Aarhus, Denmark

 

Where: Aarhus, Denmark

Time of Year Visited: August 2020

Weather: Cool, overcast and had a few showers.

Flights: Ryanair Stansted to Denmark Aarhus (direct RTN) - £39.96 (2 adults)

Accommodation: DBU Hotel & Kursuscenter (Twin Room with private bathroom)- DKK 1,395.21/ £169. 54 (for 2 adults)

Price: £104.75 per person

Currency: Danish Krone

COVID- 19: It is compulsory to wear a mask in the airports and during the flights. It is not compulsory to quarantine for 2 weeks for all open countries (travelling from the UK, we were fine). Be prepared to have temperature checks and fill in a form regarding recent health/ symptoms. The airport was empty, it took us 11 minutes to get through security from our bus- there was only one couple ahead of us at security.  

Getting Around: From the airport to the city centre there is a bus that runs in accordance to inbound/outbound flights. The bus is the 925X and takes roughly an hour-hour and half. It came to 214 DKK for two adults which was roughly £13 each.

Aarhus is easy to get around, public transport is readily available, including buses, trains and trams. Buses run every 10-15 minutes and are 22 DKK (roughly £2). There is no uber, but they do have their own cab services which are similar and quite affordable.

Excursions: On our first full day we visited Dam Gamble By which is an Old English Town museum (open air). Opened back in 1914, it was the first ever open-air museum and now includes 80 houses from 26 different towns all comprised together to create the town and all date back to early 1700s.

Old Ford

Old Town

The self-contained town includes actors in period dress, horse and carriage rides, period games (all of which are FUN) and of course old homes and shops to explore. You can easily get lost in the town for hours; especially looking around the different shops, which includes an old Ford show room, a bakery and clothes shops.

Horsing around

I would highly recommend leaving yourself at least 2-3 hours to explore the town as there are a lot of hidden gems. Entrance is discounted for students, so my sister paid 75 DKK (£8-9) and a standard adult ticket was 150 DKK for me (£17-18).

Right behind Dam Gamble By is the Botanical Gardens, it is a 5-10-minute walk through the parks to the Tropical Houses, and I would strongly recommend it, despite the steep walk up the hill! Outside in the gardens has an old windmill which makes for great pictures.

The tropical houses are in impeccable condition and boasts agriculture from around the globe and 4 different international climates. Due to the different climates the houses are home to a few different species, including butterflies. There are activities for children and a treehouse (however, due to COVID this was closed to the public). Due to the different climates, be prepared to sweat. The heat that is produced mimics rain forest settings and it can get quite humid and warm. This was great for us as it was cold and wet outside. We spent about an hour here and it was free entry. There is also a lunchroom and a café to re-fuel.

On our second day we visited the ARoS Art Museum, as it was a Saturday it closed at 5pm but we managed to get about 2/3 hours in. The museum was established in 1859 and is visited roughly by one million people a year, making it the oldest in Denmark and most visited museum in Scandinavia.  I absolutely loved this museum.

It has 10 floors of exquisite art ranging from digital art to fine art to film; there really is something for everyone. Floor 10 has the rainbow panorama which boasts the best views of the city and is the perfect spot for selfies galore.

The price for students and adults under 31 is 150 DKK; however, a couple who held annual passes brought us in on their passes for free! They were so lovely and expected nothing in return which really made the experience that bit better.

Overall: Most people would have flocked to Copenhagen to visit Denmark; however, I am very happy that I chose to see Aarhus instead. They student atmosphere, museums and laid-back vibe was exactly what I needed after being stuck inside due to COVID-19. The student population means there are bars on every corner as well as good eateries and a few clubs- this is great for those who are looking for somewhere with a good nightlife.

Bars and Restaurants along the canal 

The people in Denmark were so lovely and very polite and the city is clearly well cared for and clean. I would recommend for a short city break and if the weather permits, I would suggest going to one of the 9 beaches around Aarhus (the weather ruined our plans for this).

 

 4 out of 5

★★★★☆