Hiking Along the Roskilde Fjord: A Beautiful Nature Trail Near Copenhagen

While not known for having the dramatic mountains of Norway or Iceland, Denmark’s nature is very underrated. Even in and around Copenhagen, you have plenty of opportunities to escape the city if you want. The Roskilde Fjord, which forms part of the larger Fjordlandet region, is one of my favorite day trips from the Danish capital. 

You can do plenty of hikes along this fjord, and in October 2024, I did one that went along part of the fjord and to the forest named Boserup Skov.  

Whether you’re visiting Copenhagen and want to get out into nature, or you’re living in Denmark and are looking for an escape from city life, this trail is a must-do. In this guide, I’ll show you what the trail was like, discuss how to get there, and show you some alternatives. 

Which Trail Did We Do? 

While you can do many hikes in this area, we wanted something that we could easily complete on a Sunday afternoon. So, we did this trail; it was around 11.9 kilometers (7.39 miles). Though the app said that the route was moderately challenging, I felt like it was quite easy for anyone with reasonable fitness levels. The only difficulty would be its length.

The trail starts just behind the main harbor in Roskilde (which, by the way, is worth checking out in and of itself). From here, you should see some cows and a pathway; you just need to keep following it around and follow the Alltrails app’s directions (it’s available on iOS and Android). I personally found the app more reliable than looking out for signage. 

Alternative Options

While we did a pretty straightforward hike that was easy to complete in an afternoon, you’ll find plenty of hiking trails around the Roskilde Fjord. The Fjordstien Route is the big one here; it’s 275 kilometers (170.8 miles), and can be done by bike or foot. Obviously, you wouldn’t be able to finish this all in one day. 

The Skjoldungstierne Route is another popular hiking trail. This one is roughly 40 kilometers (24.85 miles). While I haven’t done either of these, you may want to try them out if you have some more time in Denmark and want to explore the nature near Copenhagen.

What Was the Trail Like?

The trail itself was quite easy to follow, and it was largely well-maintained. We got some beautiful views of the Roskilde Fjord, which looked particularly beautiful in the autumn foliage. For this reason, I absolutely recommend doing this hike if you’re visiting Copenhagen in the fall. 

While largely sunny, it was quite a chilly day. Toward the end of our route, the sky became gray, and it started raining. This is Denmark, of course, and you should always be prepared for rain; when visiting, make sure you dress in layers and have a waterproof jacket. 

Besides passing along the fjord, we also covered quite a lot of forest. There were lots of cows close to the start and finish of this route, which was a nice distraction. 

One thing to keep in mind is that ticks are very common in Denmark. They typically live in areas with tall grass, and there were some parts of the trail where this was the case. I didn’t get any because we did the trail outside of the tick season, but in the summer, you should be careful. Wearing long trousers is a good idea. 

We sat down for a while to have some food, meaning that the trail took us around three hours. I think you could do it faster if you were moving for the whole time, but to be honest, I don’t really see the fun in that. 

Facilities

Along the trail, we found a couple of places where we could sit and have a picnic. There are also a couple of shelters where you can stay for the night if you want the full experience of being in Danish nature. The map below, created by the local tourism board, shows a list of all the shelters in the Fjordlandet region. 

We also found a toilet in the forest, but these were few and far between. Ideally, you should go beforehand; consider stopping in a café or restaurant in Roskilde for some food before starting the trail. 

Exploring Roskilde

After finishing the route, you’ll end up back at Roskilde Harbor. We visited on a Sunday, and by the time we were back in town, everything was closed. 

I’ve been to Roskilde twice at the time of writing, and truth be told, I’ve found the city quite underwhelming. Nonetheless, it is pleasant enough to stroll around for a few hours (I also admit that I am perhaps spoilt by living in Copenhagen). 

The cathedral in Roskilde is one of Denmark’s most impressive churches and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many of the country’s kings and queens are buried at the cathedral. You can enter the building for a fee; ticket information is available here. 

If you get the Copenhagen Card (Discover version), entry to Roskilde Cathedral—in addition to your train fare to and from Roskilde—is included. You can also visit the Ragnarock Museum if you get the Copenhagen Card. 

The square around the cathedral is also nice, and I recommend visiting the park between the church and the harbor. At the harbor, you’ll find the iconic Viking Ship Museum; Roksilde was a very important Viking city and previously the capital of Denmark. 

How to Get to the Roskilde Fjord

The Roskilde Fjord is a very easy day trip from Copenhagen. To get here, you’ll need to take the train from Copenhagen Central Station. Multiple services depart daily, and the journey between Copenhagen and Roskilde takes around 30 minutes. 

You can buy tickets in the DSB app or at the ticket booths at Copenhagen Central Station. I recommend checking in with the DSB app because it’s the easiest expensive option.

If you have the Discover Copenhagen Card, you don’t need to pay again for train tickets as these are already included; you can also visit some attractions in Roskilde, such as the Viking Ship Museum. I wrote a full Copenhagen Card review if you want to do more research before buying. For the Hop card, you will need to pay for a train ticket.

From the station, you’ll then need to walk past the harbor. This should take you around 25 minutes. 

Is This Hike Beginner-Friendly?

In my opinion, the Roskilde Fjord/Boserup Skov hike is quite beginner-friendly. You’ll need decent fitness levels, but the trail itself is largely flat. You can do the hike year-round, but you should keep in mind the limited winter daylight hours. Outside of the summer, you may find parts of this trail quite muddy as well. 

Even though it’s not a long hike, you should still ensure that you have the right clothing. I recommend bringing a sweater and waterproof jacket, regardless of when you visit. Comfortable clothing is also wise, and if you’re visiting in the colder months, use a merino wool baselayer. 

While the Alltrails app isn’t always 100% reliable, we didn’t have any problems on this trail. Moreover, you should have no issues with losing your mobile connection.

A Simple but Beautiful Day Hike Near Copenhagen

The Roskilde Fjord is one of my favorite nature regions in Denmark; I’d say that it’s second behind Møns Klint. While Fjordstien and Skjoldungstierne are two longer routes, covering part of the Roskilde Fjord and going to Boserup Skov is very doable in one morning or afternoon. 

Since it’s so easy to get here from Copenhagen (and not too expensive either), this hiking route is a fantastic addition to your itinerary if you have some extra days. There are plenty of fun things to do in the Danish capital, but escaping the city for a day can also be nice. You don’t need a car to get here, either, which is even better. 

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