What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Aarhus, Denmark.
Photo: Ssjensby / Wikimedia Commons
Aarhus is a coastal city in Denmark with 290,598 people. It is not the capital, but it offers a good mix of art, history and harbour life. In the centre you can visit ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, Den Gamle By (The Old Town) and the cafés of the Latin Quarter. Moesgaard Museum and Marselisborg Deer Park lie south of the centre. Modern buildings such as The Iceberg line the harbour at Aarhus Ø. June is the best month to go.
Den Gamle By and Moesgaard Museum each take half a day, and ARoS takes 2–3 hours. Add time for the Latin Quarter, the river and the harbour. A few days lets you see the main sights without rushing.
City centre
Aarhus's main art museum holds Danish and international art across several floors. The highlight is 'Your rainbow panorama', a circular walkway of coloured glass on the roof with views over the whole city.
City centre
An open-air museum of historic Danish townhouses, shops and workshops moved here from across the country. Staff in period clothes work in some buildings, and newer streets show how Danes lived in more recent decades.
Højbjerg, south of the centre
A museum of archaeology and ethnography in a modern building with a sloping grass roof you can walk on. It is home to the Grauballe Man, a well-preserved Iron Age bog body, and has strong Viking-era displays.
Latin Quarter
Denmark's longest church, with a tall nave and a large collection of medieval frescoes on its walls. It sits on the main square near the old streets of the centre.
City centre
The oldest part of the city, with narrow cobbled lanes, colourful houses, small shops and cafés. It is a good area to wander without a plan.
City centre
A short stretch of the river that was uncovered and lined with cafés and bars. It is the city's main spot for sitting outside in warmer weather.
Harbourfront
A large public library and cultural centre on the harbour, open to everyone. Inside are reading areas and play spaces for children, and the outside terraces look over the water.
Aarhus Ø, harbour
A new waterfront district built on former docks. The Iceberg, a set of white apartment blocks with sharp peaks, is the best-known building, and there is a harbour bath for swimming nearby.
Marselisborg Forests, south of the centre
A forest park where tame deer roam freely and often come close to visitors. It is part of a larger wooded area that runs down to the beaches south of the city.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4°C / 0°C | 13 days (61 mm) | 3.0 h/day | 4°C | 1.1/10 |
| February | 5°C / 1°C | 11 days (57 mm) | 4.7 h/day | 4°C | 2.0/10 |
| March | 7°C / 1°C | 12 days (53 mm) | 6.9 h/day | 5°C | 2.4/10 |
| April | 11°C / 3°C | 11 days (53 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 8°C | 4.1/10 |
| May | 15°C / 8°C | 12 days (60 mm) | 12.1 h/day | 12°C | 6.3/10 |
| Best month: June | 19°C / 12°C | 12 days (72 mm) | 13.2 h/day | 16°C | 7.7/10 |
| July | 20°C / 13°C | 14 days (87 mm) | 12.4 h/day | 17°C | 7.2/10 |
| August | 20°C / 13°C | 14 days (82 mm) | 11.2 h/day | 18°C | 7.2/10 |
| September | 17°C / 11°C | 12 days (67 mm) | 8.7 h/day | 17°C | 7.4/10 |
| October | 13°C / 8°C | 14 days (76 mm) | 5.5 h/day | 13°C | 4.0/10 |
| November | 8°C / 4°C | 13 days (61 mm) | 3.1 h/day | 9°C | 1.3/10 |
| December | 6°C / 2°C | 15 days (65 mm) | 2.3 h/day | 6°C | 0.6/10 |
Cold, wet and dark: highs of 4°C, lows near 0°C, 13 rain days and only 3 sun hours. It scores 1.1, among the year's weakest months.
Still cold, with highs of 5°C and lows of 0.7°C. It is slightly drier at 11 rain days but scores only 2. The sea is coldest, at 3.5°C.
Highs reach 7°C and lows stay near 1°C, with 12 rain days. Light improves to 6.9 sun hours, but the month scores just 2.4.
A clear step up: highs of 10.6°C, 11 rain days and 10.5 sun hours. It scores 4.1, an ok month if you pack warm layers.
Mild spring weather, with highs of 15°C and 12 rain days. Longer, lighter days with 12.1 sun hours help it score a good 6.3.
The best month, scoring 7.7. Highs reach 19°C, there are 12 rain days, and it has the most sun of the year, at 13.2 hours.
Warm, with highs of 20°C and the sea at 17.4°C. It is also wetter, with 14 rain days and 87 mm. A good month, scoring 7.2.
