GETMEOVERTHERE

Aarhus is Denmark’s second city and even if Copenhagen gets all the attention, Aarhus deserves a visit too.

It’s a lovely city in its own right, with a compact town centre, redeveloped harbour area and some great attractions. And if you aren’t a big fan of crowds – like me – it’s a lot smaller, quieter and more relaxed than Denmark’s capital.

I visited Aarhus in winter when it had a smattering of snow on the ground and felt lovely and cosy – although it would also be a great summer destination given its waterfront location.

I spent a couple of nights in Aarhus, which is all you need, so if you’re thinking about a visit I hope this guide helps you out!

My Top Things to Do in Aarhus

Aarhus has enough attractions and activities to occupy you for a few days, so it’s a great pick for a city break.

Personally, I really like smaller cities for a weekend away – it means I don’t have to rush to pack in the sights.

I know it’s a cliché, but coming from the UK I am always struck by the laid-back vibes of Scandi cities – and Aarhus especially feels very relaxed and family-friendly.

1. Stroll along the Aarhus River

The Aahus River – Arhus Å – runs right through the city and a walk along it is a great way to orientate yourself.

It’s lined with bars and restaurants so whenever you fancy you can stop off for a drink and a bit of people watching. I really liked this area at night time.

2. Visit Den Gamle By

Den Gamle By is an open air museum that recreates life through the ages, from the 1600s to present day.

There are traditional houses and businesses from hundreds of years ago, as well as more modern dwellings and shops. Now I wouldn’t normally go for this kind of thing but a colleague who’d stopped in Aarhus on a cruise recommended it, and I’m glad she did!

It’s a cool way to explore how people used to live, and fun to walk up to the different houses and doors and just step inside, not knowing what you’ll find! There are also actors around doing things like cooking or outdoor work, and at Christmas time they decorate it and have a Christmas market which is very cute.

I get bored easily in traditional museums and galleries and hate having to read lots of information – this place is the opposite because you’re immersed in everything and get to live the experience rather than read about it.

I really recommend a visit to Den Gamle By and of course if you have kids they will love it – it even just won an award, European Museum of the Year 2026.

3. Go to ARoS Art Museum

Aarhus’ modern art museum ARoS is easy to spot, thanks to a striking installation by Olafur Eliasson on its roof. It’s a rainbow-coloured ring that you can walk through and it’s one of the iconic things to do in Aarhus (and looks great in photos).

There’s also an installation here by James Turrell – I didn’t see it as it was installed after my trip – but it looks really cool. There’s the whole building to explore too if you like art – or just choose your highlights.

4. Visit Aarhus Ø

Aarhus Ø is a newly redeveloped waterfront neighbourhood, with lots of slick modern buildings – and a swimming spot too.

Dokk1 is a big complex with a public library, theatre and concert and exhibition spaces. I had planned to go here in the day for a drink or snack to see the harbour views, but I ended up in this area after dark. There’s also the Harbour Bath, so in summer it would be a great spot to hang out.

I actually looked at staying in this area, in a kind of waterfront cabin with gorgeous views, but fortunately I realised this was more of a summertime thing – it would be very blustery and cold overnight here in winter!

5. Visit a Christmas Market

Aarhus has a few Christmas markets at various points in the season – if it’s important to you to visit them then try to plan your stay to match the dates.

Christmas and Art Market at the Rideshuset

Friday 27 November until Sunday 20 December 2026

There’s the Julemarked at the Ridehuset, a historic riding hall in the centre. It has stalls selling handmade gifts, from Denmark and beyond, as well as traditional Christmas drinks and food.

This is the only market that was going on during my visit and it was perfect for picking up a Christmas trinket. I rationed myself to one ornament, which I felt was very restrained.

Opening times (2026)

Mon-Fri 12-6pm
Sat & Sun 11am-5pm

Christmas at Den Gamle By

Saturday 14 November until Thursday 31 December 2026

Open-air museum Den Gamle By celebrates Christmas in a big way, so if you visit during this time you get a dollop of festivities thrown in. It’s not a specific market per se, but over the Christmas period there are various goings on, from stalls selling festive food and their very own Christmas beer to brass bands playing Christmas music and even Santa’s attic.

Tivoli Friheden

Saturday 14 November until Wednesday 30 December 2026

You might have heard of Tivoli in Copenhagen – well Aarhus has its own Tivoli too. It’s an amusement park which gets all decked out at Christmas with a light tunnel, Santa’s village, Christmas Market and an enormous Christmas tree – which I could actually see lit up like a beacon from the window of my accommodation. Opening times vary quite a bit but it’s broadly open in the afternoon/ evening.

