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Legepladsen i Skydebanehaven

A vibrant parrot-themed, staffed playground tucked behind a historic shooting wall in Vesterbro, blending green lawns, water play and bikes in a safe urban hideaway.

4.5

Tucked behind the historic shooting wall in Vesterbro, Legepladsen i Skydebanehaven is one of Copenhagen’s classic staffed playgrounds: a colourful “parrot” playland with climbing structures, slides, a toddler paddling pool in summer and plenty of bikes, scooters and go-karts to borrow. Surrounded by lawns, trees and flowerbeds, it feels like a small green courtyard park hidden from the city’s bustle, ideal for families with children roughly 3–15 who want space to run, play ball games or simply splash and pedal around in a safe, enclosed setting.

A brief summary to Legepladsen i Skydebanehaven

  • Absalonsgade 12, Copenhagen, Vesterbro/Kongens Enghave, 1658, DK
  • +4521555148
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 1 to 3 hours
  • Free
  • Environment icon Outdoor
  • Mobile reception: 5 out of 5
  • Monday 9:30 am-5 pm
  • Tuesday 9:30 am-5 pm
  • Wednesday 9:30 am-5 pm
  • Thursday 9:30 am-5 pm
  • Friday 9:30 am-5 pm

Local tips

  • Bring a small towel and spare clothes in summer so children can enjoy the shallow toddler pool without worrying about staying dry.
  • Check staffed opening hours in advance if you want access to borrowed tricycles, scooters and indoor play spaces.
  • Pack a simple picnic to enjoy on the lawns; food and coffee from the small kiosk are convenient but seasonal.
  • The playground suits roughly ages 3–15; consider pairing a visit with nearby Vesterbro cafés for older siblings or adults.
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Getting There

  • Train and short walk from Copenhagen Central Station

    From anywhere in Greater Copenhagen, take an S-train or regional train to Copenhagen Central Station, one of the city’s main hubs; trains run every few minutes and tickets within the city typically cost 20–30 DKK each way. From the station area it is about a 10–15 minute walk through Vesterbro’s side streets to Skydebanehaven on Absalonsgade. The route is flat and pram-friendly, but pavements can be busy at peak times and in wet weather they may be slippery.

  • City bus to Vesterbro and walk

    Several city bus lines run along Vesterbrogade and nearby Istedgade, with stops a 5–10 minute walk from Skydebanehaven. Use a standard zone ticket or travel card; a single bus ride within central Copenhagen usually costs around 20–30 DKK. Buses operate frequently throughout the day and evening, but can be crowded during rush hours and school times. From the nearest stop, expect a short, level walk through residential streets suitable for wheelchairs and strollers.

  • Bicycle within central Copenhagen

    Copenhagen’s extensive cycle network makes Skydebanehaven easy to reach by bike from most central districts in 10–20 minutes. You can use a rental bike or city bike, which typically costs around 15–30 DKK per half hour depending on the provider. Cycle lanes are generally well marked and separated from traffic, but be prepared for heavy bike traffic at commuting hours. Full-size bicycles are not permitted inside the playground, so bring a lock to secure your bike on nearby racks before entering.

  • Taxi from central areas

    Taxis from central Copenhagen or popular hotel districts usually reach Skydebanehaven in about 5–15 minutes, depending on traffic. Fares within the inner city commonly range between 80–160 DKK, increasing at night and on weekends. Taxis can drop passengers close to the Absalonsgade entrance; the final approach is on narrow residential streets, so allow for brief delays if there is local congestion or deliveries.

Legepladsen i Skydebanehaven location weather suitability

  • Weather icon Mild Temperatures
  • Weather icon Hot Weather
  • Weather icon Any Weather
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A hidden playground behind a historic wall

Skydebanehaven occupies the former shooting range of the Royal Copenhagen Shooting Society, right in the heart of Vesterbro. Step through the modest gate on Absalonsgade and you move from dense city streets into a sheltered green courtyard framed by red-brick walls and apartment facades. At one end, the striking Neo-Gothic shooting wall rises about 20 metres, its towers and crenellations a reminder of the days when bullets, not children, flew across this space. The park was laid out as a public garden after the mid-20th century, and today lawns, beds of flowers and mature trees soften the former range. Benches cluster in both sun and shade, and the wall itself casts cool shadows on hot days, turning the playground into a surprisingly comfortable summer refuge despite its urban setting.

The colourful “parrot” heart of the park

Legepladsen i Skydebanehaven is often nicknamed the Parrot Playground thanks to its huge, brightly painted parrot structure that doubles as a climbing frame and slide. Children can approach it from multiple angles: scrambling up nets, ladders or ramps before swooping down enclosed and open slides. Around it, you find classic playground staples – swings, see-saws, sand areas and smaller climbing elements – arranged to keep younger and older kids occupied side by side. The space is designed for a broad age range, roughly from preschoolers to early teens. Smaller children gravitate towards the sandboxes and low play towers, while older ones test themselves on more challenging climbing routes or organise impromptu games in the ball cage. Surfaces are mostly soft or rubberised, fences are secure, and sightlines are good, which makes it easier for adults to keep an eye on energetic kids.

Staffed play, borrowed bikes and organised activities

Skydebanehaven is one of Copenhagen’s staffed playgrounds, with pedagogical staff on site on weekdays. They do not function as babysitters, but they animate the space: lending out tricycles, scooters and small go-karts, opening play rooms and arranging seasonal activities such as treasure hunts, crafts or simple sports tournaments. On quieter days, they are a friendly source of local knowledge and a reassuring presence for visiting families. A small kiosk operates seasonally, serving coffee, ice creams and simple snacks, which makes it easy to extend a visit without having to leave the park. Tables and informal seating zones near the buildings encourage lingering; it is common to see adults chatting over a hot drink while children circulate between bikes, swings and ball games.

Water play, ball courts and green corners

On warm days, the shallow toddler pool becomes the social hub of the playground. Ringed by benches for supervising adults, it offers ankle-deep water where small children can cool off safely. The pool is typically filled on hot summer days and closed in cooler seasons, transforming that corner back into dry play space when water play is not appropriate. Towards the edges of the playground proper, you find a fenced ball cage for football or basketball, along with open lawn where people stretch out with blankets or push prams through the shade. This mix of structured and unstructured spaces helps different age groups coexist: toddlers stay close to their zones, while older children gravitate naturally to the court and open grass without disturbing the youngest.

Rules, rhythm and practical details

The playground follows simple rules that keep it welcoming: no dogs or cats, no glass bottles and no cycling through on full-size bikes. The park section is open year-round, but staffed hours and access to certain facilities, such as indoor rooms or special play equipment, follow seasonal schedules. During Copenhagen’s long summer evenings, the space remains bright late into the day, while shorter winter light shifts activity towards the core staffed hours. There are basic restrooms on site, as well as trash bins and scattered seating. Paths are mostly level, so prams and wheelchairs can move around much of the area, though some older sections of paving can be a little uneven. Taken together, it feels like a compact neighbourhood park that happens to sit inside an architectural curiosity – a combination that makes Legepladsen i Skydebanehaven a particularly characterful place to let children burn off energy in central Copenhagen.

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