The long journey to Aarhus...

[English version below]

Yay! The Interrail trip is starting again! 🎉

After a one-month trip through Eastern Europe last year, we're now heading to Scandinavia and the Baltic countries.

We are looking forward to many interesting cities, people, cultures, and experiences!

Our first destination is Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark. Aarhus is actually about a 9-hour train ride from Düsseldorf, but it took us 13 hours in the end, because our first train ride didn't go as planned, just like a typical Interrail experience.

Thanks to a delay by the German rail, we were able to spend 3 hours in beautiful Hamburg. Coincidentally, on the same day, the Christopher Street Day with a big Pride Parade took place there. The city was decorated in colorful colors, there were all kinds of people (all three genders were represented) and many stalls and music. In the cozy ALEX restaurant right by the Alster, we observed the bustling activity of the city while enjoying a delicious snack.

Since we arrived at the Danhostel Aarhus shortly before 12 due to the train delay and the reception was already closed at this time, we had to use an app to check in. This app also allowed us to enter the hostel with an electronic room card. We were positively surprised by the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, and also by this technological possibility!

We finally arrived at the main train station in Aarhus around 23:30. The city made a very lively impression on us with many young people and bars, as Aarhus is also a well-known student city in Denmark.

Then came the shock! Unexpectedly, we ended up in a 50-bed room, even though we had booked an 8-person room. There were all kinds of people in the room, from naked men with sunburn to old men, small Chinese people, and men in suits! It won't be boring there, but it won't be quiet either... One would think that there would be a large washing room for 50 people, but no! We had to make do with 3 toilets, 4 sinks, and 5 showers.

Contrary to expectations, we still had a pleasant night. This may have been due to our tiredness, but also to the super comfortable beds. Therefore, we consider Danhostel Aarhus as a possible alternative for overnight stays.

Exploring Aarhus!

After a delicious breakfast at Aboulevarden with a view of the river, we were well prepared for the day. As the city slowly woke up, we started our sightseeing tour. Aarhus is quite compact and most of the sights can be easily explored on foot. The historic center of the city is the square at the cathedral, Bispetorvet, where the Vikings landed when the city was founded. The Aarhus Theater can also be found there. Other attractions include Dokk1 - library and cultural center, the harbor, nice little alleys with pretty houses, and the ARoS Art Museum with a colorful 360° rainbow walkway on the roof. However, we didn't go up, as we thought the student price of €14 would not be worth it just for the walkway; but if you are also interested in the museum itself, you might consider getting a ticket.

All in all, we really liked Aarhus. It seems to be an attractive city for students and is definitely worth a short visit!

We are looking forward to our next destination - Copenhagen!!!

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After an amazing Interrail journey through Eastern Europe in 2017, we decided to explore a different part of Europe this year, more specifically Scandinavia and the Baltic countries! Once again, we are very excited to get to know these beautiful countries, their people, and culture.

For our first destination, we have chosen the Danish city Aarhus, which is located in the northern part of Denmark. It is the country's second largest city and also known for its vibrant student life. We were supposed to arrive there by 7 pm, but it wasn't until 11:30 pm. Even though we weren't able to enjoy a nice evening in Aarhus due to the delay, we nevertheless gained a few hours in beautiful Hamburg! And coincidentally, there was the big Christopher Street Day on this exact day. Therefore, we got to experience Hamburg in an atmosphere full of rainbow colors, dressed-up people, lots of music, and celebrations. At the ALEX restaurant right by the Alster, we enjoyed a nice snack while watching the people celebrate.

Finally, at around midnight, we made it to our hostel for the night, Danhostel Aarhus! As the reception had already closed, we checked in via an app that also enabled us to open the doors thanks to an electronic key card! Our good impression quickly faded when we entered the 50-bed dormitory! We were supposed to sleep in a room for 8, but apparently, this hostel mainly consists of this one big room... And you would think that there would be plenty of washing possibilities, but there aren't! We had to make do with 3 toilets, 4 sinks, and 5 showers for 50 people!

For sure, we wouldn't get bored in this room... We met all kinds of people, from naked men with sunburn to little Asian girls, old men, and men in suits!

But we have to admit that in the end, we had a good night. The bed was surprisingly comfortable, and it wasn't as loud as expected. So we would definitely recommend Danhostel as a decent place to stay in Aarhus. And the staff is extremely friendly.

Exploring Aarhus!

After a nice breakfast with a river view at Aboulevarden, we started to explore the city and its various sights. Aarhus is not that big, so all the main sights are reachable on foot! They include the historic square where the Vikings first landed when they founded the city over 1200 years ago. The square is surrounded by a cathedral and the beautiful Aarhus theater. Not far from there, you can find the harbor with its main attraction, DOKK 1, a library and community center. What shouldn't be missed (at least from the outside) is the ARoS art museum. Its main feature is the 360° rainbow hallway on top of the building. We didn't go up as we found the student price of €14 too expensive just for the ride up. But if you plan to also visit the exhibition(s), then a visit might be worth it! Aarhus also has a nice shopping street, unfortunately, we were there on a Sunday, so not all shops were open. Good for our wallets ;)

We would definitely recommend a visit to Aarhus if you happen to be in Denmark!

Now we are excited for our next stop: Copenhagen!!!