His and hers getaways in Aalborg
Whether contemplating a weekend of fine food and shopping with your girlfriends or a couple of days bonding with the boys, Aalborg makes an excellent short break destination for both sexes. Less than 2 hours flying time from Gatwick Airport, Denmark’s 4th largest city is well-known for its architecture and design, gourmet restaurants, specialty shops, small boutiques and suitably high octane night life. An easy escape with a good mix of attractions, it is ideal for those who fancy a few nights away with friends, whether celebrating a birthday, enjoying some Danish retail therapy or in contemplation of that ‘big day’.
And we all know a girl likes to shop…so if shopping, gourmet eating and a little indulgence are what you are after, you won’t be disappointed.
Aside from all the high street brands, Aalborg has some great off the beaten track shopping offering everything from exclusive designer clothing on Gravensgade to more avant-garde and eclectic purchases in the aptly named ‘Medina’. Meandering through the cobbled streets of Molle Plads and Rantzausgade, catch local artisans at work in Lange Arts and Crafts or pick up something for the house in the many boutique interior shops.
For a more in-depth take on Danish art, visit the Kunstmuseum (Art Museum) with its famous Alvar Aalto design (nordjyllandskunstmuseum.dk) or pop into the waterfront Utzon Center for a champagne brunch and tour of this impressive cultural centre (utzoncenter.org/en/welcome.htm).
With numerous cafes and bars, weary feet are easily revived. Grab a coffee at the delectable family-owned specialty shop Pennylane (pennylanevin.dk) with its fantastic array of gourmet foods, chill out in the creative hub of the Cookie Factory where local designers and creators display their wares (cookiefactory.dk/eng), relax in sunshine on C.W Obel Plads over a glass of wine or more indulgently sip bubbles at Denmark’s celebrity chef Morton Nielsen’s stylishly sleek Mortens Kro Restaurant and champagne bar (mortonskro.dk).
Dining out on the days exploits, settle down to Mediterranean influenced cuisine and tapas in the exclusive yet laidback old warehouse setting of Restaurant Rosdahls (rosdahls.dk), savour fresh mussels and crabs at the newly opened Restaurant Mundgott (mundgott.dk), literally push the boat out with harbour dining on Princess Juliana (prinsesjuliana.dk) or head to the city’s 400yr old castle Sohngaardsholm Slot for a more regal supper (sohngaardsholmslot.dk).
As for what men like, it wouldn’t be unusual to find beer and golf somewhere on the menu.
Offering both of these and more, Aalborg has an excellent range of activities - mountain biking, go-karting, paintball, bowling, watersports - to easily keep the more mucho entertained.
With two excellent golf courses within 15 minutes of the centre, tee off the morning with 18 holes before returning to town for a well-deserved lunch. For a hearty ‘make your own’ burger, head to the popular Restaurant Public or venture to the city’s most famous microbrewery ‘Sogaards Bryghus’ (soegarrdsbryhus.dk) to down a delicious ale, juicy steak and tour by former butcher, brewmeister and owner, Claus Sogaard.
For a bit of culture and history, uncover the importance of Scandinavia's largest Viking burial ground - Lindholm Hoje (visitnordjylland.dk); learn about Aalborg’s fascinating history as a garrison town at The Defence and Garrison Museum (forsvarsmuseum.dk); brush up on your engineering and technology at the Utzon Center’s Universitarium; and board the world’s fastest gas-turbine torpedo board at the Aalborg Maritime Museum (aalborgmarinemuseum.dk).
End the day in high spirits with a tour of the V S Distillers to get a taste ‘Denmark’s drink with a kick’ – Aquavit - and its 17 flavours (distillers.dk/uk) before venturing out onto the lively Jomfru Ane Gade with the longest continuous stretch of restaurants, pubs, cafes, live-music venues and bars in Aalborg.
With nothing categorically confined to either of the sexes, Aalborg makes a great escape no matter how you play it.
Getting there
Sterling offers direct daily flights departing Gatwick from as little as £12 one-way. Aalborg offers a good range of central 3 and 4 star hotels with prices ranging from £80-£120 per room per night.
More information about Aalborg, see Visitaalborg.com and Vistidenmark.com.
