As the seasons change, the character of Aarhus changes accordingly. In winter, outdoor activities are limited and this is primarily a time for the indoors. It is unusual for everything to be covered in metre- thick layers of snow and the temperatures are not excruciating cold normally, but daylight hours are limited, the trees stand bare, and the skies are often depressingly grey. While the city is still full of people, the outdoor street life is uninspiring for most visitors, except for the Christmas period of December. At this time, the city centre is decorated, and as Christmas approaches, more street vendors sell sweet treats and comfort food such as æbleskiver, pancakes, mulled wine, and sugar-glazed almonds.

Starting in Apr-May and ending with Oct-Nov, the city has more to offer. The beech trees burst into leaves around the first of May, and daylight hours and temperatures increase rapidly throughout this month. Having waited for this, citizens are quick to fill the parks and green spaces; street life shows much more intensity and diversity, and several outdoor events take place. However, Aarhus, as the rest of Denmark, is almost closed down with empty streets during Easter.

Major attractions in Aarhus are open throughout the summer, but quite a few restaurants are closed for several weeks, though not all at once; there are still plenty of opportunities. However, if you plan to visit a specific eatery, confirm their hours beforehand. In July and August, many residents leave the city or travel abroad. University students have time off from their studies and many visit family in other cities, work elsewhere, or travel. Working people have five weeks of paid vacation and nearly everybody spends some of it during this season. For these reasons, the city centre can appear deserted in mid-July to early August and chances are that you will encounter more visitors than residents. It would therefore be a good idea to combine a visit to Aarhus with excursions to nearby countryside and attractions in the height of summer. From mid-August, things start to happen again in the city as residents return. It is still summer and soon time for the annual Aarhus Fest.

Through September, the temperatures begin to cool and it gets windier, but there are still many daylight hours in the day and the weather is usually fine. From October the leaves on the trees start to turn yellow and red, and any trace of summer ends with the onset of November. September and October are also a good time to visit if you want to include outdoor and nature experiences to your trip, just bring more warm clothing. October and parts of November is a particularly beautiful time of year in the city parks and forests with all the vibrant colours of autumn.

As most other places in Denmark, the official tourist website of Aarhus is managed by VisitDenmark, a public-private partnership with free tourist services. The Aarhus website is called VisitAarhus.

The main office for tourist information in the city is in the Dokk1 library building at the harbour front. Ask the staff at the information desk and they will help you. In the summer, extra staff servicing tourists specifically are there to help. There is also a touchscreen available with interactive tourist information about the city, and a plethora of free inspirational and informative pamphlets about notable sights and happenings in the region.

• 56.1499510.203721 Aarhus Central Station. Trains run once or twice an hour from Copenhagen (København) to Aarhus and take about four hours. The standard adult fare is kr 469, with an additional kr 30 to reserve a seat. 25% discounts are available for persons 16-25 years old, or older than 65 years. You can get significant discounts by buying Orange Tickets well in advance of departure or outside peak hours. Details on DSB's homepage. (updated Mar 2024)

It is also possible to catch a train to other parts of the Jutland peninsula from Aarhus. There are trains going north to Aalborg twice an hour most days and going west to Skjern or Struer once an hour. Trains from Hamburg arrive several times a day (with a change of trains in Kolding). If you book about two months before travelling, you can buy one of the few tickets for €30 (called "Europa-Sparpreis"). For more information check out the website of the German national railway company DB

DSB introduced a mandatory reservation on trains to and from Germany in July 2019. Even though Denmark is in the Schengen area, passports are being checked by customs at entry points.

Tickets used in trains are also usable in buses, and if you are travelling from Copenhagen, you can use your ticket for the rest of the day to get around Aarhus at no extra expense.

Buses have become an attractive way of travelling between Aarhus and Copenhagen, due to their significantly lower prices. An inter-city bus takes roughly an hour longer than an equivalent express train, but the fares are typically between 40% (standard tickets) and 90% (the cheapest Saver tickets) lower than full-price train tickets.

• Flixbus. From Copenhagen, Odense, Aalborg and other towns in Denmark. International connections include Amsterdam, Berlin, and Hamburg. (updated Jun 2021)
• Kombardo Expressen. Direct to Copenhagen via the ferry. (updated May 2019)
• Fleet. A long-distance bus company owned by Vikingbus. Has a route between Aarhus and Copenhagen with stops in Middelfart and Odense on the way. (updated Mar 2024)

• 56.150710.25162 Mols Linjen. Ferry to Odden the northwest coast of Zealand. Significant discounts by booking your tickets days in advance. Public transport connections to and from Odden are not very good, unless you are using Kombardo Expressen (direct bus via the ferry between Aarhus and Copenhagen). Arriving by ferry in Aarhus without a car also leaves you a bit stranded since there is no public transport to and from the new dock; the city centre is a 4-km walk. (updated Mar 2024)
• 56.1538710.215273 M/F Lilleøre. A small catamaran ferry (no vehicles except bicycles), M/F Lilleøre, connects the center of Aarhus with the island Samsø. The ferry docks at Dokk1 in Aarhus and in Sælvig on Samsø. (updated Nov 2021)

