22+ Best Things to do in Aarhus Denmark: The Ultimate Guide

We live in a very small town in Denmark called Billund just over an hour away from Aarhus Denmark. However, even though Billund is small, it’s totally worth visiting because it’s the birthplace of LEGO (check out my guide to The LEGO House if you are thinking of visiting).

Anyways, since we live in such a small town near Aarhus, we have taken our fair share of day trips to Aarhus when we want to get out, eat some better food and have some fun. We’ve done so many of the best things to do in Aarhus and explored all over the city.

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Aarhus has a very youthful, urban vibe and I like to think of the city as Copenhagen’s younger sibling (it’s the next biggest city in Denmark next to Copenhagen after all). You’ll find loads of cyclists, fun food halls, colorful buildings, a lovely pedestrian street, and even a palace (all just like Copenhagen).

I’m here to give you my recommendations for your day of Aarhus sightseeing based on our many, many visits to the city. And if you’re someone that loves a good guided tour, be sure to check out these walking tours in Aarhus. You can choose from a historical walking tour, a street art and rooftops tour, or a customized private tour of Aarhus.

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🏠 Accomodations: Booking,Expedia,VRBO,Airbnb
🌎 Travel Insurance: World Nomads

Best Time of Year to Visit Aarhus Denmark

In my opinion, the best times of year to visit Aarhus are the months of June-August and December. The summertime in Denmark is quite pleasant-you can usually expect high temperatures in the low 70°s F occasionally dipping into the 60°s F and topping out in the 80°s F.

That being said, Denmark is also known for cloudy, rainy days that can appear at any time of year (summer included). The summer months still can get their fair share of rainy, cloudy weather and you’ll want to be prepared for that.

My second favorite time of year in Denmark is December/Christmas time. The weather is cold, cloudy, and dark, however, Aarhus lights up with white twinkle lights and other Scandinavian Christmas decorations. There are small Christmas markets in Aarhus at various times of the month and other special holiday-related activities.

You’ll want to pack all your typical cold weather gear like a warm coat, boots, hat, scarf, and gloves.

How Many Days do you need to see Aarhus, Denmark?

You can get a great feel for Aarhus (and see most of the top sights) with only one day in Aarhus. However, to really see everything, you’ll want to spend 2-3 days in Aarhus.

That being said, Aarhus also makes a great day trip if you are visiting Billund, Denmark for The LEGO House or Legoland. Or the city is also a great stop on a Denmark road trip from Copenhagen to Skagen.

Where to stay in Aarhus

The Latin Quarter is definitely the best area to stay in Aarhus. You’ll be centrally located and able to walk to almost everything in the city and just a short bus ride away from anything further out.

Two hotels in Aarhus that are great options are Hotel Oasia Aarhus and Scandic The Mayor.

Hotel Oasia Aarhus is a beautiful, central hotel with free breakfast and stylish rooms. It’s definitely where we’d choose to stay on our next overnighter to Aarhus.

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However, the Scandic The Mayor Hotel is also a very central, nice hotel (with breakfast as an added option) and it is slightly less expensive than the previous hotel I mentioned. But maybe once. you add on the price of breakfast it’d end up being about the same.

On one of our visits to Aarhus, we stayed in this unique Airbnb on the harbor. It’s not exactly central, but it’s also not too far off. It’s a unique, beautiful place to stay with water views and you can still easily walk to most of the things to do. in the city.

Airport Near Aarhus Denmark

Aarhus Airport: Aarhus is actually home to its own airport (albeit small). However, the Aarhus airport does have services to multiple European cities so you may be able to catch a flight right into Aarhus.

Billund Airport: The next closest option is the Billund Airport which is just one hour away via car from Aarhus. The Billund Airport has services to all over the world and is a great airport option if you want to visit Aarhus.

Copenhagen Airport: By far the biggest airport in Denmark (and the most popular) is the Copenhagen airport. Copenhagen is just three hours from Aarhus with multiple easy ways to get there (see points below). If it’s your first time in Denmark, I definitely recommend seeing Copenhagen before continuing your journey to Aarhus.

