A walk takes you right through Olafur Eliasson’s “Your rainbow panorama”: the permanent, circular glass artwork at ARoS is made of glass and offers a 150-metre-long, three-metre-wide path in the colours of the spectrum. Visitors reach it by stairs or lift and walk along it with views of Aarhus and the bay. Here, art is not just viewed, but experienced along a path through the colours.
Discover Art and History
ARoS also has a long history. The museum houses Denmark’s oldest museum collection outside Copenhagen, founded by citizens of Aarhus in 1859. At the Moesgaard Museum south of Aarhus, in Højbjerg, the focus is on archaeology and anthropology. Immersive stories guide visitors through humanity’s past and present. The permanent exhibitions cover the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Viking Age and Middle Ages. The Iron Age exhibition features the Grauballe Man, considered the best-preserved bog body ever found. A Stone Age experience also includes using a bow and arrow.
Den Gamle By offers another way to explore urban history: the museum tells the story of Danish market towns through four time periods marked by the years 2014, 1974, 1927 and 1864. The main entrance is a 15-minute walk from Aarhus Central Station. Bus 3A runs about every 15 minutes; routes 14, 114 and 118 run about every 30 minutes. As service frequencies may change, it is a good idea to check the timetable before travelling.
Coast, Forest and Seasonal Experiences
South of Aarhus lie the Marselisborgskovene, coastal forests that are part of the Natura 2000 site “Giber Å, Enemærket and Skåde Havbakker”. The area, nominated for Aarhus’ nature canon, covers about 600 hectares. Marselisborg Dyrehave is located in the northern part of the forests. Visitors can see red deer, fallow deer and wild boar up close there throughout the year. Protected coastal landscape and wildlife watching thus offer different nature experiences within this forest area.
Den Uendelige Bro, an artwork by Aarhus architects Johan Gjøde and Niels Povlsgaard, begins at the beach near Varna. It was originally part of the temporary “Sculpture by the Sea” exhibition in 2015. The seasonal wooden bridge extends into Aarhus Bay and offers a 188-metre circular walk with 360-degree views below Varna Palace. It is open from April/May to October; the exact installation dates may vary from year to year. If you are planning a visit, check the dates for the season.
Åby Skov offers further landscape highlights: visitors can learn about the drinking water cycle and enjoy wide views across hilly terrain dotted with small lakes. Egå Engsø near Aarhus is described as a scenic area with a diverse range of bird and animal life. In and around Aarhus there are also east-facing beaches surrounded by forest and green spaces, with calm, child-friendly waters. Åkrogen is close to the city centre and has a bathing jetty, playground and barbecue area.
Trails with Different Highlights
Those who want to explore on foot, run or cycle will find descriptions of a range of routes. The 17-kilometre Kystruten along the southern coast of Aarhus passes through forests and follows the water to Skovmøllen near Moesgård and back; it can be walked, run or cycled. The marked AUminoen runs through Aarhus University Park and green urban areas, bringing together nature, architecture and history. The two routes therefore offer different highlights without following the same course.
In True Skov, near the city centre, there are challenging hiking and cycling routes across an area of 650 hectares. The Landruten starts at a car park on the road to Vestereng near Bodøvej in the north of Aarhus. It passes through the forest of a former military site, by Aarhus University Hospital in Skejby and to the edge of the village of Gl. Skejby. The Skovruten in Mollerup Skov has two stated starting points: the car park in Mollerup Skov on Skejbyvej and the DCH dog training area on Viengevej. The routes therefore differ not only in their landscapes, but also in their listed starting points and courses.
More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Solbjerg, Ajstrup Strand, Hasselager, Lystrup, Skæring, Ajstrup, Egå, Malling, Risskov, Norsminde, Løgten, Beder, Brabrand, Sabro, Gammel Løgten, Tranbjerg, Harlev, Hjortshøj, Beder Malling, Holme-Højbjerg-Skåde, Viby J, Aarhus, Skødstrup, Trige, Højbjerg, Tilst.
For the regional travel overview: Central Jutland.
