Aalborg (Denmark) is a charming town in the northern part of Denmark, decorated with cozy houses in the Renaissance style. Despite the fact that Aalborg is an industrial center of Northern Jutland, it is home to a large number of historical and architectural landmarks that can tell many fascinating stories. The main feature of the city is Jomfru Ane Street, which is lined with restaurants, taverns, and bars, many of which have terraces.
General information
The city of Aalborg is located in the northern part of Denmark, and in addition to its status as an industrial center, it is also known as a student town due to its numerous educational institutions. Aalborg University was established in 1974. Aalborg is home to shipyards, and its industries include cement, chemicals, textiles, and alcoholic beverages, including aquavit, a fiery Danish national drink. A bridge and a road tunnel connect the city to Nørresundby in the north.
Aalborg is the fourth most populous city in Denmark. The first settlements in Aalborg date back to 700 BC. The city’s development was largely due to its strategic location on the Limfjord River. Over time, Aalborg became a major port and trading center. Today, Aalborg and its surrounding areas have a population of 219,000, with 18,500 immigrants.
It’s interesting to know! In the past, the city was called Alabu, which means “dwelling by the stream.” The remains of ancient settlements can be found on the hill that overlooks the city.
Interesting facts about the city:
- in the early 16th century, he gained a monopoly on herring fishing;
- it was granted city status in the mid-14th century;
- In the 19th century, Aalborg was almost as important as the Danish capital, Copenhagen.
- Aalborg is often referred to as “the little Paris of the North.”
- The survey results showed that Aalborg is the happiest city in Denmark. 74% of the residents surveyed are very satisfied with their lives, and another 24% are satisfied. In the city, 98% of people are happy to live in Aalborg.
Attractions
Advertising booklets dedicated to the city traditionally feature photos of the famous sights of Aalborg: St. Budolfi Cathedral, Aalborghus Castle, Jens Bang’s house. The palace is still the residence of the royal family today, but it is open to visitors – tourists can explore the garden and park complex.
Lindholm Hee Museum
The ancient Viking settlement is located in the suburbs of Aalborg, in the northern direction. This is the largest Viking settlement, and excavations have been ongoing for over 60 years, revealing numerous fascinating artifacts from the German Iron Age and the Viking era.
It’s interesting to know! In 2017, Lindholm Høj was included in the list of the most interesting places in the city and Denmark as a whole.
For a long time, the historical site was hidden by an impressive layer of sand, but excavations have revealed artifacts that are 1,000 years old. The site includes 682 graves and 150 stone ships. To the north of the excavation site, a village has been discovered, with remains of houses, wells, and fences.
Lindholm Hoe features exhibits found during excavations. It is an amazing place where history comes to life. The restored relics depict the everyday life and customs of the Vikings. Illustrations and reconstructions show how the Vikings worked, decorated their homes, prepared their meals, wove their fabrics, and raised their livestock.
An interesting fact! One of the most interesting museum stories is about a fire that occurred for unknown and mysterious reasons. The fire destroyed farms more than two thousand years ago.
You can get to the Viking burial site by renting a car, cycling, or taking bus number 13.
- Address: Vendilavej 11, 9400 Nørresundby.
- Opening hours: high season (April to October inclusive) – Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00; low season (November to March inclusive) – Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00.
- Ticket prices: adults – DKK 90, students and pensioners – DKK 75, children under 18 – free of charge.
- Official website: https://nordjyskemuseer.dk/.
Aalborg Zoo
The main symbol of Denmark’s prosperity is children. This principle applies not only to family relationships but is also used by the owners of the local zoo. The main mission of its staff is to provide the most comfortable living conditions for each animal. As a result, the zoo regularly hosts births of polar bears, lions, giraffes, anteaters, pandas, armadillos, and oryxes.
It’s good to know! The secret to this high birth rate is to recreate the animals’ natural habitat as accurately as possible.
The zoo first opened its doors to visitors in 1935, and today it is the largest animal habitat in Denmark. In addition to its diverse animal population, the zoo also hosts scientific research, international conservation and breeding events.
