Here is a comprehensive list of the best things to do in Aalborg, Denmark.
Aalborg is the fourth-biggest city in Denmark. Just like Copenhagen, Aalborg has long and rich cultural and historical roots.
Thus, it makes up for tourists who want to delve deeper into Denmark‘s heritage and experience its uniqueness. Visiting the city will also lead back tourists to the milestones and events that shaped modern-day Aalborg.
The city is part of the North Jutland province in the northern part of the country. Aside from its numerous cultural landmarks, Aalborg boasts outdoor attractions that are a perfect respite from the hustles and bustles of city life.
Visitors will also find themselves on a unique Viking immersion. After all, the city has been an essential route and settlement for Viking warriors who dominated the area during ancient times. The city indeed rolls fascinating nature, culture, and history in one idyllic setting.
Here we go.
Follow me on Instagram and Tiktok for more Finland and Europe travel tips! 🏕️🏕️🏕️
Do you need help planning your trips? Start here!
❗️Be insured before your trip and get a SafetyWing FREE insurance quote
📚 Read our post about why you should always have insurance
✈️ Find out how to find cheap flights using Skyscanner or find deals now
🛌🏻 Book your accommodation through Booking.com
🎭 Find awesome and hassle-free tours through GetYourGuide
🚘 Explore Europe on an epic road trip with Discover Cars
Top 10 Best Things to Do in Aalborg, Denmark
1. Check out the Budolfi Cathedral
Budolfi Cathedral has long played an important role in the lives of the locals who were mostly Christians. The church has an eye-catching design that features different architectural styles. The local proponents laid out the cathedral’s construction in the 14th century following the Gothic architecture.
Those times saw the construction of the nave and two aisles along with the turret rooms and an armory. The baroque spire was added in 1779, while the vestry was built in 1900. Another chapel and a choir extension were incorporated during the Second World War.
2. Catch City views at the Aalborg Tower
Standing 55 meters above ground, the Aalborg Tower offers a panoramic view of the city, including the adjacent areas of North Jutland. It was built in 1933 to serve as a venue for the North Jutland Exhibition but was left standing since it was too expensive to tear down.
As years passed, the tower evolved into one of the city’s tourism symbols. Visitors and locals can access the tower throughout the summer months of April to October.
3. Enjoy Nature at Skanse Park
Skanse Park was landscaped in the 1600s, making it one of the oldest parts of the North Jutland region. Nestled on top of Skansebakken, Skanse Park covers more than five hectares. Today, it is a popular getaway for locals and tourists who troop to enjoy the rustic views and escape the hassles of urban living.
One can find blooming flowers, lush trees, and different kinds of birds and butterflies. The park also offers a breathtaking view of an adjacent fjord and the city.
Are you planning your travels? Here’re my top travel resources!
I’m a serial planner both in life and in travel – I have bucket lists, things to do, see, and everything. So, I always love when my life is sorted easily using tools and resources that would make my general planning a little smoother and easier. Therefore, in my many years of traveling the world, I’ve seen myself returning to these travel resources repeatedly. And here I am, sharing my tips to make your life easy and breezy so you can stress less, travel heaps, and focus on the fun part of travel!
- Booking.com – I book all my hotels through this website and don’t honestly use anything else. They always have the best prices, in my opinion.
- Airbnb – If I’m traveling long-term to one destination, I book my flats through Airbnb.
- Skyscanner – The best place to find cheap flights on flexible dates. I use this a lot to score cheap flights within Europe!
- SafetyWing – Always travel insured! Never leave your home country without one. It is worth the extra money, I promise you!
- GetYourGuide – Hands-down, the best place to find cool and unique tours if you don’t feel like winging it, and go straight to a local expert. I use this a lot in new destinations to get acquainted with the area!
- My Pretty Wild World Travel Diary (coming soon) – A book you can write down your travel plans, create itineraries, track down your budget, and dot down memories along the way! A handy book you can keep and read later to revisit memory lane.
- Pretty Wild World Travel Planning Printables (coming soon) – Are you a nut like me when it comes to planning? Yes? Good. My travel planning resource in one zip file is an easy-to-use printable planner that comes with tips that helps you plan your travels during the planning stage, a pre-flight checklist, an itinerary planner, and so on.
