Car & Van Hire - Norresundby

Norresundby and its twin across the river, Aalborg, have a history dating back thousands of years. The Vikings thrived here through the 11th century when the region was settled by King Harthacnut, grandson of the legendary Ragnar Lodbrok. The Limfjord, which cuts through the north of Denmark and through Norresundby, provided sheltered passage for longboats sailing between the Baltic and North Seas.

A major Viking burial site, Lindholm Høje, is located 4 km northwest of Norresundby. This atmospheric burial centre is noted for its large stones placed in the shape of a Viking ship. There are some 700 graves in total that are well-preserved, thanks to the drifting sand banks of Lindholm. Learn about the site and discover archaeological finds from the area at Lindholm Høje Museet.

For families with children, the island of Egholm provides a fantastic escape by boat. It's home to a Thomas Dambo troll in an area of forest that's perfect for picnics and photographs. The banks of the Limfjord provide various parks and beaches to explore, including the scenic Lindholm Fjordpark and Hesteskoen.

Across the Limfjord via the Limfjordsbroen, Aalborg provides a wealth of cultural attractions and shopping opportunities. Its downtown region is home to scenic 16th-century timber buildings, like the well-preserved Aalborghus Castle. Other highlights include the lively Aalborg waterfront that overlooks Norresundby, providing converted ship restaurants, parks and playgrounds that are particularly vibrant in summer. Then there's the charming Old Town, marked by the impeccably-preserved 12th-century Budolfi Domkirke.

Norresundby's shopping district is split between Skragade and the City Centre shopping centre. Aalborg provides a wider variety of retail therapy options, from the bustling Friis Shoppingcenter on Nytorv to Kennedy-arkaden off Jyllandsgade. As for dining, Aalborg has a cosy café culture with a burgeoning street food scene along the trendy harbour. Many stalls can be found at Aalborg Street Food, a large warehouse space serving up international and fusion cuisine with live events.

A car or van hire in Norresundby is an excellent way to discover the Viking-rich North Jutland region. It's just 100 km to the farthest reaches of the peninsula and Denmark's northernmost town, Skagen. You can paddle at this northern tip of Grenen in a region renowned for its sunsets. Families should head to Fårup Sommerland, just 40 km northwest of Norresundby along the western coast. This is one of Denmark's most-visited attractions, an old-school amusement park packed with hair-raising roller coasters and rides for little legs. A short day trip to the coast by car will reveal just why this region has been visited by so many Danish artists.

Car hire in Norresundby makes it convenient to access the city, sitting on the crossroads of two of Denmark's most significant motorways. The European routes E39 and E45 both converge at Norrensundby, spanning the entire length of Jutland from the German border. Both offer onward travel to Norway and Sweden by ferry at Hirthals and Frederikshavn.

The E39 is a 1,330 km north–south road through Norway and Denmark from Klett, near Trondheim, to Norrensundby via Bergen. The Danish stretch consists of a two-lane dual-carriageway motorway for convenient travel through Northern Jutland. The E45 spans Norway through Italy (via Denmark). Its total length is roughly 5,190 km, making it the longest north-south route in Europe. The Danish stretch spans the length of Jutland and consists of a two to three-lane dual-carriageway.

Norresundby is accessible via the Sundsholmen exit and Hjørringvej from national road 180. While generally easy to navigate, the very centre of Norresundby is compact, especially around Skrågade and Torvet. It's best to park and walk into the town centre. Vehicles are driven on the right-hand side of the road in Denmark. While there are no road tolls, ferries and some bridge crossings are accessed for a fee.

Parking in Norresundby is straightforward, with a wide variety of car parks and on-street parking. While some areas are limited to 30 minutes or one hour, there are several free parking spots to take advantage of in the centre. These include parking at business addresses, parks and attractions. Car parks are largely operated on a pay-and-display basis and are payable both through machines and mobile apps.

Speed limits in Norresundby are the same as in the rest of Denmark. Limits within the centre are 50 km/h, but speeds reduce to between 20 to 30 km/h in residential and school areas. Limits in non-built-up areas are 80 km/h and reach 130 km/h on motorways. This allows for convenient speedy travel on the European-route motorways.

Norresundby is much quieter than other large towns in Denmark, including Aalsborg across the Limfjord. Rush hour traffic can still build up, particularly around E roads and national roads to Aalsborg. As such, it's good practice to avoid main roads from 07:00 to 08:30 and between 15:00 and 17:30 for the swiftest travel.