• 56.30416710.6191674 Aarhus Airport (AAR  ^IATA). Aarhus Airport is rather small, but it is served by several major European airlines nonetheless. Flights from London Stansted Airport are offered also by the low-cost airline Ryanair. Located approximately a 45-minute bus-ride away from the city, 925X Airport buses arrive and depart from Banegårdspladsen at the central station. Tickets are sold on the bus and one-way tickets costs kr 115 (children kr 80). Accepted currencies (only bills) are: Danish kroner, U.S. dollars, pounds sterling, Swiss francs, euros, Swedish and Norwegian kroner. Major credit cards are also accepted. By taxi you should expect to pay about kr 650 to reach the city centre. (updated Nov 2021)
• 55.7402789.1519445 Billund Airport (BLL ^IATA). This airport offers many flight connections and is approximately a 90-minute bus-ride away. 912X Airport buses arrive and leave from Aarhus Rutebilstation (the central bus station) and drive via Banegårdspladsen at the central station. Tickets are sold on the bus and one-way tickets costs kr 162. Accepted currencies are Danish kroner and euro. Credit cards are also accepted. (updated Nov 2019)
• 56.1516410.24726 Nordic Seaplanes, Østhavnsvej 37, 8000 Aarhus C, ☏ +45 70 20 00 60, [email protected]. Seaplane connection from Copenhagen (40 - 50 min). Normal ticket kr 1,897 (incl. hand luggage), however prices vary depending on the time of day. Mid-day departures are often a little cheaper. Mostly used by business travelers. Also offers sightseeing tours over Aarhus, kr 697 (June - August). Major credit cards are accepted. (updated May 2019)

The entire city is clean and well organized, which makes walking an excellent and enjoyable way to get around. The inner city has an extensive pedestrian zone, and almost every town road in Denmark has sidewalks. If you want to venture further out, several routes have been established for exercise and for leisurely strolls. Known as "sunbeams", they avoid heavily trafficked roads and includes nature experiences.

Bicycles are easily available for rent in the central parts of town. In addition to the listings below some hotels have bikes available for rental by their guests.

Even though Denmark is very flat generally, Aarhus has some of the steepest roads in the country and they can be quite a challenge if you aren't used to ride a bicycle. However, most roads are a breeze and on longer rides, you can usually plan your route to avoid the hardest ascends if you fear the "Aarhusian Alps".

The inner city of Aarhus has a network of bicycle streets (Danish: Cykelgader) where priority is given to cyclists. Here bicycles can use the entire lane and cars are not supposed to drive faster than normal cycling speed. However not all drivers respect these rules (perhaps because they are unaware of them), so you should still watch out for car traffic.

• Donkey Republic. Offers bicycles to be picked up around the clock at several street spots, including a pick-up spot outside the central station. The bicycles are readily identified by their bright orange colour and they are paid for through a smartphone app. (updated May 2022)
• Cycling Aarhus, Frederiksgade 78. Rental bikes and also offer guided bike tours of the city. (updated May 2022)
• Rent & Ride, Krabbesholms Allé 7, DK-8260 Viby J, ☏ +45 22 79 80 98, [email protected]. Mountain bike rental. kr 299 per day. (updated May 2022)y
• Friis Cykler, Jens Baggesens Vej 86, DK-8200 Aarhus N, ☏ +45 86 16 65 05, [email protected]. Bike shop with a selection of rental bikes. kr 60 per day. (updated May 2022)
• Cykel-udlejning.dk, Hørretløkken 50, DK-8320 Mårslet, ☏ +45 60 54 90 12, [email protected]. Mountain bikes and road bikes. kr 349 per day. (updated May 2022)

The electric light rail system "Aarhus Letbane" opened its first line in late 2017, as the first rail system of its kind in Denmark, and is bound for further expansions into the suburbs in coming years.

Tickets can be purchased with credit cards at electronic stands on selected stops, and the tickets are fully compatible with the local yellow bus system (and vice versa). Tickets cannot be purchased aboard the light rail train. Bicycles can be brought along for an extra fee, although not on the inner city stretch "Skolebakken - Universitetshospitalet" during weekday mornings and afternoon rush hour periods (07:00-09:00 and 15:00-17:00). The train schedules, important info, and the zoning system can be checked at the Letbanen website.

There are two bus systems in Aarhus, both operated by Midttrafik. Yellow buses serve local routes within the city limits, and Blue buses serve municipal and regional routes. The blue bus routes pass through the inner city, so if you have to go on longer journeys, you do not have to change between the two systems. X-buses are express blue buses, discernible by a large X sign. X-buses make fewer stops, are equipped with free Wifi, usually have toilets and you are allowed to eat and drink. All blue buses have limited cargo space for heavy luggage, bicycles, etc., that you can use if you inform the chauffeur. You can enter the yellow city buses using all doors. On the blue regional buses entrance is at the front door only (with some exceptions, such as the 200 and 100).

Tickets are preferably purchased in advance in the Midttrafik app or in the Midttrafik webshop. The app is free for download on App Store and Google Play. Here you can buy single tickets, multi trip ticket cards, and special tourist tickets for busses and Letbanen. As a special service, blue buses also offers the opportunity to buy a ticket with cash from the chauffeur. Tickets bought on blue buses (and trains) can also be used to ride the local yellow buses, but not necessarily the other way around. If you ride without a valid ticket, you risk getting fined heavily, so don't take chances.

Bus tickets for travel within the city limits are kr 22, or kr 11 if you are under 16 years of age. Up to two accompanied children (under 12 years) travel for free. Multi-trip ticket cards are also available (10-trips), varying in price depending on how far you want to go. Cheaper cards are also available for people under 16 years old. Finally, there are tickets that allow you to ride all you want for 30 days, with prices depending on how far you wish to travel. For planning trips, it is recommended to use Rejseplanen; the official travel planner website for all Danish public transport. It is also available as an app.

Night buses^{[dead link]} are extra buses and routes to and from the outlying districts and suburbs throughout the night. The fare is double the normal price.

In all of Denmark, train tickets can also be used to ride local bus lines, if you get on the bus within the time limit on your ticket.

• Aarhus Taxa, ☏ +45 89 48 48 48. (updated Nov 2019)
• Dantaxi Aarhus, ☏ +45 86 16 47 00. (updated May 2019)

Aarhus has very good public transit and in the inner city most sights are within walking distance of each other. A car is therefore really only needed if you want to explore the countryside. In addition, you will find that parking is restricted and rather expensive in Aarhus C. Free parking is scarce, except at a few places like Tangkrogen, in front of Ceres Park & Arena and at some shopping centres.

