THE PORT AREA

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 10am to 4pm on weekends). A contemporary work by Jappa Hein, Endless connection, depicts 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 m-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 on the new Scandic hotel, scheduled to open in late 2025. Along the basin, some fifty small wooden chalets house a water-ski school, ice cream parlour, cafés, restaurants and deckchairs opposite the harbour baths (Havnbadet).