Aarhus Botanical Gardens
Attraction, Gardens and Park in Aarhus
Aarhus Botanical Garden (Botanisk Have) sits just west of Den Gamle By and feels like the city's shared backyard: a broad, gently rolling park where locals picnic, runners loop the paths, and travellers reset between museums. It is an easy walk from the centre, but once you step inside, the noise drops away quickly-replaced by lawns, wooded pockets, and a stream cutting through the landscape.
What makes this garden especially satisfying is how much variety is packed into a compact area. You can move from Danish native habitats and themed beds to a central rockery of mountain plants, then finish in the Greenhouses, where you can walk through distinct climate zones and see everything from desert-adapted species to lush tropical planting under a modern dome.
Table of Contents
- History and Significance of the Aarhus Botanical Garden
- Things to See and Do in the Aarhus Botanical Garden
- How to Get to the Aarhus Botanical Garden
- Practical Tips on Visiting the Aarhus Botanical Garden
- Where to Stay Close to the Aarhus Botanical Garden
- Is the Aarhus Botanical Garden
- For Different Travelers
- FAQs for Visiting the Aarhus Botanical Garden
- Nearby Attractions to the Aarhus Botanical Garden
History and Significance of the Aarhus Botanical Garden (Botanisk Have)
Founded in 1873, the garden began as a practical space for experimental cultivation-testing fruit trees and useful plants in a way that supported local horticulture rather than pure display. Over time, it evolved into a public garden with a strong educational purpose, helping spread hardy, worthwhile plant varieties and encouraging better private gardening across the region.
That educational focus still comes through in how the plantings are presented today. The garden is not only “pretty”; it is organised to show Danish flora in habitat-like groupings, with sections that help you read the landscape of Denmark-boggy ground, woodland edges, dunes, and meadow-like plant communities-without leaving the city.
The Greenhouses add a modern, global layer to that story. They make the garden feel like both a park and a science-led collection: a place where you can switch from a relaxed walk to a more curated visit that explains climate, biodiversity, and the way plants adapt to very different conditions.
Things to See and Do in the Aarhus Botanical Garden (Botanisk Have)
Start with an unstructured loop through the outdoor garden first, because the park’s “Denmark in miniature” feeling is best appreciated at walking pace. Look for the way the planting shifts as you move-theme beds, damp ground, beech-wood character, and dune-like sections that feel surprisingly coastal for an inland city park.
Next, head to the central rockery, which is one of the most visually distinctive areas. Mountain plants from different regions are grouped in a way that highlights how alpine species survive thin soils and exposure, and the contrast with the softer Danish sections is part of the charm.
Finish in the Greenhouses when you want a concentrated “wow” moment. Moving through the climate zones is a simple, satisfying arc-especially on a cold, windy day when the tropical dome feels like an instant change of season. If you like small details, also look out for the medicinal plant area, which ties the garden back to its practical, educational origins.
How to Get to the Aarhus Botanical Garden (Botanisk Have)
The closest airports are Aarhus Airport (AAR) and Billund Airport (BLL). For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Aarhus on Booking.com.
If you arrive by train at Aarhus H (Aarhus Central Station), the gardens are an easy walk or a short city-bus ride west of the centre, and you can combine the visit naturally with Den Gamle By or the Latin Quarter. Train schedules and bookings can be found on Omio.
City buses run frequently around the inner city, and the easiest approach is to aim for stops near Den Gamle By and walk the final minutes into the park, keeping the route simple and flat.
If you are driving, plan to park once (near the centre or by Den Gamle By) and then walk into the gardens, as this avoids the friction of inner-city traffic and keeps the visit relaxed.
Practical Tips on Visiting the Aarhus Botanical Garden (Botanisk Have)
- Entrance fee: Free.
- Opening hours: (Summer) 01 July – 31 August; Monday – Friday: 09:00–17:00. Saturday – Sunday & public holidays: 10:00–17:00.
(Winter) 01 September – 30 June; Monday – Friday: 09:00–16:00. Saturday – Sunday & public holidays: 10:00–16:00.
Closed: 22 December – 02 January. - Official website: https://sciencemuseerne.dk/botanisk-have/
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Where to Stay Close to the Aarhus Botanical Garden (Botanisk Have)
For a culture-heavy itinerary, stay in Aarhus C near the Latin Quarter and the main museums so you can walk everywhere; if your priority is the simplest transport links for day trips across Jutland, base near Aarhus H (the central station) for quick rail and airport-bus connections.