While traffic rarely comes to a complete standstill, the ring roads and inner city streets are often quite congested during rush hour. That being said, should you need a car while staying in Aarhus, there are several car rental companies with centrally located rental stations.

Remember to yield to cyclists. Aarhus is a hilly city and cyclists going downhill will often be approaching intersections at high speed.

There is a low emission zone in Aarhus; see Driving in Denmark#Low Emission Zones.

With a history dating back to at least the 700s in the Viking Age, Aarhus holds many historic buildings, some of which are of national importance.

• 56.156610.20891 Aarhus Viking Museum, Skt. Clemens Torv 6, ☏ +45 89 42 11 00. M-W F 10:00-16:00, Th 10:00-17:00. Small Viking museum located across from the cathedral in the basement of the Nordea Bank. The museum focuses on local history during the Viking Age and most of the displayed items were excavated on site. If you are interested in Viking Age history in general, visit the large Moesgaard Museum (MoMu) south of the city. 30 kr for adults.  
• 56.15843210.1929272 Museum Aarhus. A permanent exhibition within the Old Town Museum opened in spring 2017. The museum displays Aarhus' history with a focus on the last 150 years, the period when it expanded from a small provincial port town to its current status of second-largest city. 
• 56.15694410.2105563 Aarhus Domkirke (Aarhus Cathedral), Domkirkepladsen 2, ☏ +45 86 20 54 00. Daily May-Sep 09:30-16:00; Oct-Apr 10:00-15:00. The beautiful cathedral is more than 800 years old, and the longest and the tallest in Denmark. It took 100 years to build and it is the oldest building in the city, still standing. Concerts are sometimes arranged and the tower offers a good view. Behind the church is Aarhus Cathedral School, also with an 800-year history. Free (a fee for the tower).  
• 56.15810.2054 Vor Frue Kirke (Church of Our Lady), Vestergade 21, ☏ +45 86 12 12 43. Medieval church with an interesting crypt church in the basement. The crypt church, built around 1060, is one of the oldest stone churches in Scandinavia. Through a door on the left inside the main church you can enter a former priory with an atrium garden. Free.  

Apart from the old churches, the Latin Quarter in the city center has many historic houses in a preserved environment, just walk around the cobblestoned streets and have a look. There are many niche boutiques, cafés and restaurants.

Several professional guides arrange historic walks around town.

There are a lot of museums around Aarhus, and Denmark in general, but many of them are not museums in the ordinary sense, more like themed and interactive cultural centres. The three main museums in Aarhus are The Old Town museum, ARoS Art Museum and Moesgaard Museum.

