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Copenhagen, Aarhus, or Odense for a month?

I'm trying to tackle the part of my itinerary where I spend a month in Denmark next year (probably falling in the month of October), and I'm deciding on what my base city should be: Copenhagen, Aarhus, or Odense. Keep in mind that I won't so much be sightseeing and traveling constantly as I'm test driving cities for future moves, so I'll be working (I have a remote job already, so no need to worry about the job market) and really just want to spend time in the city and live as a local with occasional weekend day trips. I've heard that Aarhus is an interesting alternative Copenhagen, I've don't know much of Odense, but it keeps popping, so I just wanted to see what anyone else thought about these cities when stacked against each other rather than just deciding Copenhagen by default.

Many thanks!

Posted by
1068 posts

Aarhus is a great alternative to Copenhagen! It's got a great vibe and a college town feel, and it's more relaxed and can feel "homier" than Copenhagen.

That said - for a month, as a home base, I'd choose Copenhagen. It's just a great, great city. I'd do a weekend in Aarhus, a weekend in Odense, a weekend in Malmo, maybe... and then go home to Copenhagen!

Posted by
29 posts

Thanks for your input! I'm definitely leaning towards Copenhagen just because it has so much to offer in terms of day trips and areas to visit. I still am curious about Odense though - I hear so many people mention it but never expand on what it is they like about it!

Posted by
1068 posts

Odense is marvelous, actually. I admit to not having spent nearly enough time there. Funen in general is a bit like fairytale land - there are more castles and wee little thatched, creaking, listing-drunkenly, brightly painted cottages than you can shake a stick at.

I guess it's just that I think of Odense more as a vacation destination. Which is silly, because plenty of people live there! I associate it with all the twee/touristy Hans Christian Andersen stuff, and his birthplace, and the gajillions of neat little museums, and the zoo, and the old steam engine display...

Yikes. That can't have made it any easier! Thankfully, Denmark is small, so wherever you choose, you can get to the other places with ease!

(P.S. Still voting for Copenhagen.)

Posted by
29 posts

I actually think it helps to cement it as more of a vacation spot in my view too - I'd rather stay in a base that's more city like with the opportunities to get out into those smaller twee towns, and Copenhagen seems like it!

Now, here's a Copenhagen-based question: which neighborhoods? Has anyone enjoyed particular areas around the city as a base?

Posted by
1068 posts

I actually like Valby... it's not central, but it's cheaper (well, for Denmark) and very friendly and extremely livable. It's also "up and coming" at the moment. Lots of new folks moving in.

Indre Norrebro, Indre Osterbro, Frederiksberg, and Christianshavn all have their fans, too. I love Christianshavn, but living there for a month wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea.

Posted by
29 posts

Great! I've been getting a lot of recommendations of the Osterbro area, but I'll look into all of these as well. Thanks again!