Discover Randers

If you’re looking for a hotel in Randers, start by considering what you want your stay to focus on: art and local history, or nature and wildlife. The museums cover a range of subjects, from art spanning several centuries and outsider art to Elvis memorabilia and the history of the region. The natural attractions offer a variety of experiences too, from birdwatching along trails to wetlands and river trips.

Art and Museums in Randers

The permanent collection at Randers Art Museum comprises around 4,300 works dating from the early 19th century to the present day. A dedicated section is devoted to the artist Sven Dalsgaard, who had roots in Randers. The GAIA Museum offers a different focus: its permanent collection includes more than 400 works by Danish and internationally recognised outsider artists. The varied collections offer something for a range of artistic interests.

At Museum Østjylland, the permanent exhibitions tell the story of life in the Randers area, from the first human presence 100,000 years ago to the present day. Memphis Mansion is devoted to a very different subject: the museum is inspired by Elvis Presley’s Graceland and closely resembles its Memphis counterpart on the outside. It houses one of the largest privately owned collections of Elvis memorabilia, including his distinctive stage costumes.

Churches, Streets and Half-Timbered Houses

Sct. Mortens Church is the only one of Randers’ five medieval churches that has survived to this day. It was built around 1494–1520 to replace an earlier medieval church of the same name, and is a Gothic merchant church. The tower lantern houses a carillon with 49 bells.

The streets and houses also offer insights into the city’s history. Houmeden is a preserved medieval street and has been a pedestrian zone since 1963; it is described as Denmark’s oldest pedestrian street. Niels Ebbesen’s House stands on Storegade. It is Randers’ largest surviving half-timbered house, with three storeys. Legend has it that Niels Ebbesen killed the count in this house in 1340. A long row of well-preserved half-timbered houses can still be seen on Brødregade. The buildings and streets provide different examples of how medieval history and half-timbered architecture remain part of Randers.

Crafts and Planning Your Visit

The Crafts Museum is housed in a former warehouse belonging to the distilleries. Its impressive timber structures are a testament to Danish craft traditions. The workshops cover a range of subjects, from glove-making and carpentry to photography. Since 1 April 2025, the museum has been closed for two years while its exhibitions are renovated and renewed; it is due to reopen as HÅNDVÆRK in summer 2027. If you are planning a visit, check the latest information about the announced reopening in advance.

Nature and Wildlife

Gudenåparken is a 28-hectare nature park on the north bank of the Gudenå, between the river and the railway grounds. You can watch birds at close range along its trails. Vorup Enge comprises 119 hectares of wetlands, with grazed meadows and open bodies of water connected to the Gudenå. You can walk through the area on its trails; high water levels can make them difficult to use at certain times of year. Two birdwatching towers there are open for everyone to use free of charge.

The nature experiences vary: trails at Gudenåparken offer opportunities for birdwatching, while Vorup Enge also has towers and trails through a wetland area. Randers Nature Centre also provides boats for trips on the Gudenå. They bring visitors—including wheelchair users—close to nature and the birds.

More Things to Do

Randers Regnskov offers a tropical visitor experience with free-roaming monkeys, iguanas, sloths, jaguars and many other exotic animals. Guided experiences offer special insights into life in the tropical rainforest. Water & Wellness Randers is a 6,700-square-metre water park. Its spa and wellness area includes massages, a steam room, saunas and an outdoor sauna garden. So, alongside museums and historic buildings, Randers also has attractions focused on wildlife, water and wellness.

Discover more destinations: Råsted, Langå, Binderup, Havndal, Sødring, Dagsvad, Gjerlev, Fårup.

Back to the main travel overview: Randers Municipality.