Bakken
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Bakken, officially Dyrehavsbakken, lies in the Dyrehave near Klampenborg, about a 10-minute drive north of Copenhagen. According to the park, it is the oldest theme park still in existence in the world. On these pages you can read all about the rides, the shows, what there is to eat, the practicalities and how to get there.
Discover Bakken
What kind of park is it?
Bakken has existed since 1583. According to legend, that year a girl called Kirsten Piil found a spring in the forest north of Copenhagen. Innkeepers, jugglers and merchants pitched their tents around that spring. And so Bakken was born. In 2026 its 444th season began.
Admission is always free. You only pay for the rides, with a wristband (turbånd), a coupon card or per ride. There are 39 rides, from the wooden Rutschebanen dating from 1932 to Mariehønen for the little ones. On top of that there are dozens of games, amusement arcades, more than twenty places to eat and eleven pubs. With around 2.2 million visitors a year, Bakken is, according to the park, Denmark's second most visited attraction.
What makes Bakken different?
Bakken isn't a theme park run by a single company. Many rides, restaurants and stalls are run by independent "teltholdere", often family businesses that have been working there for generations. According to the park, big brands aren't allowed to open a stall and neon advertising is banned. Instead, you wander through a jumble of colourful little wooden buildings, in the middle of one of Denmark's most beautiful forests.
As a result, the atmosphere is very different from a theme park. Bakken is a place where Copenhageners also simply pop in for a beer in the evening, go to a free concert or see the revue at Cirkusrevyen. Children come for the rides and for Pjerrot, the white clown who has performed there every day for more than 200 years.
Opening times:
In 2026 Bakken was open from 27 March to 25 October: every day from 4 May to 23 August, and outside that period mainly Friday to Sunday and during the holidays. The 2027 season starts on Friday 19 March. The park usually opens between 11:00 and 14:00 and closes between 21:00 and 23:00.
Prices:
Admission is free. A turbånd for all rides costs 349 kroner online and 379 kroner at the park; the MiniTurbånd for children up to 115 cm costs 249 kroner online (as of November 2026).
Location:
Bakken lies in the Dyrehave near Klampenborg (Dyrehavsbakken 51.1, 2930 Klampenborg), about 12 kilometres north of Copenhagen. From Klampenborg station it's a short walk through the forest.
New in 2026
Three new rides were added in 2026. Wipeout is a surf-themed thrill ride with plenty of airtime. Den Magiske Spejllabyrint is, according to Bakken, the largest mirror maze in Scandinavia, based on the story of Kirsten Piil. For the little ones there's the motorbike carousel Motorbøllen.
A mini golf course, a putting course and new places to eat were also added, such as Indian Bites and street food. Bakken also went all out with the biggest events programme in its history and a major Christmas season: Jul på Bakken.
Bakken through the year
Peak season is summer, when Bakken is open every day and there's something going on at the Friluftsscenen almost daily. But plenty happens outside the summer too:
- Easter: extra children's shows at the Friluftsscenen during the Easter holidays.
- Autumn half-term: Bakken is open and puts extra focus on spooky fun. In 2026 the period was extended by a weekend.
- Jul på Bakken: from 21 November to 20 December 2026, Friday to Sunday, with a Christmas parade, a Christmas market and an ice rink.
Check the Shows page for the programme.
Cheaper online
A turbånd is 30 kroner cheaper online. With the free MitBakken membership you save up to another 50 kroner if you buy well in advance.
Free admission
Everyone can get in for free, including to the Friluftsscenen and Pjerrot. You only pay for rides, games and food.
Picnic in the forest
You can't bring your own food and drink into Bakken itself. In the surrounding Dyrehave, however, you're welcome to picnic, for example on the lawn in front of the Vandrutschebanen.