Den Gamle By – The Old Town Museum, Aarhus

Walk through 400 years of Danish everyday life in a single open‑air town, from half‑timbered alleys and vintage cars to 1970s flats and a 2014 city street.

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Denmark
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The Old Town

Den Gamle By in Aarhus is an immersive open‑air museum where whole streets, squares and houses from across Denmark have been reconstructed to create a living town. Stroll from half‑timbered market streets of the 1600s through a bustling 1927 quarter and on into 1970s and 2014 neighborhoods with shops, apartments and workshops. Costumed interpreters, working bakeries, gardens and vintage vehicles turn social history into a tangible, hands‑on experience for all ages.

A brief summary to The Old Town

Viborgvej 2, Aarhus C, Aarhus C, 8000, DK
+4586123188
Visit website
Duration: 2 to 5 hours
Mid ranged
Mixed
Mobile reception: 5 out of 5

Monday 10 am-5 pm
Tuesday 10 am-5 pm
Wednesday 10 am-5 pm
Thursday 10 am-5 pm
Friday 10 am-5 pm
Saturday 10 am-5 pm
Sunday 10 am-5 pm

Local tips

Allow at least 3–4 hours to explore the different time periods; the site is larger than it first appears and full of small interiors and side streets.
Wear comfortable shoes suitable for cobblestones and uneven surfaces, especially in the 1864 quarter with its historic paving.
If visiting in spring or summer, try to arrive in the late morning to see more costumed staff active in shops, homes and workshops.
Plan a meal or snack inside the museum at one of the historic eateries or bakeries to sample traditional Danish recipes in period surroundings.
Check seasonal programs in advance for special events such as Christmas markets or themed evenings, which can significantly change the atmosphere.

Getting There

City bus from central Aarhus

From central Aarhus, use one of the city bus lines that serve Viborgvej and the Botanic Garden area; typical journey times from the main train station are around 10–20 minutes, depending on route and traffic. Buses run frequently throughout the day and accept contactless payment or regional travel cards, with single adult fares generally in the range of 20–30 DKK. Most services have low-floor access, but expect a short walk on slightly sloping terrain from the nearest stop to the museum entrance.
Walking from Aarhus city centre

On foot, Den Gamle By is roughly a 20–30 minute walk from the area around the main train station and the pedestrian shopping streets. The route passes through central neighborhoods and the edge of the Botanic Garden, with some gentle inclines but no demanding hills. Surfaces vary from pavements to park paths, so it is manageable for most visitors with comfortable footwear, though wheelchair users may prefer public transport or a taxi for convenience.
Taxi or rideshare within Aarhus

Taxis and app-based rides within Aarhus typically reach Den Gamle By from central districts in about 5–10 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. Fares on short inner-city trips are commonly in the 80–140 DKK range, with surcharges possible in evenings or weekends. Drop-off is possible close to the entrance, making this a practical option for visitors with limited mobility or families travelling with small children.
Regional bus from surrounding Jutland towns

If you are staying elsewhere in East Jutland, regional buses into Aarhus often stop near the central station or at major hubs where you can transfer to a local city bus towards Viborgvej. Overall travel times vary widely—from 30 minutes from nearby towns to over an hour from more distant areas—and adult regional tickets typically cost from around 40 DKK upwards depending on the number of zones. Many services are wheelchair-accessible, but check timetables in advance, especially on weekends and public holidays when frequencies may be reduced.

The Old Town location weather suitability

Any Weather
Clear Skies
Mild Temperatures
Cold Weather
Rain / Wet Weather

Discover more about The Old Town

A Time-Travel Town in the Heart of Aarhus

Den Gamle By is not a single building but an entire townscape folded inside the Aarhus Botanical Garden. Cobbled lanes, timbered gables and merchant courtyards have been brought here piece by piece from cities across Denmark, then carefully reassembled around canals, gardens and small squares. Instead of glass cases, you walk real streets, pass functioning workshops and step into fully furnished homes where it feels as if the residents have just stepped outside. Founded in the early 20th century to save historic houses from demolition, the museum has grown into a richly layered portrait of Danish urban life. More than 80 historical buildings now stand here, each one tagged to a particular place and story. Together, they form a compact, walkable town that lets you experience centuries of everyday history in a single visit.

