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7 Things To Do In Aarhus Denmark

7 Things to do in Aarhus, Denmark

Aarhus is Denmarks’s second-largest city, the said it is pretty compact! It’s a historic city that remarkably feels like one cosy neighbourhood, where all of the things to see and do are within walking distance of each other. With incredible architecture, impressive galleries, and loads of food options I was more than sold. ⁠

You can fly to Aarhus directly from the UK, but I took a 3.5-hour train ride from Copenhagen so I could see the Danish countryside. ⁠⠀

1. Be Awe Struck by the Modern Architecture in Aarhus Ø

If modern architecture is your thing… Head to the new area of the regenerated dock area called Aarhus Ø.

The area is separated by canals with some seriously jaw-dropping architecture designed by top architects of the area. One of the most distinctive structures is the Iceberg by the Aarhus Ø waterfront.

In July and August, you can go for a swim or hang out at the new Harbor Bath, a vibrant meeting point and oasis. The Harbor Bath is designed by the famous Danish architect Bjarke Ingels Group BIG. The triangular floating complex comprises a rectangular 50-meter-long swimming pool, a circular diving pool, square children’s pools, and two saunas. Take a walk on the elevated plan walkway, which doubles as a viewing platform overlooking the pools and water beyond. The promenade deck is open 24 hours a day throughout the year.

2. Warm up in the Botanical Gardens

Swedish Meatballs

Coco Chanel said it best.. ‘The best things in life are free. The second best things are very, very expensive.’ ⁠⠀
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This applies to travel in Scandinavia. It’s really amazing, but it’s not cheap. That said there are some amazing things to do in Aarhus that are free. Like visiting the Science Museerne Botanical Gardens in Aarhus. It’s the biggest botanical garden in the world, but it’s pretty easy to spend a couple of hours seeing all the plants and staying warm and dry if it’s a bit cooler outside. ⁠⠀
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They have brilliant tropical with a pretty amazing treehouse viewing platform where I took this London Kiwi Emma inspired shoefie. ⁠⠀
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TOP TIP: The Botanic Gardens is next to the open-air museum Den Gamle By, aka Old Town. which is worth a visit too. Unfortunately, it’s not free. ⁠⠀
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3. Learn about Danish history in Den Gamle By

Den Gamle By

A list of 7 Things To Do In Aarhus Denmark is not complete without mentioning a visit to Den Gamle_By. Den Gamle By is an open-air museum devoted to the history of Aarhus and gives a great little insight into life throughout the ages in Denmark. 

I learned so much about danish life through the ages. About the style of architecture and the craftwork that got its start in denmark.

But most importantly I learned the most important word in the Danish language. That’s Bageri. Yes, it means bakery… if you can’t remember that… Just look for the upside-down (IMO) pretzel sign and you know you have found one! ⁠

Gibraltargatan 3, 211 18 Malmö, Sweden

4. Check out the Street Food Scene

Hedvigsdal Vedugn & Vin Brown Butter & Rosemary Potato Pizza

Street food is everywhere these days. Street Food Aarhus is a collection of street food traders in a warehouse. Ver similar vibe to that of Street Feast in London.

All major foods are represented.. Pizzas, Burgers, Bao Buns, Thai, Chinese, Greek and even Ethiopian. I went for a rather impressive duck confit burger and a rather delicious chocolate chip cookie sundae.

Even at lunchtime in the dead of winter, I could tell that this place would have some serious vibes on weekend nights. Deffo a part of the young hip nightlife scene.

Aarhus Street Food
Ny Banegårdsgade 46, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark

5. Soak in all the colours of Aarhus at Aros

Some of the best views of Aarhus are from the top of Aros Art Museum. Yes, they are through rainbow-tinted glass designed by Olafur Eliasson. But that’s a very good thing. ‘Your rainbow panorama’ is a 150-meter circular walkway parched on top of the museum. It was complete in 2011 and offers 360-degree views over Aarhus. To say it’s pretty spectacular is an understatement. 

In addition to the Installation in the roof, ARoS has a large art collection with works from the Danish Golden Age until today, a changing selection of which are on display in the museum halls. Alongside, themed and changing exhibitions of both Danish and international artists are presented. I spent a good afternoon wandering through the exhibitions.

Aros Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark

6. Visit The Town Hall

Aarhus Town Hall

Visit a town hall I hear you ask? Yes.. it’s not any ordinary town hall… It’s a Town Hall designed by Arne Jacobsen (The bunny Chair Designer). Completed in 1941, the hall’s interior features The interior features oaken parquet floors, ceramic tile floors in various patterns, bespoke designed wooden furniture, walls of glass and wood, and an incredible sweeping staircase .

Although its 75 years old, it still feels very modern, thanks to visionary Danish design. I took some of my favorite non-food photos I’ve ever taken. Not because I love my photos… just that this space was sooo incredibly beautiful. ⁠ ⁠

Rådhuspladsen 2. 8000 Aarhus C

7. Eat Stegt flæsk

Punschrulle

One of the dishes I’ve been dying to eat in Denmark was Stegt flæsk. It’s not exclusive to Aarhus, but it was easier to find several restaurants serving it. Surprisingly difficult to find in Copenhagen.

It’s is a dish consisting of fried pork belly served with potatoes, white sauce with chopped parsley. The dish is sometimes translated as ‘pork strips’ or ‘crisp fried pork slices’.⁠⠀

The recipe and dish is orientated from the rural kitchens in Denmark in the beginning of 1800s – and has been a traditional everyday meal for generations of Danes.

Since the 2000s a tradition has emerged of eating stegt flæsk on election nights as a pun on the derogatory term valgflæsk (election pork) used to describe the lofty promises politicians make during their campaigns
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I think it’s just delicious. I devoured it from a restaurant called Pinden. It was billed as all you can eat… but it was a struggle to finish of.

