Historic places in Aarhus

Historic places in Aarhus

1. See

   Aarhus Domkirke

   Aarhus Cathedral

   The beautiful cathedral is more than 800 years old, and the longest and the tallest in Denmark. It took 100 years to build and it is the oldest building in the city, still standing. Concerts are sometimes arranged and the tower offers a good view. Behind the church is Aarhus Cathedral School, also with an 800-year history.

   Daily May-Sep 09:30-16:00; Oct-Apr 10:00-15:00·Free (a fee for the tower)

2. See

   Aarhus Theater

   If older times architecture is more your thing, you will love to study the Aarhus Theatre building inside-out. Built around the year 1900 in the Danish version of Art Nouveau (known as skønvirke), the building is crammed with architectural details from the history of theatre and the interior is even more lusciously decorated than the outside facades. Guided tours (in Danish) on some Saturdays.

3. See

   Aarhus University

   Aarhus University Campus

   Designed by famous Danish architects C. F. Møller, Kaj Fisker, and C. Th. Sørensen (the latter of which designed the landscaped garden), this is another noteworthy piece of architecture. The first buildings were finished in 1933, but construction is still going on today, all adhering to a common characteristic design-code in yellow brick. Here you find the Det Kgl. Bibliotek, the library which includes the iconic book tower, a landmark high-rise for the city. In the University Park you also find a cluster of museums (the Museum of Ancient Art, the Natural History Museum, and the Steno Museum) that you can read more about in the "Museums" section above. As well, the park is worth a visit, no matter the time of year.

4. See

   Aarhus Viking Museum

   Small Viking museum located across from the cathedral in the basement of the Nordea Bank. The museum focuses on local history during the Viking Age and most of the displayed items were excavated on site. If you are interested in Viking Age history in general, visit the large Moesgaard Museum (MoMu) south of the city.

   Mon-Wed Fri 10:00-16:00, Thu 10:00-17:00·DKK 30 for adults

5. Drink

   Alberts

   Alberts is a bar in a historic 14th-century monks' cellar at the cathedral. Quality beer, wine, and spirits with free open-mic stand-up comedy; Monday-Thursday in Danish, Sunday in English. You can play dice here too. On weekends, this places turns into a high quality cocktail bar, where the bartenders really shows off their skills. Tapas can be had Friday and Saturday evenings as well, but you need to pre-order and book a table for that.

   Every day. Outdoor serving at the big square in the summer Mon-Sat from 12:00·Cocktails from kr 100, drinks and wine from kr 60

6. Do

   Badeanstalten Spanien

   The pool at this renovated historic bathhouse from the 1930s hosts many families and children on weekends, but Badeanstalten Spanien is so much more than just swimming: there's a luxury co-ed wellness section (Grossererbadet) with saunas, steambaths, spas, infrared heat lamps and other facilities. Sauna infusion sessions (Sauna Gus) at regular intervals and occassional events. The building also houses a private fitness centre.

   Mon-Thu 08:00-20:00, Fri-Sun 08:00-16:00·Adults kr 88 and up for the all inclusive wellness section

7. Do

   Ballehage Beach

   This lovely stretch of white sand south of town benefits from a stunning location nestled against the hilly greenery of the Marselisborg Forests, yet within easy walking distance of popular sights like the Varna Palace, the circular pier Den Uendelige Bro, and the Marselisborg Deer Park, as well as a number of restaurants. Popular with swimmers, sunbathers, and picnickers, Ballehage boasts calm and clean waters, as well as amenities such as toilets and changing areas.

8. Drink

   Cirkuskroen

   Located at an odd location a bit outside of the central scene, not too far from Harmonien, and close to Trøjborg, Cirkuskroen is a tiny bar with a long history. It owes its name to the fact that its former owners were a family of circus performers, and accordingly, the place is decorated with clowns and old circus paraphernalia. As a speciality of the house, a unique spiced bitter can be had, along with your beer. Have a listen to Kim Larsen or John Mogensen at the jukebox; both iconic Danish troubadours. Smoking allowed.

