Travel: Denmark

Christmas is in good hands in the country that invented hygge (pronounced ‘hoo-gah’), the Danish art of contentment…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT

Only a three-hour train journey from Copenhagen, on the Jutland Peninsula’s east coast, is Aarhus – the European City of Culture in 2017. The second-largest city in Denmark, it’ll deliver a healthy dose of festive cheer. If you’re flying, pick up the bus from Aarhus Airport for a 45-minute ride to the city.

INSIDER’S GUIDE

Take a trip to the top of the Salling department store – a wonderful roof terrace café, and the perfect place to grab a mug of mulled wine and a plate of Aebleskiver (delicious balls of fried batter that you dunk in copious amounts of jam and icing sugar).

If the mulled wine gives you some Dutch courage, step out onto the glassbottomed viewing deck that overlooks the twinkling high street below.

The city’s bursting with culture. The ARoS art gallery offers 10 floors of both modern installation art and more traditional pieces. It’s topped with ‘ Your rainbow panorama’, a multicoloured glass viewing platform by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson.

The Moesgaard Museum, less than an hour from the city, houses the famous Tollund Man, whose body, dating from 400BC, was found mummified in a bog.

DON’T MISS

For a truly immersive festive experience, head to Den Gamle By (The Old Town), a museum formed of a collection of houses built from the 1500s onwards – 400 years of Christmas history. And don’t miss the magical theme park, Tivoli Friheden.

GETTING THERE:

Ryanair has daily flights from London Stansted to Aarhus Airport, starting from £9.99 one way. Buses from Aarhus Airport to Aarhus Central Station are timed to leave once a flight has landed. Book at ryanair.com

STAYING THERE:

Hotel Scandic The Mayor, in central Aarhus, offers double rooms starting at £128 including breakfast. Book at scandichotels.com/hotels/denmark/ aarhus/scandic-the-mayor

FOOD AND DRINK

Visit Langhoff & Juul, in the Latin Quarter, for delicious seasonal organic produce. Don’t miss the indoor Aarhus Street Food Market, where you sit at long sharing tables. With tacos, pasta and traditional Danish open sandwiches, there’s food for all.

Thinking about a trip to Denmark? How about visiting enchanting Aarhus?

Try a taste of sophisticated Aarhus, gem of the Jutland Peninsula

The Den Gamle By (Old Town) is a glimpse of 400 years of Danish history That’s what we call hygge – delicious Aebleskiver!

Mull things over on the Salling roof garden Beyond the rainbow at the city’s art gallery