The warmest month, with highs of 20.4°C and the sea at 17.9°C. Expect 14 rain days. A good month, scoring 7.2.
Highs of 17°C, fewer rain days at 11.5 and the sea still at 17.3°C. It scores 7.4, a good month.
Cooler and wetter: highs of 12.6°C, 13.5 rain days and 76 mm of rain. It scores 4, an ok month with a good rain jacket.
Grey and damp, with highs of 8°C, 13 rain days and only 3.1 sun hours. It scores 1.3, so plan for mostly indoor time.
The darkest and rainiest month: highs of 5.6°C, 15 rain days and just 2.3 sun hours. It has the lowest score of the year, at 0.6.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Denmark →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, short stays, sightseeing
The city centre is close to the train station, the main shopping streets and the ARoS art museum, with cafés and bars along the Aarhus River. You can walk to most sights from here. Weekend nights by the river can be loud.
Good for couples, cafés, old-town feel
The Latin Quarter, just north of the cathedral, is the oldest part of town, with narrow cobbled lanes, small shops and cafés. It feels charming and is a short walk from almost everything. There are few places to stay, and cobbles are hard work with wheeled luggage.
Good for food lovers, longer stays, local feel
This residential area south of the train station has a relaxed local mood, with many restaurants and bars around Jægergårdsgade. It suits travellers who want neighbourhood life over sights. Most attractions are a walk away rather than on your doorstep.
Good for design fans, harbour views, quiet evenings
The new harbour district east of the centre has modern housing such as the Iceberg, waterfront paths and a harbour bath for swimming. It is calm and feels open, with the central library Dokk1 close by. It can be windy and fairly empty at night, and parts are still under construction.
Good for budget travellers, students, laid-back
North of the centre near the university, Trøjborg has a young, easy-going feel, with small cafés and quick access to the Riis Skov woods and the sea. It feels lived-in rather than touristy. Most places to stay are flats, and the station is a long walk or a bus ride away.
Good for families, nature, beach
This green suburb north of the city has woods, a seafront promenade and the Den Permanente sea bath. It is quiet and good for kids and outdoor time. You will need a bus, bike or car to reach the centre.
Open sandwiches on dense rye bread, topped with things like pickled herring, egg and shrimp, or roast pork. Locals often eat them at lunch, in cafés or from home-packed lunch boxes.
Crispy fried pork belly served with boiled potatoes and a creamy parsley sauce. It is often called Denmark's national dish and is a hearty choice in traditional restaurants and homes.
Pan-fried meatballs, usually made with minced pork, onion and egg. Danes eat them hot for dinner with potatoes and gravy, or cold on rye bread the next day.
An open sandwich topped with fried and steamed fish fillets, shrimp, mayonnaise and lemon. It suits coastal Aarhus and appears on lunch menus in classic Danish restaurants.
Flaky butter pastries and cinnamon swirls, known abroad as Danish pastries. Locals buy them at neighbourhood bakeries for breakfast or with afternoon coffee.
Small, round, fluffy pancake balls dusted with icing sugar and dipped in jam. They are a Christmas tradition, often eaten with gløgg, a warm spiced wine, at markets and gatherings.
June is the best month to visit Aarhus, with the highest score of the year at 7.7. Days reach 19.2°C, nights fall to 11.5°C, and you get 13.2 sun hours a day, the most of any month. May to September all rate as good, so late spring and early autumn work well too.
Yes, August is a good month for Aarhus, with a score of 7.2. It is the warmest month, with highs of 20.4°C and lows of 13.4°C, and the sea reaches 17.9°C. Expect some showers, though. August has 14 rain days and 82 mm of rain, so pack a light rain jacket.
Yes, in summer, but the water stays cool. The sea is warmest in August at 17.9°C, with 17.4°C in July and 17.3°C in September. In June it is 15.6°C. From December to March the water is only between 3.5°C and 5.5°C, so winter swimming is for the hardy.
Winter in Aarhus is dark, cold and damp. December has just 2.3 sun hours a day and 14.9 rain days, the most of the year. January is the coldest month, with highs of 4.2°C and lows of 0.3°C. It suits travellers happy to spend time indoors at places like ARoS Aarhus Art Museum and Moesgaard Museum.
2 days is enough for the main sights. Den Gamle By and Moesgaard Museum each take half a day, and ARoS Aarhus Art Museum needs 2–3 hours. Add 1–2 hours each for the Latin Quarter, Aarhus Ø and The Iceberg, and Marselisborg Deer Park, plus about 1 hour along the river and Åboulevarden.
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