Tivoli lights, Andersen's town, old-town Yule
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Copenhagen, Odense & Aarhus
Odense to Aarhus
Odense and Aarhus sit about 85 km (53 mi) apart in a straight line, with Aarhus to the north. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Copenhagen, Odense & Aarhus itinerary, a 6-day trip. Here is how long it takes by train, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 85 km · 53 mi
- Est. road distance
- 102–120 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 15 min – 2 h 30 min
- Direction
- Heading north
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By train
Our Copenhagen, Odense & Aarhus itinerary is planned around rail, so a train is the likely way to cover this leg. Timetables and direct connections vary — check the operator before you book.
By car
Driving is an estimated 102–120 km (64–74 mi) and 1 h 15 min – 2 h 30 min at typical average speeds, not a routed time.
No car needed. Fly into Copenhagen Airport (13 minutes by metro or train to the centre). DSB InterCity trains run Copenhagen – Odense in about 1 h 15 min and Odense – Aarhus in about 1 h 35 min, several times an hour; seat reservations are cheap and worth it on December Fridays. All three city centres are walkable; Den Fynske Landsby is a short bus ride or a 40-minute walk along the river from central Odense.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Aarhus
Two nights for Christmas in Den Gamle By and the city's rooftops.
Den Gamle By
Open-air museum of Danish town life whose shops, kitchens and homes are dressed for Christmas from the 1800s to the 1970s.
ARoS Aarhus Art Museum
Art museum crowned by Olafur Eliasson's circular glass walkway, Your rainbow panorama, over the city.
Hotel Royal
Grand hotel on Store Torv, open since 1838, facing the cathedral.
Latin Quarter
The oldest streets in Aarhus, lanes of independent shops, cafes and Christmas windows around the cathedral.
Aarhus Street Food
Covered food hall in a former bus garage near the station, with around 30 stalls and long shared tables.
Under Masken
Long-running bar by the cathedral, crammed with masks and curios, known for its Danish beers.
Before you leave Odense
Andersen's hometown; one or two nights for the old-town market and the Funen Village.
H.C. Andersens Hus
The museum built around Andersen's birthplace, with a Kengo Kuma-designed pavilion and garden telling his life and tales.
Den Fynske Landsby
Open-air museum of Funen farms, mills and a village school; on the first two December weekends it celebrates an old-style Christmas.
Den Gamle Kro
Restaurant in a half-timbered 1683 merchant house on Overgade, serving Danish classics in candlelit rooms.
On this curated route
Where Odense → Aarhus sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Aarhus to Odense is the same 85 km in a straight line, heading south. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
Average daytime highs at both ends stay within 1°C of each other all year, so you can pack the same way for both.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odense high | 3° | 3° | 5° | 10° | 15° | 18° | 21° | 20° | 17° | 12° | 8° | 4° |
| Aarhus high | 3° | 3° | 6° | 11° | 15° | 19° | 21° | 21° | 17° | 12° | 8° | 4° |
| Odense rain | 58 | 47 | 42 | 36 | 49 | 68 | 74 | 78 | 58 | 69 | 61 | 61 |
| Aarhus rain | 65 | 52 | 47 | 44 | 55 | 73 | 82 | 86 | 69 | 85 | 73 | 67 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Aarhus month guides.
Odense to Aarhus: questions travelers ask
How far is Odense from Aarhus?
Odense is about 85 km (53 mi) from Aarhus in a straight line, with Aarhus to the north. By road, we estimate 102–120 km (64–74 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Odense to Aarhus?
An estimated 1 h 15 min – 2 h 30 min, assuming 102–120 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day. Our itinerary leans on rail, so check train times too.
Which itineraries include the trip from Odense to Aarhus?
Our Copenhagen, Odense & Aarhus itinerary includes this leg. Copenhagen, Odense & Aarhus runs about 6 days across 3 stops, best in Mid-Nov – Dec.
Getting to Odense
- Copenhagen to Odense 141 km
Guides for both ends
- Odense travel guide
- Odense weather best time to visit
- Aarhus travel guide
- Aarhus weather best time to visit
Aarhus by month
More to explore
Plan Odense → Aarhus with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.