Ripley’s Believe It or Not! built a global empire on shrunken heads, optical illusions, and human records. Copenhagen once had its own Odditorium on Strøget, but the picture today is more complicated than most guides admit.
What Is The Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum?
The Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum is a global chain of oddity attractions. Each branch is officially called an Odditorium. They mix natural anomalies, strange art, and interactive illusions under one roof.
The brand turns curiosity into entertainment. You walk through galleries of two-headed animals, matchstick sculptures, and forced-perspective rooms. As stated by Ripley’s own attractions pages, the format is self-guided and built for families.
I have lived in Denmark long enough to spot tourist traps and treasures. Ripley’s sits somewhere in between. It is loud, commercial, and unapologetically weird.
The Man Behind the Name
The brand began with Robert LeRoy Ripley, an American cartoonist and traveler. He launched his “Believe It or Not!” newspaper feature in 1918. He collected oddities from across the world and dared readers to doubt them.
His first permanent museum opened in 1950 in St. Augustine, Florida. According to historical records on the franchise, it sits inside the historic Castle Warden. That building is still the original Ripley’s today.
A Global Empire of Oddities
The brand grew into something enormous. Ripley Entertainment Inc., based in Orlando, runs the operation. It reports more than 100 attractions across 11 countries.
Roughly 30 of these are full Odditoriums. The corporate collection holds over 25,000 artifacts and oddities. Since 1985, the company has been owned by the Canadian conglomerate the Jim Pattison Group.
The Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum in Copenhagen: The Real Story
Here is where I have to be honest with you. Most online guides describe a thriving Copenhagen Odditorium open daily. The reality on the ground is different.
For years, a Ripley’s Believe It or Not! sat near Rådhuspladsen, at the western end of Strøget. It shared a building with a Guinness World Records attraction and a Hans Christian Andersen exhibit. That cluster of small museums has since closed.
I always tell newcomers the same thing. Verify before you walk across the city center with kids in tow. Tourist listings in Denmark go stale fast.
Why You Should Check Before You Go
Attractions open and close constantly in prime tourist zones. Rents on Strøget are brutal, even by Danish standards. A novelty museum competing with Copenhagen’s world-class museums faces a hard fight.
So treat any “open 10 to 6, seven days a week” claim with caution. Confirm the current status on the official site first. As noted by the company itself, locations change with little warning.
What Was Actually Inside
The Copenhagen branch followed the standard Ripley’s template. Visitors found shrunken heads, wax oddities, and art made from unusual materials. There were optical illusions and photo spots built for social media.
The experience leaned into spectacle over scholarship. That is the whole point of an Odditorium. It is edutainment, not the National Museum.
What to Expect Inside Any Ripley’s Odditorium
If you visit a Ripley’s elsewhere, the formula stays consistent. Knowing the categories helps you plan your route. Most people spend one to two hours walking through.
The collection breaks down into recognizable themes. Here is what fills the galleries at almost every location.
- Natural oddities: shrunken heads, fossils, rare skulls, and preserved animal anomalies.
- Human achievements: records of extreme feats and unusual abilities.
- Art from strange materials: portraits made from gum, ash, candy, and matchsticks.
- Optical illusions: forced-perspective rooms, mirror mazes, and perception tests.
- Pop-culture artifacts: items tied to famous figures and odd historical events.
Many newer Odditoriums lean heavily on technology now. Expect projection mapping, touchscreens, and augmented-reality effects. Some sites bundle a 4D theater or a mirror maze with the ticket.
Tickets, Timing, and Crowds
Ticket prices vary widely by city. In North America, adult entry runs roughly USD 20 to 35. Combo tickets with sister attractions usually cut the per-site cost.
Book online when you can. It skips queues and often unlocks small discounts. Weekday mornings stay calmest, a tip that holds for nearly every tourist site in the region.
The Ethics Question Most Guides Skip
I cannot write about Ripley’s without raising the obvious tension. The brand grew out of the sideshow tradition. That history includes displaying human remains and people with medical conditions.
