Aarhus
Denmark's second-largest city, on Jutland's east coast, with a rainbow-roofed art museum and streets that date to the Viking age.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Aarhus is Denmark's second-largest city, on the east coast of Jutland by the Kattegat, about 187 km northwest of Copenhagen. The name means "mouth of the river" and refers to the Aarhus River, which reaches the sea here. Archaeological finds suggest a settlement existed by the late 8th century. The Viking-age earthen ramparts Volden and Graven still show in street names and in steep slopes above the river.
Go for the museums and the harbor. The rooftop panorama at ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Your Rainbow Panorama by Olafur Eliasson, gives a colored view over the city. Den Gamle By brings about 75 historic buildings from across Denmark into one open-air museum, and Moesgård Museum covers archaeology and ethnography. The city center lies mostly inside the inner ring road, Ringgaden, so most sights are within walking distance. Aarhus Airport is at Tirstrup, about 35 km northeast, but travelers from East Jutland often use Billund Airport instead. Summers from June to August are warm, with sea temperatures of about 17 to 22 °C. Autumn is often rainy and windy.
Aarhus in five
- Walk the rainbow at ARoSThe circular colored walkway on the roof of the art museum has views over the city. Check the museum's opening days before you go.
- Give Den Gamle By half a dayThe open-air museum has rebuilt streets from several centuries, including the 1970s. The Christmas streets in December are popular.
- Ride the light railThe Letbanen runs from the center along the harbor and north to the university and the coast.
- Pair it with LEGO House in BillundBillund is about 1.5 hours by bus or car, and Billund Airport also serves Aarhus.
Need to know
- Airport
- Aarhus (AAR) about 45 min by bus; Billund (BLL) about 1 hour
- Getting there
- Train from Copenhagen about 3 hours
- Getting around
- On foot, buses and the Letbanen light rail
- Best base
- The center near the Latin Quarter or the harbor
- Time needed
- 2 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low1°Dark, coldJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, cold
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low1°Dark, coldFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, cold
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low2°Cool, brightMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, bright
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Spring, windyAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, windy
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Mild, long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, long days
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Midsummer lightJuneRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Midsummer light
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Warm, beachesJulyRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, beaches
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°Warm, festivalAugustRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, festival
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Mild, clearSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low9°Cool, wetOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh8°Low5°Dark, wetNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, wet
- DecemberRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low3°Christmas streetsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas streets
Average daily high and low in Aarhus, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Aug Aarhus Festuge, Skanderborg Festival · Sep Aarhus Festuge
Right now in Aarhus
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 88%
- Wind
- 13 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 93%
Aarhus
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today10°7°93%Monday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 93%.
- Tue10°3°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed11°1°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 11°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu10°1°2%Thursday: Fog. High 10°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Fri8°6°0%Friday: Fog. High 8°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat9°4°2%Saturday: Fog. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sun8°4°8%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 8%.
Updated 07:26 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 6.694 DKK
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- Aug–SepAarhus FestugeAarhus
- AugSkanderborg FestivalAarhus
- SepMidtfyns FestivalOdense, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Moesgaard Museumabout 30 minutes by busDanish prehistory, including the Grauballe Man, under a grass-roofed building.
- Silkeborg lakesabout 45 minutes by trainLakes and forest walks, with boats in summer.
- Billundabout 1.5 hours by busLEGO House and Legoland.
Before you go to Aarhus
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Aarhus, checked
- Denmark is in the Schengen area. Many nationalities need no visa; check entry rules before you book.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Denmark.
- Some pedestrian streets in Aarhus are cycle-restricted, and riders must dismount. From 2021, cycling in several of these zones was allowed only between 21:00 and 09:00.
- Service is usually included in Danish restaurant and taxi bills, so tipping is optional.
Plan around Aarhus
Copenhagen, Jutland, entry and money
Read the guideCopenhagenThe capital, about 3 hours by train
Read the guideOdenseAndersen's town, on the rail line toward Copenhagen
Read the guideAalborgNorth Jutland's city, farther north
Read the guideRail pass or ticketsWhen a Eurail pass beats Danish saver fares
Read the guideEES at the borderFingerprints and a photo on your first entry
Read the guideMoney and costsCashless payments and budgeting in krone
Read the guideAarhus FAQ
Is Aarhus worth visiting?
Yes for two days. ARoS, Den Gamle By and Moesgaard are among Denmark's best museums, and the center is easy on foot.
How do I get from Copenhagen to Aarhus?
Intercity trains take about 3 hours. Flights exist but take longer door to door.
Which airport is best for Aarhus?
Aarhus Airport is closest, about 45 minutes by bus. Billund has more flights and is about an hour away.
When is the best time to visit Aarhus?
May to August has the longest days, beaches and festivals. December suits the Christmas streets at Den Gamle By, while January and February are dark and cold.
Can you visit Aarhus as a day trip from Copenhagen?
It is possible but long, with about 3 hours each way by train. Stay one night to see ARoS and Den Gamle By without rushing.