A CULTURAL FEAST FIT FOR A VIKING

Cruise to Aarhus, Denmark

Founded during the Viking Age, Aarhus is a compact and vibrant city perfect for history buffs and lovers of the arts and culture. Head to the bustling Latin Quarter, lined with cafes, boutique shops and cutting-edge restaurants on your next Denmark cruise. Take a short walk to Aarhus Cathedral to see the tallest church in Denmark. Can't get enough art and history? You're in luck: Aarhus was recently named European Capital of Culture. Its myriad museums include the Moesgaard History Museum, Aros Aarhus Art Museum and Den Gamle By, nestled in an open-air botanical garden.

National Language Danish

Currency Accepted Danish Krone (DKK)

Things To Do in Aarhus

Historical buildings in Aarhus, Denmark

Medieval Town With Modern Cool

The oldest section of Aarhus is the Latin Quarter, dating back to the 14th century. Walk through its narrow cobblestone streets filled with chic shops, galleries and some of the city's best eateries. In the heart of the Latin Quarter, you'll find the cozy square Puservig Torv — its many cafes are the perfect place for a midday break.

An old town plaza at Aarhus, Denmark

Old Ways of Life Preserved

Lined with traditional timber houses, Den Gamle By — "the Old Town" — is Denmark's national open-air museum of urban history and culture. Experience how people lived and worked at the end of the 19th century. Interested in more recent history? Check out the street that brings Denmark in 1974 back to life.

View of the Moesgaard Museum in Aarhus, Denmark

Futuristic Facade, Ancient Artifacts

In a city bursting with great museums, Moesgaard stands out from the rest. Interactive exhibitions take you from Stone Age artifacts, through Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages to the present. The hyper-modern architecture, with its unique climbable exterior, is worth the visit alone. Grab lunch in the cafe, which gets rave reviews.

A fresh smorrebrod sandwich in Aarhus, Denmark

Local Cuisine

Grab one of Denmark's traditional smorrebrod — an open-faced sandwich, often served with smoked salmon, horseradish sour cream and fresh radishes — from one of the cafes and food markets of the Latin Quarter. If you're a true foodie, head to one of the city's four Michelin-starred restaurants, where the New Nordic Food Manifesto elevates local products — like cold-water Skrei cod and spicy plants and herbs such as ramsons and woodruff — to new heights of sophisticated simplicity.

Souvenir toy soldier figurines in Denmark

Shopping

Stop into the chic boutiques of the Latin Quarter and the high-end luxury department stores like Magasin and Salling to find out why Aarhus is one of the best shopping cities in Northern Europe. Explore the period shops of Den Gamle By for unique items that reflect Danish tradition, like glazed earthenware bowls and kitchen items, as well as traditional woolen knitwear.