You can find a list of all the Christmas Markets and their details at visitaarhus.com.

6. Take a trip outside Aarhus

Aarhus is in Jutland, so if you’re curious about the region take a trip out and explore.

Viborg is a charming historic town with limestone mines (and an award-winning Christmas Market) just over an hour away by train. Or there’s Randers, an old market town with a nearby fjord, or Silkeborg – the region’s lake district – to name a few spots you can try.

7. Cafe hop

One of the joys of being in Scandinavia is fika, and there are plenty of spots to get your coffee and cardamom bun fix. I had a delicious one from La Cabra, and also probably the best bun of my life from a bakery along the street from my airbnb – Berta Bageri.

8. Go shopping

Aarhus has plenty of shops – from more spendy design shops to everyone’s favourite affordable interiors store, Sostrene Grene (which originated in Aarhus). I also liked the shopping centre at the train station – it has a good range of high street-style shops for affordable purchases, including Jysk (which we don’t have in London) where I bought a little skiing gonk.

9. See locations from Dicte Crime Reporter

OK this one is a bit niche, but I like the Walter Presents global dramas they have on Channel 4 in the UK, and one of these – Dicte Crime Reporter – is set in Aarhus.

The show follows the character of Dicte who is – you’ve guessed it – a journalist, focused on investigating criminal goings-on in Aarhus. It’s cool to see some of the locations from the show including the harbour and the Radisson Blu hotel.

The Visit Aarhus site actually has a whole page dedicated to the locations that you can follow!

FAQs About Aarhus

How do you get to Aarhus?

You can fly to Aarhus directly from London. If you use an app like Skyscanner, it might show you flights to Copenhagen or Billund with a train connection, but Aarhus does have its own airport. The airport buses are timed to match the flights, which is pretty convenient.

Is Aarhus worth visiting?

I absolutely think Aarhus is worth visiting – especially for a weekend break. If you like Scandinavia but struggle with the hustle and bustle (and prices) of capital cities you will enjoy it.

Is Aarhus good for families?

Aarhus is definitely a family-friendly destination – I saw so may families and kids during my trip. I guess because it’s a city with fewer tourists than Copenhagen, so you really see the locals going about their lives and lots of them have kids. It was also very cute in winter to see them all bundled up in their snow suits.

Is Aarhus good for solo travellers?

As a white, female solo traveller that speaks English as a native language, I found Aarhus very welcoming.

Can you visit Aarhus on a budget?

Aarhus prices aren’t the cheapest, but I found them mostly lower than Copenhagen. Flights from the UK were cheap for me – £40 return – and I took a room in someone’s apartment to keep my accommodation costs down. In terms of my spending while I was there, I found a good balance – paying for one or two attractions and a few treats (aka cardamom buns).

What can you do at Christmas in Aarhus?

Aarhus is so fun at Christmas! The decorations make everything look very festive, which helps when the rain and fog roll in off the sea. The Christmas Markets are great for little treats and having a festive drink or snack, and Den Gamle By is decorated for Christmas too. There’s also an outdoor ice rink in the park outside the Musikhuset.

What are the free things to do in Aarhus?

There are a few things in Aarhus that you don’t need to pay for, including the Botanical Gardens and even bike hire – they have a free city bike scheme.

In summer, you can swim in the harbour bath at Aarhus Ø or take a bus to see the cool Infinite Bridge at Aarhus Bay (they take it down in winter).

And of course you can spend enjoyable hours just strolling around – from the river to the harbour and the historic centre.

Can you smoke inside in Aarhus?

You can smoke indoors in some places in Aarhus. I looked this up and in Denmark, for small bars that are licensed to sell alcohol, if they are smaller than a certain size you can smoke indoors.

I decided to pop to the bar around the corner from my apartment when I arrived before heading into town, and was so surprised to find people puffing away inside!

TL:DR – My Thoughts on Aarhus

I really loved Aarhus for a city break – it’s my favourite kind of place because it’s small enough that you can take your time wandering around and not feel like you have to pack in the sights.

I liked it in winter, when it was cosy and festive, but I think summer would be a really fun time to visit, especially to hang out at the harbour.

If you’ve been to Copenhagen and you’re looking for another Danish adventure, then definitely add Aarhus to your list.