Although small and only with a handful of connections, Aarhus Airport is an international airport and that makes it relevant to some travelers. It is mostly used by Danes living in the region who are traveling abroad, but foreigners also fly to Aarhus as an access point to central Denmark and – specifically – eastern Jutland.
If you are planning a flight to or from Aarhus, don’t miss this guide. We will take a look at your transportation options upon arriving, what you can do at the airport, and what connections this airport offers.
Aarhus Airport (IATA code: AAR) was originally founded in 1943 by occupying German troops and meant as a military airfield. After the war, it was taken over by the Danish Air Force, but they decided to turn it into a civil airport. For a long time, it only had a connection to Copenhagen, but during the 1970s it became normal for people to travel abroad, and some charter airlines began to service the airport.
Over the years, Aarhus Airport has continued to grow. In 2017 some big investments were made into the airport, and that opened up for several new routes in 2018. However, Aarhus Airport has still not managed to become the primary airport for central Denmark – Billund has that responsibility – and it also ranks behind Aalborg Airport in terms of yearly passengers, so it is only the fourth airport in Denmark. But there is room for growth, and with the arrival of easyJet a few years ago, flying from the airport could easily become more popular.
In 2019, the last year of free travel before the Covid-crisis hit, Aarhus exceeded a half million passengers.
The airport is situated 35 kilometers northeast of Aarhus which is longer than the usual distance that airports are located from their cities.
From Aarhus Airport to Aarhus City Centre
In order to get from Aarhus Airport to Aarhus city centre, you can either take a bus, a taxi or drive yourself (possibly through car rental).
Most people take the bus.
Line 925X goes from Aarhus Airport to the central bus terminal in Aarhus. In other words, it will take you right into the city centre. The schedule of the 925X bus is adjusted to the flights coming in and out. This means that it will sometimes wait for delayed flights. The bus will wait for a flight to arrive, and this is something very unique. The drive from the airport to central Aarhus takes 45 minutes with this bus. There are a few stops along the way where you can get off if needed. The 925X bus offers free coffee and WiFi. A ticket costs 115 DKK (a bit shy of 20 USD). You can pay with a credit card, cash, or in the Midttrafik application.
If you’re not going to Aarhus but to another town in the region, there is another bus line as well. It is a “flex bus” which means you have to order it to come. Call +45 70 210 230 to do so and it has to be done an hour in advance. Line 312 (the flex bus) goes from the airport to the town of Ebeltoft. You can also take line 312 to the town Ryomgård and shift to the regular line 212 to each Randers.
Taxis are parked outside the airport, so if you want a private transfer, simply find a driver and tell him where you’re going. There aren’t any locked prices for the transfer, but on average, it costs 650 DKK (105 USD) to take a taxi from Aarhus Airport to the city centre.
If you’re going the other way, from central Aarhus to the airport, it is a good idea to order a taxi to come to pick you up. Aarhus Taxa and Dantaxi are some popular taxi companies that you can use.
Connections and destinations
There are multiple flights per day between Aarhus and Copenhagen. The route is handled by the Scandinavian airline SAS. It is a popular domestic route, although not as popular as Aalborg-Copenhagen.
SAS also connects Aarhus with Oslo and Stockholm-Arlanda with regular, weekly connections. During parts of the year, SAS has charter flights from Aarhus – primarily headed to Alicante, Mallorca, Málaga, Tenerife, Crete, and Madeira.
Danish Air Transport (DAT) flies from Aarhus to the island of Bornholm.
RyanAir is present with regular flights to London-Stansted (a popular route) and Gdansk.
EasyJet introduced flights between Aarhus and another London airport – Gatwick. EasyJet also opened a connection to Berlin-Tegel.
Shopping and dining
At the moment there are no restaurants at the airport, but that is expected to change after they are done renovating. You can still grab a bite to eat. Soda, beer, water, bread, and sandwiches are served near the gates.
More shops are expected to arrive in the near future.
The main businesses present at the airport are car rental services. There are 8 of them in total, so it isn’t hard to rent a car.
Parking at the airport
You can easily park your car at Aarhus Airport. There is generally enough space for everyone.
They have a concept called “digital parking”. When you drive in and out of the parking lot, your number plate will automatically be scanned by a machine. After having parked at the airport, you have 48 hours to pay. You do that before you leave in one of the machines – type in the number on your car’s plates and it will show you the price you have to pay. You can also pay online through the website. If you have not paid your parking bill within 48 hours, a bill will be sent to you (or to the rental company if you have rented a car).
Practical info
Aarhus Airport does not have as many passengers as most international airports, so it is rarely overcrowded. You can usually go right through security. If you need to print out your ticket, there are machines for that, and if you want to hand over your luggage, the lines are usually not too long – although that depends on the flight.
Try to check in for your flight online in advance. Arrive at the airport an hour before your flight and you should be fine.
Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the airport, so make sure to do that before entering if you are a smoker.
If you want a tax refund for some purchases you have made on your trip, get in touch with the customs service at the airport. It has to be within 1 and 4 hours before your flight.
Otherwise, the same rules apply as elsewhere. You have to go through security, you have to be on time, and you can bring the same items in your bags as in any other airport.
Conclusion
Aarhus Airport can be used if you are visiting Aarhus or one of the nearby towns. While most passengers are Danes going on vacation, the airport is getting more and more international with its new regular routes to major European cities such as London and Berlin. Aarhus Airport is expected to grow in the future, and if you are flying in or out, we wish you a great journey.
This article was written by Jacob Jensen. He primarily covers European and South American destinations for Scope Trip while also working as the main editor for the site.
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