The world’s oldest amusement park is in Europe? Yup, I was surprised too... The first place that came to my mind was the US.
Well, I guess I was wrong. So, the world's oldest amusement park (and still working) is situated in Denmark. Actually, the world’s second-oldest amusement park is in Denmark as well.
Located in Klampenborg, North of Copenhagen (Denmark), the park was built in 1583, and originally it did not have any roller coasters or extreme attractions. In the beginning, people were attracted to the area due to the thermal springs and green surroundings.
Every summer, hundreds of people go to the area for recreational activities and refreshments. A few years later, tents began to pop up and many locals started to entertain the crowds and sell different items and food. In the beginning, fire shows and more natural-related entertainment were more popular than rollercoasters. However, nowadays you can still ride on the main attraction of the park-an 82-year-old wooden roller coaster. Many of the attractions have been preserved as they were originally made. Of course, they have been maintained and adjusted on a yearly basis for everyone's safety.
During the medieval ages, it became more and more popular to create pleasure gardens. Mostly, the pleasure gardens were places for entertainment, acrobatics, fire practices, games, and primitive amusement rides. Unfortunately, most of them closed down around the 1700's, but Bakken managed to keep the doors open and expand in size and entertainment.
Nowadays, Bakken is very different from all the other amusement parks. As it is situated in one of the most beautiful forest parks in Denmark, Bakken attracts even people that have just gone for a walk in the park.
The best part? Bakken's entrance is completely free! Yes, it is free. Of course, if you decide to enjoy one of the many attractions, you will have to either buy a daily ticket, pay for a few rides, or you can even purchase one ride only. Bakken isn't just for kids. There are plenty of restaurants and bars with live music for the entertainment of adults.
Are you a beer lover? If so, then you should definitely check out the beer tour!
What we liked the most about Bakken is the fact that it is situated in a park, so it is surrounded by green and trees, making it not so warm even on the warmest day.
Another thing that caught our attention was the independent sellers. Bakken is not a place with huge billboards and neon signs. You won’t find the typical fast food and famous brands. They have been banned because of the historical value and unique location of the park. There are plenty of local small businesses offering tasty food, cold drinks, and as many sugary goodies as you can imagine.
Our experience at Bakken was great. Of course, you cannot compare it to Disneyland or Efteling. Even if the park is not as big as the other theme parks, Bakken will steal your heart in another, more simple way. It is less crowded, you get to try other types of food (no big names), the prices are very reasonable, and last but not least, it is the world’s oldest amusement park!