How to get from Copenhagen to Aarhus Denmark

There are a few different ways to get from Copenhagen to Aarhus Denmark, however, all of the ways take ~3 hours. You can take the train from Copenhagen to Aarhus, drive on land, or take a ferry. You can see a map with all three options by clicking here.

How to get from Copenhagen to Aarhus by Train:

By your train tickets ahead of time from dsb.dk ( the further in advance the cheaper the ticket). You’ll want to start from Copenhagen Central Station (København H) and end at Aarhus Central Station (Aarhus H). Or conversely, you can start your journey at the Copenhagen Airport (Lufthavn) and end at Aarhus Central Station (Aarhus H). Overall, the journey will take between 2.5 and 3 hours.

To make your life easier, be sure to pick a train ticket that is a non-stop route with no switching of trains.

If you have the time, my recommendation would be to make the drive on land from Copenhagen to Aarhus (or Aarhus to Copenhagen) so that you can see some of Denmark’s top sights along the way (like the Roskilde and the Roskilde Viking Ship Museum, Egeskov Castle and The LEGO House).

How to get from Copenhagen to Aarhus by Ferry:

If you want to do a little less driving (even though travel time is almost identical) you may want to take the Sjaellands Odde Ferry. It’s about a 1-hour and 20-minute drive to the ferry followed by a 1-hour and 30-minute ferry ride.

You’ll want to check with your rental car company to make sure taking a ferry is ok- sometimes it’s not allowed.

How to get from Copenhagen to Aarhus by Car (No Ferry):

As I mentioned before, if you have the time to make a few stops along the way or even spend an additional night or two in Odense or Billund, I recommend driving from Copenhagen to Aarhus. There’s a lot more to see in Denmark besides these two big cities and you may as well see some of it while you’re there!

The drive is pretty straightforward- just throw it into Google Maps and you’ll get there 😉.

How to get from Copenhagen to Aarhus by Flixbus:

Another great option for getting to Aarhus from Copenhagen is to book a ticket on FlixBus. FlixBus is a popular chartered bus company offering cheap tickets all over Europe. A ride on FlixBus from Copenhagen to Aarhus will take about 3 hours and 40 minutes.

Guided Tours in Aarhus:

• 2-hour Historical Walking Tour of Aarhus
• 2-hour Street Art and Rooftops Tour of Aarhus
• 2-6 hour Private Aarhus Tour with a Local

Aarhus Denmark Map: What to do in Aarhus

*Use this interactive map to help your Aarhus, Denmark itinerary. Click the arrow on the left-hand side to see a pop-out list of all the map pins. Or click on the rectangle on the top right-hand side to open the map in a new tab.*

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22 amazing things to see in Aarhus Denmark

Here is an in-depth view of the 22 best things to do in Aarhus. But remember, if you want a guided tour, check out all of the Aarhus tours available on Viator. You can read reviews and book a tour that works best for you!

1. Visit the open-air museum of Den Gamle By

In my (oh so humble) opinion Den Gamle By is the top thing to do in Aarhus! What the name literally means is ‘the old town’. It is a collection of over 75 historic homes and buildings from ALL over Denmark.

These buildings have been carefully relocated to this open-air museum in Aarhus so that you can see first-hand what life looked like hundreds of years ago!

Den Gamle By is home to buildings as old as the 1500s. But if you are more of a modern-day historian, you will definitely love the new addition focusing on the 1920s-1970s.

Almost all of the buildings are open and decorated in period decor with additional information about what life was like back then. During most months of the year, actors dressed in period costumes contribute to the atmosphere at Den Gamle By.

Even if you are not usually into history and/or museums, I still recommend Den Gamle By! The old half-timbered buildings and cobblestones streets make you feel like you have stepped into a real-life quaint European village (because basically, you have).

I can’t imagine the work it took to successfully relocate all of these buildings from all over Denmark to create this perfect village. For an extra special time, visit Den Gamle By during the Christmas season!

While there, I recommend stopping by the old Bageri (bakery) to taste delicious Danish goodies made from historical recipes! I recommend buying a whole bag full of different pastries and taking a break to sample the whole bunch!

