Aarhus is the second largest city in Denmark after the capital. It is a must stop because of the Viking history hidden in its streets. Today the city is famous for its youthful life and atmosphere, as it is a university city. In this post we tell you all about the things to do and see in Aarhus and many other tips for you to enjoy your visit to the fullest.
Post content
Things to do in Aarhus Denmark
There is a lot to see in Aarhus as the city has managed to combine the best of its Viking tradition and history with modern architecture and art. The city is full of very interesting museums and is generally a very pleasant place to spend a few days as its streets are very lively, especially during the school year. Here is a list of the must-see sights in Aarhus.
1. Aboulevarden and buildings to visit in Aarhus Denmark
Aboulevarden is the most famous promenade in the city. It consists of two pedestrian streets separated by the river. Here you will find a multitude of stores, bars and restaurants with lots of life, especially during the summer as people just sit on the ground having picnics and sunbathing.
On our walk through the city we will also have to see St. Clement’s Cathedral in Aarhus, which is the largest in Denmark and can seat over 1200 people. It is also worth coming to see the town hall, built in concrete and marble in the mid-twentieth century, and climb its tower of 60 meters.
2. Den Gamle By
Den Gamle By is one of the most interesting attractions in Aarhus. It is an open-air museum depicting the life of the city from the 18th century to the 1970s. In the premises you can visit accurate recreations of old stores, dwellings and houses of tradesmen of the time. From December onwards it is dressed up for Christmas and wonderful markets are set up, full of Christmas products and other souvenirs.
The museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and costs 150 DKK. Admission for children under 18 is free. During the winter there are fewer activities available, so it is best to go in summer.
3. Botanical garden
The botanical garden of Aarhus is a perfect place to stroll and unwind for a while. It covers an area of 16 hectares and there you will find a wide variety of plants and a greenhouse. It is also a wonderful place to have a picnic if the weather is nice.
The garden is open daily, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on weekdays and from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on weekends. It is located next to Den Gamle By and admission is free.
4. Aros Kunstmuseum
It is the second most important museum in the country after Copenhagen. In its collection it has pieces by celebrated Danish artists from the 18th century to the present day. Rude or Landstrom are some of the artists presented there. Also in the museum there are children’s rooms where they can entertain the little ones, a cafeteria and a nice bookstore.
The museum is open every day except Monday. Opening hours are 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on weekdays and 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on weekends. The entrance fee is 20€.
5. Other museums in Aarhus
Besides the Aros Kunstmuseum there are many other museums to visit in Aarhus, such as the Kvinde museum, which pays homage to women by telling their story in pursuit of equality and the struggles of the 20th century. Another interesting museum is the Viking museum, which is open daily and costs 30 DKK.
If you have time we also recommend visiting the Besaettelse museum. Its building formerly served as a Gestapo operations center and today tells the story of the German occupation of the city and the Danish resistance. The entrance ticket costs 75 DKK and can be purchased online.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Things to do around Aarhus
Due to its privileged location, from Aarhus we can take many excursions along the coast. In addition, about 30 minutes drive away is the national park of Mols Bjerge, ideal to disconnect from the city. Here are some ideas of excursions you can do around Aarhus.
1. Moesgaard Museum
The most impressive thing about this museum is its modern building, perfectly integrated with the surrounding nature. Moesgaard is one of the most important Viking anthropological museums in the country where you can learn about their history through its anthropological and archaeological exhibits.
From Aarhus it takes 20 minutes by car and 50 minutes by bus (direct line). The museum is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays and until 6:00 pm on weekends. The entrance fee is 170DKK for adults, 120DKK for students and free for children.
2. Mols Bjerge National Park
Just half an hour’s drive away is the Mols Bjerge National Park with 180 square kilometers of land and a wide variety of landscapes. The most spectacular and most famous area is the Mols Hills, which we can walk through while viewing the wide variety of wild plants. It is said that in this park alone can be found more than half of all plant species in Denmark.
Ebeltoft is the closest town to the park, where you will find several castles and mansions to visit. It is a very nice town where we can stay a few days to visit the park. There are many activities to do in Mols Bjierge, either in its coastal or inland area, such as cycling, fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, swimming, hiking or bird watching.
