Howdy! It’s Joey, back with more Fun Fact Friyay. Please make sure you’re tall enough to ride this fact.
Copenhagen is home to both the oldest and second-oldest operating amusement parks in the world.
You may remember a recent Fun Fact Friyay that covered some cool things in Scotland. And if you don’t remember that, you either didn’t read it (here you go) or have an even worse memory than I do. In either case, you have my sympathies.
During that trip to Scotland, I also ventured over to Copenhagen. I took RyanAir, which is a lovely airline as far as its staff and actual flights go, but is quite bonkers in many other ways, such as charging you more to print your ticket at the airport than the ticket actually costs, sending you a “boarding pass” in your app that turns out to not actually be a boarding pass, etc. etc.
But hey, you can get around Europe quite cheaply using them, and that’s a nice perk. The man sitting next to me on the flight appeared to be a professional RyanAir flyer. When we landed, he pulled wheels out of his carry-on suitcase and attached them to the bottom of his luggage. He told me that, due to the size restrictions, “it costs extra if the bag has wheels, it’s free if it doesn’t.”
That’s some next-level flying, and I really respect it.
The man and I parted ways at the airport, though I’d like to think he wound up at Tivoli Gardens at some point. I certainly did.
Does it seem odd that an entire amusement park is located right in the heart of a bustling city? Perhaps a bit, but Tivoli fits in nicely with everything else going on in Copenhagen. I guess that’s not SO surprising, since it’s been operating since August 15, 1843.
Last year, 4.25 million people stopped by the park, making it the most visited across Scandinavia. If that number is higher this year, you can credit me for making it happen.
Tivoli is unlike any amusement park I’ve ever seen. Sure, there are plenty of rides, from gentle giants (classic cars, a magic carpet ride through the works of Hans Christian Andersen) to intense behemoths (rollercoasters, whatever the heck is going on in the below video).
As the name implies, there are also many flowers and plants all over the place, including in specific garden areas that are a joy to walk through. You’ll also find pantomime theatre, a lake, butterfly lights, haunted and/or funhouses, arcade games, slot machines, and the midway-style games like the “throw balls into a hole to make your horse run down a path against other people doing the same thing” romp. Simply a wonderful time.
During my visit, the pantomime performance featured a bear in a tutu and the greatest curtain closing I’ve come across. This peacock’s tail takes five people to operate, but it is worth every bit of muscle.
Even with all of Tivoli’s charms, it’s topped by another spot about ten minutes north of Copenhagen. Dyrehavsbakken, more commonly shortened to Bakken, is an amusement park that has operated since 1583. That’s an incredible 442 YEARS as of this writing.
And wouldn’t you know it, millions of people flock to Bakken every year, too. It’s the second-most popular amusement park in Denmark, behind only Tivoli.
Way back in the day (look at that wordplay!), Bakken gained popularity for its natural spring. Central Copenhagen had some pretty rough drinking water, so people thought the spring, discovered by Kirsten Pill, had curative properties. The spring attracted sizable crowds, which naturally also attracted entertainers and hawkers.
Yes, even nearly 450 years ago, people spotted giant crowds and thought, “Ooh, I could sell to them.” Probably while gleefully rubbing their hands together.
Bakken offers 33 rides and has other attractions like shooting stalls, gaming arcades, live music, and cabarets. Unlike Tivoli, it’s free to enter Bakken, and then you can pay for attractions individually.
I also appreciate that Bakken offers a wristband to allow you to enjoy any ride throughout the day, though a single attraction maxes out at ten rides.
When I was in high school, our band took a trip to California, and part of the trip included a visit to Disneyland and Universal Studios. My group of friends and I rode the Jurassic Park ride several times in a row since there was no line, and I think even we maxed out at about five or six goes through it. If you can ride the same thing ten times, I applaud you.
Both of the parks close around the end of summer, since Denmark gets quite cold in the winter. So, if you’re planning a visit, make sure it’s during the spring or summer. I can’t imagine the parks are as much fun when you can’t go inside them.
And my bucket list is now even longer. Thanks!