• 56.15388910.1996115 ARoS (Aarhus Art Museum), Aros Allé 2, ☏ +45 8 730 66 00. Tu-F 10:00-21:00; Sa Su 10:00-17:00. One of Denmark’s largest museums. Be sure to check out the '9 Spaces', a maze of black-walled galleries. A work by Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, "Your Rainbow Panorama", offers a splendid roof-top view of the city inside a circular walkway with rainbow-coloured windows. There is a café with dining options in the lounge area at the entrance level. Note that due to the construction of an extension, The Next Level, only the north entrance to the museum is open as of Apr 2023. kr 160 (adults), kr 130 (students and under 31), free for those under 18. (updated Apr 2023)
• 56.15916710.1908336 Den Gamle By (The Old Town), Viborgvej 2 (at the Botanical Gardens), ☏ +45 86 12 31 8. Open-air museum village comprising a collection of 75 original Danish buildings from 1597 to 1909, gathered from all corners of the country. There are historical shops and eateries, most true to the period. A few staff members and volunteers dressed up in historic clothes adds to the ambience, and sometimes events are arranged. You can buy a round-trip horse and carriage ride through the museum's cobblestone streets or through the outside park. A new addition to the complex showcase Danish town culture and buildings from the 20th century, including a bakery, several stores, a poster museum, and a jazz club. As well, for the European Capital of Culture celebration in 2017 the museum inaugurated new permanent exhibitions focusing on local history and classic Danish jewellery from the 20th century. After regular opening hours, you can still stroll the streets (free of charge), but there is no access to exhibitions and buildings. Be sure to also spend some time in the large surrounding Botanical Garden and the Greenhouses.. kr 190 (adults), kr 95 (students), children free. Botanical Garden and Greenhouses free. (updated Jun 2024)
• 56.15507210.2019827 Kunsthal Aarhus, J.M. Mørks Gade 13 (go to Mølleparken. Kunsthal Aarhus is across the river), ☏ +45 86 20 60 50, [email protected]. Tu-Su 11:00-17:00; W 11:00-20:00. An arts centre promoting contemporary art. Built in 1917, it is one of the oldest arts centres in Europe. Nice café. Free. (updated Nov 2021)
• 56.15716710.2114448 KØN (Gender Museum Denmark), Domkirkepladsen 5 (next to the Cathedral), ☏ +45 86 18 64 70. Tu Th-Su 10:00-17:00; W 10:00-20:00. Residing in the old and former City Hall building beside the Aarhus Cathedral, this place focuses on the importance of gender in the past and today. KØN presents changing exhibitions on the cultural history of gender and possess a fair collection of historical stuff related to women. You can look through or buy publications on former exhibitions that you missed or general books related to the role of gender. Some titles are in English. KØN has a nice old-fashioned decorated café and on Sundays, lunch is included in the entry fee. kr 40.  
• 56.08702810.2262789 Moesgaard Museum, Moesgård Allé 20, 8270 Højbjerg, ☏ +45 8739 4000, [email protected]. Tu-F 09:00-17:00; W till 21:00; Sa Su 09:00-19:00. Stupendous architecture: a vast prism of a building half-buried in a grassy hill. The central staircase provides an innovative route into human evolution and prehistory. The museum hosts large changing themed exhibitions from cultures around the world but is also a fantastic place to study Danish prehistory in particular. The main permanent attractions in this regard are an artificial reconstruction of a large Bronze Age roundbarrow that you can walk inside and two finds from the Nordic Iron Age: Grauballe Man, the only completely preserved bog body, and the impressive sacrifice of weapons from Illerup Ådal. The museum re-opened in the new building in October 2014. Excellent museum restaurant and café. The large historical landscape below the museum is also worth a visit, and is free and accessible year round. kr 180 (adults), kr 110 (students and over-65), free for children 17 and under. (updated Apr 2023)
• 56.1705310.2003710 Museum of Ancient Art (Antikmuseet), Victor Albecks Vej 3 (at the University Campus), ☏ +45 87 16 11 06. Su-Th 12:00-16:00. Operated by Aarhus University, the focus of the Museum of Ancient Art's collection falls on Classical-era artworks and artifacts from Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, the Near East, and elsewhere in the Mediterranean area. Their collection of Ancient Greek coins is one of the largest in Europe. Free. (updated Jul 2017)
• 56.18636310.18817411 Museum Ovartaci, Olof Palmes Allé 11 (take the light rail to Nehrus Allé in the northern district), ☏ +45 41 85 62 90, [email protected]. M-W & F 10:00-17:00, Th 10:00-20:00, Sa Su 12:00-17:00. An arts museum, displaying art created by psychiatric patients specifically. The museum has a special focus on its namesake artist Ovartaci, a transgender mental patient who lived at the city's former mental hospital in Risskov for 56 years until his/her death in 1985. Guided tours can be pre ordered and arranged. kr 95, free for those under 18. (updated Apr 2019)
• 56.16736210.20317512 Natural History Museum (Naturhistorisk Museum), Wilhelm Meyers Allé 210 (at the University Campus), ☏ +45 86 12 97 77, [email protected]. Daily 10:00-16:00; closed Dec 25-26 and Dec 31-Jan 1. Another museum brought to you by Aarhus University, the Natural History Museum's four fully wheelchair-accessible exhibition halls educate visitors on over 5,000 different animal species hailing from all over the world, displayed in reproductions of their natural habitats. kr 100, students kr 60, free for children (17 and under). (updated Nov 2021)
• 56.157410.211213 Occupation Museum (Besættelsesmuseet), Mathilde Fibigers Have 2 (behind the Gender Museum, in the same building complex), ☏ +45 86 18 42 77. Tu-Su 11:00-17:00 (last admittance is 16:00). Engaging permanent exhibition about life in Aarhus during the German occupation of Denmark during World War II. It was a period of rationing, black outs, bombs in the night and for some, resistance or collaboration. The museum resides in Aarhus' old former police station, which, in the later years of the war, served as Gestapo's headquarters; the dreaded security police of Nazi Germany. Book your time online, most guests spend about an hour at the exhibitions. Not accessible to wheelchairs.. 75 kr (free for people under 18). (updated Jul 2023)
• 56.16551110.20279414 Steno Museum (Steno Museet), C. F. Møllers Allé 2 (at the University Campus), ☏ +45 87 15 54 15. Tu-F 09:00-16:00 (opens at 10:00 Jun-Aug), Sa Su & public holidays 11:00-16:00. A science museum with a focus on medicine and astronomy, with a diversity of exhibits including (among many others) a planetarium, a medicinal herb garden, a Foucault's pendulum, and historic artifacts such as old X-ray machines and surgical equipment. Lots of engaging and interactive exhibits here for both young and old. There's an onsite café serving light lunches, and a gift shop with cool educational toys for kids: chemistry sets, crystal-growing kits, star charts, etc. kr 50, free for those under 18. (updated Apr 2023)

Churches Aarhus Cathedral and the smaller Vor Frue Kirke (Church of Our Lady), from early medieval times and in the city centre, draw many visitors, but Denmark is also known for its diversity of modern church architecture. There are several modern architecture churches in the outer districts of the city. Ravnsbjerg Kirken (Ravens-hill Church) in Viby is a monumental modernist church in red-brown brick from 1976 and with an interior clearly inspired by Norse pagan mythology. The smaller Møllevang Church near the botanical gardens is of somewhat similar inspirations. Skjoldhøj Church in the western part of town is a modern church built in 1984 in whitewashed brick. It overlooks a garden and cemetery designed by Sven Hansen who also designed the parterre garden at the concert halls. Sankt Lukas Kirken (St. Luke's Church) on Frederiksbjerg in the inner city from 1926 is a good example of neoclassical architecture with minimalistic decorations, so typical of Scandinavian design. The 35-m tower and cross is visible on most of the city's skyline. In the outer districts, many older whitewashed stone churches are former village churches, now engulfed by the expanding city.

Anyone who appreciates European architecture will find many points of interest in Aarhus, from medieval buildings to modern icons. Even though Aarhus is one of the oldest towns in Denmark, most of the inner city was erected in the 1800s and 1900s during and after the industrial revolution, and you will not find many larger structures from the 1600s and 1700s, as compared to Copenhagen for example.

Modern architecture is abundant with many notable buildings such as the university campus in yellow brick, the futuristic Dokk1, the residential Isbjerget (The Iceberg) at the harbourfront, Musikhuset (the Concert Halls) and the Moesgård Museum from 2014. Notable architecture in the city also includes a bit of post-modernism, plenty Nordic functionalism, and in particular historicism which is abundant. The Aarhus Cathedral begun in the 1100s is the oldest building in the city, but there are several preserved Medieval timber-framed buildings, mostly in the inner city, with the oldest dating to the 1500s.