2. Walk through a rainbow at ARoS Art Museum

One of THE top places to visit in Aarhus is the ARoS Art Museum. On the roof of the art museum is a very cool art installation of a panoramic, glass rainbow that you can walk through with amazing views of the city.

The ArRoS Rainbow Panorama is a permanent exhibition created by the world-famous, Danish-Icelandic artist, Olafur Eliasson. Olafur Eliasson is known for his large-scale art installations all over the world. Which, usually include light, water, and air as major components of the piece.

You will get to walk through a rainbow-colored glass tunnel that circles the top of the art museum 15 stories above the city (which is tall for Aarhus!). You can capture perfect Insta pics and unique cityscape photos!

And, no worries if you are scared of heights! The floor is opaque in most places making it not a dizzying experience.

Once you have checked out the Rainbow Panorama, see if any other exhibitions in the museum interest you! You can find current exhibitions, opening hours, and prices here.

On a nice day, soak up the sun on the rooftop terrace while you snack on ice cream and other goodies from the little rooftop stand!

3. Visit Møllestien, the most colorful street in Aarhus

Møllestien is a very short but very picturesque street in Aarhus. This little street embodies everything you want to see in old European architecture.

It’s a cobblestoned road with lots of parked bicycles, vines, hollyhocks, and adorable colorful homes.

Most of the homes on Møllestien were built in the 1700s, however, the history of the road itself goes clear back to Viking times. Remember that people do live in these homes, so try to be respectful of their privacy when taking any photos.

4. Window shop in the Latin Quarter- Åboulevarden, Ryesgade & Søndergade (Strøget)

I love wandering the Latin Quarter in Aarhus. Basically, you’ll find a few different pedestrian streets lined with cafes, cute local shops and large department stores. If you want to know exactly which streets to head to, try putting any of these streets into Google Maps: Åboulevarden, Ryesgade & Søndergade.

Åboulevarden is a super cute area right along the canal in Aarhus. Ryesgade & Søndergade make up the Strøget which you may hear of. Strøget basically just means the shopping district.

5. Stand on glass over the walking street at the Salling Rooftop

By far one of my favorite free things to do in Aarhus is to visit the Salling Rooftop (but I’m a total sucker for a good view). The Salling Rooftop is somewhat of a hidden gem (although it’s quickly becoming one of the top Aarhus tourist attractions while still being enjoyed by locals) and it really needs to be added to your list of Aarhus must-see places.

The Salling rooftop is a beautiful rooftop garden area and lookout from the top of the Salling department store on one of the pedestrian/shopping streets in Aarhus (Søndergade).

There are cozy places to relax, a glass greenhouse for getting drinks, and my favorite is the glass walkway that juts out over the walking street. You could spend a couple of hours up here hanging out and having drinks, or it could be as quick as 10 minutes.

And great news for all you stroller parents out there- they’ve got an elevator with direct access to the rooftop.

6. Take a break by the canal at vadestedet

In the heart of the Latin Quarter, along the canal on Åboulevarden, you’ll find Vadestedet which is an area right next to the canal with spots to sit and relax and enjoy the canal views.

In the summer months, you may even see people getting in the water to paddle board or kayak from Vadestedet.

7. Marvel at the Aarhus Cathedral

If you are wandering the Latin Quarter in Aarhus, you’ll probably find your way to the Aarhus Cathedral. The Aarhus Cathedral ( Skt. Clemens Kirke) was started in the late 1100s (but radically rebuilt in the 1500s) and is the longest church in Denmark.

If old churches are your thing, you can even book a tour of the Aarhus Cathedral. Just check out the church’s website here.

8. Learn about Vikings at the Aarhus Vikingemuseet

If Moesgaard Museum seems too big or you don’t want to travel to it, then you may want to check out the Aarhus Vikingemuseet. The Aarhus Vikingemuseet is a branch of the Moesgaard Museum that’s located in the city center of Aarhus.

It’s a small museum located in the basement of bank Nordea (a very unassuming building) in the Latin Quarter. One of their exhibitions is focused on the Viking artifacts that were found directly under where the exhibit stands.

Entrance to the museum is only around $5 (30 dkk) for adults and it’s free for children. It’s definitely, a great option if you want to learn a little bit about the Vikings in Aarhus but you are short on time.

