Aalborg – The fastest city break

Make the most of the weekend with a visit to Aalborg – a top destination at the top of Denmark. The little known city of Aalborg in North Jutland has long been a centre for creative energy, which is now matched by its high-octane nightlife and a rich and varied food scene. And with a journey time of just 15 minutes between Aalborg Airport and the centre of the town, this is possibly one of the fastest low-cost city breaks ever!

Famed for Aquavit - the drink with a kick - Aalborg is both quirky and chic with more restaurants and bars per resident than any other town in Denmark. Ranging from international to traditional, there is something to suit everyone’s palette and pocket.

From the cream coloured interior and international fusion style of ‘Morten’s Kro’ (mortenskro.dk) to the Restaurant Rosdahls, where Mediterranean dishes are served with a Scandinavian twist in an old converted warehouse on the harbour front (rosdahls.dk). Or for a unique gastronomic experience book a table on the old national icebreaker, Elbørn and dine in the ship’s old engine room, tastefully blended with ultra modern furnishings and imaginative Scandinavian cuisine (isbryderen-elborn.dk).

Sporting the longest continuous stretch of restaurants, pubs, cafes, live-music venues and bars, Jomfru Ane Gade is the perfect place to kick start a weekend. Friday and Saturday evenings are the best time to experience the lively atmosphere, and on Thursday night all drinks are reduced in price to give even more reasons to party!

But there are more reasons to visit Aalborg than just the food and nightlife…

Originally a Viking settlement, the city is home to one of the most important remains in Danish history - Lindholm Hoje - visitnordjylland.dk. Excavated in 1952 with over 700 graves, the site is recognised as Scandinavia's largest Viking burial ground and today it houses The Viking Museum with indoor and outdoor activities.

For art lovers a visit to the North Jutland Art Museum (nordjyllandskunstmuseum.dk) is also a must to experience the intriguing architecture, with its great use of natural light, in the design by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto and see the COBRA-paintings by Danish artist Asger Jorn in the permanent exhibit.

Adding to the city’s wide ranging architecture, a new “multi-centre” designed by famous Danish architect Jørn Utzon (best known for building Australia’s Sydney Opera) is due to open in May 2008 and next year a new art centre “Kunsthallen Nordkraft” is due to open its doors to the public on the city’s harbour front with a fine display of contemporary Danish and International art and design (nordkraft.dk).

Aalborg’s music scene is also live and kicking with a range of events throughout the year including Northern Europe’s largest carnival, ‘Carnival i Aalborg’ (karnevaliaalborg.dk). This year is takes place from 17-24 May with the theme of ‘Magic in the air’ and will see over 25,000 participants joining in the Grand Parade through the streets to Kildeparken.

In July the nearby Nibe Festival is the beautiful setting for one of Denmark’s best loved music festivals with four days of high volume action and Danish artists including Thomas Buttenschon, Suspekt and Blue Foundation (nibefestival.dk). From 13- 17 August jazz and blues can be heard all over the city at the annual ’Blue Festival’. See Visitaalborg.dk for details of the programme.

Given its close proximity to the tip of North Jutland - an hour’s drive from Aalborg – city breakers should also consider a day trip to Skagen in the summer.

Famous for its wild landscape, fantastic beaches and the two seas that meet at ‘Grenen’ (the very northern point of continental Europe), it is renowned for its unique light attracting artists over the centuries and the unique sights of “Den Tilsandede Kirke” (the sanded parish church) and nearby Raabjerg Mile - an enormous shifting sand dune.

This year the Skagen museum is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a year long salon style exhibition of its many famous artists including the work of J.F. Willumsen (skagen-tourist.dk).

Getting there

Sterling offers direct daily flights from Gatwick to Aalborg in under two hours and the city offers a good range of central 3 and 4 star hotels with prices ranging from £80-£120 per room per night.

For more information on Aalborg go to Visitaalborg.com.

For details on North Jutland log on to Visitnordjylland.dk.

For more information on Denmark see Vistidenmark.com.