Aalborg

Aalborg is the capital and largest city in the region of North Jutland. A university town and a regional centre for education. It has a long history as an industrial and port town with an international airport that also serves Copenhagen.
Aalborg is an old town with many preserved buildings and important prehistoric relics, but also thriving cultural life with several institutions of national importance. The Tourist Information of Aalborg has its headquarters in Nordkraft, a culture centre at the harbourfront.

Orientation

The city of Nørresundby is just across Limfjord, to the north of it.

By plane

Getting there: bus #2 can get to the city centre, however, it is infrequent on weekends and evenings, and stops the service rather early (around 23:00). If you arrive very late, have little luggage and small budget, you can walk ~2 km until the Lindholm train station. Bus or train to the center should be still available after midnight. Taxi is very expensive.

By bus

Aalborg Busterminal on John F Kennedy Plads (The John F Kennedy square, phone: 98 12 87 13) right by the station is a large regional hub for long distance, regional and local buses. Express buses (XBus) leaves several times per day towards Aarhus (via Hadsund), Løgstør, Holstebro, Viborg (via Silkeborg) and Esbjerg. In addition regional buses (locally known as rutebil) connects to nearly every city of some size in North Eastern Jutland.
Abilskou route 888 to Copenhagen takes 5 hours, kr 250 (kr 430 return).

By train

Aalborg is on the Copenhagen, Roskilde, Odense, Aarhus Line. 4½ hours/DKK 402 to Copenhagen.

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    By ferry

    There are ferries from Norway and Sweden coming to North Jutland (Hirtshals or Frederikshavn). From there you can take bus or train to Aalborg.
    

    By car

    From Frederikshavn: Use the E45 southbound to Aalborg.
    From Hirtshals: Use the E39 southbound to Aalborg.
    From Aarhus: Use the E45 northbound to Aalborg.
    
    

In the center it easy to walk by foot. To go further, there is a good public bus system (kr 22 for 1½ hr if you pay cash), run by the Nordjyllands Trafikselskab company, which tickets can be bought online. The buses don't go at night, and taxis are very expensive. The best way is still to get around by bicycle, you can rent one close to tourist information office or at several other locations using the city-bike system. There is also a city bike scheme where you may borrow a bicycle after giving a kr 20 deposit. For longer stays, a better option is buying one. Police has auctions once per month, you can ask about them in the police station.

• Aalborg Zoo

  address: Mølleparkvej 63
  Cosy zoo with many "classic" zoo animals such as giraffes, elephants and big cats. The biggest enclosure is the savanna, where several African animals are free-ranging. There is also a big playground and a nice restaurant.

• Aalborg AkvavitDistillery. There used to be a museum but it was closed in 2016.

• Aalborghus Castle

  address: Slotspladsen 1
  A half-timbered castle built by King Christian III in 1539 - 1555 initially as a fortification. Soon it became the seat of the king's provincial governors in Northern Jutland, and then started to be used by the State County for taxes. All that remains today of the original castle is the east wing, the rest was constructed centuries later. There is no public access to the buildings but the courtyard is open for everybody free of charge. Besides, it's possible to visit the castle’s dungeon (1 May - 31 October Mon-Fri 8:00-15:00) and underground casemates (daily 8:00 - 21:00).

• Aalborg Tower

  phone: +45 98 77 05 11
  address: Søndre Skovvej 12
  54.9 metre tall observation tower built of lattice steel in 1933. The tower is built on a hill, providing a total height of 105 metres above sea level. The tower has a restaurant on the top.

• Aalborg Townhall

  address: Gammel Torv 2
  Built in 1759 and served as city hall until 1912. Now is only used for wedding ceremonies and representative purposes..

• Budolfi ChurchThe Lutheran cathedral in Aalborg.

• Jens Bangs Stenhus

  address: Østerågade 9
  Beautiful renaissance house, built in 1624 by the merchant Jens Bang.

• Jørgen Olufsens House

  address: Østerågade 25
  Well-preserved renaissance house from 1616 by the merchant Jørgen Olufsen.

• Royal Taxhouse

  address: Strandvejen 1
  Built in 1902 representing national romantic architecture. In 2005, it was brought back to its original style. Next to the house is a musical fountain, during summer at 12:00, 15:00, 18:00 and 21:00 Händel's Water Music accompanise the splashing water.

• Lindholm Hoeje

  phone: +45 9931 7440
  address: Vendilavej 11, Lindholm Høje, Nørresundby
  Ancient Viking graveyard. There is an adjacent Lindholm Hoeje museum.

