The Top 3 Cities in Denmark Besides Copenhagen

After being in Denmark for over a month now, I have had the amazing opportunity to explore a couple of the cities outside of Copenhagen. The ones that I am most familiar with are some of the biggest in the country. Here, I am going to tell you about them and some of my favorite bits of these various places.

Odense

Odense is the third-largest city in Denmark but has a small-town feel to it. Many of the buildings are older and I’ve noticed there are more cobblestone streets than I think Copenhagen has. Although I was not the most impressed with the nightlife in the city, it certainly had a charm that you can only get here. The architecture is quite unique and it’s easy to get lost in the history of the area.

Odense is the home of Hans Christian Anderson so there are statues everywhere referencing his works. While here, my friends and I made it a game to guess which all of them are from making the city our very own scavenger hunt. Although in the city it feels like a small community, once you get to the Odense river, it illuminates how big the area really is. There is a vast park that spans along the river with trails, water features, and picnic areas. One of my most notable nights here was not going out to the bars but was taking a walk along the paths and chatting about our lives. While here I also went paddle boating which gave us a great view of the residential area further down the river. This was a fun way to pass the time but it sure is a workout for your legs.

Aarhus

Aarhus was definitely my favorite city to visit out of all the ones I went to. This city is the second-largest after Copenhagen and it is not a place to get lost because the streets go on forever. Being located near a couple of universities, this city is full of young people and the nightlife goes on till the sunrise. Although Copenhagen is known for its harbors and canals, I would personally say that Aarhus’ has more memorable ones as they run right down the center of the street adding a unique touch to the city.

Indeed, many of these cities have wonderful museums, but I do have to admit that Aarhus houses some truly amazing ones. The ARoS Aarhus Art Museum is located close to the city center and is known for its rainbow tunnel at the top of the building. I went to this museum twice in my time here so far and I can not lie; the view is spectacular. When looking at the city from inside the rainbow walk you see the city’s horizon from a very colorful lens. The exhibits in this museum are primarily focused on modern or contemporary art; one of the more notable ones being the Boy which is an impressive 4.5-meter sculpture of a boy that reminds me of Gollum from Lord of the Rings.

Aarhus is also the home of the Moesgaard Museum which is dedicated to archeological finds and objects dating back to the Iron and Bronze age till the Medieval times. This museum houses an absolutely enormous collection of artifacts and is certainly a highlight for me whenever I went. One of the most notable pieces in this museum would be the bog body called the Grauballe Man but I will tell you, you need to be emotionally prepared to see it. The exterior of the building is also a piece of art itself as it is built into a hill and provides an amazing view of the surrounding fields when you reach the top of it. Overall, Aarhus is one of my favorite locations I have been to in Denmark and if I had the chance to go back and spend more time there I would definitely take the opportunity.

Aalborg

This city is the fourth largest in Denmark with a fairly rich history along with the other ones in this post. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to spend a lot of time here, but I do want to give a nod to the gorgeous harbor and waterfront this town possesses. In the afternoon my friends and I just spent time watching the boats float by as the sun sets behind the buildings. While here my class visited the Vikingemuseet Lindholm Høje which is a Viking and Iron Age burial site that is certainly worth checking out if you are ever in the area. This location is extremely serene and it is amazing how long Danish history really is. My last note on Aalborg is for those who like to party; there is an entire street dedicated to bars and clubs. It was fascinating to walk down an old cobblestone path that was lined with different themed restaurants and loud music. This city has a thriving nightlife due to the university nearby and the large number of young people that live there.