Top 10 History Museums in Denmark, Denmark

Danish history is brought to life at The National Museum of Denmark Meet the Danes of today and of the past. Go for a guided walk with a local insider who will elaborate on Danish welfare, the country’s free spirit and what “hygge” really means. And finally, hear from the Danes in the 9th Century; the Vikings who were feared and renowned all over Europe. See the remains of the people who lost their lives in the tribal wars of The Stone Age. The woman who survived a blow to the head with a stone axe and later covered her mutilated head with a hat. See the treasures that the Vikings brought with them from their travels to England and The Mediterranean. Or experience the axe that in 1772 severed the head of one of the main characters of Danish history’s most dramatic love affair. On your way out, grab a Danish souvenir from the museum’s gift shop - and if you get hungry, you can always eat typically Nordic dishes at the appraised restaurant Smor.

Experience the history of Denmark’s railways in the authentic roundhouse from 1954. We have 21 tracks featuring iconic engines and carriages. Look inside the royal carriages, experience travelling first class and see Denmark’s oldest preserved steam engine from 1868. You can enter many of the museum’s engines and carriages. You can sit on the old wooden seats or stand in the driver’s cab of a steam locomotive. We provide a rewarding outing for the whole family, and visitors of all ages are welcome. Visit the child-sized Children’s Railway Station, brimming with trains and rails for you to play with. Go for a ride on the popular mini-train which runs every day. It is possible to enter many of the carriages and engines. All activities are free once you have paid the entrance fee.

The Welfare Museum is housed in Svendborg's old Poorhouse, a unique set of buildings showcasing an important period in Denmark's welfare history. Doors open into a world that up to now has been hidden from most of us. Here, we learn some of the stories surrounding the many people who lived on the dark side of society: the poor, the sick and the homeless who lived here, whether briefly or long-term, during the 102 years when the Poorhouse operated. Traces of the hardness of their lives are everywhere. The Welfare Museum conveys to the visitor a feeling of the past that creeps under the skin.

The Danish War Museum houses permanent exhibitions about war, defence and weapon technology, and presents Danish military history from the 1500s until today. Experience the exhibition "Denmark's Wars" in the museum's large Rustkammersal and "A Distant War - a Danish Soldier in Afghanistan", an exhibition in which you can feel the atmosphere of a Danish combat group in Afghanistan.

Warships await you at the Viking Ship Museum. Don't worry, they won't open fire. This museum is dedicated to education about boat building, archaeology and Viking life. It's a favorite among kids, and visitors of all ages can take to the water in traditional vessels. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. seven days a week, until 5 p.m. in summer months.

Koldinghus was built in the middle of the 13th century, and in the centuries that followed it was one of Denmark's most important royal castles. In 1808 there was a fire that left the castle in ruins – a romantic relic. Today the castle has been restored and houses a museum which is a centre for cultural activities and special exhibitions of international standing.

Follow us behind bars Why not enjoy a captivating stay inside our Town Jail and learn about justice and punishment. Behind closed doors, you will get a taste of prison life as it was in the good old days and in recent times. Just the sensation of being behind bars gives rise to reflection among young and old alike. Challenge your opinion on the legal system, when you make your way around. Why do we lock up people? How are the conditions in a Danish jail? And what does justice mean? Such questions are likely to occur when you walk into the prison yard, the cells and the court of justice. Jail for all ages Families with kids are more than welcome. We have customized information for kids and a selection of worksheets to choose from. Younger kids may find this authentic museum a bit scary. Therefore, please consider if they will be comfortable with the activities.

A historic home, bird sanctuary, park, and museum all in one, located in the house of writer and Nobel Prize finalist Baroness Karen Blixen (in the US and UK, Isak Dinesen), known especially for "Out of Africa" and "Seven Gothic Tales". The museum not only maintains the 17th century house, Blixen's furnishings, and the park, but regularly hosts exhibitions related to Blixen's life and work in Kenya and Denmark. Recent exhibitions have included an exhibition "HER" by internationally acclaimed artist Candice Breitz about Meryl Streep's career.

The burial site of Lindholm Hoje is one of the most beautiful ancient monuments in Denmark from late Iron Age and the Viking Age. Several hundred stone circles indicate the tombs. In the museum, you can see an exhibition on the lives of the Vikings on Lindholm Hoje as well as a new exhibition on the ancient time in the land of the Limfjorden.