Point of departure
For a great shopping day in Aalborg, we recommend, that you make Aalborg’s high streets Bispensgade and Algade your points of departure. These two pedestrian streets cut right through the centre of the city, almost parallel to one another. Both are absolutely worth a visit.
If you start from the west end, you could meet up with your friends at the point, where Bispensgade joins busy Vesterbro by the statue of the Cimber Bull. If you say to someone from Aalborg, “Let’s meet by the Bull”, everyone will know what you mean. Once upon a time this was the location of the schnapps distillery.
Bispensgade and side streets
Begin your day by strolling down Bispensgade. After just a few meters, you will reach the point, where Gravensgade is to your right and Vesteraa is to your left. Gravensgade is Aalborg’s first ‘Green’ shopping street, which means, that all the stores in this street live up to strict rules of sustainability. Gravensgade is also Aalborg’s first pedestrian street. Here you will find high end clothes and jewelry shops, so if you are looking for high quality and great design, Gravensgade is the shopping street for you. Additionally, you can visit the bakery, café and confectioner’s shop La Bonta for a light breakfast or an afternoon tea.
The route continues down Bispensgade and passes Jomfru Ane Gade on the left hand side. Jomfu Ane Gade needs no further introduction, and may be worth a revisit in the evening or night depending on your preferences. If the clock is ticking towards lunch time, you may want to turn down the alley Doktorens Gyde, and you find yourself on the old C.W. Obels Plads, where throughout the summer you will find outdoor serving on all cafés and restaurants. Be sure to visit the micro-brewery Søgaards Bryghus.
After visiting C.W. Obels Plads, return to Bispensgade and continue your exploration of shopping possibilities. This street dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries, and has been Aalborg’s most important pedestrian street for hundreds of years. Here you will see fashion shop after fashion shop for every budget.
If you turn right down Maren Turisgade, you will find the hunting and fishing shop Jægeren og Lystfiskeren on your right hand side, and a bit further down you can take a break in a cozy atmosphere with, perhaps, Aalborg’s best cup of coffee at the coffee shop Behag din Smag.
Between the high streets
Bispensgade leads you to Østerågade. Take a little detour to the left down Østerågade. Here, you will see the small shoe shop Kenza Shoes, where, if you feet are the right size, you can make a bargain on high quality and high fashion shoes, as the shop only sells shoes that are worn once or twice in fashion shows.
Walking back away from the water front, if you enjoy little odd gadgets or decorative knick knacks at very affordable prices, you should turn left up Nytorv. On your left hand side, you will find the shop Søstrene Grene, where you can shop for every kind of imaginable and unimaginable item.
Back on Østerågade, even the most tunnel-visioned shopper cannot help but notice Jens Bangs Stenhus. The influential merchant Jens Bang built this impressing five-storey tower block back in 1624, right on the banks of the stream Østerå. His goods were transported up the stream from the Limfjord and right up to the building. The stream disappeared a long time ago, but the building is just as impressive.
On the street’s right hand side you pass Gammel Torv and Aalborg’s beautiful old city hall, which serves as registry office for many couples, both residents and tourists. Just opposite this, you can explore the shoe store Ecco with products of the world known Danish brand.
Algade with detours
As you reach the city’s second high street Algade (pedestrian street to your left), you can make a detour to the right and visit the jewelry shop Athena with jewelry of Danish as well as foreign design. And if you follow the street a bit further towards Vesterbro, you will find the antique book and coin store Pilegaard Antikvariat, where they have a large selection of used books of both Danish and international origin. On the way to Pilegaard, you will pass Budolfi Cathedral on your right hand side.
When you head back towards Østerå, before you enter into the pedestrian part of Algade, you might want to take a detour to your right down the street now called Boulevarden. Here, you will find two excellent stores for children – clothes and toys – Karusella and Hønsefødder.
On Boulevarden, you will also come across the London Pub, so those in need of a pint of beer and a good cigar should take a break here. Apart from its selection of more than 80 different bottled beers, what really sets this place apart is its atmosphere – maybe also the fact that because the pub is so small, it is not subject to Denmark’s anti-smoking rule.
Hardened shoppers however, should turn down pedestrian Algade, where shops both big and small lie in wait, ready to tempt you. Only a few meters from Boulevarden, those interested in antiques must take a detour down the small alleyway Roldgade on the right side of Algade. The antique store Marksantik is absolutely worth a visit!
Back on Algade, opposite the department store Salling is Summerbird, a shop to make any chocolate-lover swoon. And just a few meters on, on the same side of the street, is Kronen, the city’s atmospheric and award-winning tea and coffee shop.
Even the Vikings could stroll down Algade, and there are still traces of the street’s history. Just opposite Kronen there is an elevator that transports you down to The Franciscan Friary Museum - a two-storey archaeological site beneath Algade and proof that even 800 years ago, there was life in this neighborhood. And time after time, digging the foundations of new buildings in Algade unearths all sorts of exciting historical relics.
Just on the corner after Kronen is your chance for another detour from the beaten track. Go down Møllegade, where you will find the quirky furniture shop Kaleidoskop. Continue down to Mølle Plads, and turn left through Mølleåarkaden. In here, you will come across the high end children’s clothing store Olgas Oldebørn, and if you continue through the arcade and turn right by the fountain, you will reach the two Danish design furniture stores Rings and Brødrene Sørensen. Both are situated in Danmarksgade – cross the street straight ahead for Rings or turn right and walk a few meters for Brødrene Sørensen. Across from Brødrene Sørensen, you will also find Aalborg’s outdoor fresh food market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Now you need to backtrack until just before you reach Algade again. Here you should make a right up Hjelmerstald – an old cobble stone street with lovely half timbered houses. On the corner where Hjelmerstald makes a 90 degree angle back towards Algade, you will find the arts and crafts shop Lange Kunsthåndværk, where you can buy lovely authentic Aalborg souvenirs, before you continue down the street to Algade.
A bit further down Algade, you can turn left down Slotsgade, where you will find a great variety of interior and clothing stores as well as the large grocery store Føtex. If you are interested in clothing of Danish design, you should stop by Hanne Øvad just opposite the end of Slotsgade.
Beyond Algade
Algade runs into Bredegade, and many visitors stop and turn back as soon as they reach Bredegade Torv. But that is a big mistake, because Nørregade on the opposite side of the square is a must. Just opposite the shopping center Friis, you might want to step into the court yard with the sign ‘Det Gyldne Dådyr’ - the store offers an interesting collection of imaginatively redesigned second hand clothing.
At the end of Nørregade, you can turn right up Løkkegade towards the antique store Antik & Nostalgi. Or you can walk straight ahead towards the old power plant Nordkraft – now redesigned to include a variety of cultural offers as well as the arts and crafts store NordCraft. In the large front hall, where you can see the old containers for the coal that used to power the city, you will also find VisitAalborg’s InfoCenter, where the friendly and professional staff stands ready to further guide your visit in Aalborg.
Trouble finding your way? Order the Aalborg Guide online or get it at InfoCenter Aalborg, Kjellerups Torv 5.