Hop on a Boat and See the Aarhus Region from Seaward

Hjejlen is the world’s oldest operating, original, coal-fired paddle steamer. Throughout the summer months, this and other original boats are in service several times every day from Silkeborg to Himmelbjerget and onwards to the small railway town, Laven.

Go sailing aboard the sea queen, Margrethe I, and enjoy a beautiful day on the Viborg lakes. Take in the old regent town of Viborg from seaward and get the perfect view of the town skyline and the beautiful scenery surrounding the lakes. A lovely sail round Nørresø and Søndersø lakes takes about an hour.

Between the two harbours, Udbyhøj Nord and Udbyhøj Syd, Denmark’s one and only cable ferry is being pulled across Randers inlet by steel cables. The couple of hundred metres across are covered in four minutes, so you have to get out of your car in a hurry to enjoy the lovely view of the inlet and the vast salt meadow.

Mellerup-Voer ferry service across Randers inlet is operated by M/F Ragna (built and put into operation in 1963), proudly holds the title of Denmark’s oldest ferry service with a royal privilege (since around 1610) and is one of Denmark’s smallest car-carrying ferries. It takes just four minutes to cross the 470 metres from bank to bank, and the ferry can carry as many as four cars and 30 passengers. The ferry leaves when it is needed, so you simply need to pull up and wait.

In Ebeltoft, a historical ship that used to sail between Aarhus and Ebeltoft a hundred years ago now takes visitors out on an amazing adventure from Kalø and Ebeltoft. You can go, too, as Mols Bjerge National Park offers hours of fun aboard the vessel during the summer holiday. For instance, you can go on a seal safari with departure from Nappedam near Kalø or a lovely sail aboard a wooden ship from Ebeltoft fishing harbour.

A visit to Anholt often requires a boat trip with M/F Anholt. It takes about three hours to sail from Grenaa, on the mainland, to the Kattegat island, Anholt, located between Denmark and Sweden.