10 Best Things to Do in Aarhus, Denmark

For all my travels through Europe, Scandinavia is one region that I don’t get to experience as much as I would like. Which is why I was so excited to travel to Denmark early this year. Other cities in Denmark like Aarhus were high on my list since I was only really familiar with Copenhagen.

Found over in central Jutland, visiting Aarhus quickly gave me a more well-rounded understanding of Denmark. It certainly helped that the best things to do in Aarhus give you insights into the city’s culture, history and way of life.

I feel like I was able to fit an awful lot in during my 2 days in Aarhus. Even in the cool April weather, I was more than happy to roam the city streets sightseeing. And yet even with two days up my sleeve, there’s still plenty more I didn’t have time for. But it’s not just the sights of Aarhus that get undersold.

This seems like a truly liveable city, the kind of place where the city atmosphere is one of its best selling points. That’s hard to convey in an Aarhus travel blog post, but hopefully, you’ll be able to see why I liked Aarhus.

1. Den Gamle By

For visitors to the city, one place that needs to be on their itinerary is Den Gamle By. Undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Aarhus, this historic open-air museum takes you right through Denmark’s history. Den Gamle By is its own little town and is broken up into three periods, 1864, 1927 and 1974. To get around the museum you’ll walk down streets, through squares and cross bridges – it’s huge.

Hands down my favourite part of the museum was the 1864 section. That’s because through it you’ll find historic half-timbered homes and buildings relocated from all across Denmark. It feels like its own little quaint town and is incredibly picturesque. Hell, there’s even an old-fashioned bakery here. This part of the museum takes up roughly half of the space there, partly thanks to Torvet, the life-sized town square.

Moving forward into the 1927 and 1974 really feels like you’re gradually moving through history. I was genuinely impressed by how subtle the changes were at times. When you reach the end of the park, you’ll reach a bunch of exhibitions that are pretty much museums in their own right. The Danish Poster Museum and the Jewellery Box both left me impressed, but the fact that the Aarhus Story exhibit is very clever too.

2. Møllestien Lane

Denmark is known for its quaint little houses and in Aarhus you’ll find them in Møllestien Lane. Just west of the city centre, this cobblestone lane is the prettiest street in Aarhus. Along the lane, there are adorable little two-storey houses, alternating in various colours. There’s not more to it than that, but if you want a picturesque spot for a photo, this is it.

3. Aarhus Cathedral

Moving around the city, it’s hard to miss the spire of the Aarhus Cathedral. Sitting off Store Torv, there’s almost a wide ring of space around the cathedral, already giving you a sense of how important it is. Dating back to 1300, it’s long been a major landmark of the city.

One of many key sights to see in Aarhus for visitors, the cathedral is worth a little bit of your time. Inside you’ll find an odd balance of humble white walls and elaborate gothic vaulted ceilings, making it hard to tell whether the cathedral is meant to be modest or impressive. What is impressive though is that the cathedral is the tallest in Denmark. Come summer you can climb up the bell tower, with another great viewpoint waiting for you.

4. Viking Museum

Come to Denmark and you’re naturally going to find a whole lot of attractions related to the Vikings. Well, in Aarhus you have the small underground Viking Museum. The museum highlights the Viking history of Aarhus, seeing as it was Vikings that founded the city back in the 8th century.

A clever element of the museum is that even though it’s under the street level, it sits level with where the city was when it was founded. Artefacts help explain the city’s history from that era, but also has recreations like runic stones and a scale town replica to lend more insight. It may not be a huge museum but it’s worthwhile if you’re interested in the Viking Age at all.

5. ARoS Aarhus Art Museum

As soon as you see the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, it’s hard not to be intrigued. A building with a rainbow halo will kind of do that. But if that’s the hook that draws you in, then it’s all the interesting modern art exhibits that really keep you there. Normally, I’m not much of a fan of modern art but the ARoS Museum was a great time and definitely gets you thinking. If you want to see the best of Aarhus, then this modern art museum needs to be a stop on your itinerary.

You begin a visit by heading straight for the roof. That’s where you’ll find the Rainbow Panorama, a circular viewpoint tinted with different shades of light. Not just great for photos, it makes you see the city in a new way. Heading down the levels, you get to see a whole string of temporary exhibitions.

Exhibits while I was there ranged from a 5-metre-high sculpture entitled “Boy“, a demolished childhood home and street signs from beggars. The highlight though was the “Tomorrow is the Question” exhibit with its immersive audiovisual displays. I really couldn’t recommend this museum more.