Shrunken heads raise real questions of consent and provenance. So does the old “human oddity” framing. The wider museum world has spent two decades reckoning with exactly these issues.
To its credit, Ripley’s has shifted over time. Newer exhibits favor illusions, interactive science, and art. Per coverage of Ripley Entertainment, the company also faced scrutiny after a 2018 duck-boat tragedy at a Branson subsidiary that killed 17 people. That accident has nothing to do with the museums, but it shaped the brand’s modern risk profile.
Better Oddity and Museum Options for Expats in Copenhagen
If the Ripley’s pull is closed or sold out, Copenhagen offers plenty. The city is dense with strange, world-class collections. Most beat a novelty Odditorium on substance.
I send curious friends to a handful of reliable favorites. They deliver wonder without the tourist-trap markup. Here is where I point them.
- The Medical Museion: genuine medical oddities and anatomical history, far darker than Ripley’s.
- The National Museum: bog bodies, Viking artifacts, and free entry for under-18s.
- Tivoli Gardens: the historic pleasure garden a short walk from Rådhuspladsen.
- The Round Tower: a 17th-century observatory with a spiral ramp.
For planning, lean on local guides instead of generic listings. Our roundups of Copenhagen hidden gems and indoor activities for a rainy day stay current. They will not send you to a shuttered storefront.
Getting Around the City Center
Rådhuspladsen and Strøget sit at the heart of the city. The Metro, buses, and S-trains all converge nearby. Our guide to Copenhagen public transport covers tickets and zones.
I almost always cycle, like most locals do. The bike paths run straight through the center. If you want to learn the ropes, start with cycling in Copenhagen.
Make a Full Day of It
A single attraction rarely fills a Copenhagen trip. Cluster your stops around the city center instead. Nyhavn, Tivoli, and the shopping streets all sit within walking distance.
For a tight itinerary, our one day in Copenhagen plan helps. Photographers should also scan our top photography spots roundup. And budget travelers should read whether Copenhagen is expensive before splurging on tickets.
Is The Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum Worth It?
My honest take, after years here, is measured. Ripley’s is fun, fast, and great for kids around 8 to 14. It is not a substitute for Denmark’s serious museums.
If you find an open branch on your travels, enjoy the spectacle. Set your expectations as entertainment, not education. And in Copenhagen specifically, confirm the doors are open before you commit your afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum in Copenhagen still open?
The Ripley’s attraction that once stood near Rådhuspladsen on Strøget has closed. The small museum cluster it belonged to no longer operates. Always confirm current status on the official Ripley’s website before planning a visit.
Where is the first Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum?
The first permanent Ripley’s Odditorium opened in 1950. It sits in St. Augustine, Florida, inside the historic Castle Warden building. It is still open and marketed as the original Ripley’s museum.
Is Ripley’s Believe It or Not! real?
The exhibits are real objects, though framed for entertainment. Ripley’s says it researches provenance where possible. Some historical items, like shrunken heads, carry genuine ethical and authenticity debates.
How long does it take to go through Ripley’s Believe It or Not!?
Most visitors spend one to two hours inside. The route is self-guided, so you set your own pace. Families with curious kids often stay closer to the two-hour mark.
Who founded Ripley’s Believe It or Not!?
Robert LeRoy Ripley founded the brand. He started his “Believe It or Not!” newspaper cartoon in 1918. He spent decades traveling the world to collect oddities.
How many Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums are there?
Ripley Entertainment reports over 100 attractions in 11 countries. Around 30 of these are full Odditoriums. The wider network also includes aquariums, wax museums, and mini-golf.
What can I do instead of Ripley’s in Copenhagen?
The Medical Museion offers darker, authentic oddities. The National Museum holds bog bodies and Viking artifacts. Tivoli Gardens and the Round Tower round out a strong city-center day.
Sources and References
Ripley’s: Believe It or Not! Copenhagen Attraction Page
Wikipedia: Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Wikipedia: Ripley Entertainment