Timbered Alleys and Market Life Before 1900

The oldest quarter evokes a small market town of the 17th to 19th centuries. Narrow streets curve between half‑timbered houses, their upper stories leaning in over uneven cobblestones. Shopfronts display pewter, pottery, fabrics and tools, while interior rooms are lit by the soft glow of oil lamps and daylight filtering through tiny panes. You can peer into a schoolroom from Kerteminde, explore merchant’s warehouses from Aalborg and find a working water mill and customs booth. Craft and trade are present everywhere: the smithy with its forge, the apothecary with drawers of herbs, and the bakery turning out loaves and cakes from historic recipes. In season, costumed staff cook over open fires, card wool or stack wood, animating the streets with the routines of another age.

Modern Streets, Vintage Cars and 1927 Storefronts

Moving forward in time, you emerge into a distinctly different townscape from 1927. Here the dirt lanes give way to pavements, streetlights and the tangle of telephone wires overhead. Painted gable advertisements, shop signs and parked cars signal a Denmark embracing modernity between the wars. This quarter is thick with details: a hardware store with neatly arranged tools, Schou’s soap house fragrant with cleaning products, a bookshop, post office and telephone exchange humming with the technology of the day. A car dealership and workshop showcase elegant vintage automobiles, spare parts and engines mid‑repair. The interiors of apartments show how rising consumer goods changed domestic life, from patterned wallpapers to new kitchen gadgets and radios.

Everyday Denmark in the 1970s and Beyond

Further on, the streets shift again into the 1970s. Brick apartment blocks, playground scooters and colorful shop windows frame stories of welfare‑state Denmark. Inside, you can step into a nuclear family’s flat, a shared collective, a hippie couple’s home and a single mother’s apartment, each captured in meticulous detail from furniture to fridge magnets. Workshops and backyards round out the picture: a moped repair shop with tools on the wall, backyard toilets scrawled with period graffiti, and parked Volkswagens and Citroëns that once symbolized new mobility. A newer street, set around 2014, adds tanning salons, a convenience store, bank, pizzeria and the smoky atmosphere of a jazz bar, bringing recent decades into the same narrative arc of everyday life.

Living History, Tastes and Seasonal Atmosphere

What makes Den Gamle By especially vivid is its living character. From spring through much of the year you may encounter bakers, clerks, farmhands and street musicians in historical dress, all going about period tasks. You might be invited to fetch water, help in a shop or simply chat about their daily routines as if history were still unfolding around you. Food and scent play a big role too. Bakeries turn out cinnamon‑spiced pastries and crusty loaves, while eateries such as Gæstgivergården serve open‑faced sandwiches and traditional dishes in interiors styled to different eras. Gardens provide herbs, fruits and old vegetable varieties that supply the museum kitchens. Seasonal events, from Christmas streets with lanterns and spruce to summer evenings with extended opening hours, change the mood throughout the year while keeping the focus on the textures of ordinary Danish life.

Exploring at Your Own Pace

The site is extensive but walkable, and it rewards wandering. You can spend time following a chronological path from the 1600s to the present or dip in and out of specific interests, from urban transport to domestic design. Exhibitions such as the Danish Poster Museum and galleries of decorative arts sit within the town, adding layers of graphic and material culture. Paths and building interiors vary in accessibility: cobblestones and historical staircases contrast with more modern, level areas and dedicated rest spots. Benches, eateries and indoor exhibits provide regular pauses, making it easy to tailor your visit to your energy and curiosity. Whether you stay for a focused couple of hours or an unhurried day, Den Gamle By offers enough detail and atmosphere to make Danish history feel surprisingly close at hand.

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Kunst ved Kaserneboulevarden

0.8 km

Explore contemporary art at Kunst ved Kaserneboulevarden, Aarhus' premier gallery showcasing local and international talent.

Den Svangre

0.9 km

A bronze sculpture celebrating the female form in Aarhus's cultural heart.

