Denmark's second-largest city (pop. 271,000), Aarhus lies midway between Copenhagen and Aalborg. Dating from the time of the Vikings, it has beautiful trees and beaches and is a pleasant town to walk through. Sights include a cathedral, a music hall, Marselisborg Forest (home to Marselisborg Castle, where the Danish queen spends Christmas and summers), a palace and the 200-year-old Prehistoric Museum of Moesgard (displaying the 2,000-year-old, well-preserved body of the Grauballe "bog" man and many other artifacts from the Bronze and Iron Ages). Plan at least a full day there. Behind the museum is a trail that winds past several historic sites (including an Iron Age house) through fields and forest to a sandy beach.
One of the city's best attractions is the Old Town (Den Gamle By). Contrary to its name, it's not part of the town at all: It's actually a collection of almost 70 traditional country homes relocated there from across Denmark. Each house in this open-air museum is furnished in the style of its historical period.
Aarhus is Jutland's cultural center and has a lively music and entertainment scene. The redesigned city center also has nice outdoor cafes—perfect for a long summer night. If you're nearby in September, make it a point to visit during Aarhus Festival Week, when the city hosts concerts and other cultural events. 95 mi/155 km northwest of Copenhagen.
