If you’re looking to explore Denmark beyond the soaring prices and cyclists of its capital, Copenhagen, the country has much more to offer, and this one city is one of Europe’s most happy and most walkable.

Aalborg residents are the happiest in Europe, according to a European Commission study, and with a wealth of art and breathtaking views on offer, you can experience its chirpy citizens and culture all on foot. As one of Europe’s most walkable cities, its tours cover street art, history, architecture led by guide Kenneth Pinsker, who is full of niche knowledge about his home.

You can explore an underground museum filled with medieval ruins, visit a house where women accused of witchcraft were allegedly seen practising black magic, including a dungeon where they were held before their execution, and discover the story of a Second World War resistance group made up of local teenagers.

Aalborg has now established itself as one of Scandinavia’s key cities for street art, attracting top-tier artists from around the globe such as El Mac, Vhils, Martin Ron and Phlegm, to create murals. Since 2014, initiatives like Out in the Open and WEAART have worked with artists to transform dull stone walls into vibrant canvases. Use an interactive guide or take a guided tour to uncover the stories behind the artwork.

Lindholm Hoje in Aalborg is also home to an ancient Viking burial site. Here you can marvel at Denmark’s stunning western and northern coasts, just a 12-minute drive from central Aalborg, the remarkable site overlooks the city and houses 682 graves and 150 stone ships dating back to the Germanic Iron Age and Viking era. Unearthed in the 1950s after being buried under up to four metres of shifting sand, this extensive site offers a fascinating glimpse into history.

While it’s free to visit, there’s a small fee for the accompanying museum that provides further insight into the lives of these early settlers.

The summer months of June, July and August offer warm days and sunshine, although be prepared for occasional rain showers – the city’s climate is akin to that of Edinburgh. January and February bring cold, windy and rainy weather, making them the quietest and most affordable months to visit.

If you’re unbothered by cold water, Vestre Fjordpark, is a popular spot during the summer months, is a state-of-the-art recreational area in western Aalborg. It features a large open-air swimming pool, facilities for kayaking, canoeing and windsurfing, volleyball and barbecue areas. Best of all, it’s completely free of charge, making it a fantastic place to kickstart your day.

You can also visit the works of Jørn Utzon, designer of the Sydney Opera House, at the Utzon Centre. His singualr Nordic architecture style is explored alongside social sustainability for children and young people. At the core of their exhibitions is the idea that materials must be recycled.

If this whets your appetite for some real opera. Turn your attention to Aalborg’s waterfront is the House of Music, Musikkens Hus. The eye-catching building is the home of the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra and a concert venue for international and Danish artists.

To dodge the rain as much as possible, plan your visit between May and September. A unique spectacle on the northern Danish coast is the waves colliding where the Baltic Sea meets the North Sea in Skagen. Less than an hour drive away from Aalborg isthe Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse, perched atop a massive, scenic sand dune.

The lighthouse was recently relocated 70 meters inland (about 230 feet) using skates, in an impressive project to prevent it from tumbling into the sea.With new flight routes launching into the city over the summer, there’s no better time to explore this emerging hotspot.

However, things liven up significantly by May, when the week-long Aalborg Carnival, hailed as Europe’s largest, begins. The event features the world-famous Battle of the Carnival bands where every year many carnival groups from all over the world travel to Aalborg to participate.