Copenhagen usually monopolizes the interest of travelers visiting Denmark and honestly, there is nothing wrong with that. Copenhagen is an unbearably cool city with an abundance of cultural sites, a great culinary scene and shopping opportunities. However, there are many other cities in Denmark that are worthy of a visit and may even match your travel style better than Copenhagen does. You just don’t know it yet.
Besides, you can always combine more than one destinations while visiting the small Scandinavian country or plan a bike trip like a proper Dane. And if you decide to do so, this list will certainly come in handy.
Aarhus
Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark is like a miniature of Copenhagen. I don’t mean that it’s an imitation of the capital, don’t get me wrong. What I mean is that Aarhus, just like Copenhagen, boasts a great gastronomy scene, museums and a laid back atmosphere enhanced by the cobblestone alleys and the myriads of bikes rolling by. Aarhus came on the spotlight in 2017 when it was named the European Capital of Culture and ever since Copenhagen has had an equal opponent.
ARoS Aarhus Art Museum with the colorful passageway on the rooftop named “your rainbow panorama” is the cultural scene’s gem and one of the numerous museums worth a visit. Aarhus is also home to modern architecture buildings with the Iceberg and Dokk1 being definitely the highlights. The city center is punctuated with cozy cafés with outdoor tables, elegant boutiques and Michelin-starred restaurants.
Last but definitely not least, Aarhus is surrounded by beaches accessible in a short amount of time by bike or public transportation. Aarhus latest addition, the Harbor Bath in Aarhus Ø is the summer’s most popular hangout spot. All in all, Aarhus should be top of your list when looking at other cities in Denmark to add to your itinerary.
Odense
Small and cute, the birth town of Hans Christian Andersen is the perfect city for a short getaway. Odense is located on Fyn and is the capital of the island. Home to a great number of universities, Odense attracts students from all of Denmark as well as other parts of the world. Hearing different languages as you explore the city center’s streets is quite common. Traditional restaurants and elegant stores cross paths with street food markets and second-hand shops. As it happens with every Danish city, green spaces and parks are nestled among the city’s colorful buildings. Visit Hans Christian Andersen’s home, which has now been transformed into a museum and learn about the Danish author’s life.
Bornholm
Ask a Dane where they spend their summer vacations and the answer you’ll most likely get is Bornholm -at least when it comes to Denmark. And the reason isn’t just that Bornholm is Denmark’s sunniest place, but also one the most beautiful cities in Denmark. Even though the tiny little island in the Baltic Sea has always been quite popular among Danes, it only became known overseas after Kadeu, a Michelin-starred restaurant was added to the island’s attractions and Bornholm became Denmark’s latest gastronomic destination. Apart from a luscious meal, Bornholm offers spectacular beaches, idyllic backdrops for a romantic walk and rocky cliffs and woodlands for a day in nature. Oh! And a city (Svaneke) filled with candy stores and chocolate factories.
Skagen
Located at the tip of the Jutland peninsula, Skagen is the northernmost city in Denmark. The region’s jaw-dropping natural landscape has been the reason this little port-town has been luring artist since the late 19th century and is nowadays a popular tourist destination. At Grenen, a long sandbar at the tip of the peninsula, visitors can stand between two classing seas: the Skagerrak and the Kattegat. This unique natural phenomenon is the main reason millions of tourist fly all the way to Skagen but certainly not the only one.
Rare bird species paint the sky every year on their way to or from Denmark attracting birdwatchers from all over the globe. The wild landscape around Råbjerg Mile, the largest migrating dune in the country is one of its kind while The Sand-Covered Church 1.2 miles southwest of Skagen witness the region’s extreme weather conditions. Skagen is also home to cultural sites and museums. Artworks of the artists living in the city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries known as Skagen Painters are displayed at Skagens Museum while Skagen Odde Nature Centre explains how sand, water, wind and light affect Skagen’s formation.
Ribe
Ribe is the oldest city in Scandinavia and its long history is still apparent at the medieval city center’s quaint alleys. The scenic city is home to the first Christian church in Denmark known as the Ribe Cathedral or Our Lady Maria Cathedral. It took approximately 100 years for the construction of the church to complete and it is estimated it started from around 1150. The Viking Museum and the VikingeCenter introduce visitors to the Viking era and the Middle Ages when this small city was ruled by the seafaring warriors.
Beyond Copenhagen: 5 Cities in Denmark You Shouldn’t Miss photos courtesy of Anders Trærup / Courtesy of ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Nigel Swales / Flickr, Julian Hochgesang / Unsplash, Marcus Hansson / Flickr, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD / Wikimedia Commons, Irina Grotkjaer / Unsplash
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