The Deer Park Copenhagen: Everything You Need To Know
The Deer Park in Copenhagen is a beautiful place to visit if you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a few hours. It’s open 24 hours a day year-round, and there is no entrance fee.
The Deer Park, Dyrehaven in Danish, is home to over 2,000 free-roaming red, fallow and sika deer inside a UNESCO world heritage forest. It’s a perfect park for spotting wildlife, biking, hiking, birding, hiring a horse-drawn carriage, and viewing Copenhagen’s Royal Hermitage. And it’s easily accessible by public transport or driving.
Dyrehaven is located next to Bellevue Beach and is home to Bakken, the world’s oldest-running amusement park.
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What Is Copenhagen Deer Park And Why You Should Visit
Opened to the public in 1756, the Copenhagen Deer Park is home to approximately 1,600 fallow deer, 300 red deer, and 300 sika deer. You’ll also have a good chance of spotting white fallow deer.
There are no enclosures; the deer park is not a zoo; the deer roam wherever they choose, typically in herds, although you might see a few wandering alone. Take a look at this short clip of sika deer that I filmed at the deer park.
Dyrehaven is a natural and untamed area; it doesn’t have manicured lawns and pristine gardens. It’s a wild park where, unless they are a danger, old trees are left to rot where they fall, allowing nature to reclaim them.
During the rutting season, you will likely see stags locking horns, grunting and competing for dominance. The sika and red deer rutting season occurs in September and October, while fallow deer ruts from October to November.
Maintain a safe distance from the deer, especially during the rutting season. These are wild animals, and visitors should respect their habitat and behaviour. Rutting stags can pose a real danger.
Approximately 700 calves are born each spring, while an equivalent number of old or weak deer are culled between September and January to maintain stable population levels.
Paths within the Deer Park are accessible to wheelchairs, strollers, bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, ensuring that all visitors can enjoy the park’s natural beauty.
Where Is The Best Place To Spot The Deer At Dyrehaven
The deer are wild, so they can be anywhere, but as a regular visitor to the park, here are my tips for the best places to spot them.
You’ll have a good chance of spotting large herds near The Hermitage Hunting Lodge and around The Royal Copenhagen Golf Club.
Look out for feeding stalls and hay strewn around the ground in winter. As food is put out regularly, the deer know where to find it, making it easier to see them.
If you walk from Klampenborg station towards Bakken and along Peder Liepsvej, turn right at Peder Lieps House, take Kristiansholmvej heading towards The Hermitage, and you should come across a feeding area.
When the trees are bare, you’re very likely to see deer in the distance, but they’re harder to spot when it’s hot during the summer as they prefer shady areas, but there’s still a good chance you’ll see some around the Hermitage.
The Many Names Of Copenhagen Deer Park
The Deer Park in Copenhagen is known by several names, which can be confusing. The official name is Dyrehaven, but the following are all names for the park.
- Dyrehaven
- The Deer Park
- Klampenborg Deer Park
- Jægersborg Deer Park
- Jægersborg Dyrehave
Take A Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride Around The Deer Park
During the spring and summer months you can hire a beautiful horse-drawn carriage for a drive around Dyrehaven. The carriages wait to pick up customers outside the Klampenborg park gates and at the Circus Revue entrance to Bakken.
The horse-drawn carriages work from 10 am until late from March to September.
You can reserve a horse carriage in advance through the Hestevognbakken website. Unfortunately, the website is only available in Danish but includes email addresses where you can send your request in English.
How Much Does A Horse Carriage Ride At Dyrehaven Cost
The price of a horse-carriage ride depends on how long you want your trip to last. Prices are for the whole horse-drawn carriage, which holds up to 5 people.
Bird Watching At The Deer Park
Keep your eyes open, as the park is home to over 100 bird species. If you’re lucky, you may see or hear tawny owls, goshawks, common buzzards, tree creepers, nightingales and kingfishers.
If you’re looking for a good bird book, I recommend Europe’s Birds, An Identification Guide by Rob Hume, Robert Still, Andy Swash, and Hugh Harrop. The descriptions and photos are excellent. I have the Kindle version on my phone, and I highly recommend it for Denmark and other European countries.
I also recommend this article, 18 Of The Best Bird Books With The Most Stunning Photos. They aren’t how-to or where-to-find bird books, but they feature amazing photos.
Exercising In The Deer Park
The Deer Park is a great place to exercise whether you enjoy walking, running, cycling, or roller skiing (bring your own). Dogs are allowed in the park but must be on a lead and not worry the deer.
Hiring A Bike At Klampenborg Station
If you’d like to cycle around the Deer Park, Cafe Parforce at Klampenborg Station rent out bikes by the hour. Check the Cafe Parforce website for opening times and prices.
You’ll hear the great spotted woodpeckers tapping away on the trees long before you spot them.
Skating In The Deer Park
When the ice is at least 15 cm (6 inches) thick, skating on Kildesøen Lake, close to Bakken, is possible. The council (commune) posts signs when the ice is thick enough. Never skate on a lake in Denmark unless you see the signs stating the ice is thick enough.
Take A Walk To The Hermitage Hunting Lodge
Built on a hill, great for sledging in the winter and kite flying in the autumn, The Hermitage has views across the Øresund and a glimpse of Sweden on a clear day.
Constructed in 1736 for King Christian VI, the Hermitage wasn’t built as a palace but as a royal hunting lodge. All roads inside the Deer Park lead to the Hermitage, and it’s an interesting building inside and out, but, unfortunately, the only way to look inside is to take a guided tour during the summer. Use this link to buy your tickets.
