AARHUS Ø

The city grew up on the edge of the Kattegat Gulf, in the natural harbor of an ancient fjord. Today, it is Denmark's most important container port (73% of Danish traffic). It extends over 8.8 km, with a 5.3 km jetty and a 2.5 million m² dock. More than 10 million tonnes of goods pass through its quays every year. Every day, the docklands district undergoes a bold, modern transformation. A metamorphosis that integrates port activity with architectural challenges and new housing districts. Aarhus Ø is one of the city's most dynamic urban development projects.

Dock 1: In the central area near customs, attached to the historic city, is dominated by a huge 60,000 m2 contemporary building housing administrative services, a public library and a cultural center (open from 8am to 10pm on weekdays and from 10am to 4pm on weekends. Toilets and café inside). A contemporary work by Jappa Hein, Endless connection, recalls the constellations through interactive water games.

Pier 1 and Pier 2: one is home to Navitas (Center for Science and Innovation), a huge star-shaped structure housing engineering schools; the other, the harbor garden (Ø-Haven), a little corner of tranquility left almost untouched, a green zone with some forty private vegetable gardens, two chill cafés (Hope and the Dome, a small semi-spherical greenhouse).

Nordhavn is home to the yachts and sailing boats that have taken up residence in the former fishing port. Today, there are few fishermen, but a few still survive along the Fiskerivej quay. Fresh lobster is sold here. Nice little cafés, brewery (Hantwerk), canoe and paddle rentals and sauna (SURF Agency).

Bassin 7 is the highlight of the tour. Here you'll find the iconic Iceberg urban complex, recognizable by its ice-peak-shaped blocks, immaculately white to highlight the glacier-blue glass balconies! Further out, open to the sea, the Lighthouse: access to the 142-metre-high roof terrace offers a unique view of Aarhus. Since the development of this island began in 2007, 12,000 residents have settled here. Work continues: by the end of 2025, the new Scandic Group hotel is due to open its doors. Along the dock, some fifty small wooden chalets house a water-ski school, ice cream parlour, coffee shop, restaurants and deckchairs opposite the harbour baths (Havnbadet).