Central Denmark · Denmark
Where to stay in Aarhus
Aarhus is a city in Central Denmark, Denmark, home to about 291,000 people.
- Best months
- June to August
- Nearest airport
- AAR30 km · Aarhus Airport
- Currency
- DKKDanish krone
- Time zone
- Europe/Copenhagen
- Language
- Danish
About
About Aarhus
Aarhus is the second-largest city in Denmark and the seat of Aarhus Municipality. It is located on the eastern shore of Jutland in the Kattegat sea and approximately 187 kilometres (116 mi) northwest of Copenhagen.
Aarhus is known as "The City of Smiles" (Danish: Smilets By). This slogan probably started as publicity to improve the city's image, but it has nevertheless caught on. Being a university city and centre of education, Aarhus has a large student population and one of the lowest median ages of any city in Europe. The cultural scene here is always thriving. For years, Aarhus has been an incubator for Danish artists and performers. It is also home to Aarhus Festuge, Scandinavia's largest cultural festival, held annually for 10 days at the end of August.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Aarhus
See
Many attractions and events in Aarhus are free, and there is an interesting street life, so even on a budget you can have an enjoyable experience. 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.
- Aarhus Viking Museum
- Museum Aarhus
- Aarhus Domkirke
- Vor Frue Kirke
- ARoS
- Den Gamle By
- Kunsthal Aarhus
- KØN
- Moesgaard Museum
- Museum of Ancient Art
- Museum Ovartaci
- Natural History Museum
Do
For a city its size, Aarhus offers a multitude of things for visitors to do. Public events are generally oriented for folks of all ages and budgets, so whether you're a solo visitor, a family, young, old, handicapped, on a tight budget, or in the mood to splurge, there's much to choose from.
- AarhusGuides
- Aarhus Culture Walks
- Hop-on-hop-off Aarhus
- VoiceMap Self-guided audio tour
- Aarhus Theater
- Bora Bora
- Filuren
- Helsingør Theatre
- Teater Katapult
- Svalegangen
- Teater Refleksion
- Teatret Gruppe 38
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Aarhus to stay in
Prices for hotels are generally higher than in other parts of Europe, but there are a number budget options of a good quality. As in the rest of Denmark, hotels offers free Wi-Fi by default, and smoking inside is not allowed. A few allows pets, but check up beforehand, if you need this. Many hotels does not have single rooms. Apart from the well-known places listed below, there are also options for small bed and breakfasts — usually located some distance outside the city centre — as well as private stays and holiday rentals. Raising your own tent at a campsite is the absolute cheapest option you have in Aarhus. If you are not camping, hostels are the next cheapest way to accommodate.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Aarhus
34 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Marselis | 1967 | 3.3 km |
| Hotel Royal, Aarhus | 1901 | 0.1 km |
| Hotel Atlantic | 1966 | 0.4 km |
| Hotel Ritz | 1932 | 0.7 km |
| Sjette Frederiks Kro | 1826 | 2.6 km |
| Hotel Villa Provence | 0.2 km | |
| Malling Kro | 13.2 km | |
| Norsminde Kro | 15.4 km | |
| Odder Parkhotel | 20.5 km | |
| Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel Aarhus | 0.9 km | |
| Scandic Aarhus City | 0.4 km | |
| Wakeup Aarhus | 0.9 km | |
| BB-Hotel Aarhus Havnehotellet | 1.9 km | |
| Cab Inn | 0.1 km | |
| Cabinn Aarhus | 0.1 km | |
| Comwell Aarhus Dolce by Wyndham | 0.7 km | |
| DBU Hotel & Kursuscenter Danish Football Association | 6.9 km | |
| Havnehotellet | 2.0 km | |
| Horisont Hotel & Konference | 6.1 km | |
| Hotel Aarslev Kro | 10.5 km | |
| Hotel Ansgar | 1930 | 0.7 km |
| Hotel Faber | 1.0 km | |
| Hotel Ferdinand | 0.2 km | |
| Hotel GUESTapart | 4.8 km | |
| Hotel Oasia | 0.9 km | |
| Hotel Oasia Aarhus City | 0.9 km | |
| Montra Hotel Sabro Kro | 13.5 km | |
| Nilles Kro | 13.8 km | |
| Radisson RED Aarhus | 0.5 km | |
| Scandic Aarhus West | 3.8 km | |
| Scandic The Mayor | 0.7 km | |
| SOFS Boutique Hotel | 0.4 km | |
| Zleep Hotel Aarhus Skejby | 5.0 km | |
| Zleep Hotel Aarhus Viby | 4.2 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Aarhus
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Aarhus are June to August. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 22 °C; October is the wettest, with about 70 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Aarhus: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Aarhus Airport (AAR), about 30 km from the city centre in a straight line; Midtjyllands Airport / Air Base Karup (KRP, 70 km) and Odense Hans Christian Andersen Airport (ODE, 76 km) are also within reach.
Getting around
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 rental bikes available for their guests.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
AAR · Aarhus Airport
KRP · Midtjyllands Airport / Air Base Karup
ODE · Odense Hans Christian Andersen Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Aarhus
Eat
Aarhus is generally known as one of the best places to eat in Denmark. However, the best places are not necessarily located at the most prominent addresses, so a bit of browsing is recommended if you have a particular interest in fine dining. Prices tend toward the low end — perfect for perennially cash-strapped university students — but that's not necessarily an indicator of low quality; you can find surprisingly good food at some of these budget-priced places. Several spots have lunch offers.
Drink
Aarhus has a lively nightlife, with everything from big mainstream clubs to small alternative hangouts playing niche music. Aarhus' young population fuels a major part of the partying, and the large numbers of students tend to keep prices reasonable. The legal age for buying alcohol in Denmark is 16 and 18 relative to the amount of alcohol present in a given drink, but some bars limit entry to those over 20 or even 23. In any case, it pays to have picture ID on you if you want to indulge in the bar scene. Prices are generally higher than in other parts of Europe, but cheaper than Copenhagen and with several budget options. Entry fees are almost non-existing.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Aarhus: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Aarhus?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Aarhus are June to August. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 22 °C; October is the wettest, with about 70 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Aarhus?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Aarhus Airport (AAR), about 30 km from the city centre in a straight line; Midtjyllands Airport / Air Base Karup (KRP, 70 km) and Odense Hans Christian Andersen Airport (ODE, 76 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Aarhus?
Danish krone (DKK).
Nearby
Destinations near Aarhus
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.