The Old Town Museum

Den Gamle By ('The Old Town') is an open-air town museum in the Aarhus Botanical Gardens, in the heart of Denmark's second city. When it opened in 1914 it was the world's first open-air museum devoted to urban culture rather than village life, and it remains one of the few top-rated Danish museums outside Copenhagen, welcoming more than 400,000 visitors a year. The museum is built from over 75 historic buildings gathered from some 20 townships across the country and reassembled into a living town of cobbled streets, merchant houses, workshops and homes spanning several centuries. Most buildings are open to explore, their rooms either furnished in authentic period style or arranged into larger themed exhibitions. The greatest draw is the town itself, and it is brought to life by costumed staff who tend the shops and trades. Especially popular are the complete recreated street environments of 1927 and 1974, which let you step directly from one era into another. Craftspeople, a working bakery and old-fashioned sweet shops fill the lanes with the sounds and smells of the past, and in winter the site hosts one of Aarhus's most atmospheric Christmas markets. Allow around four hours to do it justice, and take time to taste the traditional cakes and confectionery sold in the shops. Admission is 180 DKK for adults, while children under 18 enter free, making it an easy full-day outing for families and history lovers alike.