Chapel of Christian IV contains more royal tombs and paintings.
Parking: For parking near Roskilde Cathedral, both Maglekildevej Parkering and Schmeltz Plads Parkering are just about a five-minute walk away. Each offers the first two hours for free, and after that, it is paid. Since we visited the Viking Ship Museum first, we parked there and then just walked to the cathedral. It took under 10 minutes and worked perfectly. The Viking Ship Museum parking was free all day.
Train: If you're only planning to visit Roskilde Cathedral as a quick day trip from Copenhagen without any extra stops, then taking the train is definitely the easiest option. The Roskilde train station is about a 10-minute walk from the cathedral.
Guided Tour: A great way to explore Roskilde on a day trip is by joining a guided tour from Copenhagen. The Roskilde Tour features both the cathedral and Viking museum, along with Kronborg and Frederiksborg, giving you a full look at the top spots outside Copenhagen.
The legacy of its bishops is also preserved in paintings (at the back of the cathedral).
Opening Hours
Roskilde Cathedral is open from 10 AM to 6 PM from June to August, Monday through Saturday. It closes at 5 PM in May and September and at 4 PM during the winter months. On Sundays, it is open year-round from 1 PM to 4 PM.
There is a basic calendar on their official website with current opening times, but it is not always accurate, as sometimes services or events change the schedule. Here, we were lucky on our visit, but for instance, in Ribe, we ran into a surprise closure for a private church event (maybe a wedding?), so it is a good idea to double-check before your visit.
This is the tomb of King Frederick IX, where he is portrayed in the style of a Roman emperor.
Tickets to Roskilde Cathedral
The standard entry fee for Roskilde Cathedral is 70 DKK for an adult. It is a bit of a letdown that the cathedral is not free, but considering its UNESCO status, we kind of understand. Even the St. Vitus Cathedral in our own hometown is not free to enter.
Alternatively, if you have the Copenhagen City Pass, it also covers some attractions outside the city, with Roskilde Cathedral being one of them. We did not know that at the time and kind of regretted it, especially since we were heading to Copenhagen afterward.
But that's not all. At the entrance, we were asked if we wanted tickets just for the cathedral or if we also wanted to visit nearby Saint Laurentius. The combo ticket was 85 DKK and included both. We had no idea what Saint Laurentius was, but the staff explained it is a small museum with the foundations of a 12th-century church, a little jail, and a tower climb with a great view of the main square. It sounded cool, so we bought the combo ticket. The only catch was that it closed earlier that day, so they told us to visit Saint Laurentius first, which we did before returning to the cathedral.
Seeing the underground ruins from the 12th century at Saint Laurentius was quite interesting.
Accommodation Near Roskilde Cathedral
Four Points Flex is less than a five-minute walk from the cathedral. Some of the more popular options include Scandic Roskilde Park and Comwell Roskilde, both of which have higher ratings but are a bit farther from the town center. For those traveling on a budget, Roskilde Danhostel is about a 10-minute walk from the cathedral (right next to the Viking Ship Museum).
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
