3000 years of history in 3 days
The time travel begins in Vejle, where a woman met a grim fate in the bog, possibly as an offering to the gods. Continue to Kongernes Jelling, where Denmark was born. Visit the Middle Ages and the royal castle of Koldinghus. Be fascinated by the UNESCO city Christiansfeld. Experience the harsh life on the farm in the 20th century. And shiver at the 1940s with a visit to the Gestapo cell. We have packed these experiences into half-day tours. Take as many as you like, in the order you prefer.
Half-Day Tour
From Sacrifice to Show-Off
Start back in the early Iron Age at Vejle Museums, where you can visit a queen – or at least that’s what she’s called: Queen Gunhild, the bog body from Haraldskær Bog. She is one of Denmark’s best-preserved bog bodies, resting in her glass coffin in a special and atmospheric exhibition.
The bog was seen as a transition between water and land, a gateway from our world to the spirit world. Here, you were close to the gods. Here, your offerings were noticed.
Kongernes Jelling
Head to Harald Bluetooth's Viking fortress at Kongernes Jelling. Viking King Harald Bluetooth was a master of self-promotion. He built the monuments in Jelling in a grand and innovative style. Covering an area the size of 20 football fields, the site was enclosed by palisades, a massive wooden wall. Here you will find the largest burial mounds of the Viking Age and the world’s largest runestone – it was also here that the name "Denmark" was carved in runes over 1,000 years ago.
The monumental area is one of the greatest architectural achievements of Viking-era Denmark. The massive wooden wall alone required over 4,000 oak trunks. It cost effort, blood, and lives, but King Harald Bluetooth got something to boast about.
At the award-winning experience center Kongernes Jelling, history comes alive through modern interactive technology. Discover the Vikings' world in a fun and playful way.
Enjoy lunch, grab a coffee, or taste the local beer at Café Sejd.
Half-Day Tour
By the Sweat of Your Brow…
Experience life in harmony with nature with a stop at the Iron Age village in Vingsted, before jumping forward nearly 2,000 years to Mark – Museum for Modern Danish History.
Mark At Museumsgaarden Karensminde, the air smells of hay, fresh air, and a hint of manure. In the barn, pigs squeal with joy as the manager brings food. In the meadow, cows chew juicy grass, and children are fascinated by the soft rabbits. The heavy workhorses neigh in the fields, while the old gray Massey Ferguson
tractor stands as a symbol of the gradual mechanization of farming, which reduced the hard labor of daily life.
Museumsgaarden Karensminde shows life on the farm, in the kitchen, and in the fields from the 1920s to the 1950s. It's an authentic slice of Danish history, brought to life through activities, senses, and nature – good old days, but only if the harvest didn’t fail.
Life in the Iron Age Around year 0 and the following centuries, people lived in close connection with nature, governed by the seasons and the mood of the gods. Days were spent ensuring survival: tending animals, gathering berries, and making tools. Iron Age Vingsted consists of houses and installations from various Iron Age villages in Jutland, beautifully set between grasslands, cultivated fields, lakes, and forests.
Half-Day Tour
From Gestapo Cell to King’s Dungeon
Get up close to the fight for freedom during World War II with a visit to Staldgården in Kolding. In Zelle II, Denmark’s only preserved Gestapo cell, learn the stories of resistance fighters and those who collaborated with the Gestapo.
Feel the chilling tales in Museum Kolding's exhibition "1943 – Gestapo Comes," where cinematic storytelling recreates the fear and atmosphere of the occupation.
Koldinghus Travel back 750 years and visit Koldinghus, a grand castle perched above Kolding. Built as a border fortress in the 1200s and expanded by Danish kings, it has witnessed historic events and housed remarkable figures. Today, after an award-winning restoration, explore the castle from the towering spire to the dungeon.
Koldinghus is part of The Royal Danish Collection and offers exhibitions that share Denmark’s royal history.
Enjoy lunch or dinner at Madkælderen, where culinary delights await in an atmospheric setting.
Half-Day Tour
The Power of Strong Ideals
Visit Skamlingsbanken, one of Denmark's most significant sites for democracy and public gatherings. Speeches given here in the 1840s shaped Danish history. At the visitor center, explore the power of words through engaging exhibitions and enjoy the serene landscape.
Explore the UNESCO City of Christiansfeld Head south to Christiansfeld, the best-preserved Moravian town in the world, recognized as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. Built in 1773, the symmetrical city layout and unique architecture set it apart from other Danish towns. Taste the famous honey cakes, explore the large pillarless church, and soak in the history of this beautiful city. More Info
Stop for lunch or dinner at Restaurant Kongens Kælder.