short trip to Scandanavia - Viking theme

The Viking Ship Museum on the Bygdoy peninsula at Oslo, Norway, has numerous Viking archeological finds, along with some Viking ships, one of which is virtually intact. There is also a Viking ship museum at Roskilde in Denmark. Both museums are very good. Roskilde is about 25 miles outside Copenhagen.

Catherine, you should get to some of the Viking sites in Scotland. The Orkney's and Shetland were both Viking through about the 13th century. My favorite Orkney website is http://www.orkneyjar.com/ by Sigurd Towrie. There isn't one that's quite the same for Shetland, but this one isn't bad. http://www.shetlandtourism.com/ You should think about Up Helly Aa Fire Festival.

Also, remember the Lord of the Isles, which is the western isles of Scotland was basically a Viking. On Harris you can see a Viking Mill, a Long house and the beaches that you just know had long ships pulling up to them.

You might want to visit Lindisfarne. The sacking of this Abbey kicked off the Viking age.

Also, you might want to visit the Jorvik Viking Centre in York. Some people find it a little corny, but I enjoyed it.

Also, Nigel Tranter wrote wonderful historical novels based on Scottish historical figures. You son might enjoy Lord of the Isles. http://cunninghamh.tripod.com/2001/ Also, George MacKay Brown, the Bard of Orkney wrote a wonderful book Magnus. http://www.georgemackaybrown.co.uk/

Pam

I have not been to the Viking museum in Oslo, but I have been to the one in Roskilde. It's very interesting with fragments of original Viking era ships on display (not all warships - most just for cargo). They also have reproductions outside. Perhaps they even have excursions or on-board demonstrations - IDK. There is a very good movie on show about a modern-day Viking excursion around the British Isles in one of the reconstructed ships.

Also in the cathedral at Roskilde are buried the Danish royalty going way back, many with tombs designed with those pointy-horn helmuts.

Roskilde is an easy 30 minute train ride from Copenhagen, which of course is a marvelous city to visit.

Oh I am sooooo happy that this is a serious question. On first glance it looked to me like one of the many hen nights which frequent the ships between the UK and Scandanavia and Eastern Europe.

I'm so glad that you're after the history and not wearing horns and drinking.

By the way, I believe that Vikings originated in Denmark. Maybe you could find something there....

We have been to Jorvic, I agree, its great. I will be keen to research the places in Scotland. The Up Helly... fest is in winter, though, I wish they'd do one for the rest of us tourists!

Nigel; the Vikings originated from Norway, Denmark and Sweden. I think you are confusing this with the Normans who descended from Danish Vikings. The Danish Vikings settled in the Danelaw (northern/eastern England), and the Norwegian Vikings expanded to Ireland, Scotland, Iceland and even Greenland.

We went to the Viking Ship Museums in both Oslo and Roskilde, both worth the visit but neither fully satisfied our Viking appetites.

The National Museum in Copenhagen has a ton of displays starting from the first Scandinavian settlers through the Viking age and into the Middle ages, including a lot of interesting sacraficial artifacts recovered from bogs.

Nigel, what you call hen parties we call bachelorette parties. I am thankfully past the age where I need to pretend to be amused by genitalia shaped cakes. However, I think I would enjoy wearing viking hats while drinking.

"I think you are confusing this with the Normans who descended from Danish Vikings."

Yes - the name "Norman" derives from "Northman" or "Norseman", as the early Vikings were called. Learned this in Bayeux at the Tapestry museum.

When visiting Glendalough ruins near Dublin, I noticed the Irish refer to Vikings as "the Danes".

Norman comes from Norse men, that part of France was invaded and settled by Vikings.

Russia is the land of the Rus, Rus is another name for Vikings.

I have to second the suggesstions of Oslo, York and Orkney. All excellent. You could also possibly add to your "Viking" trip by flying to or from Iceland. If you use Iceland Air, they have some packages which allow you to have up to a 7 day "layover" there with out extra charge on airfare (just your hotel, etc. added).