Agnete og Havmanden

0.9 km

Discover the poetic fusion of Danish folklore and modern sculpture at Aarhus’ Agnete og Havmanden, a landmark bronze fountain embodying myth and emotion.

Herman Sallings Plads

1.2 km

Aarhus’s vibrant harborfront plaza, bridging the historic city and the modern waterfront, alive with urban energy, culture, and panoramic views.

Endless Connection

1.3 km

Experience the dynamic interplay of art and water at Aarhus's Endless Connection, an interactive fountain by Jeppe Hein.

Aarhus waterfront

1.3 km

Aarhus Waterfront blends urban vibrancy, Nordic design, and harbor heritage with panoramic sea views and lively promenades, making it a quintessential Danish experience.

Frederiks Plads

1.3 km

A vibrant, contemporary city square where modern architecture, open green space, and urban life converge in the heart of Aarhus near Frederiksbjerg.

University Park, Aarhus

1.4 km

Explore seven centuries of art at SMK – Denmark’s national gallery, marrying old masters, modern pioneers, and cutting-edge exhibitions in stunning parkland surroundings.

Folkehuset Trøjborg

1.6 km

Folkehuset Trøjborg blends Danish hygge, vibrant community life, and affordable culture, making it a beloved gathering place in the heart of Aarhus’ Trøjborg district.

Nordisk Film Cinemas Trøjborg

2.0 km

Experience local Danish cinema culture at Nordisk Film Cinemas Trøjborg—an atmospheric neighborhood movie house blending modern comfort with classic charm in Aarhus.

Trøjborg Beboerhus

2.0 km

Experience the vibrant community spirit of Aarhus at Trøjborg Beboerhus, a hub for cultural events, workshops, and local gatherings.

Udsigtspladsen

2.3 km

Experience breathtaking city, harbor, and bay vistas from one of Aarhus C’s most beloved scenic viewpoints, perfect for relaxation and panoramic photography.

Tivoli Friheden

2.4 km

Experience the thrill and magic of Tivoli Friheden, Aarhus' premier amusement park with rides, live music, and family-friendly fun for all ages.

Flagpladsen

3.2 km

Historic plaza overlooking Aarhus Bay, gateway to royal heritage and astronomical discovery.

Marselisborgmonumentet

3.2 km

Standing tall in Mindeparken, Marselisborgmonumentet honors Danish World War I volunteers with solemn beauty, monumental sculpture, and panoramic bay views near Aarhus.

Unmissable attractions to see

Danish Poster Museum

0.1 km

A compact museum inside Den Gamle By where bold graphics, historic campaigns and global visual culture come together in hundreds of eye-catching posters.

Møllen i botanisk have Århus

0.2 km

Urban beach escape south of Aarhus city center, offering clean sands, gentle waters, and year-round access beside forest and royal palace grounds.

Greenhouses in the Botanical Garden

0.3 km

Step into Aarhus’ luminous Greenhouses, where four climate zones, towering tropical plants and Danish landscapes outside create a calm, free botanical escape all year.

Museumsbroen

0.3 km

Historic hilltop observatory in Aarhus offering hands-on astronomy, guided stargazing, and a unique glimpse into Denmark’s pioneering scientific past.

Stenpartiet

0.3 km

A compact rock garden in Aarhus’ Botanical Garden, where stone, slope and hardy plants create a miniature mountain landscape rich in texture and quiet detail.

Mølleparken

0.5 km

Compact yet characterful, Mølleparken is Aarhus’ riverside green room, blending mill-town history, public art, student life and festival energy in one urban pocket.

Møllestien

0.5 km

Pastel cottages, cobbled stones and climbing roses – a tiny historic lane where centuries of Aarhus history live behind colourful facades.

Aarhus Culture Walk

0.5 km

Discover Aarhus' oldest neighborhood, Latinerkvarteret, where historic charm meets modern culture in a vibrant blend of cafés, boutiques, and artistic venues.

Botanical Garden

0.5 km

Free tropical greenhouses and Danish gardens in Aarhus's verdant heart, open year-round.

