No thanks to Aalborg Carnival?: Here’s what you can do instead
It’s that time of year again.
Tomorrow, the streets of Aalborg will once again be flooded with alcohol, trash, and urine as nearly 100,000 people are expected to participate in the Aalborg Carnival.
This massive public celebration tends to divide the citizens of Aalborg: while some think the chaotic parade is the best thing in the world, others, like us, flee as far away from the city center as possible.
If you’re a fellow sufferer, you can take a car or bus to other towns in Northern Jutland, but if you want to make the most of your Saturday in your hometown, there are also other options.
We’ve put together a little guide with peaceful activities that take you far enough from the city center to avoid the carnival chaos.
Famous YouTubers at Fårup Sommerland
Just a short drive from Aalborg, there’s plenty of fun to be had.
In addition to the usual attractions, you can also experience Picnic Panic with YouTubers Niki Topgaard and Flamesman1!
The show starts at 3 PM, featuring lots of games, competitions, and funny questions, followed by a 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧’𝗡’𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗧 with the popular gentlemen.
Niki Topgaard, known from his YouTube channel with over 427,000 subscribers, creates comedy and sketches.
He has traveled around visiting film locations in his series “Movie Locations,” with great success.
Flamesman1, aka Simon Skjødt Langhoff, has 201,000 subscribers and is known for comedy segments and children’s books like “Bears, Bombs & Toasters.”
Visit Aalborg Storcenter
While the city center has given itself over to the carnival, there’s a different kind of calm in City Syd. Or is there?
Two fighter jets have moved in, and until June 9, you can experience Flying Days, see a 1:1 replica of the F-35, and bid farewell to the legendary F-16.
You can compare the two planes and even try a flight simulator.
There’s also a children’s model plane and many other activities.
Aalborg Storcenter has also added several new stores in the past few months, so you might want to check them out as well.
A trip to Egholm
If you’re dreaming of experiencing the carnival at sea… or fjord, there are good opportunities for that as well.
Hop aboard the Egholm Ferry, which sails daily from 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM (every half and full hour).
A round-trip ticket for adults costs 26 DKK, while children under 15 are free. You can bring a bike for free, while a regular car costs 70 DKK.
On the small island in the middle of the Limfjord, there are some hiking trails, a hidden troll, and a really good restaurant that serves one of Denmark’s largest tartelettes.
It’s hard to imagine a better place to escape to—if you need to get away.
Visit Maximum’s new Battle Box
Maximum in City Syd is undoubtedly the place to go if you want entertainment worth remembering.
Currently, Maximum has introduced several new attractions in the massive entertainment center.
Among them is the so-called “Battle Box,” which really challenges your memory and logical skills.
In the room, there are 12 boxes, offering over 40 tasks in total.
Each box contains 3-4 different tasks that must be solved in a specific sequence to move on to the next one. It’s a bit like an Escape Room, but within a single, small box.
This activity really brings teammates close together, and you gradually discover who excels at what. Together, you reach the goal—and maybe even get a good time?
Before or after the Battle Box, you can, of course, also try out Maximum’s many other fun activities.
Smørrebrød buffet in Blokhus
The TV series “Badehotellet” has just ended, leaving many with tears in their eyes and wondering how they’ll ever move on.
Luckily, we have a great suggestion for how to best handle the sadness: by booking a table for a smørrebrød buffet at a beach hotel, of course.
Every Saturday and Sunday in May, Strandhotellet in Blokhus offers a smørrebrød buffet for 245 DKK per person.
Starting at 12 PM, you can indulge in high-quality smørrebrød ad libitum, and afterwards, you can take a walk to the nearby beach to relax.
Strandhotellet’s smørrebrød is made from carefully selected products from local suppliers in the area and is inspired by the North Sea.
Without a doubt, it’s worth the drive!
Visit the Playground
This tip probably requires you to be a family with children. But then again, maybe not.
Our previous (and very popular) playground guide includes playgrounds for all sizes, ages, and needs.
The city center has only a few really good playgrounds, so most are outside the carnival’s epicenter and are ideal if you want to go on an outing without venturing too far away.
You can find our guide to the city’s best playgrounds right here.
Visit Denmark’s best ice cream shop
Guf & Kugler in Nibe boasts the title of Denmark’s Best Ice Cream Shop for two consecutive years, most recently in 2023, so they still hold the title.
This means you can enjoy Denmark’s best ice cream just a short drive from Aalborg—and with temperatures up to 23 degrees, it’s the perfect destination on carnival day.
In addition to a wide variety of homemade ice creams, you can also get frozen drinks and gourmet hotdogs.
You’ll find the ice cream shop at Bryggen 53 in Nibe.