   Daily from around 12:00·Beer kr 20

9. See

   Den Gamle By

   The Old Town

   Open-air museum village comprising a collection of 75 original Danish buildings from 1597 to 1909, gathered from all corners of the country. There are historical shops and eateries, most true to the period. A few staff members and volunteers dressed up in historic clothes adds to the ambience, and sometimes events are arranged. You can buy a round-trip horse and carriage ride through the museum's cobblestone streets or through the outside park. A new addition to the complex showcase Danish town culture and buildings from the 20th century, including a bakery, several stores, a poster museum, and a jazz club. As well, for the European Capital of Culture celebration in 2017, the museum inaugurated new permanent exhibitions focusing on local history and classic Danish jewellery from the 20th century. You can easily spend a whole day, exploring the town, its life, and the underground exhibitions. After regular opening hours, you can still stroll the streets (free of charge), but there is no access to exhibitions and buildings. Be sure to also spend some time in the large surrounding Botanical Garden and the Greenhouses.

   kr 205 (discount for students), free for children. Botanical Garden and Greenhouses are both free

10. Do

    Den Permanente

    Public and private bathhouse in a shared building. One section is open year round for the public from dawn till dusk, while the popular inner beach - complete with changing rooms, showers, public toilets, and lifeguards - is only accessible for the public in June and August. The tiny sandy beach immediately south of the bathhouse structure has been designated as a nudist spot, but welcomes everybody. Small kiosk nearby, open in the summer, serving ice cream, hotdogs, beverages, and various snacks. If you are ready for a more substantial meal, the historic inn Sjette Frederiks Kro, just up hill in the forest, is the place to go for a nice brunch or evening dinner after your swim. The sea bath opened in 1933, but half of it was destroyed in a storm in 1966. In 2023-24, the bathhouse was rebuilt to its original grandeur, reopening in June 2024.

    Free

11. Do

    Food markets

    An outdoor farm and artisan market with fresh vegetables, fruit, bread, fish, meat, cheese, and some prepared foods sold by local producers. There's also a small permanent café here with good coffee. is an indoor food market in the city centre near the central station, offering a culinary world tour ranging from Korean bowls, Turkish grill, and luxury salads to pad thai, fish & chips, and Afro-Caribbean barbecue. The food court is open every day of the week 11:30-21:00. is another indoor food court from early 2023, located in the building complex Nicolinehus in the new harbourside district of Aarhus Ø. Stylish interior, yet with relatively low budget prices and self-help service. The food offered here is also of a broad cultural diversity and the food stations are also open every day from 11:30-21:00. opened in 2024 at the central square at the Aarhus Cathedral. Clean and stylish interior. It is the smallest of the three food courts.

    Wed Sat 08:00-14:00·Free

12. See

    Frederiksbjerg

    Historicist architecture is abundant in this neighbourhood where large-scale construction of urban planned townscapes took off in 1898. Go to the square of Sankt Pauls Kirkeplads, uphill and south of the central station. The square is surrounded by notable historicist apartment blocks, each with their own peculiarity. Look up, take it slow and enjoy the variety. From here, there are numerous options for the architectural walk. A stroll down Odensegade towards Ingerslevs Boulevard is a good choice.

13. Eat

    Green Neighbour

    Various and changing seasonal salads and bowls with organic produce only. Freshly squeezed juices to go along. Meat can be had as an extra topping for some salads. Locatated in the Banken Food Hall at the central high street and cathedral square.

    11-21:30 every day·Salad bowls 115 kr

14. Do

    Helsingør Theatre

    A reconstructed historic theatre building from the town of Helsingør north of Copenhagen, now at The Old Town museum complex and still a working theater with room for an audience of 220. Throughout the year, you can catch summer operas, intimate classical concerts and occasional plays here. Not the most active theater in Aarhus, but certainly an interesting visit especially for aficionados of period architecture.

15. See

    KØN

    Gender Museum Denmark

    Residing in the old, and former, City Hall building from 1857 behind the Aarhus Cathedral, this place focuses on the importance of gender in the past and today. KØN presents changing exhibitions on the cultural history of gender and possess a fair collection of historical stuff related to women specifically. You can look through, or buy, publications on former exhibitions that you missed or general books related to the role of gender. Some titles are in English. KØN has a café serving light lunches, coffee and cakes, and you are allowed to enter without a museum ticket.

    Tue Thu-Sun 10:00-17:00; Wed 10:00-18:00 (closed Sundays and Mondays)·kr 125 (various discounts)

16. See

    Marselisborg Forests

    Marselisborgskovene

    A relatively large expanse of woodland stretching along the coast of the Aarhus Bay south of town. Marselisborg is one of the most frequented forests in Denmark and is criss-crossed by trails. A car road pass through with a separate bicycle road all along. Aside from Ballehage Beach, Tivoli Friheden amusement park, and Varna Palace described elsewhere in this article, other noteworthy amenities that can all be reached by road include:

17. See

    Marselisborg Palace

    Marselisborg Slot

    This small summer residence of the Queen of Denmark is just west of Mindeparken. The surrounding garden-park is fenced, but open to the public when the Queen is not in residence. It is dotted with sculptures from the private art collection of Prince Consort Henrik, the Queen's late husband.