If you want a stylish, very convenient base near Aarhus H, choose Hotel Oasia Aarhus, which keeps the garden within easy reach on foot or by a quick bus. For a classic, central stay that suits a “walk everywhere” plan, Hotel Royal places you close to the core sights and makes the botanical gardens an easy daytime detour. If you prefer a larger full-service option with a strong central location, Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Aarhus works well for combining parks, museums, and evening dining without transport hassles.
Is the Aarhus Botanical Garden (Botanisk Have) Worth Visiting?
Yes-especially because it is free, central, and genuinely versatile. It works as a quiet reset between heavier museum visits, and the combination of outdoor park space plus the Greenhouses gives you a “choose your own pace” attraction that suits almost any itinerary.
Honest pivot: if you are in Aarhus for only a few hours and your priority is a single signature highlight (such as ARoS or Den Gamle By), the botanical garden can be the one you skip. It becomes most valuable when you have half a day to slow down, want something outdoors, or need a weather-proof stop that still feels calm.
For Different Travelers
Families with Kids
This is one of the easiest family wins in Aarhus because the space is forgiving: lawns for running, paths for scooters, and a clear reward structure if you finish in the Greenhouses. Keep the plan simple-park first, greenhouse second-and you will avoid the common “too much explaining, not enough moving” problem.
If you are visiting with a stroller, choose wider paths and treat the rockery and greenhouse areas as the main targets rather than trying to cover every themed section. A picnic break (or a snack stop) is usually the difference between a pleasant hour and a tired one.
Couples & Romantic Getaways
For couples, the garden is best as a low-pressure afternoon that naturally extends into early evening plans nearby. A slow walk through the outdoor sections followed by the warm, humid greenhouse atmosphere can feel unexpectedly romantic, especially outside summer when the contrast is strongest.
It also pairs well with a simple “no schedule” date: coffee, gardens, then a museum or dinner in the Latin Quarter. The garden’s calmness makes it a good counterweight to a day of architecture and galleries.
Budget Travelers
The value is excellent: free entry, central location, and plenty to do without paying for an organised experience. Bring a snack, use the benches and picnic spots, and you have a full, satisfying break in the middle of the city without spending anything.
If you are trying to keep costs down while still seeing a lot, use the botanical garden as your “breathing space” between paid attractions. It helps you pace the day and keeps the trip feeling rich without turning every stop into a ticket.
What Other Travellers Say...
Aarhus Botanical Garden (Peter Holms Vej, Aarhus Centrum) is a large, free-to-enter green space combining broad lawns and landscaped park areas with greenhouses showcasing Mediterranean, desert, and tropical plants. Visitors consistently highlight the outdoor park for calm walks, family-friendly features such as playgrounds and picnic spots, and the “Væksthusene” greenhouses as a particular draw in colder months because they are warm, lush, and thoughtfully designed. It is very highly rated (4.6 from about 3,006 reviews), with recurring practical positives including an on-site café and occasional free parking depending on timing.
FAQs for Visiting the Aarhus Botanical Garden (Botanisk Have)
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Nearby Attractions to the Aarhus Botanical Garden (Botanisk Have)
- Den Gamle By: Aarhus’s open-air urban history museum, ideal to pair with the gardens for a relaxed, walkable half-day.
- ARoS Aarhus Art Museum: A major modern-art museum known for bold installations, a strong contrast to the calm of the garden.
- The Latin Quarter: A compact area of cafés, small shops, and atmospheric streets that works well before or after a park walk.
- Aarhus Cathedral: A central city landmark with a historic interior and an easy stop while moving between neighbourhoods.
- Dokk1: The waterfront library and cultural hub that gives you a modern architectural counterpoint to Aarhus's older core.
The Aarhus Botanical Gardens appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Aarhus!
Moira & Andy
Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!
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Planning Your Visit
(Summer) 01 July - 31 August; Monday - Friday: 09:00-17:00. Saturday - Sunday & public holidays: 10:00-17:00.
(Winter) 01 September - 30 June; Monday - Friday: 09:00-16:00. Saturday - Sunday & public holidays: 10:00-16:00.
Closed: 22 December - 02 January.
Free.
Nearby Attractions
- The Old Town (0.1) km
- Møllestien (0.7) km
Street - ARoS Aarhus Art Museum (0.8) km
Arts Venue and Museum - Åboulevarden (0.9) km
Area - Latinerkvarteret (1.0) km
Area - Naturhistorisk Museum Aarhus (1.0) km
Museum - Aarhus City Hall (1.0) km
Attraction - Aarhus University (1.0) km
Attraction, Notable Building and Park - Viking Museum (1.1) km
Museum - Aarhus Cathedral (1.1) km
Attraction, Cathedral and Historic Site
