THE OLD TOWN NATIONAL MUSEUM: all year
 

Thousands of people each year travel to Aarhus, just to visit "the old town" - a reconstruction of a Danish market town exactly as you would find it hundreds of years ago. This cosy open-air museum has seen more than 3 million visitors over the past 10 years, sustaining unfaltering popularity. Entering this little fairytale world is like taking a trip back in time. The museum contains 75 historic houses from all over Denmark, covering the period from the early middle ages to the nineteenth century. There are 34 workshops, 5 historic gardens, 10 trade stalls, restaurants, a school and a theatre, to name just a few of the exciting things to see among the 1 million exhibits. Several houses are exhibitions in their own right, remaining as they were centuries ago, bringing the everyday life of the past forward into the present. It is worth checking out the toy exhibitions as well to see how different play-time was then compared to now. Also on display are watches, clocks, silverware, porcelain, clothing, furniture and musical instruments from the past 500 years.

For those with a sweet tooth, however, the old town might be a dangerous place. The heavenly smell from the home-made sweets and ice cream shops could make anyone succumb to temptation, not to mention all of the restaurants with their enticing menus.

An annual Christmas market takes place in December to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. As the snow falls on the old town, Danes in traditional dress mingle with the tourists to add to the unique atmosphere of time past.

• 2 January - 6 February 11am to 3pm
• 7 February - 3 April 10am to 4pm
• 4 April - 26 June 10am to 5pm
• 27 June - 6 September 9am to 6pm
• 7 September - 20 November 10am to 5pm
• 21 November - 22 December Monday - Friday 9am to 7pm Weekends 10am to 7pm
• 23 - 31 December 10am to 5pm
• The museum is closed 1 January, and 24, 25 and 31 December