Den Gamle By
The Old Town of Aarhus - a living open-air museum of buildings rescued from across Denmark, recreating the country from the past to the 1970s.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
Den Gamle By in Aarhus is a living open-air museum that gathers old buildings from across Denmark into a recreated town, staffed in period costume. Uniquely, it recreates not just old Denmark but the twentieth century too, with a 1927 street and a 1974 quarter of a jazz bar, a gynaecologist's and a hippie collective, letting visitors walk through changing everyday life.
What you actually see
- The historic streets - the half-timbered old-town houses and shops.
- The 1974 quarter - the recreated 1970s street of everyday life.
- Costumed townspeople - the staff bringing the past to life.
- Seasonal events - the Christmas market and living-history days.
When to go
Summer for the full living-history programme; December for the popular Christmas market. The 20th-century quarters are open year-round and a highlight.
Honest expectations
It is a paid open-air museum, so it is a curated experience rather than a real town, though a very good one. It involves a fair amount of walking. The recent-decades quarters are what set it apart and delight older visitors.
Nearby
The ARoS art museum and central Aarhus are close; the museum sits by the botanical garden.
What to pack for Den Gamle By
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