9. Stroll through the Aarhus Botanical Gardens and Greenhouses

If you are wondering what to do in Aarhus Denmark for a chill and relaxing time, check out the Aarhus Botanical Garden. The botanical garden is a beautiful green space and one of the largest parks in all of Aarhus.

You can spend the afternoon walking the grounds, smelling the roses, and exploring the unique tropical houses. The gardens are located on a hill just above Den Gamle By so it’s easy to visit both one right after the other.

The tropical houses at the botanical gardens feature four different climate zones. Each zone is unique and beautiful. The final and biggest zone, the tropical zone, has a large treehouse to climb and butterflies fluttering around (very fun for kids).

Outside, the botanical garden has many beautiful areas with benches and tables and makes for a great place for a picnic lunch. Also, if you have kiddos that need to get some wiggles out, there is a super fun, large playground right near the greenhouses.

10. Snap a pic of the Iceberg (Isbjerget)

If you love architecture, then you will definitely want to visit Isbjerget (the Iceberg) which is a super unique apartment building along the Aarhus harbor in the area called Aarhus Ø. This whole Aarhus Ø area is becoming quite the spot for new architecture and it makes for a lovely walk along the harbor.

The pointed triangular shapes of the buildings combined with the blue balconies make the building appear as an iceberg breaking up and jutting out of the water. It’s a pretty stunning building!

Also right next to the Isbjerget is the tallest building in Denmark called Lighthouse 2.0 (soon to be beaten out by another building under construction in Aarhus). It’s quite an impactful building as there is nothing even close to it in height anywhere near.

11. Go swimming in the Harbor Bath

One of the most unique things about Aarhus (and Copenhagen) is that the harbor is clean enough to swim in. And Aarhus has a creating an amazing harbor bath where you can do just that.

The harbor bath is a triangular floating complex with a 50-meter-long swimming pool, a circular pool with a diving platform, a small children’s pool, and two saunas. There is also an elevated walkway, with great views of the pools and harbor.

The crazy thing is that you can even take a winter dip in the harbor bath if you’d like (winter bathing is quite popular in Denmark). You can dip in the water and run to the saunas to warm up and dry off. I have yet to try it but I hope to make the plunge sometime.

You can see the various opening hours here (they change throughout the year). For the largest open window and the greatest chance of warm weather, try visiting the harbor bath in July or August.

12. Try Wakeboarding in the harbor at the Aarhus Watersports C0mplex

Wakeboarding and Denmark are not usually two things that are said in the same sentence, but it is if you are planning a holiday in Aarhus. The Aarhus Watersports Complex is located right next to the Aarhus harbor bath and is one of the most unique things to do in Aarhus.

You can wakeboard, waterski, or kneeboard while attached to a line strung between two cable towers. If you already know what you are doing, tricks off of the jumps floating in the water.

13. Let the kiddos play at Dokk 1

Dokk 1 is an amazingly large library and citizen center in Aarhus. You may not think of visiting a city’s library when traveling, but if you are visiting Aarhus with kids, Dokk 1 is a must-do activity.

First of all, you’ll find multiple play areas (think like 7-8 large play structures) located on the deck circling the entire library. There are huge climbing structures, a big slide, balance activities, and more. Plus, since it’s located outside, you can get some great views of the harbor while you watch your kids play.

But don’t worry, cause even if the weather is poor, you can go inside the library and find even more play areas in the children’s section of the library. We usually do a loop on the playgrounds outside then head inside to finish playing.

14. Cool off in the ‘Endless Connection’ fountain along the Aarhus waterfront

If you’re lucky enough to be in Aarhus with hot weather, be sure to head down to the Aarhus waterfront to cool down in the fountain called Endless Connection. It’s a major hit with kids, plus you get pretty views of the Aarhus harbor.

15. Visit the Royal Family’s Residence- Marselisborg Palace

Marselisborg Palace is the summer and Christmas residence of the Danish royal family (at other times they live in Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen). If you visit when the Royal family is not residing here, you can explore the palace grounds (including the Queen’s rose garden).