• 56.15305610.20333315 Rådhuset (The Town Hall), Rådhuspladsen 2, ☏ +45 89 40 20 00. This building is considered one of the highlights of Danish architecture, designed by the famous architects Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller in cooperation with equally celebrated furniture designer Hans Wegner. Clad in grey Norwegian marble, it might appear bland to the untrained eye from the outside, but the indoor design is much more intriguing. Every Saturday guided tours are arranged around the interior of the building by AarhusGuides. First in Danish at 10:00-11:30 and then in English at 12:00-13:30. Price 100 kr (children 50 kr). The tour includes a visit to the top of the clock tower for a chance to enjoy the view. There are several interesting statues around the town hall. Enjoy the dramatic bronze statue and fountain of "Agnethe og Havmanden" near the city entrance towards the Central Station. It depicts a scene from a Danish fairy tale about Agnethe who falls in love with a merman. From here you can walk through the city entrance and the Town Hall Park and observe more bronze statues and memorial stones. The park is quite lively in the summer, as people tend to flock here as soon as it gets warm enough. Don't miss the "Grisebrønden" statue (the well of the pigs) with the drooling and peeing pigs, at the Town Hall Square. You can buy good hotdogs at the Town Hall Square too. (updated Nov 2021)
• 56.16921310.20344116 Aarhus University (Aarhus University Campus). Designed by famous Danish architects C. F. Møller, Kaj Fisker, and C. Th. Sørensen (the latter of which designed the landscaped garden), this is another noteworthy piece of architecture. The first buildings were finished in 1933, but construction is still going on today, all adhering to a common characteristic design-code in yellow brick. Here you find the Det Kgl. Bibliotek, the library which includes the iconic book tower, a landmark high-rise for the city. In the University Park you also find a cluster of museums (the Museum of Ancient Art, the Natural History Museum, and the Steno Museum) that you can read more about in the "Museums" section above. As well, the park is worth a visit, no matter the time of year. (updated Nov 2021)
• 56.155910.211117 Aarhus Theater (opposite the Cathedral). If older times architecture is more your thing, you will love to study the Aarhus Theatre building inside-out. Built around the year 1900 in the Danish version of Art Nouveau (known as skønvirke), the building is crammed with architectural details from the history of theatre and the interior is even more lusciously decorated than the outside facades. Guided tours (in Danish) on some Saturdays. (updated Feb 2018)
• 56.14570110.2039718 Frederiksbjerg. Historicist architecture is abundant in this neighbourhood where large-scale construction of urban planned townscapes took off in 1898. Go to the square of Sankt Pauls Kirkeplads, uphill and south of the central station. The square is surrounded by notable historicist apartment blocks, each with their own peculiarity. Look up, take it slow and enjoy the variety. From here, there are numerous options for the architectural walk. A stroll down Odensegade towards Ingerslevs Boulevard is a good choice. (updated Apr 2018)
• 56.162110.215519 Mejlborg. Finished in 1898, this was the first large apartment complex to be erected in Aarhus, built where the Northern city gates were demolished two decades before. Gothic Renaissance at its finest. There is no public access, but the detailed facades and metal clad onion dome can easily be enjoyed from the street. Good idea to go here by the historic street of Mejlgade and backtrack by the coastal promenade Kystvejen. Take it slow and be sure to look up, there are many more historicist waterfront buildings to experience here. (updated Mar 2018)
• 56.124810.216220 Varna Palace (Varna Palæet), Ørneredevej 3, ☏ +45 86 14 04 00. Another well-known architectural landmark of Aarhus, and a bit of a change of pace from the modern style that predominates over larger parts of the city, Varna Palace is a palatial Neoclassical resort pavilion. It was designed for the Danish National Exhibition of 1909 by native Eggert Achen and is found in the outskirts of the Marselisborg Forests, south of the inner city. The Varna Palace now serves as the headquarters of the local Odd Fellows Society, but with a public onsite restaurant.  

Aarhus has a few large parks and several smaller green spaces. The largest and most notable parks includes the University Park, Aarhus Botanical Gardens and The Memorial Park. The city has some nice woodlands, beaches and countryside within easy reach.

• 56.16207410.19051121 Aarhus Botanical Gardens (Botanisk Have), Peter Holms Vej, ☏ +45 89 40 44 00. Daily 24 hours. Founded in 1873 as a research garden for students at Aarhus University, nowadays the Botanical Gardens have been repurposed more as a pleasant outdoor space for citizens to enjoy during the warm months. However, for laypeople who may be interested in botany, there are still thousands of different species of plants on display throughout this 21-hectare expanse, all labelled in Latin and Danish. The bulk of the place is a hilly outdoor expanse of open lawns, ponds, and landscaped gardens, with tropical plants to be found in a large greenhouse complex, designed in the modernist style (of course) by the prominent architectural firm of C. F. Møller. There's a children's playground onsite, ample facilities for picnicking, and a café in the greenhouses, serving light lunches. Free. (updated Jul 2017)
• 56.16881810.20311222 Aarhus University Park. The University Park at the university campus is a soothing spot of greenery in the city centre and it is open year round. It is a celebrated piece of landscape architecture with rolling hills, open lawns, large old oak trees and a couple of duck ponds. If there, be sure to visit the southern section as well, known as Vennelystparken. It is the oldest park in Aarhus, dating to 1824, and is a bit different from the main park. (updated Apr 2023)
• 56.14625410.0936623 Brabrand Lake (follow the pathway along the Aarhus River from the city centre). The Brabrandstien pathway leads upstream the river all the way to the Brabrand Lake nature site in the western parts of the city. Brabrandstien is a 20-km-long safe and tranquil corridor of greenery perfect for hiking, cycling and rollerblading. There are several spots for picnicking and resting, and even though it doesn't feel like it, you are always close to the city and its bus lines, if you don't want to backtrack. It is not possible to bath in the lake, but you can go there by canoe from the inner city if you want some alternative action. (updated Jan 2018)
• 56.23753110.15838224 Den Japanske Have, Randersvej 395, ☏ +45 40 72 73 71. Garden May-Sep: Sa Su (and most weekdays) 09:00-15:30. Restaurant Jun-Aug: Sa Su 11:00-16:00. Located in Lisbjerg on Aarhus' northern outskirts, this is a large, authentic Japanese garden laid out in traditional chisen kaiyu style designed for promenading. There is an onsite restaurant and café (Park13). While the garden is only open for visitors in late spring and summer, larger special events, such as concerts, are occasionally arranged in the winter. Free. (updated Jul 2017)
• 56.11581410.22701325 Marselisborg Forests (Marselisborgskovene). A 3,700-hectare expanse of woodland stretching along the coast of Aarhus Bay south of town, Marselisborg is one of the most visited forests in Denmark. Aside from Ballehage Beach, Tivoli Friheden amusement park, and Varna Palace described elsewhere in this article, other amenities for visitors include: (updated Jul 2017)

