Jutland
3
Day Itinerary •
Denmark
Three days in Jutland covers the essential highlights of the Danish mainland. Aarhus with its extraordinary ARoS museum and the rainbow panorama on the roof, the remarkable Silkeborg lake district and the Gudena river canoe route, the UNESCO Viking monuments at Jelling and the extraordinary old city of Ribe, the oldest town in Denmark, make three days of remarkable Danish culture and landscape. This route moves south from Aarhus through the lake district to the Viking heritage of Jelling and the extraordinary ancient streets of Ribe, covering the finest highlights of Jutland in three days of outstanding Danish driving.
Best Time To Visit
May to September
Getting There
Fly Aarhus (AAR) or Billund (BLL)
Getting Around
Rental car essential
Budget Per Day
Approx 1,000 to 1,800 DKK per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, driving and walking
DAY 1
AARHUS
MORNING
AROS AARHUS ART MUSEUM
ARoS is the finest art museum in Jutland. The extraordinary Your Rainbow Panorama by Olafur Eliasson on the roof, a 150-metre circular walkway of coloured glass giving a 360-degree view of Aarhus through every spectrum colour, is the finest art installation in Denmark. The outstanding permanent collection, the remarkable temporary exhibitions and the extraordinary architecture of the building itself make it the finest cultural experience in Jutland. Entry approx 160 DKK. Drive: 20 min walk
MIDDAY
DEN GAMLE BY OPEN-AIR MUSEUM
Den Gamle By is the finest open-air urban history museum in Scandinavia, recreating three periods of Danish urban life with 75 historic buildings moved here from across the country. The remarkable 1864 merchant town, the extraordinary 1927 Aarhus neighbourhood and the outstanding modernist 1974 suburb create an extraordinary walk through Danish history. The costumed inhabitants going about their daily lives in the remarkable historic buildings are outstanding. Entry approx 160 DKK. Drive: 10 min walk
AFTERNOON
AARHUS LATIN QUARTER AND HARBOUR
The Aarhus Latin Quarter with its extraordinary medieval street network of half-timbered houses, independent shops and remarkable cafes around the cathedral is the finest historic neighbourhood in Jutland. The extraordinary Aarhus Cathedral, the longest church in Denmark, is outstanding. The remarkable Aarhus harbour transformation with its extraordinary Dokk1 library and the outstanding Iceberg apartment building is the finest contemporary architecture in Jutland. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Moesgaard Museum south of Aarhus in a grass-roofed building has the finest prehistoric and Viking collection in Jutland including the remarkable Grauballe Man. Entry approx 180 DKK.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Lagkagehuset bakery The finest Danish pastries in Aarhus. | Lunch: Aarhus Street Food market The finest street food market in Jutland. Outstanding variety. | Dinner: Domestic, Aarhus The finest restaurant in Aarhus. Outstanding Nordic cuisine. Book ahead.
DAY 2
SILKEBORG LAKES AND JELLING
MORNING
SILKEBORG LAKE DISTRICT CANOE
The Gudena river canoe route from Silkeborg through the extraordinary lake district is the finest day activity in Jutland. The remarkable river flows through extraordinary beech and oak forests between the remarkable Jutland lakes, the outstanding wildlife of kingfishers and otters making it remarkable at any season. Hire a canoe from Silkeborg centre and paddle downstream at your own pace through the most extraordinary inland landscape in Denmark. Canoe hire approx 400 DKK. Drive: 45 min drive
MIDDAY
HIMMELBJERGET AND THE JUTLAND LAKES VIEW
Himmelbjerget, the Sky Mountain at 147 metres, gives the finest inland view in Denmark. The extraordinary panorama of the Jutland lake district, the remarkable forests and the outstanding heathland from the summit tower is remarkable. The remarkable Hjejlen steamboat from Silkeborg to Himmelbjerget, operating since 1861 and the oldest paddle steamboat in regular operation in the world, is the finest way to arrive. Boat approx 140 DKK. Drive: 30 min boat
AFTERNOON
JELLING UNESCO VIKING MONUMENTS
The Jelling UNESCO World Heritage Site contains the most important collection of Viking Age royal monuments in the world. The remarkable rune stones of Gorm the Old and Harald Bluetooth, who united Denmark and brought it Christianity in the 10th century, and the extraordinary burial mounds are outstanding. The Kongernes Jelling visitor centre tells the remarkable story with excellent interpretation. Harald Bluetooth's rune stone is the birth certificate of Denmark. Entry free. Drive: 30 min drive
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Tollund Man in Silkeborg Museum, the finest preserved Iron Age body in the world with his remarkable face visible in extraordinary detail after 2,400 years, is one of the most moving exhibits in Denmark. Entry museum approx 100 DKK.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Silkeborg hotel or cafe Early start for the canoe before the tourist boats. | Lunch: Riverside picnic or Himmelbjerget cafe Simple lunch on the extraordinary Jutland lake landscape. | Dinner: Restaurant in Ribe on arrival The most atmospheric dinner in Denmark's oldest city.
