Tivoli Gardens amusement park with fun fair rides in the heart of Copenhagen is the most popular experience in Denmark for both children and adults.
For nearly two centuries, visitors have streamed to Tivoli Gardens for fun, culture, shopping and dining. This fun fair amusement park in the heart of Copenhagen has around 30 rides, a large children’s play area, shops, concert venues, a beautiful garden, casinos and more than 40 restaurants. Tivoli is hugely popular with visitors and locals alike.
Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen
Tivoli is the most popular attraction in not only Copenhagen but the whole of Denmark. Tivoli opened in 1843 and is thus one of the oldest amusement parks in the world.
For an amusement park, Tivoli is surprisingly beautiful with entertainment for visitors of all ages. In addition to the rides, Tivoli also has a variety of other entertainment, shops, restaurants, surprisingly tasteful decorations, a beautiful garden and a small aquarium with a tropical coral reef with around 1600 fish. Adults may try their luck in the casinos – mostly slot machines.
Tivoli has more than 40 restaurants and food outlets ranging from kiosks and fast-food outlets to stylish cafés and gourmet restaurants. Prices are similar to the rest of Copenhagen – pricy but without a fun park surcharge.
Rides and Concerts in Tivoli Gardens
Tivoli has around 30 rides suitable for all ages. The minimum age and height for rides are clearly signposted: solitary rides are possible from age 3 while some of the wilder rides come with health warnings. The Petzi world play area is free with around 40 activities for smaller children.
Tivoli is probably most famous for its fun fair rides but it is also an important cultural venue. It hosts the largest classical musical festival in Scandinavia with over 50 concerts each summer (usually separate charge). It also has free rock music concerts on many Friday nights and a variety of live music events throughout the year.
When to Visit Tivoli in Copenhagen
Tivoli does not get too crazy busy but is obviously quieter on weekdays during school term. Rides usually open from noon with early afternoon generally quieter than late afternoon or early evening. In equalitarian Denmark, no VIP passes, skip-the-line tickets, etc. are available.
For visitors not interested in rides, Tivoli presents itself at its most beautiful at night when more than 100,000 bulbs light up the park into a romantic cityscape worthy of the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, who was a frequent visitor.
Tivoli Visitors Information
Tivoli Opening Hours
Tivoli is open for three periods each year:
- Summer / main season from early April to late September
- Halloween – from mid-October to early November
- Christmas – from mid-November to 31 December
Opening hours are usually daily from 11:00 to 23:00 (up to midnight on Friday and Saturday). All rides are open from noon with some operating earlier.
Tivoli Admission Tickets
Admission tickets for Tivoli are DKK110 per day for all visitors 8 years and older. Children 7 and under enter for free. During the high season, prices go up to DKK120 and even DKK150 for admission after 19:00 on Fridays.
Rides are priced individually (DKK25 to 75) but it will almost always save money to buy a full ticket for DKK230 that include all rides for the day.
Annual cards are great value for local residents but also for visitors planning on visiting the park more than three times in the year:
- The basic annual ticket is DKK330 – so it pays from the fourth visit (or earlier during the summer holidays).
- A wild card is DKK900 – it gives admission for a year plus one all-rides wristband per day. The card and wristbands are personal
- A silver card is DKK660 and is valid for one named person with any second guest per day.
- A gold card is DKK1,250 – it is valid for one named person and any four guests per day. It works well for families and small groups – many Copenhagen residents have one for when family and friends visit.
Gold and silver cardholders enjoy a few other perks too including free (or reduced priced) concerts, discounts on parking, food and entertainment.
The annual cards are strictly personal – not only are they linked to a named account but the owner’s photo will display when entering. Guests should be family, friends, colleagues, or similar – selling spaces on a ticket will lead to the card being canceled.
Annual tickets are for the season, i.e. not for 12 months but until the end of December. (Usually, cards bought during the Christmas season are valid for the following year too.)
Tivoli Gardens Location
Tivoli Gardens, Vesterbrodgade 5, 1630 Copenhagen V, tel. +45 3315 1001, is in the center of Copenhagen directly across from the main train station and the Rådhus. The main entrance is in Vesterbrogade but it is also possible to enter from Bernstorffsgade directly across the road from the train station. Many buses stop near Tivoli including 1A, 2A, 5A, 6A, 9A and 26.
Other Fun Parks in Copenhagen
Many of Copenhagen’s parks have play areas for children but for the best rides visit Bakken to the north of Copenhagen. Bakken is the oldest amusement park in the world and usually open from mid-March to end August. Admission is free and rides may be paid for individually or DKK250 all inclusive for the day (cheaper deals often available too.)
Other Major Sights near Tivoli Gardens
Tivoli Gardens are in the center of Copenhagen and thus many further sights are close to this popular amusement park. The Rådhus (town hall) and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek are rights across the road. The National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen Cathedral and the Strøget (pedestrian zone) are all close by.