• 56.12555610.20111126 Aarhus Forestry Botanical Garden (Forstbotanisk Have). Established in 1923, this arboretum at the north end of the Marselisborg Forests is small (5 ha) but packed with over 900 species of trees and bushes from all over the world. It's a pleasant place to take a load off, but it's prohibited to disturb any of the plants, and falling tree branches are a persistent danger in windy weather. Free. (updated Jul 2017)
• 56.12083310.21944427 Marselisborg Deer Park (Marselisborg Dyrehave). This 22-hectare enclosed section of Marselisborg serves as a low-key sort of zoo or safari park, with a few species of native woodland animals such as deer and wild boars dwelling peacefully in the hilly, not especially thickly-forested environs. The deer park is open from dawn to dusk year round, but for safety's sake it's best to avoid visiting during mating season in the autumn (Sep-Nov), and in the early summer when the does are nursing their calves (June-July). (updated Jul 2017)
• A trio of preserved historic water mills dating from the 16th, 17th, and the 18th centuries hearken back to the time when this land was a series of tenant farms owned by the barons of Moesgaard Manor. 56.11705610.22735428 Silistria, a former grain mill, is now the clubhouse of OK Pan Århus, Denmark's longest-running orienteering club. Skovmøllen, the oldest of the three, has again been a working mill since 2000, and also a restaurant. 56.12183310.21339529 Thors Mølle, an old powder mill, has served guests since the 1700s and is now exclusively a restaurant.
• 56.08675210.23829530 Moesgaard, Moesgård Allé 15. A southern part of the Marselisborg Forests, Moesgaard contains a marked history trail, The Prehistoric Trail, running from the Moesgaard Museum (q.v.) right down to the beach, with reconstructed Stone, Iron, and Viking Age houses and tombs, runestones, etc. If history isn't your thing, just enjoy the beautiful and varied nature of this place; in the spring and summer, it is worth a visit just for that. If you want to eat or drink, start your tour with a meal at the excellent Aarhus Golf Club restaurant near the museum, drop in later on at the old watermill of Skovmøllen in the woods or bring your own supplies and have a picnic lunch at the Moesgaard Beach. Free. (updated Sep 2015)

• 56.12944410.20722231 Mindeparken (Marselisborg Mindepark, Memorial Park). This memorial park offers a panoramic view of the Bay of Aarhus. Many larger events are held here and when the weather permits, citizens flock to relax in the park area. The park is centred around an extensive lawn but has several interesting sections of different designs, including a grove of Japanese cherry trees and a flower and sculpture garden. It also contains the largest World War I memorial in the country, commemorating 4,000 dead Danish soldiers. Free. (updated Oct 2018)
• 56.17586410.22511332 Riis Skov. Presented to the citizens of Aarhus in 1395 by Queen Margaret I, Riis Skov is the oldest public forest in Denmark. It is a very popular (and semiwild) green getaway from the bustle of the city, on the waterfront just a short distance northeast of the city centre, next to the charming neighborhood of Trøjborg. At Riis Skov you can have a barbecue on the beach (just bring coal and food); swim, play or soak up some sun at the baths of Den Permanente; or enjoy some upscale dining in a traditional Danish setting at Sjette Federiks Kro. (updated Jul 2017)

• 56.153510.214133 Dokk1 (Dock-one, Dokken, Urban Media Space), Hack Kampmanns Plads 2, ☏ +45 89 40 92 00. M-F 08:00-22:00; Sa Su 10:00-16:00; Staff available M-Th 10:00-19:00; F 10:00-17:00. This large state-of-the-art public library and culture centre at the harbourfront is the largest public library in northern Europe, and is designed as a public meeting place for all kinds of activities. Enjoy the peculiar and futuristic architecture or engage in the library's many activities. Guided tours are arranged at regular intervals. Good café and an interesting four-section outside playground (adults may try the slides too). There is a specialized toddlers' play section inside. Large subterranean robotic car park below the building. Great for kids and adults alike. The whole building is accessible to people who use wheelchairs. Free.  
• 56.12782210.20277834 Marselisborg Palace (Marselisborg Slot), Kongevejen 100, ☏ +45 33 40 10 10. This small summer residence of the Queen of Denmark is just west of Mindeparken. The surrounding garden-park is fenced, but open to the public when the Queen is not in residence. It is dotted with sculptures from the private art collection of Prince Consort Henrik, the Queen's late husband. (updated Jun 2019)