The zoo occupies 8 hectares of land, on which more than 1,500 animals live. Near the central entrance, there is a list of all the animals living in the park and a list of services.
On the territory of the park, all climatic conditions have been recreated for the comfortable and natural living of animals. The artificially created rivers are perfect for crocodiles, the planted tropical forests are a comfortable home for monkeys, and the African savannah area is inhabited by elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, and rhinoceroses.
For your information! There are special platforms for guests to observe the animals.
- Address of the attraction: Mølleparkvej 63, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark. The park is located 4 km from the city center, and can be reached by bus No. 11 or S1.
- Ticket prices: adults — 210 CZK from April to September and 190 CZK from October to December; children (3-11 years old) — 125 and 105 CZK, respectively; children under 3 years old are admitted free of charge.
- Opening hours: from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with an hour-long closing time.
- Website: https://aalborgzoo.dk/.
Museum of Modern Art
Construction work began in 1968, and the project was created by Finnish architects. The museum was opened to the public four years later, in 1972. The exhibits are spread over an area of 6,000 square meters. The building’s facade is adorned with Carrara marble. What makes this project unique is that the layout of the halls can be adjusted based on the theme and specific features of each exhibition. The halls are primarily illuminated by natural daylight.
The building consists of seven halls:
- main;
- chamber music;
- libraries;
- conference rooms;
- two auditoriums;
- the workshop.
There are also cafes and administrative offices. There is a beautiful garden decorated with sculptures nearby.
The exhibition’s main objective is to showcase the evolution from naturalism to abstraction. Typically, museums feature multiple exhibits representing different artistic movements.
Address: Kong Christians Allé 50, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark. You can get there by buses 15, 23N, 38, and 50N. The stop is called “Skovbakkevej”.
- Working hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00, Wednesday from 10:00 to 21:00, and Monday is a day off. The cafe closes 30 minutes before the museum closes. The souvenir shop follows the same schedule as the museum.
- Ticket prices: adult tickets are 125 CZK, student and pensioner tickets are 85 CZK, and children under 18 years old can enter for free.
- Official website: https://kunsten.dk/. Here you can find information about current and upcoming exhibitions, which are updated regularly.
Defense and Garrison Museum
From 1950 to 2001, the hangar was used as a storage facility for the Danish Civil Defense Force. In 2001, a group of volunteers took over the hangar to establish the Aalborg Defense and Garrison Museum, which was opened on June 22, 2002, as a private foundation.
Among the exhibits, you can find army items, equipment of the air force, police, rescue teams. The exhibition covers a time period of two hundred years. The main feature of the exhibition is that visitors can get close to each exhibit, examine it and even touch it. There are tanks, military equipment, weapons. Of particular interest is the exhibition “Air Force”, which displays the development of the US Air Force since 1951. One of the exhibitions is dedicated to the Royal Regiment. In 2009, an exhibition was opened dedicated to the period from 1940 to 1945. During this time, Aalborg became a garrison city. The exhibition covers 14 countries in addition to Denmark during World War II.
Please note! If desired, you can purchase a joint ticket to the Army Museum and the Marine Science Center.
- Location: Skydebanevej 22, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark. You can get there by bus line 2. The stop name is “Skydebanevej”.
- Working hours: from April to June inclusive and from September to October inclusive, from 10:00 to 16:00; from July to August inclusive, from 10:00 to 17:00.
- Ticket prices: adults – DKK 75, pensioners – DKK 56, children 4-14 years old – DKK 35.
- Website: https://forsvarsmuseum.dk/.
Music Park
Aalborg has many picturesque parks, but the most interesting is the Music Park. This unusual attraction turns into an amazing quest for guests. Near the trees, there are musical boxes, each of which plays famous pieces of music. Moving from tree to tree, listening to popular melodies, you can spend several hours.
