Getting Around Aarhus
Aarhus is compact and well organised, which makes it an easy city to navigate on foot, by bike, or on public transport. The city sits on the eastern shore of Jutland, and its centre is built around the pedestrian-friendly streets near the Aarhus River and the central station. Whether you are arriving by train, plane, or ferry, you will find several practical ways to reach and explore the city.
On Foot
Walking is one of the best ways to experience Aarhus. The entire city is clean and well organised, and the inner city has an extensive pedestrian zone. Almost every town road in Denmark has sidewalks, so you can comfortably walk between the main sights, including Aarhus Cathedral, the Church of Our Lady, the City Hall, Aarhus Theatre, Musikhuset Aarhus, Den Gamle By, and ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum.
If you want to venture further out, several routes have been established for exercise and leisurely strolls. Known as "sunbeams", these routes avoid heavily trafficked roads and include nature experiences.
By Bicycle
Bicycles are easily available for rent in the central parts of town, and some hotels offer rental bikes for their guests. Denmark is generally very flat, but Aarhus has some of the steepest roads in the country, which can be a challenge if you are not used to riding a bicycle. Most roads are a breeze, however, and on longer rides you can usually plan your route to avoid the hardest ascents.
The inner city has a network of bicycle streets (Danish: Cykelgader) where priority is given to cyclists. Here bicycles can use the entire lane and cars are not supposed to drive faster than normal cycling speed. Not all drivers respect these rules, so you should still watch out for car traffic.
- Donkey Republic offers bicycles to be picked up around the clock at many central street spots, including a pick-up spot outside the central station. The bicycles are readily identified by their bright orange colour and are paid for through a smartphone app. Remember to return your bike to a pick-up spot.
- Friis Cykler is a professional bike shop with a selection of rental bikes, including child-size options, if you want to rent a quality bike for an extended time.
- Rebike Aarhus, near the Botanical Garden and across from the entrance to Den Gamle By museum, rents bicycles and e-bikes for an extended period in various sizes. The shop also offers professional repairs and sells quality-checked used bikes.
Rail, Metro and Tram Network
Aarhus Central Station is the main rail hub for the city and for the Jutland peninsula. Trains run from Copenhagen to Aarhus, and it is also possible to catch a train to other parts of Jutland from Aarhus. There are trains going north to Aalborg and west to Skjern or Struer. Trains from Hamburg arrive several times a day, with a change of trains in Kolding. A reservation on trains to and from Germany is mandatory, and even though Denmark is in the Schengen area, passports are being checked by customs at entry points.
Tickets used on trains are also usable on buses, and if you are travelling from Copenhagen, you can use your ticket for the rest of the day to get around Aarhus at no extra expense. Significant discounts are available by buying Orange Tickets well in advance of departure or outside peak hours. Discounts are also available for younger and older travellers. Details are available on DSB's homepage.
The source material does not describe a metro or tram network in Aarhus, so visitors should rely on trains, buses, bicycles, and walking for getting around.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Buses are an attractive way of travelling between Aarhus and Copenhagen due to their significantly lower prices. An inter-city bus takes roughly an hour longer than an equivalent express train, but the fares are typically much lower than full-price train tickets. Several operators serve the route, including Flixbus, Kombardo Expressen (which goes direct to Copenhagen via the ferry), and Fleet, a long-distance bus company owned by Vikingbus with a route between Aarhus and Copenhagen stopping in Middelfart and Odense along the way. Flixbus also offers international connections including Amsterdam, Berlin, and Hamburg.
Within the city, buses form part of the public transport network, and train tickets are also usable on buses. For planning journeys across the nationwide public transport system, the website Rejseplanen is a useful resource, and it can also be used to book a "Plustur Flextrafik" ride in advance.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are available in Aarhus. As an example of cost, a taxi from Aarhus Airport to the city centre should be expected to cost about kr 650. The source material does not describe ride-hailing services in Aarhus, so visitors should rely on taxis, public transport, bicycles, and walking. GreenMobility cars can be rented or parked at a hotspot at the Aarhus harbour dock, which may be useful if you arrive by ferry and there are vacant cars.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Aarhus Airport (AAR) is rather small but is served by several major European airlines, including low-cost flights from London Stansted offered by Ryanair. The airport is located approximately a 45-minute bus ride away from the city. The 925X Airport bus arrives and departs from Banegårdspladsen at the central station. Tickets are sold on the bus, and one-way tickets cost kr 115 for adults and kr 80 for children. Accepted currencies (bills only) are Danish kroner, U.S. dollars, pounds sterling, Swiss francs, euros, Swedish and Norwegian kroner. Major credit cards are also accepted. By taxi, you should expect to pay about kr 650 to reach the city centre.
Billund Airport (BLL) offers many flight connections and is approximately a 90-minute bus ride away. The 912X Airport bus arrives and leaves from Aarhus Rutebilstation (the central bus station) and drives via Banegårdspladsen at the central station. Tickets are sold on the bus, and one-way tickets cost kr 162. Accepted currencies are Danish kroner and euro, and credit cards are also accepted.
For a more unusual option, Nordic Seaplanes offers a seaplane connection from Copenhagen, taking about 40 to 50 minutes. Normal tickets include hand luggage, though prices vary depending on the time of day, with mid-day departures often a little cheaper. The service is mostly used by business travellers and also offers sightseeing tours over Aarhus. Major credit cards are accepted.
Arriving by Ferry
Mols Linjen operates a ferry from Odden on the northwestern tip of Zealand to Aarhus Harbour, with significant discounts available by booking tickets days in advance. Public transport connections to and from Odden are not very good, but you can use Kombardo Expressen or Flixbus, two direct bus lines between Copenhagen and Aarhus via the ferry. Public transport to and from the KatExpress docking spot in Aarhus harbour is also not good, though it is possible to book a "Plustur Flextrafik" ride in advance through Rejseplanen. You can also rent or park a GreenMobility car at the company's hotspot right at the dock, if there are any vacant cars. Walking or biking to and from the ferry is possible, but be aware that it is a 3–4 kilometre walk just to reach the perimeter of the city. If you arrive by car, you can park for an extended time at the large adjacent Q-park spot.
A small catamaran ferry, M/F Lilleøre, connects the centre of Aarhus with the island Samsø. It carries no vehicles except bicycles, and docks at Dokk1 in Aarhus and in Sælvig on Samsø.
Practical Tips for Visitors
- Train tickets are also valid on buses, and a ticket from Copenhagen can be used for the rest of the day to get around Aarhus at no extra expense.
- Buy Orange Tickets well in advance or travel outside peak hours for significant discounts on train travel.
- Use the Rejseplanen website to plan journeys across the nationwide public transport system and to book "Plustur Flextrafik" rides in advance.
- Bicycles can be rented from Donkey Republic via a smartphone app, or from bike shops such as Friis Cykler and Rebike Aarhus for longer periods.
- When cycling in the inner city, be aware of bicycle streets where cyclists have priority, but still watch out for car traffic.
- For airport transfers, the 925X bus from Aarhus Airport and the 912X bus from Billund Airport both connect to the central station area, and tickets can be bought on board.