Museums

• KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art Aalborg

  phone: +45 99 82 41 00
  address: Kong Christians Allé 50

• Defence and Garrison Museum

  phone: +45 9812 8821
  address: Skydebanevej 22

• Springeren - Maritime Experience Centre

  phone: +45 98 11 78 03
  address: Vestre Fjordvej 81
  A marine museum located on the wharf where you can play with modelships in the pool, visit submarine 'Springeren' and learn about the ships at the exhibition.

• Gråbrødrekloster Museum

  phone: +45 9931 7400
  address: Algade 19
  Underground museum 3 m below Algade street. It depicts the history of the Franciscan monastery as well as the market place, the unknown churches and the city houses.

• Historical Museum

  phone: +45 9931 7400
  address: Algade 48
  Exhibition is rather small and of limited value.

Aalborg habourfront

The harbourfront has been renewed and is now centre for culture and education. The entire area offers an inspiring city walk in itself.

• Utzon Centre

  phone: +45 7690 5000
  address: Slotspladsen 4
  A cultural centre exhibiting art, architecture and design. Focuses on Jørgen Utzon's own work and other work somehow related to him. Also has a restaurant.

• Elbjørn

  address: Strandvejen 6B
  Icebreaker now working as a restaurant and culture ship at the Aalborg harbour. It has a restaurant, a bar, glass workshop, and a museum.

Nature sites

• Kildeparken

  address: Gammel Kærvej

• Lille Vildmose

  phone: +45 99 31 75 50
  The largest raised bog in Western Europe, good wildlife exhibition center with small cafe and restaurant and excellent bird watching.

• EgholmSmall island in the fjord which can be reached by a short ferry ride.

• BicycleRent a bicycle and go along the fjord.

• Casino Aalborg

  phone: +45 9810 1550
  address: Ved Stranden 16
  Offer American Roulette, Black Jack, Poker and slot machines. Nice experience, but the atmosphere here is not as chic and international as you might expect.

• Ice-skating

  address: C.W. Obels Square

• Jumboland

  phone: +45 9818 8843
  address: Gøteborgvej 33
  Indoor playground of 2,400 m². Has a café.

• Open Swimming Pool

  address: Skydebanevej 14

• Nordkraft

  address: Kjellerups Torv
  Nordkraft is a culture center with several cultural institutions including Skråen (a venue for jazz and rock concerts), Teater Nordkraft, the Biffen Art Cinema, the Kunsthal Nord art gallery and Dreamhouse (an innovative creation facility). It was established in 2009 in a former power plant. Nordkraft is home to

• Teater Nordkraft

  address: Teglgårds Plads 1
  A theatre in Nordkraft culture center. Granhøj Dans is a celebrated international dance company that is part of Teater Nordkraft. Granhøj Dans relocated to Aalborg in late 2016 from Aarhus.

Musikkens Hus

phone: +45 60203000

address: Musikkens Plads 1

The concert halls and school of music. Fantastic architecture.

Events

• Aalborg KarnivalThe biggest carnival in Northern Europe. If you want to have fun with Danish people this is a great opportunity.

Cheapest supermarkets are Netto, Fakta, Aldi, Lidl and Rema 1000. Working hours are 08:00-22:00 all week. Aldi is open 8:00-21:00 all days, with the exception of Christmas and New Years Day and Eve.

• Algade and BispensgadeMain shopping streets. Most shops close M-F 18:00, and Sa 14:00. Shops are closed Sundays unless it is a special Sunday (usually first of the month).

• Medinaen

  address: Reberbansgade, Urbansgade, Holbergsgade and Jens Bangs Gade
  Shopping area with a number of unique small shops.

• Salling

  address: Algade
  Department store.

• Wet Market

  address: Aagade

Budget

• Fontænen

  phone: +45 98 16 17 02
  address: Prinsensgade 42
  has the cheapest hot dogs in town, low budget fast food, what you need after a night out.

• 1000frydan alternative bar, vegan dinner on Tuesdays for kr 20. You have to sign up before.

• Emiki Pizza : small pizza place & friendly staff. Veggie pizza with Coke for kr 45.
• Friends : nice location toward the street junction & have the option to stay out.I eat salmon salad with mixed fruit cocktail juice for kr 90, but make sure to have krones since they are not accepting euro.

Mid-range

• San Giovanni

  phone: +45 98 11 37 55
  address: Vesterbro 46
  Good Italian restaurant

There are many other good places to eat. Many such along Jomfru Ane Gade where you can both eat and drink well at an affordable price.

• is a short street with 30 restaurants/bars. Drinks are cheap and the bars are open late. You will see signs advertising 20 kr drinks and 20:00-00:00 happy hour.

• The Wharf

  phone: +45 98117010
  Borgergade 16, has the best beer in town (same owner as Charlies in Copenhagen).

