The game by
Viborgvej 2, 8000 Aarhus C
The Old Town: A living journey through time in the middle of Aarhus
The Old Town is not a museum in the traditional sense, but a living district where time both stands still and moves with your steps. Here you step directly into Danish urban history over the last 400 years, where over 75 original buildings form the framework for a journey from half-timbered idyll to pop culture and modern globalization.
Histories
Atmosphere
Practical
From horse-drawn carriages to detached houses: The four journeys through time
The experience is divided into distinct eras, each decorated with an extreme level of detail. You can start in 1864, where horse-drawn carriages and the smell of tar characterize the cobblestone streets, and continue to 1927, where jazz and the emerging modern city life gain prominence. Many visitors find a special nostalgia in the 1974 district, which, with its colorful living rooms and authentic storefronts, evokes memories of the Denmark of their childhood. The journey rounds off in 2014, where today's everyday life has already become valuable cultural heritage.
History in the hands: People and senses
What makes Den Gamle By unique is the absence of glass cases. The story is told at eye level by employees in period clothing who bake, sew and perform old crafts while sharing stories about life in the different eras. It is a sensory journey, where the sound of horse hooves, quacking geese and the smell of freshly baked bread from the bakery create an atmosphere that settles in your body.
Special museums and Aarhus Narrator
In addition to the city streets, the museum houses several special exhibitions of international class. The Toy Museum shows the development of childhood through 5.000 objects, while the Danish Poster Museum documents our visual cultural history through advertisements and campaigns. In the underground exhibition Aarhus Narrator, you can also experience the city's dramatic development from the Viking Age to the welfare state we know today.
Christmas in the Old Town: Denmark's biggest Christmas adventure
When darkness falls during the Christmas months, the museum transforms into a magical universe of fir trees and candles. Here you can follow Christmas traditions through the centuries, from the simple peasant homes to the opulent living rooms of the bourgeoisie. It is a time when cultural heritage and Christmas magic merge into an experience that draws thousands of guests back to the historic heart of the city every year.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Old Town
When is The Old Town open?
The Old Town is one of the few attractions that is open all 365 days of the year, so you can experience history no matter when you visit Aarhus. During the period from January 1 to March 22, you can visit the museum from 10:00 to 16:00, while the opening hours are extended to 17:00 for the rest of the year until December 30. Please note that the historic shops and restaurants do not open their doors until 11:00, and that times may change during holidays and public holidays.
Contact Info
Telephone: 86 12 31 88
Mail: mail@dengamleby.dk
Where can I eat in the Old Town?
The Old Town offers several cozy eateries, all of which contribute to the historical atmosphere during your visit. You can find detailed information about the different menus and current opening hours on the museum's official website at the dining sectionHere you will get an overview of the many options, whether you are looking for a quick snack from the old bakery or want to enjoy a classic lunch in the authentic setting.
Where can I park near the Old Town?
If you arrive by car, there are good parking options in the area around the museum. You can use the marked parking spaces at the Botanical Garden or along nearby roads such as Viborgvej and Eugen Warmings Vej. As the museum is centrally located in Aarhus, we recommend that you arrive well in advance during the high season and during the Christmas months, when the pressure on the parking spaces can be great due to the many visitors.
Transportation by bus and train to the museum
It is easy to get to Den Gamle By by public transport, as several bus lines stop in close proximity to the main entrance. You can use bus lines 3A, 14, 114 or 118, all of which run close to the museum and drop you off at stops just a few minutes' walk from the entrance. If you are arriving by train to Aarhus Central Station, you can either take one of the aforementioned buses or enjoy a walk through the city to reach the museum.
Ticket to the Old Town
It is recommended to buy tickets online in advance, especially during holidays and weekends. You can also buy tickets at the entrance.
Is the Old Town suitable for children?
The Old Town is very much an experience for the whole family, where both children and adults can explore the historic urban environments. The museum is designed to be explored with all senses, and children will especially enjoy meeting the live farm animals, the many Santa riddles during the Christmas month and the impressive collection of over 5.000 toys. The presentation is at eye level, which makes it easy for the little ones to experience what everyday life was like in the old days.
This year's history: Events in the Old City
The history of Den Gamle By is never static, as the museum is constantly evolving through changing activities, markets and special exhibitions. On this page you will find an overview of the year's most important events, ranging from the atmospheric Christmas markets to historical workshops and authentic market days in the city streets.
Candlelight concert: Tribute to Hans Zimmer
Candlelight concert: Queen vs ABBA
Living history and presence: Articles from The Old City
Here we have collected our articles and personal experiences, which give you an in-depth insight into the many layers of history found in the Old Town. We take you through everything from the cobblestone streets of the 1800th century to the nostalgic shops of 1974 and all the way to our own present day in 2014. You can read about the permanent exhibitions like Aarhus Narrator, be inspired by the annual events like Christmas Eve or dive into the thought-provoking debates in the Helsingør Theater.
