There’s a certain madness in chasing sunlight in the Nordics – a desperate joy in every sunbeam, as if we are running from clouds.
Sun and summers in Nordics is a rare phenomenon. You must be laughing on hearing this. But that’s what we experience – some really sunny days with skin-burning heat and then the “normal cloudy, windy and rainy” summer days. So on the last day of my one week long vacation, I looked at the weather forecast for the next week and realized before the “normal” hits us, let’s make a one last lazy afternoon trip to the nearby town of Roskilde – around 45 mins train ride from Copenhagen.
The unfortunate scooter-bike
You might have seen Rishaan, my son, flaunting his new scooter-bike in different images that I have shared. The poor bike had to bear and withstand all the “deadly” drag stunts that he learnt and so while we were still on our way to the train station, the front wheel’s nuts and bolts gave way. The kid turned mechanic and fixed it, followed by every five seconds of re-validation from his dad that it is still working.
Chasing the Sun in Roskilde
When we arrived at Roskilde, it was already 3.30pm in the afternoon. Sun was blazing and time was running out. Why? The UNESCO World Heritage site of Roskilde Domkirke (Cathedral) was closing in another 30 mins and the Vikingeskibsmuseet will be off-limits by 5 pm. So we walked briskly, taking peeps into every nook and corner through its Walking Street, marvelling at the spurge of yellow all around (literally, the sun and the houses!). The cobblestones were still slick with the afternoon’s last sun rays and the scent of rye bread mingling with distant laughter.
ROSKILDE DOMKIRKE
This was quite unlike any other church I have seen in Denmark. Roskilde Domkirke (Roskilde Cathedral) is Denmark’s first great brick-Gothic church and a living history of 800 years of European architecture in one massive structure.
The eclectic sequence of chapels and porches offers an unrivalled glimpse of European architecture from the 12th to the 20th century. Within the cathedral itself, stone tombs line the aisles, lit by narrow pointed windows that give the interior a steady, cool light during daylight. What amazed me is that today it stands not only as Denmark’s royal mausoleum but also as a living archive of changing architectural ideas, materials and craftsmanship. Since we only had around 15-20 mins to see before it closed, I left with the sense of unfinished thoughts, waiting for some other afternoon to be back.
The byparken & old town
Byparken is Roskilde’s back lawn, sloping from the cathedral hill to the fjord. Gravel paths curve between birch stands, flower beds, and an open‑air stage that hosts summer shows. From the park you step straight into the old town with its narrow lanes, low half‑timbered houses, and shopfronts with painted signs. Stændertorvet square still holds a produce market on Wednesdays and Saturdays but even on Sunday afternoon, the square was buzzing with locals and tourists alike. Locals lingered around and tourists were left mesmerized by the gentle winds from the fjord.
Viking Whispers at the Fjord
The Vikingeskibsmuseet (Viking Ship Museum) in Roskilde stands out for its five original Viking ships from Skuldelev, dramatically displayed with Roskilde Fjord as a backdrop, providing an unparalleled glimpse into Viking seafaring, boat-building, and daily life. We caught a glipmse into the actual medieval ships, watched craftspeople reconstructing full-scale replicas using traditional methods, and there was even an option to sail on reconstructed Viking vessels, a rare experience which we missed. Why? Because we were late. 😦
Now those who know me – I am always B+, so whatever time or chance I get, I live in the moment. So what we enjoyed? Sitting an immersive experience hall on a reconstructed viking ship and almost missing out on how kids are encouraged to use seesaw and hammer to carve out a makeshift wooden ship.
But the highlight of the Roskilde havn was catching the sea of jellyfishes in the sunset hues – their bodies were nearly clear, but in the late sun, they glowed pink—like a slow, living bloom on the water. It wasn’t planned or explained but as if a gentle reminder that delight can’t always be planned, some wonders drift in silently, waiting only for us to notice.
An evening with “IS”
The most enjoyable closure to such an evening is to indulge ourselves into some is (icecream). But since when, our old souls, remained content with one serving? Couple of servings later, it was the long way back towards home trying to find a dinner joint before we caught the train. The walk back through Byparken was even more scenic now, with the evening sun playing its magic, sliding through the canopy trees, kids dipping their toes in a nearby stream, making their giggles twine with the sound of music, sorry, I meant, water.
On the walk back, we turned for one last view of the fjord from the path below the cathedral. There was a gentle breeze from the fjord wind as the sun was easing out, and a woman sat quietly on a bench facing the open sky, maybe just resting, maybe letting the day sink in.
broken bike & BURGERs
All the way back from the fjord through the park, we had one very grumpy kid who was not thrilled that he couldn’t just zoom through on his bike. But moods shift. Somewhere along the way, the frustration turned into quiet determination. Rishaan lifted his bike, carried it uphill without a word and kept going. Each wobble with each small fix made him a bit more sure of himself. Watching him, I realized it’s often the tough and messy parts that leave the strongest mark. Not the perfect rides but the ones where you push through.
A reward was due – so we dived into some delicious chicken burgers and sweet potato fries. Stomach full and heart fuller, the day wrapped up as our tired legs took us home.
Maybe next time, we’ll catch the Viking ships at full sail. For now, I’m grateful for sun-chased hours and shared strength of reminders that adventure is less about what we see, and more about how we move through the world together.
Have you been to Roskilde?
Then share your experience and let us know what all we missed.
Honumans 