Aarhus Old Town Christmas Market & Ferry Brunch from Copenhagen

Christmas Through 400 Years of Danish Houses

You travel by bus and catamaran from Copenhagen to Aarhus, explore a 400-year-old open-air museum decorated for Christmas, eat brunch on the ferry going over and dinner on the way back, and have the afternoon free to walk through historical houses, shop for ornaments and gifts, or step into modern Aarhus. The ferry journey and both meals are included in the price.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Old Town and Christmas Market

• Take catamaran ferry with brunch
• Visit Den Gamle By museum
• Meet people in historical costumes
• Explore historical shops and homes
• Visit Christmas shop for ornaments
• Buy gifts in Bendtsen Warehouse stalls
• Have lunch at Restaurant Gæstgivergården
• Optionally walk to downtown Aarhus
• Return ferry with Danish dinner buffet

The Experience

You don't expect a Christmas market to feel like stepping backward in time, but Den Gamle By—the Old Town museum in Aarhus—does exactly that. The whole thing is built from actual historical buildings moved to the site, stretching back four centuries of Danish life. When you arrive, the streets are lit with lanterns, decorated for Christmas, and staffed with people in period costume who actually talk to you about the houses and the shops. It's not a recreation pretending to be real; it's a real place that happens to be Christmas right now.

The day starts with a bus ride from Copenhagen to the ferry terminal, then a 90-minute catamaran crossing to Jutland. On the way over, you get a Danish-style brunch buffet included—nothing fancy, but it's warm and it's there while you're watching the water. Once you land, you walk into Den Gamle By and you have time to move through it at your own pace. There's a Christmas shop selling hand-painted glass ornaments, a restaurant called Gæstgivergården where you can stop for lunch (Danish Christmas food, which means rich and heavy in the best way), and smaller stalls in the Bendtsen Warehouse selling old-fashioned gifts and decorations. Some people wander the whole museum; others spend an hour and then walk into modern Aarhus, which is only ten minutes away if you want a break from the historical side.

The ferry ride back includes a full Danish dinner buffet, so you're not scrambling to find food on the evening. The whole thing—bus, both ferry crossings, brunch, dinner, museum entry—is one price. The Michelin guide gave it three stars, which is rare for a museum experience. It's not a tour where someone talks at you the whole time; it's more like being let loose in a place that's been set up for you to explore, with people around if you want to ask questions.

What’s included

• Bus transport from Copenhagen.
• catamaran ferry crossing to Aarhus (90 minutes each way).
• Danish-style brunch buffet onboard the morning ferry.
• entry to Den Gamle By Old Town museum.
• access to the Christmas shop, historical homes, and shops within the museum.
• Danish-style dinner buffet onboard the evening ferry returning to Copenhagen.
• bottled water available on the bus.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendly

Operated by Ophelia Tours

Is this one for you?This works well if you want a full Christmas experience that includes travel, meals, and a museum visit all in one day without arranging separate transport or bookings—the ferry schedule and included meals are what make the whole thing fit into one outing from Copenhagen.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

How long is the whole day from Copenhagen?

The ferry crossing takes 90 minutes each way. You have roughly 4–5 hours in Den Gamle By, depending on how much time you spend. Plan for a full day, roughly 10–11 hours total from pickup to return.

Is lunch included?

Brunch on the morning ferry and dinner on the evening ferry are included. Lunch at Restaurant Gæstgivergården in the museum is not included, though it's available if you want to stop.

Can I bring young children?

Children under 5 cannot join this tour. Strollers and prams are allowed for infants and small children who are 5 and older. There is a play area onboard the ferry.

What if I don't want to spend the whole afternoon in the Old Town?

You can walk into downtown Aarhus from the museum—it's about 10 minutes on foot. You decide how to split your time between the historical museum and modern Aarhus.

Are there accessibility considerations?

Users of walking frames or canes can join the tour, but be aware of slippery surfaces in the museum, especially in winter. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels.

What is Den Gamle By?

It's an open-air museum made up of real historical buildings from across Denmark, arranged to show 400 years of Danish life. At Christmas, the streets are decorated and staffed with people in period costume.