6. Åboulevarden Riverfront

One of the first places I experienced upon arriving in Aarhus was Åboulevarden, a pedestrian boulevard shouldering the Aarhus river. Carving through the city centre, Åboulevarden feels like the most important thoroughfare for city life. With department stores, restaurants and bars all along it, the boulevard feels like the modern heart of Aarhus.

But it’s actually quite a curious mix of old and new thanks to the contrast of traditional buildings and the stone geometric patterns of the riverfront. This blend really gives it a different feel to somewhere like Copenhagen, which again helps differentiate it.

7. Latin Quarter

No matter which city I’m in, one of my favourite things to do is simply wander. No plan, just put one foot after the other and see where they take me. That’s pretty much how I learnt about the Latin Quarter of Aarhus.

What’s interesting about the Latin Quarter is the balance of old and youthful. While it may be one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city, it’s also packed with trendy cafes and restaurants, plus plenty of students milling about.

Rather than hunting down landmarks, in the Latin Quarter it’s all about enjoying the local atmosphere and taking it slow for a bit. For a lunch recommendation here, I suggest trying Mor Anna, the sandwich I had there was fantastic!

8. Aarhus Waterfront

Wherever you go in Denmark, water is never far away. Just a short walk from the city centre and you find the waterfront harbours and docks of Aarhus. This wasn’t a part of the city I spent all that much time with, but even that was enough to recognize the waterfront’s promise.

Clearly recently renovated, you can see it in the promenade and interesting architectural landmarks like Dokk1. Northern Europe likes to put creative, modern architecture near its harbours and Aarhus faithfully follows that trend.

9. Marselisborg Palace

You know that as soon as I see a castle on a map that I’m going to try to visit it, right? So when I saw that the Marselisborg Palace was just on the edge of the city, I knew I had to go. One bus ride later and I found myself outside the palace gates, only they were closed. Marselisborg Palace is actually a royal residence and was currently in use the day I went.

Even if the royal family is in residence as they were when I visited, you still have the lovely park opposite to visit. The Mindeparken is a beautiful park that runs down from the palace to the waterfront. It has walking trails through it to special little gardens, lined with cherry blossom trees that were in full bloom in mid-April. At the park’s centre lies the Marselisborgmonumentet, a war memorial to Danish soldiers that is both solemn and touching at the same time.

10. … And Everything Else

With only 2 days in Aarhus, there were naturally things that I missed. Like many people I’m sure, I underestimated just how much the city has to offer tourists. But even beyond its attractions, Aarhus seems like a very liveable city. I think you’d be content here just experiencing what local life is like digging into the local food scene and entertainment.

As a major cultural hub, there are many other museums in Aarhus that I simply didn’t have time for. One of the city’s most acclaimed ones is the Moesgaard Museum, with its interactive exhibits on archaeology and anthropology. Another important institution is the Women’s Museum in Denmark as it discusses themes of gender, equality and sexuality. There are many, many more to the point that you could and should allow a whole day for museums in Aarhus.

Tips for Visiting Aarhus

To make the most of your time in Aarhus sightseeing, there are a few things worth knowing. Something I highly recommend looking into is the Aarhus Card. This city card includes not only free public transport use but also so many of Aarhus’ best attractions. Just using it for a few attractions like the ARoS Museum and Den Gamle By, plus unlimited public transport, and it’s totally worth it.

Spending a few days in Aarhus, you’re going to need to give some thought to accommodation. Looking at places to stay in Aarhus you’ll find mostly hotels and apartments, with not much in the way of budget options. Denmark isn’t cheap after all. One of the more affordable options is the Cabinn Aarhus where I stayed. It’s nothing fancy, but still perfectly comfortable accommodation and super central within the city.

The last bit of advice concerns transport and how to get to Aarhus. Whether you’re coming from Copenhagen, elsewhere in Denmark or maybe even Hamburg in Germany, you should have no problem finding connections. Your two main choices with public transport are Flixbus and Denmark’s train network, both of which are good options. My advice is to check both and see which is cheaper and more convenient for you.

Does Aarhus seem like the kind of place you’d like to visit on your next Denmark trip? Where else would you recommend visiting that isn’t mentioned in this Aarhus travel blog post? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

*Disclosure: I received an Aarhus City Card courtesy of Visit Aarhus. As always, opinions are completely and genuinely my own.

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