Tivoli Gardens: Copenhagen’s 180-Year-Old Amusement Park

Tivoli opened on 15 August 1843. Walt Disney visited in 1951 and later credited it as an influence on Disneyland. H.C. Andersen was a regular visitor. The park survived the German occupation of Copenhagen (1940-1945) intact. It covers 8.3 hectares in the city centre, a 5-minute walk from Copenhagen Central Station, and is currently one of the most visited attractions in Scandinavia.

What makes it work is the combination of things. There are genuine thrill rides, including the wooden roller coaster Rutsjebanen (1914, still operating), a Starflyer reaching 80 metres, and more modern attractions. But there are also open-air concerts, pantomime theatre, good restaurants, and gardens that are genuinely beautiful at night. Adults without children do not feel out of place here - the programming is explicitly aimed at them.

Tickets and Access

Entry: 149 DKK adults, 79 DKK children 3-7, free under 3. This covers access to the gardens, shows, and most live entertainment. Rides require separate tickets (typically 30-55 DKK per ride) or a ride pass (around 269 DKK unlimited for the day).

Opening periods: Tivoli does not operate year-round. The main summer season runs mid-April to late September. A Halloween season (mid-October to early November) and Christmas season (mid-November to late December) fill out the calendar. Between these seasons, the park is closed. Check the exact dates at tivoligardens.com before visiting.

Evening visits are the recommended approach for adults: the lanterns and gas lights illuminate the gardens from around 20:30 in summer, the live music starts in the early evening, and the atmosphere is completely different from a midday family visit. Entry after 20:00 is sometimes available at a reduced rate.

The Rides

Rutsjebanen (the Roller Coaster, 1914): wooden, hand-braked by a brakeman who runs alongside the train, reaches 60 km/h. The oldest wooden roller coaster in the world that still operates with hand braking. Ride it.

Daemonen (the Demon): the park’s most intense ride, three inversions, not for the faint-hearted.

Aquila: a Viking-ship swing, traditional amusement park fare, satisfying for all ages.

The Starflyer: 80-metre rotating swing, good city views from the top on a clear day.

Children’s rides cluster around the western section of the park near the Pirate Theatre. Well-designed for children 2-10.

The Shows

The Pantomime Theatre (Pantomimeteatret, 1874): Commedia dell’arte performances in an ornate Chinese-style theatre. Free with park entry, runs several times daily in season. One of the few functioning Italian Commedia dell’arte traditions in Europe. More interesting than it sounds to people unfamiliar with the form.

Tivoli Concert Hall: international acts on the outdoor stage (Tivoli Arena) and enclosed concert hall through the season. Check the programme - it ranges from pop to classical to Danish folk, with significant names performing regularly.

The Glass Hall Theatre (Glassalen): dinner theatre and cabaret in an 1881 glass pavilion. Ticketed separately.

Eating in Tivoli

The food inside Tivoli is varied and more interesting than theme park standards elsewhere.

Grøften (the oldest restaurant in the park, 1874): Danish classic dishes, open-faced sandwiches, herring preparations. Reasonable for the setting. Lunch and dinner.

Wagamama has a Tivoli branch which is fast and reliably cheap relative to the park’s other restaurants.

For the best food: Nimb hotel’s several restaurants are at the park’s main entrance. Nimb Bar serves excellent smørrebrød and Danish craft beer. The Nimb Brasserie is more formal and expensive. Hotel Nimb itself (5-star, 14 rooms) is the most luxurious way to stay adjacent to the gardens; rates from 3,000-6,000 DKK per night.

Night food stalls through the gardens in summer: the hot dog stands, the candy floss, the waffles. Standard amusement park food, priced for the setting but good.

Near Tivoli

Copenhagen Central Station is the immediate neighbour - trains to the airport (14 minutes), Malmo, and the rest of Denmark.

Strøget (the pedestrian shopping street) starts 400 metres east, running 1.1 km to Kongens Nytorv.

National Museum of Denmark (Nationalmuseet) is 600 metres west: free permanent collection, substantial Viking and Bronze Age material.

Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square): Tivoli’s western face opens onto this square. The city hall (1905, 105-metre tower climbable in summer) and the statue of Hans Christian Andersen overlooking the traffic are here.

Where to Stay

Hotel Nimb (Bernstorffsgade 5, inside Tivoli): exceptional but expensive.

Copenhagen Island (Kalvebod Brygge 53): contemporary hotel on the harbour, 10-minute walk from Tivoli, around 1,200-2,000 DKK.

Generator Copenhagen (Adelgade 5-7): hostel, 20 minutes walk, good value at 200-350 DKK for a dorm bed.

Most city centre accommodation is within convenient distance of Tivoli. The train and metro links make the full city accessible without needing to stay in the immediate neighbourhood.