However, if you are visiting in the summer are those areas are closed, you can still visit the Memorial Park located just below the palace grounds which has beautiful cherry blossoms in May and June.

But something special about visiting when the Royal family is there is that you can watch the Changing of the Guard every day at noon.

16. Walk on the Infinity Bridge (Den Uendelige Bro)

Although Aarhus is the second-largest city in Denmark, you are still not that far from some beautiful nature opportunities. Very close to Marselisborg Palace, you’ll find the Infinity Bridge (Den Uendelige Bro) which is a large circular dock going over Aarhus Bay.

The idea here is that you can walk in circles forever on this bridge. Or you can enjoy the beach or a relaxing walk through the trees. You can get to this area from the Aarhus city center via bus in 25-30 minutes.

17. Feed the deer in the Marselisborg Deer Park (Dyrehave)

Right near the Infinity Bridge is the Marselisborg Deer Park which is a beautiful area to wander and get a feel for the nature of Denmark. However, the highlight may be that (as the name implies) there are cute little deers wandering the park that you are welcome to feed carrots or apples.

This is obviously a highlight with little kids and a great thing to do if you want to visit Marselisborg Palace and the Infinity Bridge.

18. See the sailboats in Aarhus Marina (Lystbådehavn)

The Aarhus Marina is a very picturesque marina with every type of boat from small old fishing boats to large beautiful yachts. It’s a great place to take a stroll or you can even rent SUP from The Surf Agency located at the marina.

The Surf Agency also has a hot tub and sauna you can book if you need some warming up on a cold day.

A little secret about this area is that there is a lovely small, hidden beach at the end of the marina. If you’re looking to sit by the water or to let your kiddos play for a bit- this little beach is a great option. You can’t find this beach on Google Maps, so be sure to follow this pin to find it.

There is free parking by the marina which you wouldn’t expect- and it’s only a short walk to the beach from there.

19. Get your thrills at Tivoli Friheden

Tivoli Friheden is an amusement park located right in the heart of Aarhus. If you are looking for thrills, cute rides, and sweet treats it is one of the top things to do in Aarhus.

A great thing about Tivoli Friheden is that there are plenty of rides to satisfy everyone in the group! We went with our toddler and were able to have hours of fun. Also, we took turns going on big kid/adult rides that our little babe couldn’t go on.

If you are an adrenaline junkie, you must try out the Sky Tower! The Sky Tower is a 165 ft (50 m) free fall into a net on your back. And I mean free fall. No ropes, no bungee cord… nothing! It is insane to watch these people get dropped and fall over 100 feet into a huge net that lowers them to the ground.

If you like spinning, there is a very unassuming ride called ‘Summerfuglen’ that you must try! The point of the ride is to see if you can spin your individual seat 360° as many times as possible- and it’s not easy!

My husband and our friend couldn’t get enough of it. There is even a record board to see who can spin the most times in one ride cycle. When we were there, the record was around 100 spins-which is bonkers.

20. Learn about Denmark’s history at the world-class Moesgaard Museum

Moesgaard Museum is located a 20-minute drive or 45-minute bus ride south of Aarhus but it’s still worth adding to this list of what to see in Aarhus. The museum focuses on anthropology and ethnography looking into the history of humankind.

You’ll also find one of the best-preserved Viking ships in the world that was found in a Viking grave in Norway, a small, reconstructed stave church that was discovered in Denmark and one of the world’s best-preserved bog bodies called the Grauballe Man.

21. Rent Canoes on the Aarhus River

Another activity you may not expect to be able to do in Aarhus city is to go canoeing- but you can! One weekend when we were visiting Aarhus, we stumbled upon the Aarhus Canoe Rentals (Aarhus Kanoudlejning).

It’s a small operation outside of the Folkestedet community center on the bank of a small, calm river.

Canoe rentals are around only $15 per hour and you can either head west to Brabrand lake or head east towards Vester Allé right in the heart of Aarhus city. The river is great for beginners and a great way to spend a couple of hours in Aarhus on a sunny day.

22. See the walk signals shaped like little Vikings

One of my favorite little characteristics of Aarhus is that all of the walking signals in the city are in the shape of Vikings. As long as you cross any street in the city, you should be able to spot the Viking walk or stop signals.

