About Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church
At Jelling, King Gorm the Old raised a runestone in memory of his wife Thyra, and his son Harald Bluetooth added a much larger stone declaring that he had won all Denmark and Norway and made the Danes Christian. Harald's stone carries a great beast entwined with a serpent and the earliest image of Christ in Scandinavia, earning it the nickname of Denmark's birth certificate.
Two enormous burial mounds flank a small whitewashed church, and excavations revealed a huge stone ship setting and a palisade enclosing the royal site. The landscape captures a moment when old and new faiths overlapped. Kongernes Jelling, the visitor centre, uses interactive displays to explain Viking Age beliefs.
What to see
- Harald Bluetooth's runestone
- Gorm's runestone
- North and South mounds
- Outline of the stone ship setting
- Kongernes Jelling visitor centre
Visiting Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church: practical guide
- Best time
- May to September
- Hours
- Monument area open at all times; visitor centre usually 10:00 to 17:00
- Entry
- Free
- Dress code
- Casual and weather ready
- Nearest airport
- Billund Airport (BLL), 20 km
Tips from experienced pilgrims
- The stones stand in glass cases for protection
- Trains from Vejle reach Jelling in about 15 minutes
- Combine with LEGOLAND and Billund nearby
Etiquette for visitors
Guidance drawn from Old Norse Religion tradition. Always follow signs and local custodians.
- Do not climb burial mounds unless paths invite it; they are graves.
- Leave rune stones untouched, as lichen removal and rubbing cause damage.
- Respect modern Heathen offerings you may find at some sites.
- Dress for changeable weather at outdoor sites in Scandinavia and Iceland.
- Follow museum rules when viewing ship burials and grave goods.
Location map
Open in OpenStreetMap · Get directions
Frequently asked questions
Where is Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church?
Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church is in Jelling, Southern Denmark, Denmark, Europe. GPS coordinates: 55.7563, 9.4197. The nearest airport is Billund Airport (BLL), 20 km.
What is the best time to visit Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church?
May to September
Is there an entry fee for Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church?
Free Opening hours: Monument area open at all times; visitor centre usually 10:00 to 17:00
What should I wear when visiting Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church?
Casual and weather ready
Which religion is Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church sacred to?
Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church is sacred to Old Norse Religion, Christianity, Heathenry. Archaeological ruins. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
