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Bakken (Dyrehavsbakken)

World’s oldest amusement park, where vintage wooden coasters, cabarets and forest air blend into a lively, free-entry funfair hidden inside a royal deer park.

4.3

Tucked inside the leafy Dyrehaven deer park north of Copenhagen, Bakken is the world’s oldest operating amusement park, dating back to 1583. Free to enter, it mixes nostalgic wooden roller coasters and classic funfair games with modern thrill rides, lively cabarets and bars, and family-friendly entertainment. Its car-free, woodland setting and jumble of colourful wooden façades give it a distinctly old-world, Danish feel that’s part amusement park, part forest escape.

A brief summary to Bakken

  • Dyrehavsbakken 207, Klampenborg, 2930, DK
  • +4539633544
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 3 to 8 hours
  • Budget
  • Environment icon Outdoor
  • Mobile reception: 4 out of 5
  • Monday 2 pm-9 pm
  • Tuesday 2 pm-9 pm
  • Wednesday 2 pm-9 pm
  • Thursday 2 pm-9 pm
  • Friday 2 pm-10 pm
  • Saturday 11 am-10 pm
  • Sunday 11 am-9 pm

Local tips

  • Plan at least half a day and consider a ride wristband if you expect to try several larger attractions, as individual tickets can add up quickly.
  • Arrive on a sunny weekday afternoon or early evening to enjoy shorter queues and the park’s lights and music as dusk falls in the surrounding forest.
  • Wear comfortable shoes: the park is car-free, slightly hilly in places, and it is tempting to extend your visit with a walk into Dyrehaven’s deer-filled woodland.
  • Check seasonal opening dates in advance, especially for autumn and Christmas periods, as rides, shows and restaurants may operate on limited schedules.
  • For a quieter meal, look for restaurants or cafés set slightly away from the main midway, or time your food break outside the dinner rush.
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Getting There

  • S-train from central Copenhagen

    From Copenhagen Central Station, take the coastal S-train line toward Helsingør and get off at Klampenborg. The journey typically takes 20–25 minutes, with trains running several times an hour during the day. From Klampenborg it is an easy walk through Dyrehaven to the park entrance. A single adult ticket within the Copenhagen zone system generally costs the equivalent of 3–5 EUR one way, and trains are fully accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

  • Regional bus within the northern suburbs

    Several local bus routes connect northern Copenhagen neighbourhoods and nearby towns with Klampenborg, with typical travel times of 20–40 minutes depending on your starting point. Buses usually stop close to the Dyrehaven entrances, from where you continue on foot to Bakken. Standard city bus fares apply, around 3–5 EUR for most single journeys, and services can be less frequent in evenings and on weekends.

  • Cycling from central Copenhagen

    For a scenic option, cycle from central Copenhagen along marked bike routes heading north toward Østerbro, then out to Klampenborg and Dyrehaven. Expect 40–60 minutes of mostly flat riding, with dedicated cycle paths for almost the entire distance. There is no cost beyond bike rental if needed, and this option is best in dry, daylight conditions; strong winds or heavy rain can make the ride more demanding.

  • Taxi or rideshare within the Copenhagen area

    Taxis from central Copenhagen to Bakken typically take 20–30 minutes depending on traffic. Fares commonly fall in the range of 250–400 DKK one way, higher at night or on weekends. Vehicles cannot drive directly into the amusement area, so drop-off will be near a Dyrehaven entrance, followed by a short walk on gravel or paved paths that may be uneven for some visitors.

Bakken location weather suitability

  • Weather icon Clear Skies
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  • Weather icon Mild Temperatures
  • Weather icon Any Weather
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Discover more about Bakken

A historic playground in an ancient deer forest

Bakken, officially Dyrehavsbakken, sits in the southern edge of Dyrehaven, the royal deer park just north of Copenhagen. It first emerged in the late 16th century, when city dwellers flocked here for the clean spring water and fresh air, and entertainers soon followed with simple games and shows. Over centuries the grounds shifted from royal hunting preserve to public pleasure garden, slowly evolving into a fully fledged amusement park. Today Bakken proudly claims the title of the world’s oldest operating amusement park, yet it feels far from a museum piece. Strolling under tall beech trees into a car-free maze of alleys, you move from forest quiet to carnival bustle in a few steps, with the calls of game stalls mingling with birdsong and, in the background, the distant bellow of Dyrehaven’s deer.

Classic rides and modern thrills side by side

Rides are Bakken’s heartbeat, and there are more than thirty of them catering to every appetite for adrenaline. The star is the wooden roller coaster from 1932, all rattling timber, tight turns and swooping drops that deliver a distinctly old-school thrill. Around it spin carousels, log flumes, bumper cars, dark rides and drop towers, plus gentler children’s attractions like mini trains and small Ferris wheels. Instead of a single gate fee, admission to the park is free and you pay per ride or opt for a wristband that unlocks most attractions for a fixed price. This makes it easy to tailor a visit: you can go all in on high-speed coasters, or simply wander, trying the occasional ride between long pauses at a café terrace.

Cabarets, clowns and late-night music

Beyond the rides, Bakken leans into theatrical entertainment. Bakkens Hvile, a storied music hall, keeps cabaret traditions alive with song, costume and humour, while the Circus Revue brings variety acts and comedy to the stage in summer. The park’s white-faced mascot, Pjerrot the clown, has been entertaining children here for more than two centuries and still performs daily shows. As evening draws in, music spills from pubs and open-air stages, giving parts of the park a decidedly grown-up, convivial feel. You can move from family-friendly zones to lively bars within a few minutes’ walk, choosing between quiet corners and louder stretches where locals linger over cold beers well into a Nordic summer dusk.

Woodland backdrop and roaming deer

What truly sets Bakken apart is its setting. Step a little beyond the last game stall and you are back among Dyrehaven’s broad paths, meadows and stands of old oak and beech. Herds of deer graze in the clearings, occasionally wandering close enough to glimpse beyond the fence lines. The contrast between neon-lit rides and tranquil, historic woodland makes it easy to turn a day at Bakken into a full nature-and-fun outing. Because cars are kept outside the main area, the interior feels compact and walkable, though the ground can be uneven and gently sloped in places. On busy summer days, the forest offers an immediate escape: a few minutes’ stroll delivers birdsong, filtered green light and the sense that the city is far away.

Food, atmosphere and seasonal magic

Scattered between rides are dozens of eateries, from traditional Danish restaurants serving hearty classics to fast-food counters with hot dogs, fries and ice cream. Outdoor seating dominates, with terraces that double as people-watching spots along the main pedestrian lanes. Stands selling sweets, waffles and soft-serve help keep the park firmly anchored in summer-holiday nostalgia. Bakken’s season typically runs from late March into early autumn, with special openings for harvest celebrations and Christmas. Harvest events bring hay-bale mazes and Halloween touches, while winter openings transform the park into a tangle of lights, trees and festive décor. Whether you come for vintage thrills, evening music or a family day wrapped in forest air, Bakken offers a slice of Danish leisure culture that feels both timeless and very much alive.

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