When you visit one of the amazing zoos or aquariums in Denmark, you will find a variety of ecosystems and wildlife coexisting in a single place, giving numerous species the opportunity to stay protected for future generations to enjoy.
Denmark has some of the oldest zoos and aquariums in Europe, making them great destinations for families and visitors who want to know more about these animals and contribute to their well-being.
Contents
- Best Zoos and Aquariums in Denmark
- 1. Givskud Zoo Zootopia
- 2. National Aquarium Denmark, Den Bla Planet
- 3. AQUA Aquarium and Wildlife Park
- 4. Fisheries and Maritime Museum
- 5. Odense Zoo
- 6. Nordsoen Oceanarium
- 7. Randers Regnskov
- 8. Scandinavian Wildlife Park
- 9. Bornholms Rovfugleshow
- 10. Knuthenborg Safaripark
- 11. Copenhagen Zoo
- 11 Best Zoos & Aquariums in Denmark – Summary Table
- Denmark Safety Overview
- Frequently Asked Questions
Best Zoos and Aquariums in Denmark
In order to get the full experience of Denmark on your next holiday, make sure you visit a few of the locations below for a fulfilling experience that everyone will enjoy.
1. Givskud Zoo Zootopia
A quick ride from Billund, this safari-style zoo allows families to enjoy the views in their personal vehicle or join others on a safari bus as they travel through a satellite location of the African desert.
The den of lions residing is just one of the animals you will enjoy on your journey.
Barberry monkeys and gorillas are also found throughout the park and offer a great option for a hands-on experience.
When you visit Givskud Zoo, it is important that you give yourself enough time to enjoy the perks of the park.
If you or one of your family members choose, you can sign up to be a zookeeper for a day or become acquainted with your favorite animal at the zoo.
2. National Aquarium Denmark, Den Bla Planet
The largest aquarium in the country, the National Aquarium Denmark offers a variety of experiences for families, groups, and even birthday parties to enjoy.
Before attending, you may want to visit and purchase your tickets ahead of time to ensure there is enough space for your party to enjoy all events such as the Blue Planet.
Visitors can enjoy marine life from the ocean, tropical lakes and rivers, and also wildlife from the Northern lakes and seas.
Each zone takes visitors to a new place and allows the to explore the different ecosystems and habitats that these animals experience regularly.
3. AQUA Aquarium and Wildlife Park
Unlike some of the other aquariums in Denmark, AQUA will allow guests to join the zookeepers during feedings and get first-hand experience being able to learn about caring for these different animals.
With a blend of European wildlife and marine life from the ocean and the rivers, visitors can get a full experience of the European continent.
Whether you choose to purchase an annual pass or make a single visit, your party will have the opportunity to gain detailed information about each animal they interact with from the staff.
When you visit AQUA, you should allow yourself a couple of hours to get through the aquarium and park.
If you are planning to take advantage of all the amenities and experiences, set aside a day of your trip for this excursion.
4. Fisheries and Maritime Museum
A healthy blend of museum and aquarium, the Fisheries and Maritime Museum is open year-round to give a backstory on the ocean and sea life that residents of Denmark are interested in learning about.
Natural history explores the fishing industry of Denmark and how it has impacted the rest of the country.
There is a saltwater aquarium on site that shows the types of fish and ecosystems that they require, giving insight to visitors.
There are various events happening at the museum aquarium throughout the year, so you will want to keep up with the changes happening.
This is a smaller aquarium and you only need to set aside an hour or two when you are considering your schedule.
5. Odense Zoo
Over the years, most of the continent of Europe has named the Odense Zoo in Odense as the top zoo around.
The events and activities that happen on this property maintain a healthy annual visit from locals and tourists.
They even get to experience international visitors.
In fact, many large tourist groups have named this as a desired spot because of the teaching activities that happen throughout the day.
Guests are able to choose the classes they want to take on the day they are visiting and gain the vital information that will help them in their own personal knowledge or education moving forward.
Several events allow visitors to actually spend the night in the zoo with some of the classes that are offered and make for a great school trip at all levels.
6. Nordsoen Oceanarium
There is something for everyone to enjoy when they visit Nordsoen Oceanarium.
In this location, there is a place for the giants of the sea, which is a great exhibit for those visiting.
In this Oceanarium is the 17.4-meter fin whale that was discovered on Blokhus back in 2016.
Learn about how they removed the whale from the beach and brought the remains back to the Oceanarium to be studied and available for all to see and learn from.
Because this location has aquariums and exhibits both inside and out, you can visit comfortably the 7 destinations of the North Sea in all types of weather conditions.
This is a great option on days when the weather is unpredictable and outdoor plans are not guaranteed.
7. Randers Regnskov
Everyone has the opportunity to be a ranger and explore the zoo up close at Randers Regnskov.
