“On this museum's roof, a 150-metre ring of coloured glass lets you walk through every colour of the rainbow above the city.”
About ARoS Aarhus Art Museum
ARoS opened in its current building in 2004 and added Olafur Eliasson's 'Your Rainbow Panorama' to the roof in 2011, instantly creating an icon for Aarhus. The museum holds works from the Danish Golden Age to the present, and the rainbow walkway transformed it into one of Scandinavia's most visited art institutions, blending architecture, art and the experience of the city itself.
What ARoS Aarhus Art Museum actually is
ARoS in Aarhus is one of the largest and most popular art museums in Northern Europe, a striking ten-storey cube famous above all for the dazzling circular walkway on its roof. Olafur Eliasson's 'Your Rainbow Panorama', a 150-metre ring of coloured glass, lets visitors stroll through every hue of the rainbow while gazing out over the city.
ARoS in Aarhus is one of the largest and most popular art museums in Northern Europe, a striking ten-storey cube famous above all for the dazzling circular walkway on its roof.
A Rainbow Over the City
The museum's signature artwork, completed in 2011, is a circular glass corridor encircling the rooftop, its panes running through the full spectrum of colours. Walking around it, seeing the entire city of Aarhus filtered through red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet glass in turn, an engaging encounter of colour and place. Below, the museum's galleries hold an impressive collection of Danish Golden Age painting and bold contemporary art, including a giant hyperrealist sculpture of a crouching boy.
The Experience
You explore galleries spanning Danish and international art, from 19th-century masters to striking contemporary installations, then ascend to the roof to walk the rainbow ring, watching Aarhus shift colour through the glass as you circle. The combination of a strong collection and the unforgettable rooftop experience makes ARoS a highlight of any visit to Denmark's second city.
Why It Matters
ARoS is one of the leading art museums in Scandinavia and a defining cultural landmark of Aarhus, celebrated for uniting a fine collection with one of the most popular pieces of public art in the region. Eliasson's rainbow has become a symbol of the city and of contemporary museum experience.
Eliasson's rainbow has become a symbol of the city and of contemporary museum experience.
Why Visit
One of Northern Europe's top art museums, famous for Olafur Eliasson's rooftop rainbow walkway over Aarhus, plus Danish and contemporary art.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
Walk the rooftop rainbow ring for colour-filtered city views.
- 2
See the Danish Golden Age and contemporary collections.
- 3
The rainbow glows beautifully after dark.
- 4
Allow a few hours for the ten-storey museum.
