Aalborg is a Danish city famous for its half-timbered mansions and Viking history. Located in the north of Denmark about 412 kilometres (256 mi) from the capital Copenhagen, the Municipality of Aalborg is the third most populous in the country.

Situated at the narrowest part of the Limfjord waterway, with access to England and Norway, Aalborg was founded in the Iron Age as a trading post. It became an important Viking harbor around AD 700 and a burial ground can be seen on a hill overlooking the city. The name Aalborg possibly derives from the Old Norse for “the fort by the stream.”

In 1342, the town gained royal trading privileges from King Valdemar IV. Merchants grew prosperous and the town became one of the largest communities in Denmark. King Christian II frequently held court in the old Aalborghus (a half-timbered castle) and, in 1516, granted Aalborg a monopoly in salting Limfjord’s herring, a valuable export.

From the 1550s to the 1640s, as a result of increased foreign trade, Aalborg enjoyed great prosperity, second only to that of Copenhagen.As merchants benefitted from their shipping routes from Norway to Portugal, many fine buildings were added.

The railway reached Aalborg in 1869 and the town became the country’s main producer of tobacco products and spirits, followed in the 1890s by fertilisers and cement.

Despite its industrial background and the factories along its waterfront, the city has gained popularity for tourism in recent years, offering a wide variety of attractions and historic buildings in addition to its museums, churches and parks.

In 2014, the European Commission said that the city that most satisfied its residents was Aalborg.

The Old City Hall in Gammeltorv (Old Square) was Aalbrog’s city hall from 1762 to 1912.

Budolfi Church (St Budolfi Church, Budolfi Kirke, Budolfi Domkirke) is the Lutheran cathedral church for Aalborg. Founded by 1132, the current gothic structure was built before 1399, and the tower was replaced in 1779.

Musikkens Hus (House of Music, Music House), opened in 2014, is a concert hall for the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra and The Royal Academy of Music.

Jens Bang’s House (Jens Bang’s Stenhus) on Østerågade in Nytorv square is considered the finest privately owned Renaissance building in the country. Jens Bang was one of Denmark’s richest citizens and his five-storey house, built in 1624, features gables, gargoyles and a sculpture of Bang’s face with his tongue sticking out.

Toldbod Plads Springvandet (Customs House Square Fountain) is Denmark’s first musical fountain, installed in 2007 outside the The Royal Customs House. Water dances to Händel’s Water Music at 3pm, 6pm and 9pm.

John Bull Pub is a classic English pub boasting North Jutland’s largest selection of Danish and international beer brands.

The Utzon Center (Aalborg Centrum), opened in 2008, was designed by Aalborg native Jørn Utzon, designer of the Sydney Opera House, one of the most famous and distinctive buildings of the 20th century.

Aalborg Stadsarkiv (Aalborg City Archive, Aalborg House) holds the city’s archives and Denmark’s largest local photo collection, with over six million photos.

Aalborghus (Aalborghus Slot, Schloss Aalborghus, Aalborg Castle) is a half-timbered castle built from 1539 as a fortification and used as a royal residence.

A castle dating from 1340 was demolished in 1539 and replaced by King Christian III, which is the current east wing. The north wing was added by Christian IV in 1633 and used as a granary for the storage of food supplies such as corn. The west wing was built later, holding other supplies such as meats and fish, and the south wing was added between 1808 and 1809.

Haandværkerhuset (House of Crafts) is a half-timbered farmhouse from around 1630. This was part of a large farm owned by Oluf Christensen, built close to the harbor for transportation.

Hospital of the Holy Ghost (Helligåndsklostret i Aalborg, Aalborg Monastery, Aalborg Kloster) is one of Denmark’s best preserved medieval structures. Founded as a hospital in 1431, it is the oldest social institution in Denmark and the buildings, dating from 1434, are the oldest in north Jutland. The “House of the Holy Ghost” was a charitable religious institution for the care of the sick, old and poor.

Aalborg Station is the main railway station of Aalborg. The 1902 building was designed by the Danish architect Thomas Arboe.

Vestre Landsret Aalborg (High Court for Aalborg) is a criminal courthouse housed in a magnificent building on Gabels Torv (Gabels Square).

Jomfru Ane Gade (Virgin Anne’s Street) is possibly Denmark’s most famous street. Said to be Denmark’s longest continuous stretch of restaurants and bars, the street dates to at least 1568 when it was named apparently for local nun Ane Viffert. The half-timbered buildings belonged to wealthy merchants.

Aalborg Teater (Aalborg Theater) is Aalborg’s main theater. Built in 1878, it has three stages.

Abbey of Our Lady (Vor Frue Kirke, Church of Our Lady) is an 1876 church on the site of an early Benedictine monastery.

T-Rex is coming for you.

Det Gode Kup (Bjørnemanden, The Good Man) is a statue by CJ Bonnesen in 1925 of a man carrying two bear cubs at the entrance to Aalborg Zoo.

St. Mark’s Church (Sankt Markus Kirke) makes a picturesque view from Østre Anlæg park.

Aalborg Akvavit Museum is housed in a 1931 Neoclassical brick building by architect Alf Cock-Clausen. At this location, the Danish distillery Aalborg used to make its renowned akvavit (a Scandinavian flavoured spirit), distilled with amber. Production was moved to Norway in 2015.

Lindholm Høje (Lindholm Hills) is a major Viking burial site and former settlement overlooking Aalborg to the north. The southern (lower) section dates to 1000 – 1050 AD, the Viking Age, while the northern (higher) part is from the 5th century AD, in the Nordic Iron Age. There is a museum nearby, opened in 1992.

Aalborg Søfarts og Marinemuseum (Springeren Maritimt Oplevelsescenter, Springeren Maritime Experience Centre) is a marine museum on Aalborg’s wharf.

Aalborgtårnet (Aalborg Tower) is a 55 metre tall observation tower with a restaurant at the top. Built in 1993 of lattice steel, the tower was remade in 2005.

Defence and Garrison Museum (Aalborg Forsvars- og Garnisonsmuseum) is a military museum in a seaplane hangar, built by German occupation forces during WWII.

Kunsten Museum of Modern Art Aalborg was built between 1968-72 by Finnish architects Elissa and Alvar Aalto and Danish architect Jean-Jacques Baruël. The ziggurat-style building is accompanied by a sculpture garden.