10 Best Things to Do This Summer in Aarhus

Every Friday during the summer, Tivoli Friheden is turned into a big concert, where fantastic artists, mostly from the Danish music scene, frequent the amusement park in Aarhus. The concerts go under the name Fed Fredag (meaning 'festive Friday'), and the atmosphere is amazing to say the least, as young and old gather under the open sky in Tivoli Friheden’s magical surroundings.

Around 20 different musicians perform over the course of the summer months on the big outdoor stage at Tivoli Friheden, so that the eager concert guests can enjoy a musical experience with a fantastic atmosphere. Over the years, Danish singers and bands such as Poul Krebs, Gnags, Mads Langer and The Minds of 99 have had the audience dancing and singing along.

Join in when Zulu Outdoor Cinema (Sommerbio) brings out the really big screen in the Botanical Garden (Botanisk Have), so that locals from Aarhus and other interested people can watch movies for free under the open sky. Zulu Outdoor Cinema usually shows two different films on two different but consecutive days. The movies can be Danish or foreign titles, and the genres may vary from hair-raising horror films that will have you cowering under the picnic blanket to romantic, soul-warming movies, which will have you holding hands with whomever is closest.

Remember to pack a bag with cold beer and snacks, as well as a blanket to sit on and drape over your shoulders once the sun goes down – remember, the movie doesn’t start until it gets dark.

At the foot of the large Marselisborg Forests (Marselisborgskovene), you'll find The Infinite Bridge (Den Uendelige Bro). This circular bridge was originally part of the art museum ARoS’ 2015 art exhibition called Sculpture By The Sea, and it was taken down after the exhibition as planned. However, The Infinite Bridge turned out to be more popular than first anticipated, and it was quickly brought back as a permanent exhibition at the beautiful beach located a mile or two from the centre of Aarhus.

When you walk across the bridge, you'll understand why The Infinite Bridge was bound to be a hit with the local population. The circular shape invites you to go round and round, while admiring the beautiful view of the Bay of Aarhus (Aarhus Bugt) in an almost trance-like state.

If you are dreaming of fresh Italian ice cream, all you have to do is drop by Mammis Gelato on Rosensgade or Jægergårdsgade in Aarhus C. Yes, you read that right: You don’t need to go all the way to Italy to enjoy a delicious sorbet or creamy mousse. At Mammis Gelato, you can buy genuine Italian gelato made from some of the best ingredients – and of course lots of love and passion for the craft of ice cream making.

Mammis Gelato is a family-run ice cream store founded by a mother and daughter who attended a one-and-a-half-month ice cream course in Italy. They returned home with the dream of popularising fresh Italian ice cream and giving the people of Aarhus an unparalleled flavour experience.

Almost 50 years ago, the first Vikings met in a large and bloody battle in the forests and fields around Moesgaard. Every year in August at Moesgård Viking Moot (Vikingetræf), a frenzied battle is fought between riders and warriors equipped and armed to the teeth, for the enjoyment of a cheering audience.

When the exciting Viking battle has been fought, the warriors, riders and audience can drink mead from earthenware mugs and toast in large beer horns or eat food cooked over the open fire, like the Vikings of old. You can also go exploring the exciting stalls, which sell everything from colourful Viking outfits and jewellery to leather products from merchants from all around the world. The Viking Moot at Moesgaard is the largest in the Nordic countries and attracts Vikings from near and far.

Like the rest of Denmark, Aarhus is most beautiful during the summer, when the days are long and the evenings warm. One of the most popular summer spots in the capital of Jutland is Tangkrogen, which on sunny days, lures locals away from the outdoor service at the numerous restaurants along the river. When the Danish summer weather finally arrives, the green grass area by the water will be full of Aarhus residents with large picnic baskets full of cold drinks and delicious snacks.

At Tangkrogen, you'll also find a small but popular ice cream shop, which sells everything from ice lollies to soft-serve ice cream. Buy an ice-lolly or an ice cream cone and take a walk at the marina or along the water until you reach Marselisborg Forest (Marselisborgskov).

In the new district of Aarhus Ø, you can find Restaurant Anker, a French brasserie with a view of the sea and pleasure boats. Despite its French repertoire, Restaurant Anker is definitely not posh, and there is room for everyone in this luxuriously decorated restaurant – both literally and figuratively.

At Restaurant Anker, you can order French food that is quite unassuming. It doesn't matter whether you can pronounce ‘foie gras’ or ‘croque madam’. What does matter is that you appreciate delicious food which speaks for itself. Here, you can order some of the most characteristic French specialties, including escargot and crème brûlée.

Welcome to a home game at Ceres Park & Arena! From the speakers, you can hear the sounds of ‘Lav sol over Aarhus’, a Gnags classic, which more than anything, characterises the start of an exciting football game with the local football team, AGF. From the stands with beer, sausages, chips and snacks, the scent of the legendary stadium hotdog will reach your nostrils. From beneath the soles of your shoes, you'll feel the ground shake as the other 15,000 or so spectators stomp in excitement from the stands above and around you.

Football fan or not – it's always an experience to see the Aarhus team of AGF play a home game at Ceres Park & Arena. Particularly if they manage to put the ball in the top corner and score enough goals for the stadium to break out into song and endless waves.

On warm summer days, the residents of Aarhus flock to Bellevue Beach Park (Bellevue Strandpark) to spend a nice sunny day by the water. Bellevue Beach is located just a couple of miles north of Aarhus centre, and it's therefore an ideal bathing destination for sun-hungry water enthusiasts.

At the beach, you'll find two bathing jetties, from where you can leap into the refreshing water, which is rarely warmer than 16 degrees °C. After a swim, you can spread out your towel on the fine sand and let the sun’s warmth dry your body. If you are one of those people who hates coming home with sand in your bag, swimsuit and ears, you can relax on the green area, just a stone’s throw from the water.