Den Gamle By – The Old Town Museum, Aarhus

Step into a full‑scale Danish town of cobbled streets and time‑capsule homes, where centuries of everyday life unfold from timber‑framed markets to modern city life.

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Denmark
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The Old Town

Den Gamle By in Aarhus is an immersive open‑air town museum where entire streets, squares and houses from across Denmark have been rebuilt to tell everyday stories from 1600 to the present. Wander cobbled lanes, step into timber‑framed merchants’ homes, peek into 1920s shops, 1970s flats and a 2014 high street, and meet costumed interpreters bringing Danish history, craft and cuisine vividly to life in one atmospheric urban village.

A brief summary to The Old Town

Viborgvej 2, Aarhus C, Aarhus C, 8000, DK
+4586123188
Visit website
Duration: 3 to 6 hours
Mid ranged
Outdoor
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 half a day to explore; the museum covers multiple time periods and entire streets, and rushing means you will miss many of the small interior details.
Wear comfortable footwear suitable for cobblestones and uneven surfaces, and consider a stroller with sturdy wheels if visiting with small children.
Come early in the day for quieter streets and easier access to interiors; afternoons, weekends and school holidays are typically busier.
Plan a meal or snack at one of the historical eateries to experience traditional Danish recipes and period interiors as part of your visit.
Check seasonal programs in advance; living history activities, horse‑drawn carriage rides and special events are more frequent from spring through late autumn.

Getting There

City bus from central Aarhus

From the central area around Aarhus H station, regular city buses run towards Viborgvej and the Botanical Garden, with journey times typically 10–20 minutes depending on route and traffic. Expect buses at least every 10–20 minutes during the day. A single adult ticket within the city zone usually costs around 20–30 DKK and can be bought via ticket machines or mobile apps. Most buses are low‑floor and suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, though they may be crowded at peak hours and on school days.
Walking from Aarhus city centre

From the pedestrian heart of Aarhus around Strøget and the Latin Quarter, walking to Den Gamle By typically takes 20–30 minutes. The route leads through central streets and gently uphill sections toward the Botanical Garden. Surfaces vary from smooth pavements to some cobbled sections near the museum. This option is free and offers a pleasant urban stroll, but may be tiring for visitors with reduced mobility or very young children.
Taxi within Aarhus

Taxis can be hired from ranks near Aarhus H station or ordered by phone or app, with travel time to Den Gamle By usually 10–15 minutes in normal traffic. Fares within the city generally range from about 120–200 DKK depending on distance, time of day and any waiting time. Taxis are a convenient option in bad weather or for those with luggage or mobility challenges, though availability can tighten during rush hours and weekend evenings.
Car or rental car in Aarhus

If you are driving within Aarhus, reaching Den Gamle By from most central districts typically takes 10–15 minutes. Surrounding streets offer public parking with time limits and fees that vary by zone, often in the range of 15–30 DKK per hour during daytime. Spaces closest to the museum can fill quickly on weekends, holidays and in summer. Some accessible parking is available for disabled permit holders, but always check local signage for restrictions and payment methods.

The Old Town location weather suitability

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Discover more about The Old Town

A Danish town frozen in time

Den Gamle By sits at the edge of Aarhus’ Botanical Garden, but once you pass the gateway you are in a self‑contained townscape of historic streets, squares and backyards. Here, more than 80 original buildings from all over Denmark have been dismantled and rebuilt, forming a compact market town of crooked timber frames, sash windows and tiled roofs clustered around a central square. The sense of scale is intimate: lanes twist past gabled merchants’ houses, workshops open directly onto the street and church bells occasionally chime over the rooftops. The oldest part of the museum evokes a Danish town in the centuries before 1900. You can step into a schoolroom from Kerteminde, explore the elegant Mintmaster’s Mansion, watch the mill wheel turning by the stream and imagine travellers passing through the old customs booth at the edge of town. Gardens tucked behind fences showcase historic varieties of herbs, fruit and vegetables, echoing how families once fed themselves from small urban plots.

Everyday life from 1864 to the jazz age

Moving forward in time, you enter streets set around 1864, when trades and craft guilds still shaped daily life. Smithies smell faintly of iron and coal, and interiors are lit by polished brass lamps and tiled stoves. Costumed staff may be baking, stitching or chopping wood, continuing the rhythms of a day that could easily belong to the 19th century. Further on, the 1927 quarter has a different energy: asphalted streets, simple shopfronts and the first motor cars lend a modern, bustling feel. A hardware store, bookstore, post office and telephone exchange show how technology and consumer culture were changing Denmark between the wars. Vintage vehicles, enamel advertisements and period signage layer extra details onto the scene, inviting you to trace the shift from horse‑drawn carts to engines and electricity.

From hippies to Blockbuster: recent decades remembered

Beyond the interwar streets, the museum pivots into living memory. In the 1970s neighborhood you can look into apartments belonging to a nuclear family, a communal collective, a hippie couple and a single mother, each interior capturing different ways of living during the welfare state era. Downstairs, a corner shop, moped repair workshop and backyard toilets reveal an everyday world of vinyl records, patterned wallpaper and bold colors. In the newest area, a 2014 street presents a recognizable urban strip with a tanning salon, convenience store, bank, pizzeria and the legendary Bent J jazz bar. Here, you might walk past a Blockbuster video store and remember renting DVDs and game consoles, or spot posters and products that were current only a decade ago. It is museum as time capsule, reminding you that today’s ordinary life is tomorrow’s history.

Living history: people, food and performances

Den Gamle By is not just about static buildings. From spring onward, historical interpreters bring the town to life by inhabiting roles such as bakers, servants, shopkeepers and farmhands. They chop firewood in courtyards, serve customers behind wooden counters or push handcarts over the cobbles, and will often stay in character as you chat with them about their work. Seasonal events can add music, theater and traditional games to streets and squares. Food is part of the storytelling. Several eateries serve dishes based on historic Danish recipes, from open‑faced sandwiches to hearty hot meals and cakes. You might sit in a low‑ceilinged 18th‑century tavern, explore an arts‑and‑crafts‑era dining room or find a 1950s‑style café, each space furnished to match its time. Bakeries use old techniques and ingredients harvested from the museum’s own gardens, so even a pastry or loaf of bread becomes an edible fragment of the past.

Planning your visit inside the town walls

The site is extensive enough that you can spend hours exploring, yet compact enough to wander at a relaxed pace. Cobblestones and uneven surfaces are part of the charm, though some routes and interiors can be challenging for visitors with limited mobility. Wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be borrowed on site, and accessible restrooms are distributed across the museum’s main zones. Rest areas, indoor exhibitions and cafés provide shelter on wet or cold days, while the adjacent Botanical Garden offers green space for picnics and fresh air. Information signs in multiple languages explain the background to each building and the social history it represents, helping you piece together how Denmark changed from a small kingdom of market towns to a modern welfare society. Whether you are interested in architecture, social history, design or simply the atmosphere of old streets, Den Gamle By rewards unhurried exploration.

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 within Aarhus

Car or rental car in Aarhus

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 Danish town frozen in time

Everyday life from 1864 to the jazz age

From hippies to Blockbuster: recent decades remembered

Living history: people, food and performances

Planning your visit inside the town walls

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

UNIQ

RAINS Store Aarhus