Pinden
Skolegade 29, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark

Other things to do in Aarhus

There were loads of other things that you can do in Aarhus. It’s such an easy city to navigate on foot. I spent 3 days there and could have spent another 2… Mainly because it was nice to spend time feeling more like a local versus the metropolitan feel of Copenhagen,

I hope that you enjoyed my list of 7 things to do in Aarhus Denmark. I’m writing a separate list of things to eat in Aarhus. So you will have to have a look. If you do go to Aarhus, I hope you have an amazing time!

aarhus, aarhus denmark, Denmark, Travel Tips, World Travel

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6 Things To Eat In Malmö Sweden

Have you ever heard of Malmö Sweden? If I’m honest it was not on my radar as the first Swedish city to visit.. but I’m glad I did as I had some seriously great food. So I’m sharing 6 things you need to eat when you visit Malmö Sweden.

Malmö is the third-largest city in Sweden (behind Stockholm and Gothenburg. (Its the 6th largest city in Scandinavia)  Thanks to the Öresund Bridge and tramline, Getting to Malmö is super easy to get to and from Copenhagen. Trains run every 20 minutes and the journey takes about 40 minutes making it a perfect addition to a trip to Copenhagen. 

The city itself is super charming with a cobblestone square lined with cafes called Lilla Torg.  Thought the city there are half-timbered houses and shops selling local handicrafts.   If architecture is your thing… there is an incredible library and Santiago Calatrava’s neo-futuristic skyscraper (the Turning Torso) is with a visit. If history is your thing…  visit Malmö Castle. Its a 6th-century fortress built by King Christian III of Denmark that houses nature, history, and art exhibits.

But you came here for the food right? Read all about 6 things to eat in Malmö Sweden.

Eating in Malmö, Malmö, Sweden, Travel Tips, World Travel

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Singapore Chilli Crab

Easy Singapore Chilli Crab

You can’t go to Singapore and not eat Singapore Chili Crab. Despite its name, it’s not an overly spicy dish. Or at least the one we had from Jumbo Seafood Singapore was not that spicy. ⠀

According to my research,  Singapore Chilli Crab was invented by Cher Yam Tian in the mid-1950s when she added bottled chilli sauce to her dish of stir-fried crabs, instead of using tomato sauce, her usual ingredient. In 1956, she and her husband began selling the dish from a pushcart along the seaside. Business was good and they eventually opened a restaurant in 1962.

Nowadays it’s all over the place in Singapore. CNN Travel Go listed Chilli Crab as one of “World’s 50 most delicious foods“, at Number 35. ⠀

Singapore Chilli crab is actually an easy dish to recreate at home.

The most difficult task is cleaning your fresh crabs.  You can ask the fishmonger to remove the top place and clean it out.  But make sure to ask for the creamy insides as it adds to the umami of the dish.

Crabs are stir-fried in a semi-thick, sweet and savoury tomato-and-chilli-based sauce that’s finished with egg to give this amazing creamy mouth feel. Despite its name, chilli crab is not a very spicy dish but pairs perfectly with a Sauvignon Blanc. The wine is bursting with notes of pink grapefruit and citrus fruits, which gives each glass a crispness that’s clean on the palate.

You mop up all that lovely Singapore Chilli Crab sauce with mantou, which are Chinese steamed bread.  I steamed some and fried some just like the way i had it in Singapore. 

Ingredients

1 tbs cornstarch
2 tbs water
4 tbs of mild flavoured oil (I use CarotinoMalaysian Palm Oil)
4 shallots minced
2- inch knob ginger grated
6 garlic cloves minced
3 mild red chillies deseeded and minced
2 whole crabs cleaned and cut into pieces
500ml stock (I used vegetable)
200ml ketchup 
100ml sweet chilli sauce
2 large eggs beaten (I used Clarence Court)
small bunch of spring onions  sliced
A bunch of coriander leaves coarsely chopped 

To serve
Mantou (馒头) Chinese steamed buns (Both Steamed and Fried)
White Rice

Method

In a small bowl, stir cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water; set aside.

In a large wok with lid, heat oil over medium heat until shimmering. stir in shallots, ginger, garlic, and chillies. Cook until fragrant, stirring, about 1 minute.

Add crab pieces and toss…. Then add the ketchup and chilli paste.  Toss again to coat. Add the broth and bring to a simmer. Cover loosely to steam the crab.  The shell will turn red after about 5 minutes. 

Remove cover and stir in cornstarch and simmer for another minute to thicken.

Remove from heat and stir in eggs. Constantly stirring as you want the yolks to enrich the sauce and the whites to create ribbons throughout.

Ladle into serving dish… sprinkle with coriander and spring onions

Serve with mantau and rice.  Enjoy!

crab, eggs, inspiredby, seafood, singapore, travel via the plate, World Travel

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The Art Of Blending In When Travelling.

I’ve always been told that the best way to travel is to experience places like a local.   Now the best way to achieve that is blend in.  The benefits of blending in and acting a bit less like a tourist and more like a local never be underestimated.

Blending in can afford you a more intimate look at the local culture, one that may not be granted to outsiders.  If you look and act like a tourist then you will be treated like one. If you want to walk the walk, it’s going to have to be their walk. And don’t assume that your custom is their custom.

More important than that is safety. Most criminals can spot tourists from dress, mannerisms, and the way they act a mile off.  Blending in will not make you completely impervious from pickpockets and scam artists,  but it can help protect you.   That said, you will still need to keep your whits about you even if you blend in. 

Blending In, Local, Stay Like A Local, Travel Tips, World Travel

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