DAY 3
RIBE, DENMARK'S OLDEST CITY
MORNING
RIBE CATHEDRAL AND OLD TOWN
Ribe, founded around 700 AD and the oldest city in Denmark, is the most remarkably preserved medieval town in Scandinavia. The extraordinary Ribe Cathedral, begun in 1150 and the finest Romanesque cathedral in Denmark, towers over a town of remarkable half-timbered houses unchanged for centuries. The extraordinary view from the cathedral tower over the medieval rooftops and the Wadden Sea marshes beyond is outstanding. Entry cathedral free, tower approx 25 DKK. Drive: 45 min drive
MIDDAY
THE RIBE VIKING MUSEUM
The Ribe Viking Museum, built over the actual remains of the extraordinary Viking Age trading harbour excavated below the medieval town, is the finest Viking museum in southern Jutland. The remarkable finds from Denmark's oldest market town, the extraordinary well-preserved street surfaces and the outstanding interpretation of Ribe's role as the most important city in Viking Age Denmark are all remarkable. Entry approx 100 DKK. Drive: 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
RIBE NIGHT WATCHMAN WALK
The Ribe night watchman tour at 8pm each evening in summer is the most extraordinary local tradition in Denmark. The remarkable watchman in 18th-century costume leads visitors through the extraordinary medieval streets singing traditional watchman songs and ringing his bell. The extraordinary atmosphere of Denmark's oldest city at dusk, the remarkable white storks on the chimneys in spring and summer and the outstanding sense of living history make it unmissable. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Ribe marsh landscape south of the city is one of the finest birdwatching sites in Jutland with remarkable migrating wader flocks and the outstanding starling murmurations at dusk in spring. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Ribe hotel Good breakfast in Denmark's oldest city. | Lunch: Svinget, Ribe Outstanding smørrebrød and Danish classics in the medieval town. | Dinner: Restaurant Backhaus, Ribe The finest dinner in Jutland's most atmospheric city. Local produce.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Aarhus, Night 1 Denmark's second city. Good value and excellent restaurants. Approx 700 to 1,400 DKK. Ribe, Nights 2 to 3 The most atmospheric hotel in Jutland. Approx 700 to 1,200 DKK per night. Booking ahead Ribe has limited accommodation. Book at least 4 weeks ahead in summer.
Top Tips
1. Aarhus is cheaper than Copenhagen and has an extraordinary food and art scene. Underrated.
2. The Silkeborg canoe route on the Gudena is the finest day out in the Jutland lake district.
3. The Jelling rune stones are the most important objects in Danish history. Free to see.
4. Ribe's night watchman tour at 8pm is extraordinary. Free and runs every evening in summer.
5. Den Gamle By in Aarhus is the finest open-air museum in Denmark. Allow a full half day.
6. The white storks nest on Ribe's chimneys from April to August. Extraordinary to watch.
Total Budget
1,400 to 2,500 DKK/day