Everyone knows Tivoli. Far fewer visitors make it out to Bakken — which is a shame, because it’s the world’s oldest amusement park (founded in 1583) and one of the most genuinely Danish days out you can have with kids. It’s free to walk in, sits inside a UNESCO-listed royal forest full of wild deer, and trades Tivoli’s polish for something rustier and more nostalgic. If you want a cheaper, calmer, more local alternative to the big park, this is it.
It’s a 25-minute S-train ride north to Klampenborg, then a short walk through the forest — deer and all — to the park gates. Plan four to six hours, more if you fold in a forest walk, and go on a weekday to dodge the Sunday crowds. It slots neatly alongside our Copenhagen with kids guide as the budget-friendly amusement-park option.
Bakken at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Address | Dyrehavevej 62, 2930 Klampenborg |
| Founded | 1583 (the world’s oldest amusement park) |
| Setting | Klampenborg / Dyrehaven UNESCO royal forest |
| Entry | Free (you only pay for rides and games) |
| Ride prices | 30–80 DKK each; multi-ride passes 200–300 DKK |
| Open season | Late March to late August |
| Best ages | 2–99; genuinely multi-generational |
| Visit duration | 4–6 hours typical |
| Stroller-friendly | Yes, though the forest paths are uneven |
| Transport from city | S-train C-line to Klampenborg, about 25 min, roughly 50 DKK |
Prices shift a little year to year, so treat these as a guide. The big draw is that free entry: unlike Tivoli, you pay only for what you actually ride.
Bakken or Tivoli?
These two don’t really compete — they’re different moods. Tivoli is the polished, central, magical one; Bakken is the rustic, free, forest one. Plenty of families do both. Here’s the honest side-by-side:
| Feature | Bakken | Tivoli |
|---|---|---|
| Entry fee | Free | Around 145 DKK adult |
| Atmosphere | Rustic forest, nostalgic | Polished, magical |
| Rides | Classic early-1900s, vintage | Modern and classic mix |
| Setting | Royal forest, outdoors | Curated central gardens |
| Crowds | Lower, fewer tourists | High in peak summer |
| Open season | Late March–August | April–September + Christmas |
| Family appeal | Lower-key, authentic | Spectacular, can overwhelm |
| Cost (family of 4) | 500–1,500 DKK on rides | 1,400–4,000 DKK total |
Our verdict: if it’s your first trip and you’ll only do one, Tivoli wins for the wow factor — the full breakdown is in our Tivoli with kids guide. If you’re watching the budget, travelling with younger kids who don’t need thrill rides, or you’ve already done Tivoli, Bakken is the better-value, more relaxed day.
The Rides Worth Doing
Rutchebanen — the 1932 wooden coaster
The one ride you shouldn’t skip. Bakken’s Rutchebanen is a 1932 wooden roller coaster and a listed Danish historic monument, still run with a brakeman on board. It’s tamer than a modern coaster, but that’s part of the charm — riders need to be 100 cm+.
The classic carousels
A handful of gorgeously preserved early-1900s carousels, all fine from age 2. They’re not spectacular in the Tivoli sense, but they’ve got a warmth to them that the newer park can’t quite match.
Bumper cars and boats
Classic bumper cars run 25–40 DKK a ride, with bumper boats added in summer. It’s the ride older kids and slightly competitive parents keep going back to.
The Ferris wheel
The vintage Ferris wheel serves up a lovely treetop view over Dyrehaven, and it’s gentle enough for even the youngest with an adult. As at Tivoli, it doubles as a handy reset when small legs are flagging.
The rest
There are 30-plus rides in all. The pick of the others:
- Spinning teacups — classic carnival fun, ages 4+
- Mini-train — for the youngest
- Boat rides — gentle, all ages
- Drop tower — for thrill-seekers (130 cm+)
- Pirate-ship swing — moderate thrill (110 cm+)
- Park train — a sightseeing loop, perfect for worn-out kids
Games and Food
Half the fun at Bakken isn’t the rides at all — it’s the old-school carnival games strung between them:
- Knock-down cans — 10–30 DKK a go
- Fishing games — for small prizes
- Dart throws — balloons and targets
- Strength test — the classic hammer-and-bell
- Arcades — a mix of modern and retro
- Vintage photo booths
The food is proper Danish fairground fare, and noticeably cheaper than inside Tivoli:
- Hot dogs — 40–60 DKK, the classic
- Æbleskiver — round Danish pancakes, 35–65 DKK
- Ice cream — 30–50 DKK, stalls everywhere
- Candy floss — fresh-pulled, around 35 DKK
- Beer and soft drinks — reasonably priced
- Burgers and fries — 90–130 DKK
- Spisestedet Leonora — a proper sit-down Danish restaurant if you want a break from stalls
Combine It with the Deer Forest
This is what makes the trip special. Bakken sits inside Dyrehaven, a UNESCO World Heritage royal forest where more than 2,000 wild deer roam free. Turning it into a full combined day is the move:
- Morning — S-train to Klampenborg (about 25 minutes)
- 10:00–13:00 — walk Dyrehaven and spot the deer
- 13:00–14:00 — lunch at Bakken, or a forest picnic
- 14:00–19:00 — Bakken rides and games (about five hours)
- 19:00 — train back to the city
Dyrehaven also holds the Eremitageslottet (a 1736 royal hunting lodge) and oak trees some 800 years old. It’s free, open dawn to dusk, year-round — and it makes a great addition to our wider Copenhagen family day trips ideas.