18. See

    Mejlborg

    Finished in 1898, this was the first large apartment complex to be erected in Aarhus, built where the Northern city gates were demolished two decades before. Gothic Renaissance at its finest. There is no public access, but the detailed facades and metal clad onion dome can easily be enjoyed from the street. Good idea to go here by the historic street of Mejlgade and backtrack by the coastal promenade Kystvejen. Take it slow and be sure to look up, there are many more historicist waterfront buildings to experience here.

19. See

    Moesgaard Museum

    Stupendous architecture: a vast prism of a building half-buried in a grassy hill. The central staircase provides an innovative route into human evolution and prehistory. The museum hosts large changing themed exhibitions from cultures around the world, but is also a fantastic place to study Danish prehistory in particular. The main permanent attractions in this regard are an artificial reconstruction of a large Bronze Age roundbarrow that you can walk inside and two finds from the Nordic Iron Age: Grauballe Man, the only completely preserved bog body, and the impressive sacrifice of weapons from Illerup Ådal. The museum re-opened in the new building in October 2014. Good museum restaurant and café, but a bit expensive. The large historical landscape below the museum is also worth a visit, and is free and accessible year round.

    Tue-Fri 09:00-17:00; Wed 09:00-21:00; Sat Sun 09:00-19:00·kr 180 (adults), kr 110 (students and over-65), free for children 17 and under

20. Do

    Moesgaard Viking Days

    formerly Moesgaard Viking Moot

    A large Viking event held every summer in July at Moesgård beach, with reenactments, markets, workshops, and living-history presentations. Interesting activities for all age groups. The event has drawn about 12,000 attendees, both Vikings and audience. A ticket also gives you access to the Moesgaard Museum (MOMU) close by. Because of the event's popularity, it can be very difficult, if not impossible, to find a place to park a car nearby. Take a bus, bike or hike through the Marselisborg Forests to get there. Biking from the centre of Aarhus should take you less than an hour.

    Daily 10:00-17:00·160 kr, children (3-17 years) 50 kr

21. See

    Moesgaard landscape

    The Moesgaard landscape in the southern part of the Marselisborg Forests contains a marked history trail, The Prehistoric Trail, running from the Moesgaard Museum (q.v.) right down to the beach, with reconstructed Stone, Iron, and Viking Age houses and tombs, runestones, etc. If history isn't your thing, just enjoy the beautiful and varied nature of this place; in the spring and summer, it is worth a visit just for that. If you want to eat or drink, start your tour with a meal at the museum, at the nearby Aarhus Golf Club restaurant, or drop in later at the old watermill of Skovmøllen in the woods. You can also bring your own supplies and have a picnic lunch at any spot of your choice; the grassy fields at the Moesgaard Beach is popular for that.

    Free

22. See

    Museum Aarhus

    A permanent exhibition within the Old Town Museum opened in spring 2017. The museum displays Aarhus' history with a focus on the last 150 years, the period when it expanded from a small provincial port town to its current status of second-largest city.

23. See

    Museum of Ancient Art

    Antikmuseet

    Operated by Aarhus University, the focus of the Museum of Ancient Art's collection falls on Classical-era artworks and artifacts from Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, the Near East, and elsewhere in the Mediterranean area. Their collection of Ancient Greek coins is one of the largest in Europe.

    Sun-Thu 12:00-16:00·Free

24. See

    Natural History Museum

    Naturhistorisk Museum

    Another museum brought to you by Aarhus University, the Natural History Museum's four fully wheelchair-accessible exhibition halls educate visitors on over 5,000 different animal species hailing from all over the world, displayed in reproductions of their natural habitats.

    Daily 10:00-16:00; closed Dec 25-26 and Dec 31-Jan 1·kr 100, students kr 60, free for children (17 and under)

25. Eat

    Pearl India

    Wonderful Indian place near the main train station with great value for money, and a long history in Aarhus. Although budget-priced, the menu is very varied and includes some more expensive choices as well, and the place is furnished for a good in-house dining experience. Excellent choice for vegetarians, with a broad selection of dishes. Remember to specify how spicy you want the food!