A Reunion with the 70s: Experience 1974 Street in the Old Town
Step straight into 1970s Denmark, where the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the sight of bell-bottomed trousers bring memories to life. On 1974 Street, you can visit everything from Pouls Radio to the gynecologist's waiting room, where the ashtray is still full of shutters, and the newspapers report on women's struggles and the pill. It's a journey through a decade marked by teak furniture, collectives and political activism, which gives you the opportunity to relive the street of your childhood.
Tuesdays at the Theatre: Historical perspectives on a troubled present
Get up close and personal with current world events when some of Denmark's sharpest experts invite you to lectures and debates in the series Tuesdays in the Theatre. In the historical setting of Helsingør Theater, the focus is on everything from great power rivalry and American politics to the history of disasters and local stories from the occupation period in Aarhus.
Play and toil: Children's life in the 1800th century
Experience a time when childhood was characterized by both hard work and playful community in the Old Town. Through activities such as washing clothes on a washboard and carding wool, the whole family gets to experience the duties of the past firsthand. The visit also includes a trip to the schoolyard, where a strict teacher welcomes you with a hymnbook and blackboard, before the day ends with balancing art on stilts and laughter in the sun.
Pleasure Travel: A nostalgic journey through the golden age of the tourist poster
Take a visual journey through dreams and holiday memories in the new exhibition Pleasure Trips at the Poster Museum in Den Gamle By. Here you will be greeted by brightly colored works that document everything from the early seaside hotels to the heyday of charter tourism with the legendary pig festivals in Mallorca. The exhibition pays tribute to the talented artists behind the posters and shows how means of transport such as steamships and airplanes have shaped our shared longing for adventure and distant shores throughout the 20th century.
Christmas Eve in the Old Town: A magical journey through time after dark.
When darkness falls over the historic streets, Den Gamle By transforms into a fairytale universe of light and nostalgia. Through the concept of Christmas Eve, you can experience everything from the neon lights of the 1970s to the dark alleys from the early 1900s, where folk beliefs and lanterns set the perfect mood. Explore the secret world of the elves in the attic, enjoy hot mulled wine on the Square or feel the whisper of history during a guided story in the dark.
The Secret Life of Elves: A Magical Tale from the Attic
Raised above the cobblestone streets of the Old Town lies a secret realm where time seems to stand still. Here lives a small group of elves who act as guardians of the Christmas legends and traditions that are brought to life by the expectant whispers of children. From the wise Great-Grandmother Santa to the vigilant Book Santa, the ceiling is brought to life with playful whims and stories that hide behind the old beams.
Aarhus Narrator: A time machine through 1200 years of Aarhus history
Experience the city's dramatic development from a small Viking village to a modern metropolis in the permanent exhibition Aarhus Narrator. The journey begins in a time machine of an elevator that takes you 1200 years back in time to the time when Aarhus was called Aros. From here, you move up through the layers of history, where you meet bishops, market townspeople and wartime resistance fighters, before landing in modern Aarhus with both trams and dialect lessons.
Winter holiday in the Old Town: A creative journey for the whole family
Take the family on a cozy journey back in time when Den Gamle By opens its doors for the winter holidays in week 7. Here, children can try their hand at candy making, create their own luminous lanterns or be enchanted by the story of the mysterious lantern man. With everything from the smell of freshly baked Shrove Tuesday buns to the opportunity to visit time pockets from 2014, the museum offers a warm and playful experience that combines the charm of the past with modern creativity.
Christmas in the Old Town: A nostalgic journey through 400 years of Christmas history
Feel the Christmas peace sink in as Den Gamle By is transformed into a living Christmas fairy tale through four centuries. From the atmospheric streets in 1974, where memories of Jullerup Færgeby are brought to life, to the sound of horses' hooves and brass music on the Christmas-decorated Square, the museum offers a unique atmosphere of presence and tradition. Explore the secrets of the Nisseloffet, enjoy warm æbleskives in the historic warehouses or find the perfect piece of handicraft for the Christmas tree in an experience that connects past and present for the whole family.
Moments in History: Glimpses from the Old City
The Old Town is a visual time capsule, where every detail, from the rough cobblestones to the authentic shop windows, tells a story about our shared past. In this gallery, we have collected a selection of images that capture the city's special atmosphere and the many architectural leaps through time. The images give you a taste of the sensory journey that awaits you when you step into history, whether you seek the raw industry or the cozy half-timbered houses.
Culture in Aarhus
Copyright: Wyrle Studio and AarhusInside



















