Væksthusene i Botanisk Have
Aarhus University's greenhouses in the Botanical Garden, with almost 2,000 plant species in four climate zones, a tropical house with a viewing tower and free admission.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The greenhouses were built between 1968 and 1971 in the Aarhus Botanical Garden (Botanisk Have), one of the city's largest parks, which borders directly on the Den Gamle By open-air museum. The spiralling, snail-shaped glasshouse was designed by the practice of C. F. Møller, which also designed the buildings of Aarhus University. When the greenhouses opened in 1970, a young dragon tree moved in that the botanist Kai Larsen – founder of the university's Department of Botany – had collected on the Canary Islands in 1965.
From 2012 the houses were rebuilt and extended with a new, dome-shaped tropical house, which opened on 12 September 2014. Since then the old tropical house has held an exhibition, a shop and a café. The rebuilding was paid for by the university, the City of Aarhus, Realdania and the Nordea Foundation. The greenhouses belong to Aarhus University's Science Museerne, together with the Steno Museet, the Ole Rømer Observatoriet and the herbarium; from 2014 to 2024 they recorded a total of around 2.27 million visits.
Almost 2,000 plant species from around the world grow here in natural-looking plantings arranged by origin. The tour begins in the Mediterranean house with plants from the winter-rainfall regions of southern Europe, South Africa and southern Australia, such as king protea and bird of paradise. The desert house holds cacti and succulents from the Americas and Africa, among them an American agave several decades old and living stones. The mountain forest house shows tree ferns, orchids and other epiphytes from altitudes of 1,000 to 2,000 metres, as well as tea, coffee and citrus fruits. The tour ends in the 19-metre-high tropical house with rainforest from the Americas, Asia and Africa, cocoa, vanilla and rice, a viewing tower above the treetops and a pond with giant water lilies, lotus and butterflies. Behind the greenhouses, a deliberately wild garden presents the landscapes of East Jutland in miniature, from heath and salt meadow to cornfield and deciduous woodland.
Highlights
- Tropical house from 2014 with a ceiling height of 19 metres and a viewing tower above the treetops
- Pond with Victoria giant water lilies, lotus and a coconut palm that now bears fruit
- Almost 2,000 plant species in four climate zones: Mediterranean, desert, tropical mountain forest and rainforest
- Dragon tree collected by Kai Larsen on the Canary Islands in 1965
- Clusia nubium, a tree species discovered in Ecuador in 2004 by botanists from Aarhus
- "Væksthusenes vilde baghave" with Danish habitat types in miniature
- Snail-shaped glasshouse by C. F. Møllers Tegnestue (1968–71)
- Founded
- 1970
- Operated by
- Science Museerne, Aarhus Universitet
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Groups | –Larger groups and school classes visiting without a guide are asked to register in advance (tel. +45 87 15 54 15, Tue–Fri 10:00–14:00, or sm@au.dk). |
|---|---|
| Guided tour for associations and groups (max. 15 people) | DKK 750Weekdays; at weekends DKK 1,000 and only at 10:00 and 14:30, no tours during school holidays or on public holidays. Book at least two weeks in advance. |
Admission to the greenhouses is free.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The paths in the greenhouses are accessible by wheelchair. Disabled parking spaces are close to the main door. Guide and assistance dogs are allowed inside, other dogs are not (dog hook at the entrance).
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Playground / play area
- Kids’ birthday parties: not available
The greenhouses were named "Byens Bedste Familieoplevelse" (the city's best family experience) in Aarhus in 2015. A large playground lies in the Botanical Garden close to the greenhouses; the park has picnic tables, and disposable barbecues are allowed on tables with a metal plate.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bus routes 2A, 3A and 5A stop along the Botanical Garden. It is about a 10-minute walk from the cathedral.
By car
Paid parking
Car and coach park in the middle of the Botanical Garden, accessed via Peter Holms Vej from Langelandsgade. Paid parking, the first two hours are free; cars must always be registered at the machine or via the app.
- Accessible parking
Several footpaths lead into the Botanical Garden from the city centre and from the ring road (Ringgaden).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Coat check
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
Café serving salads, sandwiches and sweet treats; tables cannot be reserved. Packed lunches may be eaten in the picnic area on the first floor or in the courtyard. Museum shop with botanical gifts. Lockable lockers in the cloakroom; free Wi-Fi with login details from the café.
Events & venue rental
- Private parties: not available
- Weddings / ceremonies: not available
Private celebrations such as christenings, birthdays, confirmations or weddings cannot be held in the greenhouses.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Private photos and videos with handheld equipment are allowed, tripods and other accessories are not; stay on the paths. Photo sessions, for example for wedding or commercial pictures, cost DKK 2,000 per hour or part thereof and must be booked at least 14 days in advance. |
| Good to know | Public themed guided tours are offered in summer and winter. Guided tours of the four climate zones for groups by booking (tel. +45 87 15 54 15, Tue–Fri 10:00–14:00, or sm@au.dk). It is warm in the houses and the ground is uneven in places, so light clothing and sturdy shoes are advisable. Smoking is not allowed in the greenhouses or the courtyard. |
