Must-See Architecture in Aarhus

Designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen, ARoS is famous for its red cubic shape and Olafur Eliasson’s colorful rainbow panorama on the rooftop. It’s also one of Northern Europe’s largest art museums, housing around 8,000 works of art.

Did you know?
In 2025, you can experience the massive art installation The Dome, A Skyspace by James Turrell. With its enormous dome situated in the park between ARoS, the Concert Hall of Aarhus, and Ridehuset (the Riding House), it’s predicted to become a future landmark of Aarhus.

Located in the heart of Aarhus at Store Torv, Aarhus Cathedral dates back to around 1200 and stands as a monument to centuries of Danish church architecture, blending Romanesque and Gothic styles with later alterations and restorations.

Did you know?
Aarhus Cathedral is Denmark’s longest and tallest church. The red brick church features a 92-meter-tall tower and stretches 93 meters in length, providing seating for around 1,200 people.

Dokk1, designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen, is a multifunctional meeting place that connects the city center with the harbor. Inside, it houses a library, city archives, and a few private companies. Outside, the building rises above street level like a concrete ship.

Did you know?
Dokk1 was part of a larger and quite visionary plan from 1997 to improve and expand the Aarhus harbor area, freeing up the zones closest to the city for uses other than harbor operations. Dokk1 was a central element in this plan.

Aarhus Theatre is renowned for its enchanting facade and artistic decorations, both inside and out. The theater was designed by Hack Kampmann in 1900 and stands as a cultural center next to Aarhus Cathedral.

Did you know?
The construction of Aarhus Theatre was financed by selling shares to the town’s citizens. A total of 20,000 DKK (equivalent to about 1.6 million DKK today) was raised from 500-600 shareholders in the A/S Aarhus Ny Teater company.

Lighthouse, Denmark’s tallest building at 142 meters, stands on Aarhus Ø and was named the world’s most beautiful high-rise in 2023. The building, with its wave-like facades inspired by the sea, features an observation deck and artworks by Hans Krull and Peter Birk. Lighthouse was designed by the architectural firm 3XN.

Did you know?
You can visit Aarhus Eye, the public observation deck on the 44th floor, offering a stunning panoramic view of Aarhus. There’s also a restaurant, and the ground floor houses an exhibition about Aarhus Bay.

Aarhus City Hall stands as a masterpiece of functionalist architecture in Denmark. It’s particularly known for its sculptural tower and clock face, surrounded by gray columns. Everything from the lamps to the elevator buttons was designed by Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller, who also enlisted Hans J. Wegner to design the furniture – a true Gesamtkunstwerk.

Did you know?
The City Hall wasn’t originally supposed to have a tower. Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller won the architectural competition for Aarhus City Hall in 1937 with a design that didn’t include a tower. However, public protests led them to add the 60-meter tower without a spire.