Iconic Hotel Royal in Aarhus put up for sale for almost half a billion DKK.
For almost 200 years, Hotel Royal on Store Torv in Aarhus has been synonymous with Aarhus history and today, Hotel Royal is a modern and exclusive hotel that continues to play a significant role in the cityscape of Aarhus – just like 188 years ago. With its unique location in the heart of the city and an architecture that exudes history, the hotel has for generations been a natural meeting point for Danish and international guests, cultural personalities and business people in Aarhus.
Now the impressive hotel is up for sale at a price of almost half a billion DKK. EDC Erhverv Poul Erik Bech Aarhus will broker the sale of the hotel and according to Henrik Frost Sørensen, Director of EDC Erhverv Poul Erik Bech Aarhus, this is a very special property: “Hotel Royal is one of the most iconic hotels in Denmark and an institution in Aarhus. It is a hotel with a unique history and a location that simply cannot be recreated today. Properties of this calibre very rarely come up for sale.”
In addition to the hotel, the property also houses the popular Royal Casino, which has been located in the property since 1991. There are also several retail properties, including the intimate pub Café Under Masken and the well-known clothing store STOY with a storefront facing Store Torv. There is also a vacant and attractive retail space of 300 m2 with a facade facing the Cathedral.
Echoes at home and abroad
Hotel Royal dates back to 1838, when innkeeper Niels Larsen opened the hotel in the building known as “Kongens Gård” from 1798, hence the royal name. At the time, there was only one other lodging house in Aarhus, but the hotel quickly became a popular place to stay for tourists and locals alike.
“Hotel Royal has been part of Aarhus’ history for almost 200 years. Over time, the hotel has evolved as Aarhus has grown and transformed from a market town to a modern metropolis. At the same time, it has retained its historical identity and classic expression, making it a very special property in the city. In the early 1900s, the characteristic building facing Store Torv was built, and Marmorsalen, also known as Palmehaven, became a popular meeting place for the city’s citizens,” says Henrik Frost Sørensen and continues:
“Today, the hotel is not only one of Aarhus’ most iconic hotels, but a hotel that resonates both at home and abroad. A few years ago, the hotel was refreshed with an ambition to be comparable to Copenhagen’s d’Angleterre. It is a very impressive property, both inside and out.”
The hotel was taken over in 1983 by Jens Richard Pedersen, who carried out an extensive renovation and reopened the hotel in 1984. Today, the property is owned by his son, Mads Richard Aggerholm Pedersen, and the hotel is operated by the Bühlmann Hotel Group.
Hotel market on the rise
According to Frank Heskjær, Head of Retail at EDC Erhverv Poul Erik Bech Aarhus, the sale comes at a time when the hotel market is generally experiencing a positive development: “The hotel market is currently experiencing a positive development, where both tourism and occupancy in the major Danish cities are increasing. Aarhus is an attractive destination for both Danish and foreign tourists and business travellers. Therefore, we are also seeing increasing investor interest in hotels in the city, and we are clearly noticing an increased interest in us and have sold far more hotels nationwide than previously.”
“That’s why we set up an independent hotel group a few years ago that specialises in buying, selling and advising in the hotel industry. The interest can also be seen in transaction volumes, with hotels accounting for almost 10% of all transactions in the commercial property market in 2025. The start of 2026 has also been good and hotel is in line with other property segments. For example, we have just brokered the sale of the former Ebeltoft Park Hotel, which will reopen as Hotel Vibæk Strand, and we have just brokered the sale of Hotel Toppen in Ebeltoft, where the buyer will be announced in the coming months. At EDC Erhverv Poul Erik Bech, we were also behind the sale of the gastronomic lighthouse Molskroen near Ebeltoft last year,” says Frank Heskjær and concludes:
“Hotel Royal is a historic property with a unique history and the property is of great importance to Aarhus. With its central location, its historical significance and a growing hotel market, the sale of the hotel presents a rare opportunity in the Danish property market. We look forward to communicating the sale and expect great interest from both investors and Aarhus residents, even though few people will be able to participate when the price tag is almost half a billion DKK.”
EDC Erhverv Poul Erik Bech Hotel Group
EDC Erhverv Poul Erik Bech has previously sold historic Hornbæk Hospital on behalf of Freja Ejendomme, which is being transformed into a luxury hotel: CORI Hornbæk Hotel. EDC Erhverv also has one of the most prominent properties in North Zealand, Hotel Bretagne, for sale for DKK 47 million and Denmark’s oldest inn, Bromølle Kro, for sale for DKK 18.9 million. Read more at www.edc.dk/hotel.
