Aarhus city guide: What to seedoand fall in love with in Denmark’s second-largest city
Let’s get you sounding like a local: it’s pronounced “Or-hoose,” not “Are-hoose.” (You’re already fitting in.) Aarhus might be Denmark’s second-largest citybut it punches well above its weight in charm. With walkable streetsbold designgood coffee and a bridge that leads nowhere.
Second city but not second best
When we say thiswe say it as a compliment – Aarhus is tiny! It’s one of Scandinavia’s oldest citiesthriving since the Viking Age and still making history… just with better coffee and with the remarkable feels of a cosy neighbourhoodwhere all of the biggest sights and attractions really are within walking distance of each other. (We promise.) Despite this local feelAarhus has a few distinct and exciting districts which each give you a different kind of city break experience. It just means you’ll be able to explore them all in one visit!
Aarhus has an iconic harbour
Once upon a timea trip down to the harbour in Aarhus would’ve brought you up close to some hardy fishermen and the ferry out of Aarhus. These daysthe harbour is a major attraction in itself where you can get up close to some of the city’s most exciting attractionslike the bustling Dokk 1 Cultural Centreor iconic buildings like the Iceberg at the new Aarhus Ø district. You can also swim at the harbour baths (designed by Bjarke Ingels)something we Danes love to doorjust as in Copenhagen and Odenseyou can take a green kayak out for freeas long as you bring back some trash from your trip.
There are famous sights all along Aarhus’ coast
The sights worth seeing extend all along Aarhus’ sandy coastlineinto the woodlands around the city. Just south of the city centreyou can visit the summer home of Denmark’s Queen Margrethe. If she’s homeyou can watch the changing of the guards every day at noon. If she’s notyou can explore Marselisborg Castle’s beautiful rose gardenswhich you can easily reach by bike in around 10 minutes from the centre of Aarhus. Close by is the extremely photogenic Infinite Bridge (Den Uendelige Bro). And if you hear screams coming from the woodsit’s probably just crazy people trying one of the world’s highest freefall rides at the Tivoli Friheden fairground.
Old world meets vibrant modern living in Aarhus
Two of Aarhus’ biggest attractions couldn’t be more worlds apart. ARoS Aarhus Art Museum has become one of Aarhus’ most iconic spotswith its dazzling rooftop sculpture you can walk insideYour rainbow panorama by Olafur Eliasson. For old-world charmhead to the Old Town Open Air Museum. It’s one of Denmark’s biggest attractions and a place where you can literally walk through timesoaking up the buildingsatmosphere and ways of life from Denmark’s history.
Lots of Aarhus’ best bits are free
Just near the Old Town Museum you can wind down and enjoy the extensive parks and tropical houses of Aarhus Botanical Gardens. They’re free to visit and you can either picnic there or grab a bite at the café. And it’s actually possible to get around the biggest sights in the city for free. Aarhus has a free city bike schemewhere you can pick up a bike to explore without paying from one of the 56 stands around the city.
A perfect day in Aarhus
Aarhus is now a real foodie city
How about dinner in an old bus garage? Just hear us out…street food markets have been popping up all over Denmark and in more and more outlandish locations! Aarhus’ Street Food Market is no exception and it’s a great place to eat elbow-to-elbow with Danes and other visitors. If you fancy splashing outAarhus has evolved to become a Michelin-starred citywhere you can eat at some of the best restaurants in Denmark. Want to explore and try food at the same time? The Food Walk has you coveredwith a number of different toursyou can sample all the best foods in Aarhus with these lovely guided tours.
Picture-worthy things to do in Aarhus
You’ll want your camera at the ready in Aarhus. It’s a very pretty place! One of the most-photographed places is the cobbled streetMøllestien. The colourful buildings will certainly brighten your day. If you’re on the hunt for more iconic buildingshead to Aarhus City Hall with its famous clock towerdesigned by legendary Arne Jacobsen. A little further afield is the ground-breaking building and collections at Moesgaard Museuma sight to behold and a fascinating day out. It's not just an incredible museum about human civilisationit's also one of the world's most energy-efficient museumsbuilt with sustainability in mind from the start. And the building is pretty cool.
Aarhus is a Danish design hotspot
If it’s Danish design you’re afterAarhus is a great place to grab it. It’s one of the best places to shop in Scandinavia and a walk around the cosy Latin Quarter is a mustnot least for the atmosphere. A shopping trip to Aarhus will also lead you to two fantastic city viewing points. The first is on top of the Godsbanen centrewhere you can also see local artisans at work. The second is the rooftop at Salling department store. Kick off the weekend here with cocktails and music with the whole of Aarhus as your backdrop.
How to get to Aarhus
Aarhus is close to both Aarhus Airport (surprise surprise!) and Billund Airport. You can take the train to Aarhus from Copenhagen or drive in just over 3 hours. It’s also possible to get the ferry to Aarhus from Zealand.