Getting There
Getting out to Bakken is half the pleasure:
- S-train C-line from Copenhagen Central to Klampenborg — about 25 minutes, roughly 50 DKK
- From Klampenborg station — a 5-minute walk through Dyrehaven (deer likely en route)
- Total from the centre — 30–35 minutes
- By car — 20–30 minutes; parking gets tight at weekends
- By bike — 35–45 minutes up the scenic Strandvejen coast
For the train side of it, our Copenhagen train travel guide covers tickets and how the S-train works.
Season and Hours (Read This First)
The one thing that trips people up: Bakken is strictly seasonal. Don’t turn up in winter expecting it to be open.
- Open — late March (Easter) to late August
- Hours — usually around 14:00–23:00, varying by day
- Best months — June to August, when everything’s running
- Sundays — the busiest day; weekday evenings are calmer
- Closed — September to March; check the website for exact dates
- Christmas — Bakken does not do a Christmas season (that’s Tivoli)
Who It Suits (and What to Skip)
Bakken isn’t trying to be Tivoli, and it’s worth going in with the right expectations. The rides are vintage rather than cutting-edge, the layout is a slightly ramshackle sprawl through the trees, and there’s a beer-garden, older-crowd energy in the evenings that Tivoli doesn’t have. For a lot of families that’s exactly the appeal – it feels real, not curated.
Where it shines is with younger children who are happy on carousels, teacups and the little train, and don’t need a headline thrill ride. If you’re travelling with a toddler, the free entry means you can wander in, do three or four gentle rides, let them loose near the games, and leave without feeling you’ve wasted a big ticket – see our Copenhagen with toddlers guide for more of that low-key approach. Bring a sturdy stroller, though; the forest paths and gravel around the park are bumpier than the smooth walkways at Tivoli.
What to skip? If your kids are teenagers chasing serious adrenaline, Bakken’s thrill rides are modest – they’ll get more out of Tivoli’s Demon and Vertigo. And if it’s a cold or wet shoulder-season day, this open-air, forest park is the wrong call; save it for a warm summer afternoon and go somewhere indoors instead.
Tips for Families
- The free entry is the whole point — pay only for the rides you use.
- Go on a weekday afternoon — far quieter than a Sunday.
- Pair it with a Dyrehaven walk — the forest is free and gorgeous.
- Bring a picnic — eat in the forest before you hit the park.
- Buy a ride wristband if you’ll do five or more rides (200–300 DKK).
- Cards are widely accepted — but a little cash doesn’t hurt.
- A sturdy stroller helps — the forest paths are uneven.
- Wear proper shoes — a Dyrehaven loop is 2–3 km.
- Pack a layer — the forest runs cooler than the city.
- Bug spray in summer — the woods have mosquitoes.
- Head back by around 19:00 — evening trains fill up, or plan to stay late.
Bakken: FAQs
Is Bakken really the world’s oldest amusement park?
Yes — it’s operated since 1583, which makes it the oldest still running anywhere. Tivoli, from 1843, is the second-oldest; Bakken beats it by 260 years.
Is Bakken free?
Entry is free. You pay only for the rides (30–80 DKK each), games and food. If you’re planning five or more rides, a multi-ride wristband (200–300 DKK) usually works out cheaper.
Bakken or Tivoli — which is better?
Different experiences. Tivoli is polished, central and magical — the pick for a first Copenhagen visit. Bakken is rustic, free to enter and set in a royal forest. Many families do both; Bakken is the clear winner if you’re budget-conscious. Our Tivoli with kids guide covers the other side.
How long does Bakken take?
Four to six hours is typical, or a full day if you add a Dyrehaven deer walk. Under three hours feels rushed — Bakken rewards a slower pace.
How much does it cost?
Free to enter. Rides run 30–80 DKK, a wristband 200–300 DKK, and food 30–150 DKK an item. A family of four typically spends 500–1,500 DKK on rides and food — well under Tivoli’s 1,400–4,000 DKK. See our Copenhagen on a budget guide for more savings.
What ages is it best for?
All of them, 2 to 99. Toddlers love the carousels and small rides, older kids the wooden coaster and bumper cars, and adults soak up the nostalgic atmosphere. It’s a proper multi-generational day.
Is Bakken open all year?
No — it’s seasonal, running from late March (Easter) to late August and closed September to March. It doesn’t open at Christmas, whatever you may have read; that’s Tivoli.
Can we see deer there?
Not inside the park, but the surrounding Dyrehaven forest has more than 2,000 wild deer. You’ll likely spot some on the 5-minute walk from the station — which is exactly why the combined forest-and-park day is worth it.
Related reading
Final Thoughts
Bakken is the local’s amusement park — free to enter, set among 800-year-old oaks and 2,000 wild deer, and packed with rides that have been giving Danish families a good day out since long before Tivoli existed. It’s cheaper, calmer and more characterful than its famous rival, and paired with a Dyrehaven walk it makes one of the best-value family days near Copenhagen. Just remember it’s a summer-only park, go on a weekday, and leave time for the deer. Plan the rest with our complete family travel guide and browse more options in our day trips from Copenhagen guide.
Last updated: July 2026. Photo credits: Copenhagen Tourism image library.
