I had the opportunity to do a student exchange in Denmark, Aarhus for 6 months in 2015 and it was one of the most wonderful experience. I’ve been travelling non-stop for the 6 months and barely stayed in Aarhus. Nonetheless, I’ll be introducing Aarhus to everyone who planned to visit Denmark.
People always think of Copenhagen when it comes to Denmark. Guilty as charged. I have no idea where Aarhus was until I got accepted to go on exchange to Aarhus University. This is also the first time that I’m travelling overseas (at least old enough to know what’s going on).
Aarhus is the second largest city located at the east of Denmark. It’s pretty much liked a University town, so the population there are pretty much students from all parts of Denmark, Europe and exchange students around the world studying there.
Weather
I landed in Copenhagen at the mid of winter. It was 5 degrees Celsius at 6am in the morning. You would think that’s alright for winter isn’t it? I thought so too until you experience the windy winter of Denmark. Denmark is one of the windiest countries in the world, hence you see wind power frequently when you are travelling within the country. 5 degrees felt like -3 degrees. And when it’s really -3 degrees? I almost didn’t make it back to my accommodation.
Winter is long, windy and sky gets dark early while spring is short and unknowingly became summer. Spring is beautiful in Denmark as flowers of all colors bloom. Generally, temperature in Denmark is on the cooling side, so there isn’t really a need for air-conditioner. Summer can average about 17 degrees which you feel like it’s burning hot if you were there since winter. Nonetheless, it’s a very nice temperature for summer and you see people starts barbequing and drinking beer outside. The sky doesn’t turn dark at all too! Sun sets at 10pm or so at night and you’ll see that the sky is still in this shade of blue even at 3am in the morning. I didn’t get to experience Autumn but know it’s going to be as nice as all the other seasons.
Transport
The most common way to travel from Copenhagen to Aarhus is by train or bus. The train ride takes about 3 hours while the bus takes 3.5 hours. Most locals prefer taking the train, while personally, I prefer the bus because it’s cheaper, I’m guaranteed a seat and do not have to worry about travelling around with my huge-ass luggage and it’s less confusing than the train. You can purchase the train ticket from the ticketing machine, at the ticketing counter or online. As for bus tickets, you can purchase online too.
Train: https://www.dsb.dk/en/
Bus: https://www.abildskou.dk/en/
The first time, I took a train with my big luggage and that proved to be a problem. The train in Denmark does not have a luggage space to store luggage at the end of each cabin. You can store your luggage above your seat or between seats. However, it does not fit the seats. In the end, we swapped our seats with people who were sitting outside the toilet (those without seat reservation) so that we could take our luggage with us. The train in Denmark can be confusing as well because at certain parts, they detached the cabins and only certain cabins go to Aarhus. It doesn’t help that the announcement is soft and it’s in Danish. However, the Danes are kind enough to informed us, guessing that we are either going to Aarhus or Copenhagen.
One caution: DO NOT cheat the system. Denmark is one of the strictest countries when it comes to paying for your train tickets. If you are found not having your ticket, you will be fined. And that’s DKK 750 mind you. No excuses. You can’t play the foreigner card either. It goes the same for other mode of transports such as local bus in Denmark.
As for a bus, you simply purchase your ticket, put your luggage in storage area, take your seat and off you go. It’s quite a comfortable ride especially when there’s no one next to you and you got both seats to yourself. This happens if you are on an 8-hours ride from Aarhus to Berlin.
Denmark is a safe country. The locals kept telling us that and that it is safe to leave your luggage away from you and to keep your baby outside a café when you are on your coffee run. I don’t feel unsafe in Denmark, so that’s good especially if you are travelling alone. Even though Aarhus is the second largest city in Denmark, it’s still relatively small and enough to get around either by walking or by a bike.
You can also catch the local bus to get around and it’s pretty interesting because you hop on from the back door and alight at the front. You can purchase a bus ticket on the bus’s ticketing machine or purchase a klippekort (10-rides) so that you can punch your card when you hop on the bus. There are other means to purchase a bus pass but will be more applicable if you are staying there for long. I’ve heard that as of 2017, tram starts operating in Aarhus, means new means of transport to get around!
From the train station to the city center, it takes about 5 minutes on foot. Yes, it’s literally across the train station. Walking across, you’ll see many modern stores and malls around.
Food
I’m not much of a foodie so I couldn’t comment much on Danish cuisine and as a poor exchange student, I sustained mainly from home-cooked meals. I’ve had lots of cold pasta and sandwiches in winter, much to my surprise that I can’t really find hot food there. The closest hot food I had was pizza. I had the opportunity to try some local food whipped up by the locals. If you have the chance, try their Tarteletter – Danish chicken and asparagus tartlets. It is soooo good that it melts in your mouth.
