Tivoli Gardens is a charming amusement park situated in the heart of Copenhagen. It opened in 1843 which makes it the second oldest amusement park in the world, attracting over 4 million visitors a year.
Rumour has it, after visiting Tivoli, Walt Disney was deeply inspired by what he saw and experienced, he tried to emulate aspects of the park during his creation of Disneyland (which would open in California four years after his trip to Tivoli).
Inside Tivoli Gardens
As soon as you walk through the gates you’ll be greeted with the Moorish-inspired vision of Nimb, a lavish hotel with an out-door eating area. It’s the perfect place for lunch and people watching.
If you haven’t booked your accommodation yet, and you fancy a treat, check the price of staying at Nimb here.
After admiring the facade of Nimb Hotel, I ventured further inside Tivoli. The more I saw, the more charming it became. It’s like stepping back in time with old vintage rides and old movie like appearances.
It doesn’t have that hyper gimmicky atmosphere that many amusements parks have. You won’t see people dressed up in costumes, nor will you be subjected to loud, thumping dance music.
Instead, you’ll experience the sound of people laughing and chatting. It’s incredibly wholesome, like a scene straight out of a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale. It’s no surprise this place inspired Mr Disney.
The amusement rides
I rode the ‘Daemon’ roller coaster which twirls and swirls whilst going upside-down at a terrifying speed.
The ride doesn’t last very long, thankfully, any longer and I might have lost my voice box from screaming so much!
There are lots of gentler rides too, and a wide variety to suit all tastes and thresholds of fear. The queues weren’t very long for any of them either.
Something to note is that rides aren’t free once you pay your admission I’m afraid. There are three different pricing brackets which range from approximately £4.50 to a rather pricey £8.50 per ride. However, the cost to get into Tivoli is cheaper than a lot of other amusement parks in the UK so I’m a fan of the pay as you go system.
Tivoli Gardens at night
Arriving on a Saturday meant I was lucky because at night they have a spectacular fireworks display at 11:45pm.
I know this is quite late for families with young kids but it’s worth letting them staying up for!
There’s a really romantic vibe during the late evening, with couples holding hands, and the smell of food drifting out from the restaurants and lingering in the air.
There are also quiet little pockets in the garden and lakeside area if you wish to escape the crowds. I noticed a few couples enjoying the ambience of dimly lit glow lights from within their little hideaway spots.
The lake looks stunning at night because it captures various reflections and shimmers in colours of gold, red, purple and blue. It’s also funny to see the hundreds of coy fish swimming and bobbing up their heads with open mouths at this time of night.
Book your Tivoli tickets in advance
To avoid the queue and secure your ticket, it’s advisable to book online here.
If you wish to book more attractions and activities in Copenhagen, click on the options below:
Where to stay in Copenhagen
If you’re not bothered about staying at Nimb Hotel, then you’ll find some great alternatives in Copehagen.
I’ve been to Copenhagen several times, and have personally stayed at Andersen Boutique hotel, 71 Nyvhan and Copenhagen Admiral Hotel. I would recommend them all, but they each offer something different depending on your tastes and needs so take a look to see which appeals to you most.
These hotels are all quite pricey so I recommend checking out Airbnb as well if you’re on a budget. However, I’ve heard very good things about Wake-Up Copenhagen. I’ve not personally stayed at this hotel but it’s supposed to be great for the price. Clean, modern and cool. Rooms go for under £90 per night, which although still relatively price compared to some cities, however, in Copenhagen it’s considered good value!
7 responses
Walked-by, without visiting it.
Modern idea of amusement park meets good old Scandinavian atmosphere… awesome!
For me, Copenhagen’s charm is all about ambience. Something I feel in many Eastern Europe cities too, although in a different way.
Your pictures of Tivoli Gardens give me that feeling again.
Tivoli is really unassuming from the outside, and I think that’s another reason why it’s so captivating – it’s like you’ve fallen down a rabbit hole to an adventure Wonderland! (And this comes from the girl who doesn’t usually care for amusement parks!)
Mmmm maybe the Baltic Sea has cast a spell on the countries which surround it!
I’m going to Copenhagen in March so I’m pumped about seeing Tivoli Gardens. Kind of bummed about the fact that the admission ticket doesn’t include the cost of rides though! Love your pic of the boats on the water.
Hi Dana! You’ll love Tivoli despite the additional cost per ride fee, it just means you have to be a little more selective, which can actually be quite fun. To save time queuing up it’s a good idea to buy your tickets beforehand for Tivoli and other attractions, then you can just print them off and they act as an eticket, here’s a website: http://www.stromma.dk/en/Home/
The ticket I bought for Tivoli included a canal tour which is a nice way to see the city from a different perspective.
Oh My God, this garden is just wonderful. I can’t take my eyes off it! The night snapshots are the best ones. It’s such a romantic place where I could want to stay with my partner 🙂
The garden is stunning Agness and well worth a visit without even going on any rides! I imagine it must look amazing at Halloween and during Christmas too with all the decorations… definitely an excuse to go back!
nice place