• City Sightseeing (Hop-on-hop-off Aarhus) (hop on at 8 spots around the city). Only operates when a cruise ship is in port (typically 1 May - 15 Sep). See Aarhus from an open double-decker bus. With an audioguide in five languages you can hop on or off at 8 stops on the route around the city. Buses come and go every half-an-hour so you can spend as much time in each spot as you would like, but it takes 70 minutes to complete the circuit if you don't hop off at all. Suitable for the handicapped. €27.30, children under 16: €13.65. (updated Nov 2021)
• 56.15378410.2028831 Bicycle tour (Cycling Aarhus), Frederiksgade 78 (Frederiksgade is a sidestreet to the Town Hall Square), ☏ +45 21 76 28 29, [email protected]. May-Oct: daily 09:00-13:00. Participate in a guided bike tour around the city. There are several tour themes to choose from and if you are a group of four or more people, you can design your own personal tour with the guides. The guides are all fluent in Danish and English. You can also just rent a bike (You have to book a minimum of 2 bikes) and tour the city by yourself, kr 110 per day. kr 150-349. (updated Jun 2021)
• 56.15051910.2045452 Aarhus Culture Walks, Banegårdspladsen 1 (Go to the Central Stations main entrance), ☏ +45 42 42 19 25, [email protected]. Sa 11:00 and 14:00. Every Saturday at 11:00 and 14:00 o'clock, two-hour culture walks starts off from the square outside the Central Station. Just show up or book on-line and save 10 percent. The tours covers both present and older times city life, architecture, art and local stories. Tours on other days of the week and with more personalized themes can be arranged for groups of five or more people, but it costs €100. Children free, adults kr 150; seniors kr 120. (updated Jul 2018)
• AarhusGuides. Organisation of professional guides offering group tours in Aarhus in multiple languages. Regular tours comprise a City Hall tour and in the summer also city walks. No prebooking necessary, you just show up. kr 100 for regular tours. (updated Nov 2021)

• 56.155910.21113 Aarhus Theater, Teatergaden, ☏ +45 89 33 23 00. The city's main theatre. A luscious outstanding art nouveau interior design. You can dine or have a drink or coffee at Café Hack to the left of the main entrances.  

• 56.1520310.199644 Bora Bora, Valdemarsgade 1. Bora Bora is a small dance and visual theater located in a cultural centre that was once a school. (updated May 2016)
• 56.153110.19915 Filuren, Thomas Jensens Allé 2. Another small niche theater with room for up to 150 inside the large building complex at the Concert Halls. Filuren is a theater and a theater school for youth. A nice alternative thing to do if you are with children. Each play has a strictly enforced age limit (usually 3, 4, 5 or 13 years), so be sure to check out the programme beforehand. kr 65. (updated May 2016)
• 56.15888910.1905756 Helsingør Theater. A reconstructed historic theater building from the town of Helsingør north of Copenhagen, now at The Old Town museum complex and still a working theater with room for an audience of 220. Throughout the year, you can catch summer operas, intimate classical concerts and occasional plays here. Not the most active theater in Aarhus, but certainly an interesting visit especially for aficionados of period architecture. (updated Jul 2016)
• 56.153410.19387 Teater Katapult, Godsbanen, Skovgaardsgade 3, ☏ +45 86 20 26 99, [email protected]. Inaugurated in 1995 and located today in the new Godsbanen cultural centre, Teater Katapult is probably the largest alternative theater in Aarhus. The focus here is on fertilizing, stimulating and nurturing the local scene in Aarhus, "catapulting" new talents and projects of a more offbeat bent into the limelight. Several plays are put on monthly, mostly with timely themes explored from a local perspective and presented so as to stimulate debate. kr 170 (kr 60 for people under 25 and discounts for students and pensioners).  
• 56.15194410.2066678 Svalegangen, Rosenkrantzgade 21, ☏ +45 86 19 19 44, [email protected]. The second-largest theater in Aarhus, located just off the city's major high street. There is a nice café attached. (updated Oct 2018)

• 56.1542710.20379 Teater Refleksion, Frederiksgade 72, ☏ +45 86 24 05 72, [email protected]. This is a good example of one of the many small niche theatres in Aarhus. Located in a tranquil backyard in the city centre, Teater Refleksion specializes in puppet and animation theatre of a high international standard. Equally suited for children and adults. Most performances can be enjoyed without knowledge of the Danish language. Sometimes workshops. (updated May 2016)
• 56.1630310.2275510 Teatret Gruppe 38, Irma Pedersens Gade 222 (at the harbour front of Aarhus Ø), ☏ +45 86 13 53 11, [email protected]. M-F 09:00-15:00 (office and phone). Danish and international performing arts with an alternative bend, led by artistic leader, playwright and actor Bodil Alling. Initiated in 1972, and now residing in a new stylish building from 2019, designed by architect group BIG, in the new harbour district, this theatre presents small, intimate, and engaging experiences from two scenes. The troupe tour the world on a regular basis and brings home inspiration and colleagues from around the world. Enjoy a drink or a piece of cake in the bar before or after the shows. kr 135 (standard). (updated Nov 2021)

Every second year in May, Aarhus is host to the International Living Theatre (ILT) festival, with the next event taking place in 2025. For a number of days, thespians from all over the world meet up here and share the universe of stage art in its broadest sense with each other and interested participants and audiences.

There are three mainstream movie houses in Aarhus, and a number of smaller niche theaters.

