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
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
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
An excavation that started in 1986 uncovered the largest house of the Viking Era. The 83 metre-building that used to be the house of the chieftain of Lofotr has now be reconstructed and houses the Lofotr Viking Museum. Divided into five different rooms just like it was in the Viking Era, the building hosts several items from that era and, through exhibitions, installations and film screenings, presents the customs of the Vikings. Moreover, visitors can sit around the fire and enjoy a meal like a real Viking or sail on a reconstructed Nordic ship.
Lofotr Viking Museum, Prestegårdsveien 59, Bøstad, Norway, +47 76 15 40 00
Høvdinghuset, Borg i Lofoten | © Andewa / WikiCommons
The story of Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala) dates back in the 3rd century AD. The historic village outside the city of Uppsala in Sweden was, for many centuries, one of the most significant religious, economic and political centres. Visitors can take a guided tour in the area and visit the ruins of Uppsala’s first cathedral and look at the artefacts from the royal mound at the Gamla Uppsala Museum.
Gamla Uppsala Museum, Disavägen, Uppsala, Sweden, +46 18 23 93 01
Gamla Uppsala Museum | © Pudelek / WikiCommons
The open air museum of Storholmen offers guided tours and activities for young and old, while an exhibition hall displays reconstructed Viking items. Storholmen Viking Village is located right next to an Iron Age burial field with 166 burial mounds and antiquities of the Viking Age. During the tour through the Viking Village of Storholmen, visitors will hear stories of the Viking Age as well as learn about their habits, celebrations and their travels to the east. Special events, such as the sauna and barbecue evening where guests can play Viking games and experiment with handicrafts, take place throughout the year.
Storholmen Viking Village, Varjagvägen 1, Norrtälje, Sweden, +46 70 342 51 70