Aarhus
A Viking harbour grown into Denmark's second city, with the country's longest cathedral, a two-star table in the old royal staff lodge, and a runway forty kilometres away across Djursland.
- Arrival
- Aarhus Airport · AAR
- To the city
- About 40 km by the Djursland motorway
- Private jets
- Aarhus Airport, 06:00 to 22:00, no slots
- Best time
- June to August
The city
From the river mouth to the docklands.
Aarhus began where its river meets the bay: a harbour settlement already a town in the late eighth century. The medieval core still holds the Church of Our Lady, first built in 1060, and the cathedral, ninety-three metres long. Around them is a university city of some three hundred thousand people, with ARoS, the open-air streets of Den Gamle By and, in the southern woods, Moesgård Museum.
The city keeps moving towards the water. Since 2007 the old docks of Aarhus Ø have filled with apartments, and the Lighthouse tower, at 143 metres, is now the tallest building in Denmark. South of the centre the royal palace of Marselisborg looks over the bay, and the city holds four MICHELIN-starred kitchens, one of them with two stars in a former staff lodge of the royal palace.
- Aarhus Cathedral Ninety-three metres long and ninety-six high, the longest church in Denmark.
- Church of Our Lady First built in 1060, the oldest stone church in Scandinavia.
- Aarhus Ø The former docklands, rebuilt since 2007 around the 143-metre Lighthouse tower.
Arriving
Across Djursland from the runway.
Aarhus Airport lies north-east of the city, about forty kilometres by the Djursland motorway. It has two parallel runways of about 2,700 and 2,800 metres, and customs during its opening hours.
- Frankfurt 1 h 15
- Brussels 1 h 15
- Marrakech 4 h 20
- Abu Dhabi 6 h 50 long-range jet
- Toronto 8 h 10 long-range jet
When to go
June to August.
A mild maritime climate on the Kattegat. June to August bring afternoons of 19 to 20 °C and long northern evenings; autumn is grey and damp, and winter highs stay a few degrees above freezing.
- 2° J 46
- 2° F 33
- 5° M 36
- 10° A 35
- 15° M 44
- 19° J 48
- 20° J 62
- 20° A 59
- 16° S 59
- 12° O 61
- 7° N 62
- 4° D 51
Where to stay
In the centre, and at an inn outside town.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
Where to dine
The tables the guide rates.
From the MICHELIN Guide 2026, shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these restaurants.
- Frederikshøj Two Michelin stars Creative €€€€ Oddervej 19-21, in a former royal staff lodge
- Gastromé One Michelin star Modern €€€€ Grenåvej 127, Risskov
- Domestic One Michelin star Modern €€€€ Mejlgade 35B
- Substans One Michelin star Creative €€€€ Marianne Thomsens Gade 2F
Elsewhere in Denmark
More reasons to come.
Flying to Aarhus?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.