As the 18th-century hunting lodge is such a unique building, I have written a separate article titled Discover the Hermitage Hunting Lodge, Copenhagen, which includes photos and details about the interior and information about arranging a tour.
The Hermitage is now rarely used by the royal family except for the Hubertus Hunt on the first Sunday of November.
Roaming: Using Your Phone Around The Hermitage
Make sure your phone is turned off or in aeroplane mode when visiting the area around the Hermitage. Sweden’s proximity to the Hunting Lodge means your phone will pick up their wireless signals and welcome you to Sweden. Using your phone around the area could cost you more than you anticipate if you are unaware of it.
What Is The The Hubertus Hunt
The hunt attracts thousands of spectators to watch the uniformed riders ride around a set route in the Deer Park. However, unlike traditional hunts, the Hubertus hunt doesn’t involve chasing or harming animals.
I have a separate article about the Hubertus Hunt and why it’s a good day out and worth visiting. The Hubertus Hunt It’s Not What You Expect, contains the hunt schedule, how to get to the hunt and much more.
Visit Bakken The World’s Oldest Running Amusement Park
Opened in 1583 and 260 years older than Tivoli Gardens, Bakken, the world’s oldest operating amusement park, is located just inside the Deer Park.
But don’t let this put you off if you want to visit Dyrehaven for a peaceful walk. It’s incredible how close you can be to Bakken and not hear the noise of the fair.
Bakken has free entry (buy a wristband to use the rides) and plenty of bars and restaurants. Take a look at the scary wooden roller coaster constructed in 1932. When I first saw it, I thought it had been kept as a museum piece until I heard the screams from people riding it.
Bakken isn’t open all year round, so use this link to check opening times.
The Deer Park, Copenhagen Opening Times
The Deer Park is open 24 hours a day and has free entry.
If you’re looking to save money while exploring Copenhagen, check out these two articles to learn about all the great activities that won’t cost you a penny! From free museums to indoor and outdoor activities, discover the many ways to enjoy the city without breaking the bank.
Toilets At The Deer Park
There are toilets at Klampenborg station, outside The Hermitage and inside Bakken Amusement Park when it’s open. The toilets at Klampenborg station cost 5 kr. The machine only accepts credit or debit cards. However, the toilets next to The Hermitage and inside Bakken are free of charge.
Considering the limited toilet facilities around the Deer Park, a Shewee will come in handy. Ladies, if you need the luxury of being able to pee, standing up and don’t want to be squatting around nettles, a Shewee is the answer.
If you don’t have or don’t know what a Shewee is, take a look at this article called What Is A Shewee And Why Every Woman Should Own One. I promise you, a Shewee is a woman’s best friend!
Food And Drink In And Around The Deer Park
The Deer Park is the perfect place for a picnic, but there are plenty of choices if you prefer hot food or a cold drink.
There are several restaurants and bars inside Bakken amusement park, but you should also bear in mind that Bakken is not open year round. Peter Lieps Hus, close to Bakken, is open throughout the week but with varying opening hours.
Cafe Parforce, at the train station, offers a selection of reasonably priced food and drinks with a friendly atmosphere. There is also a small kiosk at Klampenborg station.
Copenhagen has many more parks and picnic spots, especially in the city centre, which are ideal for quick breaks from sightseeing. Check out this article, Explore The Top 10 Best Parks In Copenhagen, for more information.
Using Public Transport To Get To The Deer Park
The easiest way to get to The Deer Park is to take line C on the S-Train (S Tog) towards Klampenborg. The S-Train takes 20 minutes from Copenhagen Central Station to Klampenborg Station, which is the last stop.
For more information about taking the S train, take a look at this article, What Is The Copenhagen S Train And How To Use It.
Some northbound regional trains stop at Klampenborg Station, taking just 17 minutes. While it’s slightly quicker than the S-Train, they travel less regularly and stop at fewer stations en route.
You can also take the bus, but this takes much longer and travels less frequently than the trains. For more information about taking the bus in Copenhagen, check out this article.
If you prefer to take a taxi, check out my article, Taxis In Copenhagen, How To Get The Best Deal.
Plan Your Journey Using Rejseplanen
Rejseplanen is a journey-planning public transport app that makes exploring Copenhagen and the whole of Denmark easy. You can also use Rejseplanen to buy your tickets.
Car Parking At The Deer Park
Red gates mark every entrance to the Deer Park, and there are designated parking areas close to each of the entrances. For parking rates and operating hours, refer to the Apcoa website.
Please note that cars are not permitted within The Deer Park, except vehicles displaying a blue disability sticker, which are allowed entry through the Trepile Gate at Trepilevej 1A, 2930 Klampenborg, on Wednesdays.
If You Like Nature, You’ll Love The Forest Tower
Denmark’s spiral forest tower is a day trip from Copenhagen, and it’s well worth a visit. I have an article which details what to see and do, prices, and how to get there using public transportation. Click the button below to learn more.
Accommodation Close To Dyrehaven
While the Deer Park is very easily accessible from Copenhagen’s city centre there’s plenty of accommodation available if you prefer to stay close to the park. Check out this link to Booking.com to view your choices.
However, if you’d like to get back to nature, camping and primitive shelters are available in several areas around Dyrehaven. Check out what’s available on the Danish Nature Agency Website.
Visit Bellevue Beach (Bellevue Strand)
If you are lucky enough to visit the Deer Park on a sunny day, why not visit Bellevue Beach, just across the road from the park? With a view of Sweden and clean, clear water, it’s an excellent spot to cool down after a day in the park.
I’m Happy To Help If You Have Any Questions
If you have any questions regarding your travels, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I know how difficult it can be to plan a trip, and I’m happy to help.
