Roskilde Cathedral — Attraction in Roskilde Municipality

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Today we celebrate its 30yrs.

Very much worth a visit. Roskilde Cathedral is one of the most meaningful places to visit in Denmark, see a thousand years of Royal history, architectural masterpieces and art.

Parking: limited parking available, 2hrs free parking and there will be a charge after that.

Toilet is available inside the cathedral

Disability access: may be a bit challenging as most areas have stairs. But may go around the plain floored part of the cathedral

Original structure: Began as a church built by King Harald Bluetooth around 980 AD (made of wood). • The current brick cathedral replaced the earlier church around 1170–1280. • It was one of the first Gothic-style cathedrals in Scandinavia, built mainly from red brick, influencing church architecture across Northern Europe.

👑 Royal Burial Site • Since the 15th century, Roskilde Cathedral has been the main burial site for Danish monarchs. • Over 40 Danish kings and queens are buried here — including: • Queen Margrethe I (founder of the Kalmar Union) • King Christian IV • King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid • Future monarchs, like Queen Margrethe II, also have tombs prepared there - refer to last photos

Inside the Cathedral • Richly decorated altars, frescoes, and royal sarcophagi. • Features impressive organ pipes and historic tombs made of marble and alabaster. • Each royal chapel is unique, showing how Danish art and architecture evolved through...

As a history enthusiast, I was absolutely blown away by Roskilde Cathedral. This UNESCO World Heritage site is not just a stunning architectural marvel, but a living timeline of Danish royal history. Touring it with Ophelia Tours made the experience even more unforgettable - our guide Rene was knowledgeable, passionate, and made the entire visit engaging and fun.

The cathedral’s sheer historical significance is staggering. It’s the final resting place of over 40 Danish monarchs, including Queen Margrethe I and King Christian IV. Walking through its chapels feels like stepping back in time - each one reflects the artistic styles and political shifts of the era in which it was built. From Gothic to Baroque to Renaissance, the cathedral is a tapestry of over 800 years of Danish history.

The detail inside is breathtaking. The intricate tombs, the majestic organ, the soaring vaulted ceilings, and the peaceful crypts all tell powerful stories. I especially loved learning how the cathedral evolved over time and seeing how each generation left its mark - something you rarely get to witness so vividly in one place.

Roskilde itself is a charming town, full of cozy streets, great cafés, and a welcoming vibe. It made the perfect day trip from Copenhagen - peaceful, beautiful, and rich with history.

Highly recommend both the cathedral and Ophelia Tours. This was truly a highlight of our...

Sadly the cathedral was closed on the day, we were there, but still had some wonderful hours there.

They had an acceptable but somewhat silly max on ppl in the CATHEDRAL at 5 people. In my little village church in the same country, we are allowed 18 people (with masks of course). The admittance per adult on 60 dkkr is somewhat steep, and I've never liked charging for admittance to a christian church, but I think the money goes to maintaining the church, and that helps.

The church in itself is very impressive, and is located in a cozy, beautyful and picturesque neighbourhood, and parking was easy at one of the nearby squares. Many of the royalties of Denmark are entombed in the church, and the city of Roskilde itself contains many other unique experiences, such as the Vikingship Museum, and is geographically located next to the fiord, with wavey hills - granting wonderful views, perfectly close to Copenhagen (easily accessable by train, car or bus, and at an acceptable distance on bicycle. The city is diverse in composition, and invites to a stroll in the inner city, down to the...