    Mon-Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri Sat 17:00-23:00, Sun 17:00-22:00·kr 99-125 for main single dishes, menus from kr 150. Vegetarian single meals kr 75-99

26. Do

    Phono

    New name and makeover for a tiny, yet historic, venue in Mejlgade. A playground for the local experimental underground scene.

27. Eat

    Schweizer Bageriet

    A modern yet historic bakery open for breakfast and lunch. The bakery selection is full of traditional delights; the variety changes often, but always includes several types of Danish pastry. Schweizer Bageriet is a small place, with only a couple of seats for eating. Good sandwiches and salads.

    Daily from 06:30·Five breakfast buns 55 kr. Kanelsnegl 22 kr. Sandwiches 65 kr

28. Eat

    Skovmøllen

    Skovmøllen's menu comprises creative twists on traditional Danish lunches, as well as a hearty weekend brunch, served in the picturesque setting of a restored timber-framed medieval water mill in the midst of Moesgaard Forest. Online reservations are available.

    Wed-Sun·Lunch from kr 222

29. See

    Steno Museum

    Steno Museet

    A science museum with a focus on medicine and astronomy, with a diversity of exhibits including (among many others) a planetarium, a medicinal herb garden, a Foucault's pendulum, and historic artifacts such as old X-ray machines and surgical equipment. Lots of engaging and interactive exhibits here for both young and old. There's an onsite café serving light lunches, and a gift shop with cool educational toys for kids: chemistry sets, crystal-growing kits, star charts, etc.

    Tue-Fri 09:00-16:00 (opens at 10:00 Jun-Aug), Sat Sun & public holidays 11:00-16:00·kr 50, free for those under 18

30. Eat

    Teater Bodega

    With a central location next to Aarhus Theatre, this historic restaurant has served since 1908, while the name Teater Bodega is from 1959. There is a big variety in the meal plan, and the quality is good. The interior is kept in an old traditional Danish design and is an experience in itself.

    Every day·Mid range

31. See

    Varna Palace

    Varna Palæet

    Another well-known architectural landmark of Aarhus, and a bit of a change of pace from the modern style that predominates over larger parts of the city, Varna Palace is a palatial Neoclassical resort pavilion. It was designed for the Danish National Exhibition of 1909 by native Eggert Achen and is found in the outskirts of the Marselisborg Forests, south of the inner city. The Varna Palace now serves as the headquarters of the local Odd Fellows Society, but with a public onsite restaurant.

32. Do

    VoiceMap Self-guided audio tour

    Explore the ancient Viking stronghold of Aros behind the present city facade on this 90 minute walk. Download the VoiceMap app, put in your ear plugs, and immerse yourself in Viking history as you walk around town.

    kr 77

33. See

    Vor Frue Kirke

    Church of Our Lady

    Medieval church with an interesting crypt church in the basement. The crypt church, built around 1060, is one of the oldest stone churches in Scandinavia. Through a door on the left inside the main church you can enter a former priory with an atrium garden.

    Free

34. Do Not mapped

    AarhusGuides

    Organisation of professional guides offering group tours in and around Aarhus in multiple languages. Regular tours comprise a City Hall tour available year round and a city walk, starting out from the Cathedral, available in July and August. Book and pay for your tour online. Personalized tours for your own group is also possible; this organization is very experienced.

    kr 136 - 146 (free for children)

35. Do Not mapped

    The Tall Ships Races

    International ocean race with large historic sailing ships. The Tall Ships Races will return to Aarhus June 24 -27, 2026. Aarhus has hosted the Tall Ships Races in 2007, 2013, 2019 and 2023.

36. Do Not mapped

    Århundredets Festival

    Festival of the Century

    Århundredets Festival is a broadly appealing knowledge, art and culture festival held every year in the first half of March across the city. The festival alternates between a historical era theme and a present theme relating to current state of affairs. The festival is arranged in a collaboration between the city's many educational and cultural institutions, Aarhus University and Aarhus Municipality, and includes a plethora of events, happenings, debates and lectures based around the annual theme. Everything is conducted in Danish, as one of the festival's main purposes is to incite public debate among people and a broad engagement, but some events could be of interest to visitors who don't know the Danish language. The theme for the 2026 festival is "The World", which includes subjects such as globalisation, global connections, the increasing importance of global perspectives in everything, global powers and world politics.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Aarhus (CC BY-SA 4.0).