Sometimes you have a weekend and would like to discover something new. So it’s easy to book a city break. But what if you don’t feel like going to the classics like Barcelona, London or Paris?
A very inspiring list, to which at least two more cities are added every year, is offered by the European Commission with the European Capitals of Culture. This year, Aarhus, Denmark and Pafos, Cyprus are Capitals of Culture.
The initiative has existed since 1985, when Athens became the EU’s first Capital of Culture. The title is awarded after a selection process in which all cities in the EU and candidate countries can apply. The selected cities host a diverse cultural program for a year – an excellent excuse for a city trip!
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Culture is all well and good – is there anything to do outdoors in Aarhus and Pafos?
For outdoor enthusiasts, the question arises what else you could do apart from the cultural offerings. We took a closer look at the regions around Aarhus and Pafos and collected a few ideas on how you can find a good balance to the culture shock.
Beaches
Although Aarhus is located on the rugged Baltic coast and Pafos on the warm Mediterranean Sea, this is one thing both cities have in common: Beaches are an integral part of the residents’ leisure activities.
In Pafos, in keeping with a Mediterranean island, you can expect an abundance of rocky, pebble and sandy beaches. Among travelers and locals, Geroskipou Beach and Coral Bay are especially famous for their beauty, water sports and family friendliness.
In Aarhus, people meet at Den Permanente and Ballehage beaches for sunbathing, picnicking and cooling off in the cold sea. However, one should not be shy: Danes know that sun is a precious commodity in these latitudes and therefore like to refuel completely naked from time to time.
Parks and forests
Near Pafos is the Akamas Peninsula, which has so far been saved from development with expensive hotel complexes by environmentalists. This part of Cyprus can only be explored on foot, by mountain bike or jeep. In return you will be rewarded with a beautiful landscape, small mountain villages and a beach where turtles lay their eggs.
In Aarhus there are two urban forests, the Riis Skov (near Den Permanente beach) and the Marselisborg Skov (near Ballehage beach). In both forests you can spend an excellent day (or more) hiking or walking. Marselisborg Skov also offers a 25-kilometer mountain bike trail that runs through the middle of nature.
Tons of history
And of course, an extended tour of the historic old towns and excursions to the surrounding castles, fortresses and religious sites is not to be missed. Both Aarhus and Pafos have a lot of history to offer.
Pafos has been continuously settled since the late Bronze Age. Accordingly old are many buildings that can be found in and around the city. Ptolemaic royal tombs, well-preserved Roman frescoes, ancient Greek temples, the old harbor and, of course, the fort tower, which is the city’s landmark, invite visitors to lose themselves in the city’s history for days on end.
Aarhus, unlike Pafos, has been around for less than 10,000 years. However, the city was mentioned as a bishop’s seat as early as 948, and its origins date back to Viking times. The Moesgård Museum, newly opened in 2014, gives visitors a great overview of the history from the Stone Age to modern times. There’s also Den Gamle By, an open-air museum where you can explore buildings from the 16th to 20th centuries.
Clearly, one weekend is not enough to explore both cities properly. Nevertheless, we hope you’ve found some inspiration to visit Pafos and Aarhus – even outside their time as Capitals of Culture.
Also interesting: Outdoor City Guide Innsbruck – 10 Things to Do in Innsbruck