4. Enjoy a Drink at Jomfru Ane Gade
Jomfru Ane Grade features more than 30 spots located next to each other. Various bars and restaurants line this street, making it the perfect place to have a drinking session with spirited bottles. It’s also an ideal spot for a romantic dinner or enjoying the company of peers.
Summer months are the liveliest period here, and many establishments have to set up outside tables. The street also hosts various activities such as live concerts, exhibitions, and stand-up shows.
FIND HOTEL DEALS: Best hotels in Aalborg
5. Trace History at Aalborg Town Hall
Aalborg’s Town Hall is one of the city’s iconic buildings dating back to 1759. It features an impressive entrance leading to yellow-painted facades. A bust statue of King Frederick V sits above the entrance along with the Danish national coat of arms. There are also inscriptions written in Latin.
These are Soli Deo Gloria (glory to good alone); and Predentia et Constantia (prudence and constancy), which is the king’s motto. Next to the main entrance, one can find the only remaining gas lamps in Aalborg.
6. Explore the Springeren Maritime Center
Aalborg has long been an important strategic point for Denmark’s rich maritime history. The Springeren Maritime Center will lead visitors to experiences and unique life at Aalborg harbor and its history.
Here, visitors will also glimpse the last Danish-constructed and built submarine called Springeren. It likewise features Sobjornen, which is the world’s fastest gas turbine torpedo boat. Through interactive exhibitions, visitors can navigate through the port’s history. Don’t forget to shoot photos of Aalborg’s miniature version dating back to 1870.
Hold up! Have you thought about the importance of travel insurance?
Remember this: anything can happen. Travel is fun, but your health is more important; thus, I always, always, always recommend getting insured during the duration of your trip. I have benefitted from having one multiple times, and it has been covered for thousands of euros!
The latest one is not necessarily “health” related – it was during the peak of the unspeakable terrible C that consumed the world. I was living in Vietnam when I received an email from SafetyWing (my travel insurance) that if I want they’ll fly be back home to Finland as the world goes through a global emergency alert. I flew back fully covered, and dealing with SafetyWing was a breeze despite the roar of people in contact with them trying to get back home.
I can’t highly recommend them enough. Otherwise, I rarely get sick; hence I don’t always need to head to a hospital, but knowing that I have travel insurance makes me feel safe at the very least.
Read my post about why you should get travel insurance for more information. Otherwise, you can get a free quote from SafetyWing – they’re the best, in my opinion.
7. Learn more History at Jorgen Olufsen’s House
Jorgen Olufsen’s Houses dates back to the Renaissance period, making it one of Denmark’s most preserved structures. Above the sandstone portal, one can see the initials of then-mayor Jorgen Olufsen, who initiated the building of the house.
The grain loft doors and the hoists of the house are still evident up to this day. Visitors will also find a hook on the Osteragade and an iron bar where locals used to hang the scale. The scale ensured that customers weighing their goods would not be cheated.
8. Immerse into the Rich Culture at Utzon Center
Nestled by the waterfront in Aalborg is the Utzon Center, which has long served as a local cultural hub. Jorn Utzon, the famous architect behind the Sydney Opera House, designed this majestic building.
Utzon aimed to promote it as an education center though it also serves as a museum. Visitors, especially students, are encouraged to participate in lectures and workshops conducted here. Among the items showcased here are the original drawings of Utzon, including temporary and permanent exhibitions of other artists.
9. Relish Sights at Egholm
It takes a short ferry ride from Aalborg’s port to reach the secluded island of Egholm. It lies in the middle of Limfjord and offers fascinating natural sceneries, making it an idyllic escape from the city.
It covers more than 605 hectares, consisting of various landscapes and numerous trails leading to off-beaten attractions, including scenic hills and vantage spots for viewing the fjords. The island also has a beach, which is an ideal getaway during summer.
10. Explore the Ancient Viking Graveyard
Tourists who wish to chase the best-preserved Viking findings in Scandinavia should check out Lindholm Hoje. The site contains the original burial sites of the Vikings, and there is also the nearby Lindholm Hoje Museum, which showcases various exhibitions.
The graveyard hosts more than 680 graves dating back to the Viking Age and the Germanic Iron Age. Visitors can glimpse ancient remains of wells, houses, and a Viking village. It is one of the best attractions in Aalborg.
These are some of the can’t-miss things to do in Aalborg for a learning-filled and more adventurous experience. Make sure to include some or most of these when planning your Denmark itinerary.