Denmark is famous for liver pate (leverpostej). My local housemate made one and let me try. To be honest, it doesn’t suit my palette. Liver pate is usually the liver of some meat. Think of it like a tuna spread, but it’s liver spread. My housemate spread the liver pate on bread where the bread is hard and dry. He added cucumber on it so that it’s not too dry. I think trying it once is enough for me.
You can always get some stuff from the supermarket in Denmark to whip up your own meal if you think that it’s too expensive to eat out while you are there. There are a few supermarkets that you can go: Føtex, Netto, Rema 1000, Aldi, Lidl.
Føtex is the pricier one amongst all but the food there is fresh and you can find a lot of international brands in the supermarket.
Things to do
There’s not much to do in Aarhus but not boring either. Here are some places of interests or things to do in Aarhus (or at least places that I’ve visited).
Aarhus Canal (Midtbyen)
The canal is located at the city centre where most cafes, bars and clubs are around the canal. It is also a good place to just relax with friends on the steps next to the canals.
Den Gamle By
An old town open-air museum with centuries-old timbered houses that brings you back to the past. It’s quite interesting because you see the architecture back in the olden days and the recreation of the market town where people dressed like the past and you see horses around too.
Aarhus Botanical Garden
Not too far away from Den Gamble By is the botanical garden. They have nice greenhouses in the garden with numerous plants.
ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum
Most famously known as the rainbow art museum, at the top of the museum, there is a circular rainbow paranoma that it oversees Aarhus in different color perspective. There are some really nice art pieces in the museum too, the most iconic art piece is the giant sculpture of the Boy at the lobby of the museum.
Moesgaard Museum
Denmark is truly the home of architecture. Moesgaard Museum is interesting where the roof is slanted. You can access the slanted roof and catch the view of Aarhus too. Sometimes this is the place where moon-gazers will hang out at to catch the eclipse. Near the museum, you see some street art along the way too, which feels as if it’s a skate park.
Roof of Moesgaard Museum
The Deer Park
Deer can be found in Marselisborg-Moesgaard forest. The deer are scattered everywhere in the forest, and they are pretty tame. You can bring carrots or apples and feed these deer too. Near the park, you get the see the sea view ahead too. When the weather is good, you see people paragliding there!
Pub crawl
Bar hopping and do pub quizzes. I’ve realized that many university students don’t visit the clubs as they said it’s for the youngsters like high school students. They prefer to hang around at bars instead and love to participate in pub quizzes while drinking with friends. I’ve been to a few of them and everyone in the pub were actively participating, animatedly writing down their answers. Don’t worry about the languages because some of the pub quizzes on certain days are done in English.
NorthSide Festival
Usually held during summer where popular artists performed there. It’s usually a 3D2N event and people get drunk most of the time. I know of friends who volunteered as trash picker and all sorts of odd job to listen to free music. If you are a student there, you can try experiencing that!
Kapsejlads
Boat race is a big event in Aarhus, held once in a year in summer. Regretfully I was travelling to other parts of Europe at that time and missed this event. However, from stories I’ve heard, it’s a crazy event and students and visitors go crazy with beer and food. Everyone said they had fun!
Storcenter Nord
I know it’s weird calling out a shopping mall here amongst the place to visit. There are two huge supermarkets at Storcenter Nord. Føtex and Netto. This is one of my to go place as it’s near my accommodation. Why I am calling this out is not because of the supermarket, but more to highlight how this place fully utilizes the space within the mall. Usually at the first level of the mall, it’s either empty or events are held there. Storcenter Nord made it kid friendly such that there is a giant playground/play area in the middle of the mall that is almost two-storey high. This is ingenious because parents can continue shopping for groceries while leaving their kids at the play area. It’s been 3 years since and they might have revamped the play area, but the concept of family friendly mall remains.
Take a day trip to Legoland
I know about Lego. I played with Lego since young. But I never knew that Lego was from Denmark until before my Denmark trip when I was speaking to a Danish exchange student asking him for advice. What better ways to relish your childhood by making a trip to Legoland at Billund? It’s only 1.5hrs away by bus and the trip is worth it because there are many fun rides at Legoland!
If you are in Denmark and want to do a road trip or side trip or whatever terms there are for going on a trip, do give Aarhus a visit. It may not have as many things to do and places of interests as the capital city, however, it gives off a different modern and vibrant vibe that Copenhagen doesn’t. Aarhus is easily accessible from other parts of Europe via bus and driving too. It takes about 3 hours’ drive away from Germany, Hamburg and 8 hours bus ride away from Germany, Berlin.
Monochronos 