National Museum of Denmark

If you want to understand how Denmark became Denmark, start here. The collections run from prehistoric flint tools and Bronze Age burial finds through the Viking Age to the Middle Ages and beyond, with rooms devoted to Danish daily life across centuries. There is also a large children's museum where kids can dress up and play, which makes it a good choice for families. Plan on a couple of hours and pick a single period to focus on rather than trying to see everything.

Talking points

• Collections cover prehistory, Vikings, the Middle Ages and modern life.
• A hands-on children's museum is built into the building.
• Look for the Bronze Age horn-like instruments called lurs.