Attractions

For the best introduction to Århus, head for the town hall's tourist office, where a 2 1/2-hour sightseeing tour leaves daily at 10am June 24 to August 31, costing 80DKK ($14/£7.20) per person (free with the Århus Pass).

In addition to the more major museums listed here, you can also visit two museums on the grounds of Århus University, Nordre Ringgade. They include Steno Museet, C. F. Møllers Allé (tel. 89-42-39-75; www.stenomuseet.dk.; bus: 2, 3, or 4), which displays exhibits documenting natural science and medicine. You'll see beautiful 19th-century astronomical telescopes, a 1920s surgical room, and some of the first computers made in Denmark in the 1950s. Posters, models, and do-it-yourself experiments, including tests of Galileo's demonstrations of gravity and of electromagnetism, are also on display. In addition, you can walk through an herbal garden with some 250 historical medicinal herbs. There is also a Planetarium, with daily shows Tuesday to Sunday at 11am, 1pm, and 2pm, or Saturday and Sunday at noon and 2pm. Hours for the museum are Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm (until 7pm Oct to Mar), costing an admission of 45DKK ($7.65/£4.05), with children 17 and under admitted free.

Also at the university is a Naturhistorisk Museum, Block 210, Universitetsparken (tel. 86-12-97-77; www.naturhistoriskmuseum.dk; bus: 2 or 3), filled with mounted animals from all over the world, some of which are displayed in engaging dioramas. The collection of Danish animals, especially birds, is unique within Denmark. Skeletons, minerals, and a display devoted to the evolution of life are some of the other exhibits. It's open daily 10am to 4pm (to 5pm July-Aug). It's closed on Mondays November to March. Admission is 40DKK ($6.80/£3.60) adults, and free for children 17 and under.

Nearby Attraction

The summer residence of Denmark's royal family, Marselisborg Slot, at Kongevejen 100, less than 2.5km (1 1/2 miles) south of Århus's center (bus: 1, 18, or 19), is one of the most famous and symbolic buildings in Denmark. If you visit at noon on days Her Majesty and family are in residence, you can see the changing of the guard. It's announced on the local news and in the newspapers when Her Majesty is here. The royal family has used this white manor house since 1902.

It is not possible to visit the interior of the palace, but the castle grounds, even the Queen's rose garden, are open to the public admission-free 9am to 5pm when the castle is not occupied.

The setting is a large forest belt stretching for some 10km (6 1/4 miles) along the coast. The entire area is ideal for hikes, as nature trails have been cut through the forests. Bikers also like the terrain. Less than 1.5km (1 mile) from the royal palace on the main road south lies Dyrehaven (deer park), a protected forest area where you can see fallow deer, and even sika. The more elusive wild roe deer also live here, as well as wild boar, although you're unlikely to spot the latter. For more information visit www.kongehuset.dk.