📷 Alf van Beem, CC0Den Gamle By
Aarhus, Denmark
An open-air museum of old Danish town buildings moved to Aarhus, with workshops, shops and period interiors from several eras. Plan half a day and wear comfortable shoes for the cobbled streets.
Den Gamle By (“The Old Town”) opened in 1914 in the Botanical Garden in Aarhus. Today it holds around 75 historic buildings from about 20 Danish towns. The oldest, a storehouse from Aalborg, dates from around 1550, and the youngest is a garden pavilion from the 1909 Country Exhibition in Aarhus. The museum includes period rooms and kitchens, more than 30 workshops, shops, five historic gardens, a post office, a customs house, a school and a theatre. There are also collections, such as a clock museum, a toy museum and a textile museum.
The site is large. Allow half a day or more and wear sturdy shoes, as the streets are cobbled. The museum attracts more than 400,000 visitors a year, so it is busier at weekends and during school holidays. Check the museum’s website for current opening hours and events before you set out.
- Nearest town
- Aarhus, Denmark
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 56.1587, 10.2058
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Denmark: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Tolls on the Great Belt and Øresund bridges. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Marselisborg HavnMotorhome stopover2 km from Den Gamle ByMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- BlommehavenCampsite6 km from Den Gamle ByTentsCaravansElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- First Camp Aarhus - JyllandCampsite8 km from Den Gamle ByTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Kaløvig BådelaugMotorhome stopover13 km from Den Gamle By · 12 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Ajstrup Strand CampingCampsite14 km from Den Gamle ByTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Norsminde LystbådehavnMotorhome stopover16 km from Den Gamle By · 14 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
All campsites in Denmark · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Den Gamle By?
Den Gamle By is in Aarhus, Denmark, at GPS 56.1587, 10.2058. It is about 41 km from Silkeborg.
Can you camp near Den Gamle By?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Autocamper Aarhus Ø, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 30 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Den Gamle By?
Places worth a stop nearby: Moesgaard Museum (8 km), Himmelbjerget (33 km), Jelling Mounds and Runestones (66 km) and LEGO House (82 km).
When is the best time to visit Den Gamle By?
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)