What to do in Aarhus in 1 day
Aarhus is a small city that can easily be visited in one day. If you have in mind to travel around the country, this is the itinerary that we recommend you to do in Aarhus.
To start the day it is best to go to Den Gamle By before it gets crowded and walk around the botanical garden that is next door. At lunchtime we recommend that you go to Aboulevarden, which is the area with more life and better restaurants. On the way you can also visit the largest cathedral in the country and the town hall. If you have the opportunity, we recommend you to climb the tower to appreciate the view of Aarhus from the top.
After lunch and a stroll along the harbor it’s time to visit the museums. There’s a great variety throughout the city, but the one most worthwhile is the Aros Kunstmuseum. This is the one that closes later, so you can always see some others first.
How to get to Aarhus Denmark
Although there is an airport just 45km from Aarhus the truth is that the prices of flights are quite expensive, so the best option is to fly to Copenhagen. From the mainland there are frequent and quite affordable flights to the capital of Denmark. Once there, you will have several options to get to Aarhus.
The most convenient option is probably to rent a car, especially if we are going to travel around the country. If on the other hand, we prefer not to worry about the car, then the best alternative is the bus. From Copenhagen airport there is a bus to Aarhus that costs 16€ and takes about 4 hours. Another option is to go from the center of the capital. There you can take either the bus or the train. In total you save about € 6 compared to the previous option, however the total journey takes a little longer.
Best accommodations in Aarhus
Aarhus does not stand out for its wide range of accommodation, so we have prepared this list to help you find accommodation to suit all budgets.
- Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel Aarhus: is a 4-star hotel with all kinds of amenities and the best location. The hotel has its own bar and restaurant with international offerings and training center. The price per night starts at 140€.
- Cabinn Aarhus: a simple two-star hotel in a very good location, just 3 minutes from the harbor and less than a kilometer from the station. The price ranges from €90 per night.
- Danhostel Aarhus: this is a hostel located next to the beach in a green space. It has a shared kitchen and several living rooms. It costs 60€ per night.
- ApartHotel Faber: these are small apartments with their own kitchen and bathroom. Some of them have a terrace and check-in can be done automatically at any time. The night costs 120€.
Where to eat in Aarhus
In recent years the gastronomic offer in Aarhus has flourished giving rise to a variety of new culinary concepts and interesting options from Michelin-starred restaurants. However, in the same city you can still find traditional Danish restaurants and other more economical options as we show below.
- Klokken Aarhus: is a nice riverside restaurant specializing in traditional Danish cuisine. The dishes are hearty and offer a wide range of beers. The price is around €40 per person.
- Raadhuus Kafeen: Like the previous restaurant, Raadhuus Kafeen also specializes in local cuisine, which they serve in large quantities and at an affordable price. You can eat and drink very well for less than 40€.
- Freddies To-Go: For less than €15 you can eat one of the best burgers in town. The only drawback is that it is a food-truck and you won’t have anywhere to sit.
- Pho C&P: is a cozy little Vietnamese restaurant where you can eat at a very good price, for less than 15€. The specialty of the house are the soups, which are delicious.
Travel tips to Aarhus
- Tap water is drinkable throughout the country.
- The official currency of Denmark is the Danish krone.
- We recommend that you exchange money before you set out on your trip, as it will work out cheaper.
- As European citizens we do not need a visa to enter the country, the ID card or passport is enough.
- Please note that stores close at 18:00h and on weekends at noon.
- It is mandatory to have winter tires in the car during this time and lights should always be on.
- Hedge yourself against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
- It is not customary to tip in Denmark.
- The best time to travel is between May and September.
Organize your trip to Aarhus
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
- Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes presented in the post)
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travelers what to see in Aarhus.
If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
Frequently asked questions when traveling to Aarhus
Aarhus has its own airport 45km away, however, it is often cheaper to fly to Copenhagen, where flights arrive more frequently
In general it is best to travel to Denmark during the summer, when the weather is milder and there are more daylight hours. However, the best time not to encounter many tourists is early spring or autumn.
No Comments