Exotic Destination
Aarhus, Denmark
If you’ve never heard of Aarhus, don’t worry, you’re not alone. When asked to list Danish cities, Copenhagen is often the only one that comes to mind for most people. But Aarhus is actually the second-largest city in Denmark, and the sixth-largest of the other nearby Nordic countries.
Some r unners may know of Aarhus, however, as it was the site of the 2019 iaaf World Cross-Country Championships. Many athletes who competed in Aarhus left saying that the course was one of the toughest they had ever run. The city has much more to offer runners than a single race course, and while you should certainly check out the championship venue and see for yourself just how difficult it is, Aarhus contains a nice variety of terrain and scenery for tourists looking for a good run. Here are some of your options.
Waterfront Running
Aarhus is a coastal town, situated on the Kattegat Strait , which forms part of the connection between the Baltic and North seas. A waterfront trail lies between the city and sea for about 10 kilometres. If you choose to run this route, you may see seals poking their heads out of the water alongside kayakers, rowers and sailboats.
You’ll rarely be alone on the path; many cyclists, runners and walkers populate the entirety of the trail at all hours of the day, rain or shine. If you feel a little hot (and brave), you can dive into the chilly waters of the Kattegat at one of the many water accesses and tiny beaches along the path.
As you make your way along the trail, you’ ll see some of Aarhus’ tourism hotspots, including Dokk1, the city’s library, which was built in 2015. Here you can stop for a coffee or water and a kanelsnegl (a cinnamon roll) and take in the view of the harbour and Aarhus skyline before continuing on along the path. The public transit in Aarhus isn’t as frequent as you’ll find in Copenhagen or other larger cities, but it is reliable, and there are many bus and tram stops along the path, so don’t worry if you get distracted by the trailside views and go too far – you can always find a way back into town without too much hassle.
Trail Running
Aarhus has many forested areas and t r ails in and around t he cit y. As mentioned, if you’re looking for a challenge, head down to Moesgaard Museum to see how you fare on the World Cross-Country course. Here you’ ll get the opportunity to challenge yourself on steep hills, one of which is the roof of the museum, that is covered in grass.
If you choose not to make the trek out to Moesgaard you can still get your fix of trail running closer to the city centre. For a relaxing and peaceful run with some tree cover, Marselisborg Forest has several kilometres of trails and roads that locals often frequent. Riis Skov, another forest, has a series of challenging trails, with many tough ascents and quick descents. The city’s trails are never empty, often hosting dozens of runners out for pre- or post-work runs. Scandinavians are pretty fit people, so you’ll have no problem finding the motivation to keep a good pace as you run alongside Danes of all ages.
City Running
If you’re not opposed to r unning on some cobblestones, Aarhus is a wonderful city for a run. Plus, a great way to explore a city is by foot, so before you head out for a day of touring, why not lace up your shoes and head out for a recon run?
Aarhus is known for its architecture, and it has a wide variety of buildings, both old and new. Dokk1 is a modern structure with windows looking out towards the harbour. Not far from the library is Aarhus Ø, the city’s newest neighbourhood, where the Isbjerget (Iceberg) apartment complex stands, jutting out of its seaside base.
Older buildings include the Aarhus Theatre, built in the 1890s, Marselisborg Palace, which was built in the 1900s and is the summer home of the Danish royal family. Finally, one of the oldest buildings you’ll find in Aarhus is the Aarhus Cathedral, built in the early 1300s, located near the city centre.
In addition to the architecture, you can run the routes along the canal of the Aarhus River, which f lows through the centre of Aarhus. With the cobblestone streets, stunning architecture and a canal to top things off, Aarhus checks each box in qualifying as a classic European city.
Ben Snider-McGrath recently graduated from Ryerson University, where he studied journalism.