Ribe
Ribe is located in the southwestern part of the Jutland peninsula in Denmark and it is said to be one of the most important cities during the Viking Age. Scientific explorations and excavations have shown that Vikings were living in Ribe for many years and the Ribe Viking Center exhibits findings from the area, which sheds light on he Vikings’ lives. The Viking Center has created three different environments: the Marketplace and adjoining ship, which is an authentic copy of a site from the early 8th century, the Great Farm which is a long-house with five connected buildings that dates back to 980AD and eight town-houses from 825AD.
Ribe VikingeCenter, Lustrupvej 4, Ribe, Denmark, +45 75 41 16 11
Ribe Viking Center | © Västgöten / WikiCommons
Birka
A stroll around the city of Birka is a must-do for those who literally want to retrace Vikings’ steps. Birka is Sweden’s first town and it was founded in the mid-700sAD. It became a vital trading centre in Northern Europe and for 200 years around 1,000 people called it home. Nowadays, it has been listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts thousands of tourists every year. Guided tours around the archaeological area take place from July until September, while reconstructions of the Vikings’ house and special events offer a real taste of how life was in one of the most important cities of the Viking Era.
Birka Museum, Björkö 5, Adelsö, Sweden, +46 8 560 515 40
Birka, Viking Island | © David Orban / Flickr
Lindholm Høje Museum
Viking enthusiasts can take a journey in the Viking Age through the 3D animations, illustrations, and reconstructions at Lindholm Høje Museum. Vikings’ daily life habits and customs are presented through interactive exhibitions and installations. Moreover, the museum stands right next to one of the most major Vikings’ burial sites. Hundreds of stones that mark the men’s and women’s graves create an awe-inspiring sight.
Lindholm Høje Museet, Vendilavej 11, Norresundby, Denmark, +45 99 31 74 40
Lindholm Høje | © Simon Wedege Petersen / WikiCommons
Viking Ship Museum Roskilde
At the Viking Ship Museum at Roskilde, history buffs not only see five Viking ships that were found in the Roskilde Fjord near Skuldelev in Denmark, but they can actually sail a reconstructed Nordic boat or a Viking ship. Boat trips take place from May until the end of September and last for approximately one hour. Through exhibitions, digital installations and the reconstruction of the ships (based on how they looked 1,000 years ago), you’ll be awed by the maritime skills and craftsmanship of the Vikings.
Viking Ship Museum, Vindeboder 12, Roskilde, Denmark, +45 46 30 02 00
Viking Museum Roskilde | © Tanya Dedyukhina / WikiCommons
National Museum of Denmark
The National Museum of Denmark displays a great selection of artefacts from the Viking Age, covering the period from 800 to 1050AD. Through the museum’s collection, visitors can learn more about the warriors’ food, religion, weapons, clothing and everyday lives.
National Museum of Denmark, Prince’s Mansion, Ny Vestergade 10, Copenhagen, Denmark, +45 33 13 44 11
Viking attire and jewellery | © The National Museum of Denmark / WikiCommons