With small temples found throughout the property, you can explore the different areas and see the wildlife that is native to each area.
These animals will be out in their enclosures living their lives and some offer the opportunity for interaction.
With many of the areas representing the different continents, there is also a night zoo feature that is fascinating for small visitors and even houses one of the world’s longest snakes at 10 meters.
One of the most popular areas is the Basecamp Bushmaster, which hosts the Ecuadorian jungle cat, the Jaguar, and a black panther.
With a direct focus on wildlife in the immediate area, Scandinavian Wildlife Park allows the animals within to have a safe place to roam and be in a natural habitat.
Unlike many zoos and aquariums, this zoo is not available year-round, so they allow the animals the ability to properly hibernate without the commotion that comes from visitors and guests.
This allows the natural flow of the ecosystem to exist, and the bears are able to properly reproduce.
Once the zoo is open, however, guests have the option to experience all that is available.
Overnight stays are offered to semi-tents living like a traditional Scandinavian.
This park offers more than just animals to view, they offer an experience, as well.
9. Bornholms Rovfugleshow
Another zoo in Denmark is Bornholms Rovfugleshow, and they offer a different type of experience.
The focus in this zoo is on birds that prey and they allow you to have one-on-one instruction with an instructor, teaching you how to train these birds and how to command them for different tasks.
Lasting approximately one hour, groups no larger than nine can be booked with an instructor, and you will need to reserve this course before you arrive.
During the winter months, visitors can still come out to the zoo and interact with the birds but there is not as much in-depth instruction as at other times of the year.
10. Knuthenborg Safaripark
Not only will you get to experience live animals at the Knuthenborg Safaripark, but you can also experience the Evolution Museum which includes real dinosaur skeletons, telling the story of the first predators that walked the planet.
Children visiting the zoo will get to experience Limpopoland, where they can take a break and beat the heat with the largest nature playground in the country.
The safari park is home to over 1000 registered animals, so there is always something available to see and experience when you are visiting the park.
Great for school trips, you can book an overnight camping trip with the park, having your group stay in tents or cabins onsite with personal views of the animals.
11. Copenhagen Zoo
Saving the best for last, the Copenhagen Zoo is the largest zoo in the country of Denmark.
It is probably one of the busiest locations in the country with millions of visitors coming in each year.
The park is spacious and large, having the ability to house more than 4,000 animals daily.
Many endangered species call this zoo home as a way to help preserve them and help with rebuilding the population.
The park is divided between continents, so you can have a full experience from feedings and shows to dining options in these different areas.
For many visitors, it can take an entire day to enjoy the zoo.
If you want, you can also split your visit between two days, giving you more time to explore and engage with the animals.
11 Best Zoos & Aquariums in Denmark – Summary Table
| Zoos & Aquariums | Address |
|---|---|
| Givskud Zoo Zootopia | Løveparkvej 3, 7323 Give, Denmark |
| National Aquarium Denmark, Den Bla Planet | Jacob Fortlingsvej 1, 2770 Kastrup, Denmark |
| AQUA Aquarium and Wildlife Park | Vejlsøvej 55, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark |
| Fisheries and Maritime Museum | Tarphagevej 2, 6710 Esbjerg V, Denmark |
| Odense Zoo | Søndre Blvd. 306, 5000 Odense C, Denmark |
| Nordsoen Oceanarium | Willemoesvej 2, 9850 Hirtshals, Denmark |
| Randers Regnskov | Tørvebryggen 11, 8900 Randers C, Denmark |
| Scandinavian Wildlife Park | Nødagervej 67b, 8560 Kolind, Denmark |
| Bornholms Rovfugleshow | Lundsgårdsvej 4, 3700 Rønne, Denmark |
| Knuthenborg Safaripark | Knuthenborg Alle 1, 4930 Maribo, Denmark |
| Copenhagen Zoo | Roskildevej 32, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark |
Denmark Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Denmark Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there a lot of zoos in Denmark?
Currently, Denmark has 15 existing zoos in the country, which may not seem like a lot until you consider the size of the country.
With Denmark being a geographically smaller country than others, 15 is a reasonable amount of zoos.
Is there more to experience at a Denmark zoo or aquarium?
There are great options for both zoos and aquariums in Denmark.
Depending on the size of the facility and what they offer, your experiences can be very different.
Aquariums offer access year-round because the majority of them are indoors.
Zoos, however, may be limited on when you can visit, but they often have more outdoor experiences.
Are zoos and aquariums important to Denmark?
While many of these facilities are privately owned, there are some that receive funding and grants from the public because of the services they offer.
Aquariums and zoos are important to Denmark because of the education they provide and the experiences that teach visitors about the well-being of the animals.
Are any of the Denmark zoos AZA accredited?
Some of the zoos in Denmark are AZA accredited, but not all of the facilities on this list carry that certification.