Like in Copenhagen and other large cities in Denmark, there are also traffic signals specifically for the cycling lane that I absolutely love. The bike signals are just a smaller, twin version of the car traffic signals, but they usually turn green a few seconds before to give the cyclists a head start.

Places to Eat in Aarhus DK

We love to visit Aarhus to find some better and more diverse food options than what we can get in our small town of Billund. And one of my favorite things about the food in Aarhus is the various food halls you’ll find and the Danish bakeries.

We tend to always be on the lookout for quick, cheap and yummy food. However, if you’re a Michelin-star restaurant type of person, you actually have quite a few to choose from in Aarhus (even though I won’t be going into those options here).

1. Aarhus Street Food

You need to experience the atmosphere and food at Aarhus Street Food. Street Food will meet ALL of your hipster/foodie expectations. You’ll find strung twinkle lights, picnic table seating, couches, unique signage, and everything!

Street Food is a large indoor food hall with over 24 food stalls. By that I mean, you will find food to satisfy each member of your group. The meat-eaters, the vegans, the gluten-free… you get the idea.

The food stalls include cuisine from all over the world. Also, you’ll want to save room for dessert from Popsicle and Cake or The French Corner. Check out the current list of food stalls!

On a nice day, you can take your food to eat outside on some super cute wooden tables lined with twinkle lights at night.

Highchairs are easily accessible if you need them and if you are driving, there is ample parking right nearby that doesn’t cost much.

2. Markedshallen Nicolinehus

Markedshallen Nicolinehus is a new and trendy food hall in Aarhus, located right on the Aarhus Harbor in the up-and-coming Aarhus Ø district. Here you’ll find delicious food options from all over the world plus desserts and drinks.

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If you love seafood (and you’re visiting this food hall that’s RIGHT on the water) it’s never a bad idea to try some of the fresh fish from the stall called The Fish Project.

3. Toast It

Toast It is our main go-to place to eat in Aarhus. It’s super good, affordable and full of hygge. Our little one loves to relax on the cushions and furs lining the window while she watches the world go by or reads a book that they sometimes have available for kids.

Toast It offers flavorful paninis served on sourdough bread and has something to for anyone in your party (including vegan and gluten-free options). They also have yummy sides of fries, smoothies, fried cauliflower and local juices in cute glass bottles.

4. For Emma Bakery

For Emma Bakery is for all of you gluten-free/dairy-free lovers out there. Everything at For Emma is gluten-free and almost all of it is also dairy-free/vegan. We’ve visited For Emma multiple times and their crusty loaves of bread are literally the best gluten-free bread I’ve ever tasted.

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They have cookies, cakes, pizza crusts, buns, loaves of bread, and even bagged mixes you can buy. Definitely be sure to swing by For Emma if you are on the search for dietary-friendly foods.

5. Lagkagehuset

Although Lagkagehuset is not unique to Aarhus alone, it is a bakery chain specific to Denmark and a good one at that. Although you can find their storefronts across the country you can count on delicious Danish baked goods and breads no matter where you visit.

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Some of my favorite goodies are wiener kringle, kanel snegls and flødeboller. And if you love marzipan, then you’ll love bakeries in Denmark cause they have plentyyyy of options with marzipan.

6. Børnenes Kontor (Hot dog Cart)

The most popular Danish street food is a traditional Danish hot dog cart. Their by far one of the cheapest foods you can buy in Denmark and you can always rely on your food tasting good.

The two most popular types of hot dogs you’ll find at these carts are a  ‘ristet pølse; (classic hotdog), and a ‘Fransk pølse’ (French hotdog).

The ristet pølse comes with a hot dog in a bun topped with fried onions, pickled cucumber, mayonnaise, spicy mustard, remoulade, and ketchup. And the Fransk pølse is a hot dog pushed into a bun with your choice of sauce (remoulade is the classic Danish sauce you need to try).

Best Day Trips from Aarhus Denmark

1. Billund

I may be a little biased since my husband is a Lego Model Designer at the LEGO headquarters in Billund- but Billund has some of the most unique things you can experience in Denmark. If you are a LEGO super fan- you need to head to Billund.

