Bakken — formally Dyrehavsbakken, ‘the hill by the deer park’ — is the oldest operating amusement park on Earth. Crowds began gathering here in 1583, drawn by a natural spring, and the entertainers, food stalls, and rides never left.
It sits in a royal deer forest in Klampenborg, just north of Copenhagen, and it still feels more like a village fair than a corporate park: free entry, pay-per-ride, beech trees overhead, and actual wild deer a short walk away.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Klampenborg, Denmark
- Opened: 1583
- Claim: World’s oldest operating amusement park
- Entry: Free (pay per ride)
- Signature ride: Rutschebanen wooden coaster (1932)
Why Bakken Matters
Every amusement park on the planet descends from places like this. Bakken predates Tivoli Gardens by 260 years and Disneyland by nearly four centuries — it was drawing entertainment crowds while Shakespeare was writing.
The star attraction is Rutschebanen, a wooden coaster from 1932 that still runs with a brakeman riding aboard each train — one of the last coasters in the world operated that way.
Visiting Tips
Bakken is seasonal (roughly spring through late summer) and pairs perfectly with a walk through Jaegersborg Dyrehave, the UNESCO-listed deer park that surrounds it. It’s an easy train ride from central Copenhagen — get off at Klampenborg station and follow the crowds into the woods.
Explore more: the oldest amusement parks in the world, the oldest operating coasters.
Park apps, mobile ordering and photos kill a battery by 3 p.m. This one snaps on magnetically, so there's no cable to snag on a restraint.
Ride with your glasses on and keep them. Many parks allow glasses on rides if they're strapped, so check the ride rules first.
Small enough to ride with on most coasters, big enough for a phone, card and keys. Two zippers mean nothing falls out upside down.
Bakken FAQs
What is the oldest amusement park in the world?
Bakken (Dyrehavsbakken) in Klampenborg, Denmark, operating since 1583, is recognized as the world’s oldest amusement park — more than 250 years older than any other on the list.
Is Bakken free to enter?
Yes — entry to Bakken is free, and you pay per ride or buy a wristband, in the tradition of classic European pleasure gardens.
How old is the roller coaster at Bakken?
Rutschebanen, Bakken’s wooden coaster, opened in 1932 and still operates with a brakeman riding on the train.
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Photo: Hans Peter Hansen / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.