• 56.149210.203911 CinemaxX, M. P. Bruuns Gade 25 (in Bruun's Galleri), ☏ +45 70 12 01 01. The largest and most high-tech cinema in Jutland, showing mostly mainstream Hollywood blockbusters with Danish subtitles, some in 3D. Large lounge parlour with a candy store (no outside food or drink!) 
• 56.1513210.2058412 Nordisk Film Biografer Aarhus C, Sankt Knuds Torv 15 (opposite the Catholic church on the high street near the central station), ☏ +45 70 13 12 11. Another large mainstream cinema with nine large screens and a 4DX film theatre. Lounge parlor with café and large candy store. 
• 56.170410.215913 Nordisk Film Biografer Trøjborg, Tordenskjoldsgade 21, ☏ +45 70 13 12 11. Daily from 15:00. A smaller mainstream movie theater in Trøjborg, with five screens and a café. 
• 56.16018910.20948114 Øst for Paradis, Paradisgade 7, ☏ +45 86 19 31 22. Showing a mix of indie and European arthouse films with some mainstream Hollywood fare thrown in for good measure, Øst for Paradis (East of Eden) comprises three stories of what is left of an old former craftman's guild complex from 1868, most of which was destroyed during the Second World War. The cinema has seven screens, equipped with state-of-the art digital technology. There is a cozy café at the cinema with newspapers and cultural magazines to browse, as well as a nightclub (Café Paradis) on the top floor. 
• 56.1597710.2129515 Slagtehal 3, Mejlgade 50. If you're into horror movies, head here: these folks show them every Thursday. kr 50. 

• 56.1551910.2117516 Fatter Eskil, Skolegade 25 (behind the Aarhus Theatre near the river). Tu-Sa. Housed in an old building from the 1700s in the city centre, Fatter Eskil hosts bands from Denmark in a diverse mix of genres, but mostly blues and rock. kr 40-80, usually free before 22:00. (updated Dec 2015)

• 56.16008310.21259317 Gyngen, Mejlgade 53. Gyngen is a music venue, restaurant and café all in one. A smaller place than Voxhall and Train, mostly featuring lesser-known bands and artists in a relaxed atmosphere. (updated Dec 2015)
• 56.1520310.199518 HeadQuarters (HQ), Valdemarsgade 1. Tu-Sa from 19:00. HeadQuarters is a small cultural venue for theatre, dance and music located in a basement right across the Concert Halls building. There are usually three concerts per week on a tiny stage, as well as a night club with DJs. (updated May 2016)
• 56.15269410.19959219 Musikhuset (The Concert Hall). The largest concert hall in Scandinavia, Musikhuset has seating for more than 3,600 people in six halls with a large variety of events and concerts throughout the year: classical performances, rock and jazz concerts, operas, musicals, chamber music, as well as more intimate performances on some of the smaller stages. Good restaurant and café. (updated Dec 2015)
• 56.1530510.1941120 Radar (behind the Scandinavian Center and the Concert Halls). Located in the cultural centre of Godsbanen, Radar hosts many concerts and music events. (updated Dec 2015)
• 56.1712510.20036921 Studenterhus Aarhus (Stakladen), Nordre Ringgade (on the northern outskirts of the university campus). Built for student activities and assemblies and equipped with a barroom and a cafeteria, Studenterhus Aarhus also hosts concerts and other cultural events, usually twice monthly. The largest stage has modern sound technology and room for 750 standing or 450 seated guests. (updated Dec 2015)
• 56.1523610.2116722 Train (at First Hotel Atlantic). Train hosts a large variety of modern contemporary music concerts and other events, from rock, pop and jazz to hip-hop and electronica. There is an onsite lounge, nightclub and cocktail bar (Kupé). (updated Dec 2015)
• 56.1557810.1988623 Voxhall, Vester Alle 15 (at Mølleparken in the city centre), ☏ +45 87 30 97 97. A good, tightly planned schedule of mainstream rock and pop concerts, occasionally dipping its toes into other genres, Voxhall is Aarhus' venue of choice for big-name acts from abroad. A relatively small stage, but room for many people. The associated venue of Atlas is just as active, but mainly focuses on other genres, including world music and folk. Tickets are usually bought at the door, but if you're going to a major concert, buy beforehand! Nice wine and tapas bar in the building at Pica Pica. (updated Mar 2016)

• 56.15333310.20083324 Aarhus Festuge. The whole city is decorated for partying and filled with music, theatre, food, experimental architecture, film, literature and other events during this 10-day festival held every year in late August and early September. It is the largest multicultural festival in Northern Europe. Free. (updated Sep 2015)

• Aarhus International Jazz Festival. Held every year in the summer, following the Copenhagen Jazz Festival. Hundreds of concerts, many of which are free and open to the public, with a mix of nationally and internationally famous names as well as local up-and-coming talents. (updated Sep 2015)
• LiteratureXchange (Aarhus International Literature Festival), ☏ +45 88 43 80 00, [email protected]. A relatively new literature festival with an international outlook, first held in the summer of 2018. The festival event runs for 5 days in early June with more than a hundred events around the city, including talks, debates and readings with celebrated writers along with more experimental happenings and small offbeat events. The 2024 festival have a focus on war and peace, injustice, and the history of slavery (especially the old history between Denmark and Ghana). In this context, you can meet international writers Isabella Hammad, Chigozie Obioma (Nigeria) and Kofi Anyidoho (Ghana) and many more, in a mix with local talents such as Mich Vraa (Denmark), Brynjulf Jung Tjønn (Norway) and Daniela Dröscher (Germany). Danish, English and other languages. (updated Jun 2021)
• 56.0857510.2480825 Moesgaard Viking Days (formerly Moesgaard Viking Moot). Daily 10:00-17:00. A large Viking event held every summer in July at Moesgård beach, with reenactments, markets, workshops, and living-history presentations. Interesting activities for all age groups. The event has drawn about 12,000 attendees, both Vikings and audience. The next Moesgaard Viking Days will be held from 27th to 30th July 2023. A ticket also gives you access to the Moesgaard Museum (MOMU) close by. Because of the event's popularity, it can be very difficult, if not impossible, to find a place to park a car nearby. Take a bus, bike or hike through the Marselisborg Forests to get there. Biking from the centre of Aarhus should take you less than an hour. 160 kr, children (3-17 years) 50 kr. (updated Apr 2023)
• 56.13910.160626 Northside. A three-day, three-stage annual summer music festival in early June featuring a range of well-known national and international stars at festival site, Eskelunden, west of the city center. (updated Apr 2023)