Billund is most commonly known as the home to the first Legoland in the world, but another cool experience (possibly cooler than Legoland) is The LEGO House. It’s the only place like it in the world and is sort of like The Lego Group’s love letter to their hometown of Billund.

It’s a totally immersive LEGO experience with 10+ hands-on activities, a LEGO museum, the largest LEGO sculpture in the world, and loads of other cool things. Be sure to read my post all about The LEGO House here.

The easiest way to get from Aarhus to Billund is via car and it takes just over an hour. If you need to take public transit you can, but it’s going to be a mix of a train ride from Aarhus to Vejle followed by the bus from Vejle to Billund Centeret which will take you about 1.5 hours.

Or you can take the bus from Aarhus to Billund Airport and then another short bus from the airport to Billund Center which will take about 1 hour and 45 minutes in all.

2. Ebeltoft

Ebeltoft is a super, super cute old town just a 45-minute drive or 1.5-hour bus ride from Aarhus. It feels like you are walking the streets of the outdoor museum, Den Gamle By in Aarhus, but instead, the homes and buildings are all in their original locations.

Besides loads of super quaint and colorful timbered homes, Ebeltoft also is home to the Ebeltoft Glass Blowing Museum, a lovely playground on the harbor, and a huge ship you can tour which was built in the 1800s and is one of the longest and historic wooden ships in the world.  

3. Søndervig Strand (Beach)

You can’t visit Jylland (the island of Denmark that Aarhus is on) without visiting any of the beaches on the west coast. The beaches on the west coast of Denmark are some of my favorite beaches ever with beautiful rolling sand dunes lined with tall grass and rosehips.

I chose Søndervig Strand as a day trip from Aarhus because it’s a straight shot from Aarhus and takes just under two hours by car to get there. And usually, not too far away from the beach, you’ll find loads of Danish summer homes with beautifully thatched roofs and colorful walls.

Besides large, sandy beaches, you’ll also find large WWII bunkers and (my personal favorite) the Lynvig Fyr lighthouse. The lighthouse is set right on the edge of the sand dunes and you can climb to the top for absolutely gorgeous views of the sea and sand dunes (it’s one of my favorite views in all of Denmark).

4. Skagen

Skagen is the town at the very northernmost point of Denmark and it along with the surrounding area is worth a few days to visit but for sure a day trip (albeit a long one). Skagen is a 2.5-hour drive north of Aarhus and is home to the meeting of the Baltic and the North Seas.

You can walk out to the sandy point (called Grenen) where you can see the waves meeting from both seas. Plus Skagen is home to a popular art museum and a quaint old village called Højen known for its sunsets.

My other top recommendation for the area is to walk through the sand dunes to the Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse (which was recently literally moved away from the cliffs so that it wouldn’t fall off), snap some pics in Råbjerg Mile (a huge migrating sand dune) and to see Den Tilsandede Kirke (The Sand Covered Church).

5. Aalborg

One of my favorite Viking things to see in Denmark is the Viking graveyard called Lindholm Høje in Aalborg. Lindholm Høje is Scandinavia’s best-preserved Viking cemetery and is quite the site to see.

It’s a grassy hill covered in stones in the shapes of ships, triangles, and circles marking different gravesites. Aalborg is a 1.5-hour drive from Aarhus or just under two hours on public transit.

Check out these other Denmark posts, I know you’ll love them:

• 7 Awesome LEGO Things You Need to See in Billund Denmark
• The Only Itinerary You Need for One Day in Copenhagen
• 24 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Copenhagen Denmark
• 8 Unique Canal Tours in Copenhagen You Need to Book
• The Ultimate Cheaps Eats Copenhagen Food Guide
• 8 Incredible and Budget-Friendly Copenhagen Hotels
• Viking Ship Museum Denmark: Everything You Need to Know!
• A Local’s Ultimate Guide to The LEGO House Home of the Brick
• Explore a Beautiful Viking Burial Site in Denmark

And those are all of my recommendations for the best things to see in Aarhus Denmark (what to do in Århus). Please let me know if you have any questions about visiting Aarhus (or Denmark in general) in the comments below and I’ll be sure to answer.

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