ARoS Aarhus Art Museum

0.6 km

Ten floors of Danish and international art crowned by a rainbow‑coloured skywalk, ARoS turns Aarhus’s skyline into part of a bold, immersive museum experience.

Kunsthal Aarhus

0.6 km

Free contemporary art in a light-filled modernist space, showcasing international and Danish artists since 1917.

Musikhuset Aarhus

0.7 km

Northern Europe's largest concert hall delivering world-class performances in stunning Scandinavian architecture.

Our Lady Church

0.7 km

Dokk1 is Aarhus’ iconic harborside library and cultural center—where award-winning design, vibrant community life, and panoramic waterfront views combine.

Sherlock Holmes Pub

0.7 km

Discover Aarhus’ charismatic Latin Quarter—a labyrinth of cobbled streets, lively cafés, creative boutiques, and historic charm at the city’s vibrant core.

Klostertorvet

0.8 km

Intimate cobbled square in central Aarhus where monastic history, café life and city shopping streets meet in a relaxed, atmospheric urban pocket.

Modern Nordic bistro flavors and relaxed hotel comfort meet at Restaurant L’øst, a casual yet polished dining room in the very centre of Aarhus C.

Polished menswear boutique on historic Lille Torv, pairing curated designer labels with minimalist interior design and attentive, style-focused service.

Flying Tiger Copenhagen

0.8 km

Aarhus C’s most playful gift shop, renowned for quirky Danish design, affordable treasures, and creative finds—perfect for unique souvenirs and cheerful everyday essentials.

Discover Barstart, Aarhus' premier cocktail bar offering vibrant drinks, small plates, and a unique Tarantino-themed ambiance for an unforgettable night out.

Your Ultimate Free Travel Guide

Discover The Old Town with Evendo, a 100% free app-based travel guide. Explore attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more with ease and convenience.

Den Gamle By – The Old Town Museum, Aarhus

A brief summary to The Old Town

Local tips

For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you

Getting There

City bus from central Aarhus

Walking from Aarhus city centre

Taxi or rideshare within Aarhus

Regional bus from surrounding Jutland towns

The Old Town location weather suitability

Unlock the Best of The Old Town

Buy tickets

Book tours with entry

Book tours without entry

Discover more about The Old Town

A Time-Travel Town in the Heart of Aarhus

Timbered Alleys and Market Life Before 1900

Modern Streets, Vintage Cars and 1927 Storefronts

Everyday Denmark in the 1970s and Beyond

Living History, Tastes and Seasonal Atmosphere

Exploring at Your Own Pace

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Kunst ved Kaserneboulevarden

Den Svangre

Agnete og Havmanden

Herman Sallings Plads

Endless Connection

Aarhus waterfront

Frederiks Plads

University Park, Aarhus

Folkehuset Trøjborg

Nordisk Film Cinemas Trøjborg

Trøjborg Beboerhus

Udsigtspladsen

Tivoli Friheden

Flagpladsen

Marselisborgmonumentet

Unmissable attractions to see

Danish Poster Museum

Møllen i botanisk have Århus

Greenhouses in the Botanical Garden

Museumsbroen

Stenpartiet

Mølleparken

Møllestien

Aarhus Culture Walk

Botanical Garden

ARoS Aarhus Art Museum

Kunsthal Aarhus

Musikhuset Aarhus

Our Lady Church

Sherlock Holmes Pub

Klostertorvet

Essential places to dine

Restaurant Malt - Mad, Øl & Vin

Møf

AmoRomA

Restaurant Amalfi

Den Lille Kro

Gastro & Vino

Lupo

Lydmar Restaurang

Bardok

SYV NI 13

Keyser Social

Tir Na nÓg - Irish Gastropub

Restaurant Dauphine ApS

Faour

Restaurant L'øst

Markets, malls and hidden boutiques

1 + 1 Textil & Design

Darling Inspire

Vintage Divine

Epic Panda

Blue Caviar

Hørlyck Aarhus

CHANEL FRAGRANCE AND BEAUTY BOUTIQUE

SEPHORA MAGASIN AARHUS

& Other Stories

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