Aarhus, Denmark

My wife and I will taking a 14 day cruise starting Sep 9 to celebrate our 50th anniversary. We'll spend a couple of days in Copenhagen before boarding the ship, and I have a pretty good plan to see things of interest to both of us.

 

This is not a photo trip (just got back from Yellowstone, Beartooth Highway, Glacier NP, and Waterton Lakes - THAT'S a photo trip!), but I'll be taking a D610 with 24-85 kit lens and a 70-300 (mostly to photograph coastline from the ship). The cruise's first port is Aarhus, the oldest city in Denmark (as I read on the internet), and we'll have most of the day to wander in the town. I've done some online homework about Aarhus, but I'd like to see if the collective experience of this forum can add insights the internet never will.

 

An important factor for me is my handicap - I walk poorly, which means slowly. I don't hike miles and miles, but I get around enough (just frustratingly slow for my wife). I've identified a couple of cathedrals I'd like to shoot (we'll be there on a Sunday, so I don't expect to shoot inside them). I've also learned where to find the oldest houses, and the riverfront shopping/restaurant area that should provide some opportunities.

 

Bearing in mind that I can't walk great distances (and that we need to get back to the ship BEFORE it sails), does anyone have any specific recommendations for cityscape, street, and architecture spots in Aarhus that we should make an effort to include?

 

Bob in Las Vegas

Hey, Bob, kudos for being a tough it out guy -- hire a local taxi for the time! More fun, knowledgable, easy. Bad knees from sports myself, just a matter of time and severity. Best of luck!

I sent there days in Aarhus once but I was sick in bed with shingles and only saw the emergency room, an opthamologist's office, a pharmacy and a B&B so I'm no help.

Pretend any place you are, even a non-descript street in a new city, is a place of photographic interest and mine it for a sense of place, of the people, of style, of visual interest. Yellowstone and Glacier are "photo trips" mostly in the sense of being landscape cliches. Here, on the other hand, you have the opportunity to photograph something different and more personal, not necessarily because you have a postcard location at your fingertips but because you have the opportunity to personally relate to someplace new and different. If you must, for personal reasons, stay close to the ship, then that's your Yellowstone for the day. I guarantee, somewhere close by you can create as good a picture as yet another go at the geyser we've all seen a billion times. Most importantly, have a great trip!

Hi Bob, I have not been to Aarhus, but I have been to Copenhagen and other cities while on a Baltic cruise. While in Copenhagen we hired a private guide for a half day walking tour. It cost more than a bus tour but it was well worth the fee. Once our guide saw my camera she took me to places with good photo ops that regular tours did not visit. I booked it in advance thru my travel agent. You can do it yourself by searching on Google for "Aarhus Denmark private tours" or photo tours. See what catches your interest, email and explain your special needs, and you should have a great time. Check out Tripadvisor for Aarhus Denmark too.

 

I would take a wider angle lens the this trip, something like 16-35mm zoom and a prime lens for indoor stuff. If you have a 20mm prime that could work well for you and give you the extra wider view when needed for outdoor shots.

Hi Bob. By now your back from your trip and have determined by experience the do's and don'ts based on your experiences. My wife and I, were on the Viking Sea and may have been in Denmark (Alborg) about the same time - 8 countries/11 cities. I'm sure you had a great time and are probably ready to go back, soon.

Aarhus was an excellent experience. We flew to Copenhagen where the cruise would originate, and spend a few days there adjusting to the time change (9 hours different from Las Vegas). We didn't see as much of Copenhagen as we had hoped because it rained constantly while we were there. I walk slowly because of my leg issues, so we got wetter than most getting around the city. Nevertheless, we had a great time there.

 

The great surprise was that the weather cleared for us in Aarhus - we had a very nice sunny day (a few showers in the distance was our only weather). We explored the area on foot with friends, and found a nice small restaurant on a side street for lunch. The young lady who waited on us was remarkably patient with us and very helpful, a high point in our memories of the city.

 

I got to shoot what I had hoped to - a lot of the old city. Because of my slowness, there wasn't time to see both the old city and Den Gamle By, so a choice was made by the four of us to stick to the old part of the city. I had a huge time!

Try the hop on hop off bus in Aarhus my nephew just did it in Rome and said it was great. Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour Aarhus | City Sightseeing©

In many parts of northern Europe and some other cities like Barcelona, a bicycle from a local bikeshare or rental place makes for an excellent way of getting around quickly and easily and without loosing touch with where you are. Bicycles are especially good for people with back or other musculoskeletal issues and age related disabilities. Some of my favorite scenes are older people coming out of a store or mall using a walker or cane and some barely able to move and then they hop on their bicycle and take off.

 

Glad Aarhus went well for you!