Roskilde train station is a major stop between Copenhagen and the regions of Denmark located to its west. With a population of 48,721 (1 January 2014), the city is an economic centre for the region.

Roskilde has a pedestrian street running down the centre of the city, with many shops, restaurants, and cafes. Several tourist attractions draw visitors from around Denmark and the world. The local university has an education program that invites international students to attend for a year.

According to Adam of Bremen and Saxo Grammaticus, in the 980s, Harald Bluetooth built a church and a royal estate in Roskilde. Saxo Grammaticus associates the name Roskilde with the legendary King Roar who possibly lived there in the 6th century. Harald was buried at the church which is on the same site as today's Roskilde Cathedral.

In 1020, Roskilde became a bishopric, making it the church's most important town in Denmark. Absalon, the Danish bishop, had a brick church built there in 1170 which later became the cathedral. In the following years, under Absalon's influence, many other churches were built in the town.