Jutland Road Trip

 I am back with the blog after some months to tell you about some spots and experiences that you can't miss. I would recommend this road trip to everyone that is living in Denmark and also to people that have never visited the country before. During my first year in Denmark, I explored Copenhagen and its surroundings a lot but I was really looking forward to leaving Zealand and getting to know the rest of Denmark. A week of holidays in the middle of a pandemic (closed international borders) was the perfect chance to finally visit Jutland.

Jutland is a big peninsula attached to continental Europe. It borders Germany. It belongs to Denmark and even if it might not be as known it has almost the same amount of inhabitants as Zealand (the island where Copenhagen is located). They say that Jutland is the soul of Denmark. Most people that live in Copenhagen claim to have Jysk ancestors. It has rural areas but also beautiful beaches, busy ports, and big cities. Out of the 5 biggest cities in Denmark, 3 of them are located in Jutland. These are Aarhus, Aalborg, and Esbjerg. 

The intention of this post is to describe the trip that my group of friends and I did some weeks ago. Hopefully, this can inspire you to go on a similar trip or maybe even copy it step by step.

Starting the trip in Copenhagen, there are two ways to get to Jylland besides taking a flight. You can cross by car to Fyn (you might also visit Odense) using a bridge or you can get into a ferry with a car or van in Odde. In around 90 minutes, you will arrive at the port of Aarhus, located on the East Coast of Jutland. This is the cheapest option and it is also quite exciting.  

What did we do in Aarhus? If you only have one day I would recommend walking around the city center. The main streets are nice, as well as the streets closed to the canal. There is a rooftop in the city center called Salling where you can grasp some impressive views of the whole city and the port. But no doubt, the best spot in Aarhus is the ARoS Art Museum of Aarhus. It is easily identifiable because of the bright colors of its highest floor. The expositions are incredible and the views from the top floor beautiful. We had a great time.

After a short visit to Aarhus, our next destination was the West Coast of Jutland. We slept in Viborg and stoped in Silkeborg before getting to Thy National Park. This place, as most of Jutland's west coast, is famous for the summer houses that Danes are crazy about. When temperatures are over 20 Celcius, these areas are packed with Copenhageners and people from all around the country and Germany. The truth is that landscapes and beaches here are breathtaking. I wouldn't mind having a summer house to enjoy mild danish summers here. Some of these beaches are famous for being the only place where you can practice surf in Denmark. I loved going from one spot to the other by car, you could see small farms, windmills, cows, and flat extensions of fields. I think I would never get tired of those types of views.

The last two nights of the trip, we slept in Aalborg, a big city located in North Jutland. Aalborg is a good place to stay because it is not too far away from the west coast, from the northernmost point of Skagen, or even from Aarhus. In any case, Denmark is a very small country and Jutland is not an exception. The distances between cities are not very big so it is very comfortable for a road trip like the one we did.

Our next stop was Skagen. This is the name of the peninsula that is located in the northernmost tip of Jutland. Here, the Atlantic Ocean meets the Baltic Sea. The small town of Skagen is also famous for being a tourist place during the summer. Its chick streets and luxurious port are great for a short and cozy walk. But you can't forget to visit the beaches and deserts of Skagen. Go to the Skagen Fyr at sunset, a lighthouse located in a desert and in front of the sea. One of the most exciting moments of the trip was when a kind of sandstorm hit us while we were trying to get up this lighthouse. To be honest, we were a bit disappointed by the actual northernmost point of Skagen. Here is where the two seas collide and where the famous seals can be found. But in my opinion, it was not more impressive than other beaches in the area or on the west coast. 

During our last day and before driving back to Aarhus to get the ferry we stopped in Aalborg to visit the city. The best part was the waterfront and the fancy street food located in the port. The city center was nice but nothing compared to Aarhus or Copenhagen. As you can see, even if I would recommend mixing city tourism with nature contemplation, the best part of Jutland is its beaches, sunsets, and deserts rather than its medium-sized cities.

Oops, I forgot to tell you that this road trip wouldn't have been the same without my incredible friends. Happiness is real when shared and traveling with these guys was incredible as always. So, you already know. Convince your friends, rent a van, and get on the ferry.