reason to visit Aarhus

7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Aarhus Right Now

Denmark’s second-biggest city is often ignored in favour of Copenhagen, and it’s a real shame. The European Capital of Culture for 2017, this place is full of good vibes. The skywalk on top of the Art Museum will give you views of the entire city, and there’s also 14th century churches to explore. So, here’s seven tempting reasons to visit Aarhus.

Oh, and FYI, it’s it’s pronounced ‘Or-hoose’ not ‘Are-hoose’.

Why You Should Visit AarhusHow do these rankings work?

1. It’s a Historic City With a Small Town Feel

Aarhus is tiny, but in the best possible way. The entire city is kinda like one cosy neighbourhood, where all of the biggest sights and attractions are within walking distance of each other.  And those sights are superb – it’s a unique city break.

2. The Food Scene is Superb

Aarhus is leading the way when it comes to being a a Michelin-starred city, with four Michelin restaurants where you can eat at some of the best restaurants in Denmark. Not only that, it also has funky street food markets galore.

Hit up Aarhus Street Food in the old bus garages to eat at more than 30 street kitchens and bars, serving  Mexican tacos, Vietnamese Bahn-mi’s, American soul-food, traditional Danish smørrebrød (open-sandwiches) and more.

3. There’s Beautiful Sights All Along Aarhus’ Coast

Just south of the city centre, you can visit the summer home of Denmark’s Queen Marguerite. If the Queen is at home, you can watch the changing of the guards every day at 12pm. You can also explore Marselisborg Castle’s beautiful rose gardens, check out the extremely photogenic Infinite Bridge (Den Uendelige Bro).

Image: Visit Aarhus

4. The City Is A Mix of Old-Meets-New

Two of Aarhus’ most popular things to see couldn’t be any different:  ARoS Aarhus Art Museum is one of Aarhus’ most iconic spots, with its rooftop sculpture you can walk inside, Your rainbow panorama.

Then, for old school vibes, head to Old Town Open Air Museum. Here, you can literally walk through time, soaking up the buildings, atmosphere and ways of life from Denmark’s history.

reason to visit Aarhus

5. There’s Some Amazing Instagrammable Spots

There’s some beautiful photography spots here. One of the most-photographed places is Møllestien, a charming cobblestone street,. The colourful buildings will look slick on your Insta feed. If you’re on the hunt for more historic buildings, head to Aarhus City Hall with its famous clock tower.

6. Aarhus is a Danish Design Hotspot

Aarhus is a great city for picking up some Danish design pieces. Walk around the cosy Latin Quarter to check out some of the best shopping in Scandinavia. Be sure to go to top of the Godsbanen centre, where you can also see local artisans at work, and stop off at the rooftop of Salling department store for great city views.

7. Lots of The Top Things to do in Aarhus Are Free!

There’s plenty of things do and see for free when you visit Aarhus. Our favourite spot is the Aarhus Botanical Gardens for a stroll and a picnic. You should also make use of the city bike scheme, where you can grab a bike from 56 stands across the city free of charge!

Sarah Clayton-Lea

Co-founder of Big 7 Travel, Sarah created the company through her passion for championing the world's best food and travel experiences. Before her career in digital media, where she previously held roles such as Editor of Food&Wine Ireland, Sarah worked in the hospitality industry in Dublin and New York.

Contact [email protected]

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