I’m going to move to (probably) Århus beginning of January, and I got a few question specifically about the city and live in Denmark in general. If there is a better community for stuff like this let me know!
Live in Denmark
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I probably have my apartment secured but are there general things to look out for?
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Are there any must-have-apps for daily live? I already found the DSB app, rejskort and rejsplanen app, but is there for example something for national/local alerts (Germany and Finland have that for example).
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I already have one specific question: why does DSB offer both to check in and out for a trip and tickets for a specific route?
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Any other things I might not be aware of? I already lived other Scandinavian countries, so I don’t expect much if a culture shock.
Live in Århus
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I’ll be trying to join a pen&paper group. Any advice where to go looking?
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Any areas to avoid?
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Any hidden gems? Might be a favorite café, bar, beach etc.
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Any other useful things?
The Midttrafik Live app can show you where the busses in Aarhus are, and how delayed they are.
MobilePay is the payment app of choice for most smaller businesses. I think it requires a danish bank account though.
If you plan on taking public transit a lot, get a Rejsekort.
For TTRPGs in and around Aarhus take a look at https://www.facebook.com/groups/aarhusrollespilshygge/?ref=share
For boardgames in Aarhus take a look at https://www.facebook.com/Victorypointaarhus or https://spilcafeen.dk/
there for example something for national/local alerts (Germany and Finland have that for example).
The system used in Denmark is called S!RENEN (the siren) and doesn’t need an app, it uses a built in feature that should work in most modern phones. Be aware that this alert system is tested every year at 12:00 the first Wednesday in May, so don’t be spooked if you hear a siren and get a loud notification on your phone that day/time.
Other apps: Eboks or Mit.dk for digital mail from organizations and the state. There’s also a few medical apps like Min Læge that are good for tracking your doctor visits and such. MobilePay is convenient for money transfers between friends or when paying for stuff online.
There’s also !spoergsmaal_og_svar@feddit.dk if you have more general questions but questions for Aarhus is also fine here :)
As the others already has said, MobilePay is the standard way to send money to other people, and to many smaller businesses as well. If you are from Finland you should already be able to do this, as Vipps is from the same company, and they recently opened for cross border payments. Though it may still be easier to get a Danish account if you move here permanently.
Welcome to Aarhus and the country! :)
I probably have my apartment secured but are there general things to look out for?
Not sure what you mean… I think you need to be more specific :)
Are there any must-have-apps for daily live? I already found the DSB app, rejskort and rejsplanen app, but is there for example something for national/local alerts (Germany and Finland have that for example).
Let’s see…
- In Aarhus you might want to download the Midttrafik app, which is the local bus company app. I don’t have a rejsekort, and it’s a good app if you’re not keen on the rejsekort.
- MobilePay is also used a lot - not sure if you need a Danish bank account for it, but probably, but keep it in mind.
- If you get a Danish CPR-number you’ll also eventually need the e-Boks app, where you get mail from public institutions, your workplace, your bank, etc. It’s a sort of secure mailbox which is forced upon everyone.
- If you get a Danish CPR-number you’ll also need to get the MitID app - it’s a supposedly secure way to log in to all sorts of placed, verify payments, etc.
- If you have children and they go to school you’ll need the Aula app - a terrible terrible app which is unfortunately used by all schools and daycares in the country.
Other useful apps:
- DMI is the national weather service, it’s an ok app with ok accuracy
- DR TV is the national broadcasting company app, quite useful if you want to consume Danish media content
- eReolen is a library app for e-books and audiobooks
- PostNord is the national postal service app. You don’t need it, but it’s occasionally useful.
I already have one specific question: why does DSB offer both to check in and out for a trip and tickets for a specific route?
I don’t know, I don’t use DSB - but it’s likely connected to the Rejsekort which will bill you extra if you forget to check out. So they’re offering a service which is only necessary because their system sucks…
Any other things I might not be aware of? I already lived other Scandinavian countries, so I don’t expect much if a culture shock.
Bit hard to say, what you need to be aware of in general :) Aarhus is quite a young city, with many students, but it’s also quite a small city of you’re used to a true metropolis. Happy to try to answer more specific questions…
Thanks for the very detailed answer! I actually just arrived in town, and given the weather, do you have any suggestions where to get a coffee and a cozy place to kill some time? If you would also have a suggestion for food in the center (both sit down and takeaway are fine for me) that would be perfect.
If you don’t hava a lot of luggage with you, I recommend that you stroll down to ‘Kristian F Møller’ - it’s a bookstore with an ok selection of Danish and English books - and then walk a bit further down to Latinerkvarteret (the Latin quarter) where there are many cosy little places. La Cabra is a good place for (expensive but excellent) coffee. But you can find many nice little places in that area.
There’s also Løves bog- og vincafé - it’s a bit further. Salling - a local department store - also has a nice café called Salling Rooftop.
For food - if you want it not too expensive - I’d say you go to the Aarhus Street Food market, which is just downhill from the train station towards the bus station. If you’re looking for something more fancy try Juliette in Jægergårdsgade - or one of the Burger Boom places. Aarhus has some excellent restaurants, but not sure which ones are open for lunch. Maybe Mefisto?
Edit:
If you’re in the mood for ramen try Gaijin Ramen - I’ve also heard good things about Takumi but I haven’t tried it.
Oh, forgot these:
I’ll be trying to join a pen&paper group. Any advice where to go looking?
Like Boromino said, people probablt organize on FB which sucks when you’ve left. There’s also a couple of TTRPG shops - Faraos (not the one one the main street, that’s for comics), and Epic Panda. Maybe they can put you in contact with people.
Any areas to avoid?
Depends on your gender, etc. - but generally no. There are ghetto-like areas, but I’ve lived in most of them and not felt unsafe. I am also a 110kg 40-year-old man, so…
Any hidden gems? Might be a favorite café, bar, beach etc.
Lots of lovely places :) But depends on what you’re into - fine dining, veggie-food, beers, drinks…
Some highlights:
Dokk1 - public space, culture house, library, citizen services, etc. Beautiful space too.
Aarhus Streetfood - food court-style place to eat and a have a few beers, decent food in most places
Moesgaard Museum - a great museum, also a beautiful building
There’s also lots of touristy stuff, let me know if you’re into that.
Any other useful things?
