Aarhus is a fine alternative to a Copenhagen weekend. The city has also been appointed European Capital of Culture 2017, but has so far kept just under the radar. Consuder a Christmas in Denmark’s City of Smiles
Aarhus was recently named “best Nordic shopping city”, and you find the best shops around Strøget, the Latin Quarter and Brunsgade / Jægergaardsgade. Take a break at one of the cafes at Åen in the middle of town.
Just now you can experience the history of Christmas through more than four centuries in the Old Town Museum. Tables are set and it is beautifully decorated everywhere in the same way that it was done from the 17th century right up to 1974. In Den Gamle By you can also find a unique selection of gifts in the period shops or at the stalls, and you can take a break to enjoy traditional Danish Christmas food, sweets, goodies, and hot drinks.
The Aarhus kitchen is, by the way, exciting and the restaurants Substans, Frederikshøj and Gastronomé have a Michelin star, while Hærværk and Pondus are listed in Bib Gourmand.
Enjoy the Christmas elves at the Mintmaster’s Mansion and try the traditional Danish Christmas rice pudding served by the elves. In olden day-traditional style, the whole family can eat from a communal bowl. The “Hele Historien” (‘Whole Story’) theatre company provides the pudding, the story, the pranks, and the Christmassy atmosphere at the Mintmaster’s Mansion. The Elf Elder will be seated in the great chair in the Tapestry Hall where he will tell the story of his long and varied life as an elf, and the children can give him their Christmas lists.
ARoS Art Museum, a cutting-edge art gallery (with a particularly excellent food hall) topped by a ring of colored glass you can walk around to view the city in a rainbow, is the biggest attractions.
Actually, the whole city balances the old and the new in a clever but also playful way, typified by the Moesgård museum. Here you can view exhibitions on Viking history and human evolution in an arresting modernist building, designed both to evoke the layers of an archeological dig and (with its sloping, grass-covered roof) to be a great place to have a picnic in summer or go sledging in winter.
At this time of the year, you should visit the Christmas market with lots of original gift ideas. The market stalls, the handicrafts market, and the period shops are adventures in themselves and great inspirations for more out of the ordinary Christmas shopping. Here you will find things you won’t find anywhere else. You can buy anything from toys, books, the Danish-traditional Madam Blå coffeepot, wonderful posters, homemade jewelry, scrumptious cakes, and homemade schnapps. And in the Bernstorff market garden you can buy flowers and plants, apples and nuts, herbs and decorations for Christmas.
Den Gamle By is closed December 24th, 25th and 31th and January 1th.
If you cannot make it this year, know that there several cool festivals held throughout the year.
Christmas in Denmark’s City of Smiles, compiled by Admin