• The Irish HouseØsterågade 25, tel: 98141817.

• London Pub

  phone: +45 98117770
  address: Boulevarden 7

• FedtebrødetA real underground place in Aalborg. Very good music in this hippie bar where local bands play often and where you can always grab a guitar and jam with other costumers. The place is full of "different" people... let us say it's the complete opposite of the above-mentioned Jomfru Ane Gade.

• 1000fryd

  phone: +45 98132221
  address: Kattesundet 10
  Aalborg's only bar run by activists. 1000fryd has been around since 1984 when Aalborg's alternative scene bought the place. Now the place is known for their ecological beer, underground music scene and do-it-yourself attitude towards life. 1000fryd has two reoccurring festivals, namely their Punk/HC festival and their Queer festival.
• Student house right across the Budolfi church hosts international evenings on Wednesdays, as well as various concerts on Fridays. Very informal.

• Behag din smag

  phone: +45 8734 0486
  address: Maren Turis Gade 5
  Coffee, tea and chocolate. If you enjoy good coffee, then this is the spot. One of the owners was the Danish Barista champion of 2007.

• Søgaards Bryghus

  phone: +45 98 16 11 14
  address: C. W. Obels Plads 1
  Brew pub, very modern ambiance, with the mash tuns in full view. Offers many styles of beer, including stouts, porters, IPA, and lagers.

Aalborg is also the home of De Danske Spritfabrikker which produces a great number of distilled beverages. Their most famous product is the Aalborg Taffel Akvavit, colloquially known as a "Rød Aalborg" (Red Aalborg).

Budget

• Danhostel Aalborg

  phone: +45 6011 6044
  address: Skydebanevej 50
  A hostel outside the centre of Aalborg which contains some huts on an island and is close to the ferry to Egholm. It has dating furniture, small rooms, not clean kitchen and overall scores very low rating on the Internet.

• Eyvind Andreasen B&B

  phone: +45 98172562
  address: Kronprinsens alle 34
  Friendly place just north of the bridge. Has three rooms sharing bathroom, kitchen, separate entrance. TV, beer and wine available in the kitchen at very reasonable prices.

Mid-range

• Comwell Hvide Hus Hotel

  phone: +45 98 13 84 00
  address: Vesterbro 2
  The hotel is located on a beautiful and central location, within walking distance of most attractions.

• Hotel Gestus

  phone: +45 9812 6933
  address: Vesterbro 36
  Small and homey hotel in the heart of Aalborg.

• Helnan Phønix Hotel

  phone: +45 98 12 00 11
  address: Vesterbro 77
  Classic historic hotel in the middle of Aalborg.

• First Hotel Aalborg

  phone: +45 98 10 14 00
  address: Rendsbruggade 5
  View of Limfjorden, close to Aalborg’s pedestrianised boutique shopping, and 3 minutes walk from the new outdoor harbour pool.

• KOMPAS Hotel Aalborg

  phone: +45 98 12 19 00
  address: Østerbro 27
  The cozy hotel at Østerbro.

• Scandic Aalborg City

  phone: +45 70 12 51 51
  address: Europa Plads 1
  -modern and comfortable rooms in the heart of Aalborg.

Splurge

• Scheelsminde Hotel & Gastronomi

  phone: +45 98 18 32 33
  address: Scheelsmindevej 35
  A nice 4-star hotel-restaurant catering to business people.

• Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel

  phone: +45 98 16 43 33
  address: Ved Stranden 14-16
  Big 4-star hotel with a view towards the Limfjord.

Internet:

• Det nordjyske Landsbibliotek (library), Rendsburggade 2, section Nørregadehjørnet in "Team Natur".

Languages

Almost every Dane speaks English. Most people will respond in English to any question you may have. Many Danes also speak some German, Spanish or French, due to having studied them in school. Most Danes understand the other Scandinavian languages, Swedish and Norwegian. Information on public transport and in government offices is often printed in English. For the most common phrases in Danish, see the Danish phrasebook article.

Currency

The currency is Danish kroner (crowns). Visa and MasterCard are normally accepted in any restaurant, taxi or store. ATMs accept all major credit and debit cards and are available in English language.

There are lots of beautiful nature around, easily accessible only by car.

• Rubjerg Knude - impressing sand dunes and a half-sunken lighthouse in the sand
• Bulbjerg
• Fur island
• Mors
• Skagen
• Frederikshavn
• Hirtshals

For beach, you can take a bus to Blokhus (around 40 km) or Hals (around 30 km) and walk some 3 km north, or take a less frequent bus that passes Hou, to, e.g., Bisnap strand.

• Fårup Sommerland. This amusement park can be reached by bus from Aalborg Rutebilstation. The amusement park has many rides and a water park.