The Vikings were not only notoriously savage looters, but also famous explorers. All over Scandinavia we still find traces of this 9th-century civilization. Join us as we travel to four locations in Denmark, Norway and Sweden to relive the era of the Vikings.
There is no better place to start your Viking expedition than in Aarhus in Denmark. This friendly town was founded approximately 1,200 years ago by the Vikings. On this spot now stands the Viking Museum – part of the Moesgaardmuseum – entirely dedicated to the Vikings.
Aarhus also hosts the Viking Moot Festival every year. In the last weekend of July, the entire town is transformed into a real Viking settlement. The highlight is the spectacular battle that attracts thousands of ‘Vikings’ from all over Europe. The Vikings are naturally dressed in full regalia, complete with helmets and horns.
Just outside the Swedish capital lies Sigtuna, the oldest city in the country. This picturesque spot features the world’s highest number of runic stones, with more than 150 dating back to the 12th century. The Vikings placed these stones, carved with symbols from the runic alphabet, as a tribute to those who went on expeditions.
There is evidence of Viking settlements throughout Sweden. Begin with a walking tour of Stockholm. Your guide will take you to dozens of attractions in the city and tell you more about the Viking conquests. Along the way, you will don a Viking helmet: something that, as you can imagine, children particularly enjoy.
During the festival you can visit a real Viking tent, sample culinary delights from the Viking era and, last but not least, sail in a real Viking ship. The breathtaking landscape that surrounds the village adds to the overall experience.
On the shore of the idyllic Norwegian Naeroyfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lies the lovely town of Gudvangen. Every summer a huge Viking festival is held here. Experience a day in the life of the Vikings in a replica Viking village.
The Vikings were not only navigators, but also farmers. The Historic Museumin Oslo gives you an idea of Viking life on shore. The museum boasts a permanent exhibition entirely dedicated to the Vikings and you can admire the only fully intact Viking helmet in the world.
On their voyages of discovery, the Vikings travelled far beyond Scandinavia, even as far as the Mediterranean. They undertook most of their expeditions in characteristic Viking ships. The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway, has three of the best-preserved Viking ships in the world on display: the Oseberg, Gokstad and Tune.