The park was laid out in the 80s, when, at the initiative of the city authorities, musicians performing in Aalborg planted trees – oaks and cherries. Today, more than 80 trees grow in the park. In 2012, each plant acquired the voice of the performer who planted it. At the tree, there are special machines with famous hits. It is enough to press the button and enjoy the music.
The attraction is open 24 hours a day and is located in the heart of Aalborg.
Port of Aalborg – Description and Features
A major port city in Denmark, which, due to its good geographical location, has been actively developing, Even today the port is actively fishing (herring and eel) and merchant ships call.
Historically, life in the city was concentrated in and around the port. The port also houses a yacht club, where athletes from all over the world come year-round. Many tourists visit the port to rent a white yacht and enjoy a relaxing vacation, basking in the northern sun.
The port is a favorite recreation area for locals and visitors. Recently, the port of Aalborg has been renovated and designed to provide maximum comfort for tourists. The promenade features comfortable sun loungers and hammocks, where visitors can enjoy the port and sea views. The promenade is decorated with rusty metal, asphalt, and concrete. The plants have been arranged to resemble natural meadows and forests. For a long time, the port area was dominated by industrial facilities and a market. After the reconstruction, the port of Aalborg was transformed and became an original landmark of the city. People gained access to the water, and a park was planted on the waterfront, along with facilities for recreation and active play.
An interesting fact! It took 11 years to reconstruct the embankment and the port. Today, it is a one-kilometer stretch that combines natural landscapes and urban scenery.
You can get to the port by buses 1, 2, 12, 13, 15, 21N, 22N, 23N, 24N, 27N, 50N, 54N, 70N, 71N, 72N, 73N, 74N, S2, and S3.
Accommodation in Aalborg
Of course, Copenhagen offers the largest selection of accommodation for tourists, but Aalborg also has a good number of hotels, apartments, and guesthouses. Most of the accommodation is located in the old part of the city, near the castles, museums, and cathedrals.
Useful to know! There are no hostels in Aalborg, but you can book accommodation in a guesthouse that offers parking, breakfast, and free Wi-Fi.
The minimum cost of staying in a three-star hotel in summer is 72 euros, and in a four-star hotel it is 102 euros. Apartments can be rented for 55 euros per day.
Weather and climate
Aalborg is a northern city, so there is no hot weather or scorching sun. The city has a maritime climate with high rainfall throughout the year. Winters in Aalborg are long, cold, snowy, and cloudy. From late November to late March, the average daily temperature does not exceed 6°C. However, the temperature rarely drops below -10°C.
The warmest weather in Aalborg is in June and August, when the air temperature reaches +20°C to +23°C. The most comfortable time to visit is during the summer months and early September. This is when there is the least rainfall, but the sun shines for up to 17 days per month.
It’s good to know! The best beaches in Aalborg are located outside the city.
How to get to Aalborg
The international airport is located 7 km from the city center. Buses run every 30 minutes from the airport building to Aalborg. The airport has direct connections to 30 destinations and accepts both charter and regular flights.
Domestic flights start 2 hours before departure and end 40 minutes before departure. For international flights, check-in starts 2 hours and 30 minutes before departure and ends 40 minutes before departure.
There is a direct train connection between the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen and Aalborg. Trains depart from the capital’s central station every hour from 5:56 a.m. to 5:56 p.m., and there are other connections available. The journey takes approximately 4.5 hours. The ticket price is 453 Danish kroner. For the most up-to-date train and bus schedules, you can visit the website www.rejseplanen.dk. You can also purchase travel tickets on this website.
There are also intercity buses from Copenhagen to Aalborg. Travelers arrive at Kennedys Plads. You can also take a 50-minute flight from one city to another.
The most convenient way to get around the city is by taxi, bus, or renting a car. Almost all bus routes pass through the city center.
If you look at Aalborg (Denmark) from the perspective of a real estate agent, you can say that it is a city with great potential. There are more than three hundred casinos, cafes, restaurants, shops, and nightclubs in the city. The zoo is home to rare animals, and the city’s landmarks offer fascinating stories from thousands of years ago.
