Copenhageners sometimes call Århus a provincial town. Don’t believe it. The gentle snipe merely comes from the friendly rivalry between Denmark’s two largest cities. Visitors to Århus quickly learn the truth. This “big-little” city is full of life and fun.

The Århus Pass, good for two days or a week, offers free admission to the city’s attractions, free guided tours and free transportation on the city buses.

Start your day with a bit of history at the Viking Museum, located in the basement of the Unibank. Why the bank basement? That’s where construction crews unearthed the remains of Viking-era walls and houses. The bank was built above the site and the fascinating museum is below.

To trace the region’s history even further back in time, visit Moesgaard Museum of Prehistory just five miles south of Århus city center. There you’ll find Grauballe Man, a perfectly preserved Iron Age corpse retrieved from an ancient peat bog. The museum grounds feature Viking graves and a reconstructed stave church.

Den Gamle By (The Old Town) living history museum gives you a taste of Danish life between the Renaissance and World War I. Within the museum’s many historic buildings are workshops, a bakery and a brewery that produces beer using traditional methods.

The Women’s Museum takes a unique look at history through the eyes of women. The Danish Firefighting Museum features more than 100 fire vehicles and hands-on displays for the kids.

Fans of modernist architecture must tour Århus Town Hall, designed by Arne Jacobsen. The renowned Danish architect specified every detail of the building, from its distinctive clock tower to the wall-mounted ashtrays. Guided tours are offered in the summer season.

When it’s time to wet your whistle, visit the Ceres Brewery and sample the locals’ favorite beer.

On the narrow cobbled streets of the Old Town and the adjacent Latin Quarter you’ll find some of the country’s most innovative boutiques along with excellent restaurants and cafes. It’s a fine place to relax and savor life in this spirited city.

Throughout Jutland you’ll find enjoyable destinations to explore. Here are some ideas.

LEGO building bricks could be Denmark’s greatest contribution to the toy industry, andLEGOLAND in Billund celebrates them in grand style. More than 50 million LEGO building bricks were used to make the models that cover the park grounds. All the world’s great landmarks are represented in LEGOLAND, from Mount Rushmore (the biggest model in the park) to the Eiffel Tower. Even the smallest children will be captivated by the color, creativity and activity found here.

Silkeborg is notable for its excellent Museum of Art, founded by Danish painter Asger Jorn, and for the Iron Age corpse of the Tollund Man in the Silkeborg Museum.

At Jelling you’ll find the world-famous Jelling runic stones, sometimes called Denmark’s “birth certificate.” The 10th-century monuments, erected by King Gorm the Old and his son Harald Bluetooth, contain the first written mentions of a nation called “Denmark.” A new museum on the site explains the history and significance of the monuments. King Gorm is buried beneath the church near the stones.

Ribe is probably the oldest town in Denmark. Romans visited here centuries ago, but this ancient city is best known for its Viking connections. Tiny Ribe, in southwestern Jutland, is a virtual treasure trove for Viking enthusiasts. Every time people here dig in their gardens they’re likely to come across a few beads, a bit of jewelry, a tool or a pot from the Viking era. Something new – or old! – turns up on a regular basis.

The Viking Museum is an excellent place to begin a trip back in time. It was built on the site of a Viking market, where traders from all over Europe came to buy and sell.

From here it’s just a short trip to the Ribe Vikingecenter, a fantastic living history museum that recreates life in a Viking town, market and farm. Watch or lend a hand as re-enactors construct houses and buildings using ancient techniques. Enjoy falconry demonstrations, sample Viking cuisine and see artisans doing metalwork and other crafts as the Vikings once did.

Viking life was a distant memory by the time the Cathedral was built in the center of town during the 12th century. Made of volcanic yellow brick, the building is one of the oldest in Denmark and well worth a visit. Look for the notches on the doorpost where soldiers scraped their swords over the stones for luck before heading into battle.