The region borders the North Sea in the west, the Limfjord in the northwest, and Kattegat in the east.

It includes the islands of Samsø, Anholt, and the smaller Endelave, Tunø, Hjarnø and Alrø in Kattegat, as well as Venø, Jegindø and Fur in the Limfjord.

Other cities with a population above 30,000 include Randers, Silkeborg, Horsens, Herning, Viborg and Holstebro.

The administration and regional council is situated in the sixth-largest city, Viborg, which has a population of 40,000 and was the medieval capital of Jutland.

Furthermore, Sønderjylland (Southern-Jutland) is the traditional name for North Slesvig, which is the Danish part of the former Duchy of Schleswig/Slesvig.

Geologically, the region lies in the northern part of Denmark, which is rising because of post-glacial rebound.

Significant local antagonism arose before the region came into effect in 2007 and in the first years of its existence.