Don't miss Aalborg, Denmark!

Sadly, Ryanair recently confirmed that they would be cancelling a number of flights to the Danish cities of Billund and Aalborg (with all flights to Aalborg being cancelled) by the end of March. With Denmark being one of my favorite countries, I simply could not let the chance to visit another Danish city slip away. Since flights from the UK to Aalborg are only scheduled twice a week, I knew time was of the essence. Why visit Aalborg? - Danish locals are among the friendliest in Europe. 👋 - A quiet and laid-back city, perfect for those seeking a relaxed city break away from tourists and chaos. 🌲 - A brilliant food scene, including the famous Danish pastries. 🥐 - An excellent array of nightlife and a vibrant drinking culture. 🍻 I went ahead and booked a flight from Stansted to Aalborg for Saturday. However, due to work commitments, I couldn't return on Monday (the only other day with flights from Aalborg to the UK). Instead, I decided to fly into Aalborg and then travel by train to Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city, on Sunday. Upon arriving at Aalborg Airport, I found a bus (Line 13) ready and waiting to take passengers to the city centre. A one-way ticket cost £2.70, and the journey took just 15 minutes. As soon as I arrived in the city centre, I knew I’d made a great choice. I was immediately struck by how peaceful and relaxed Aalborg felt and took some time to get my bearings. I passed magnificent buildings such as Budolfi Kirke (Kirke is Danish for "church") and the Budolfi Bank, both featuring unique towers (Picture 1), as well as the Old City Hall (Picture 2). I then continued through the city to the Limfjord, the river that flows through Aalborg (making it easily recognisable on a map!), where I took in views of the bridge. Next, I visited the Utzon Center, a celebration of Danish architect Jørn Utzon, best known—believe it or not—for designing the Sydney Opera House! This is the place to learn more about his work, the challenges he faced, and to celebrate Danish design culture (Pictures 3 & 4). Time for Food Feeling hungry, I stumbled upon the highly regarded Penny Lane Café (Picture 5) in the city centre, where I indulged in some iconic Danish pastries (Picture 6) along with a cup of tea. Then, it was time to head back to the hotel for some rest before experiencing Aalborg’s renowned nightlife later in the evening. Aalborg by Night After a good rest, I headed out to Heidi’s Bar, where staff were dressed in lederhosen, and the bar’s German-meets-après-ski theme shone through (Picture 7). I then stopped by The Wharf pub for a cider before calling it a night, ready for Day 2. Day 2: Brunch & Sightseeing For brunch, I returned to Penny Lane Café for Penny’s Eggs—a delicious plate of baked eggs, pickled salad, sausages, and sourdough bread (Picture 8). Afterwards, I took a walk across the river, pausing to enjoy the crisp air and admire the bridges of Aalborg before heading back to visit Aalborghus Slot (Aalborg Castle), a Danish fortress dating back to the 16th century (Picture 9). Finally, it was time to make my way to Aalborg Station to catch a train down to Aarhus before flying home. Final Thoughts All in all, it was an excellent mini-weekend in Denmark—one I would highly recommend!