One sight that you’ll see pop up again and again on itineraries in Copenhagen is Tivoli Gardens. So, it’s no surprise that I added it to my own itinerary, despite being skeptical of whether it would actually be worth it. For some travelers, I think that this is an excellent addition to a Copenhagen itinerary, but for others, I’d think twice about adding it.
In this post, I’ll cover everything you need to know so you can decide if you should visit Tivoli Gardens.
About Tivoli Gardens
Before we get into whether or not you should visit Tivoli Gardens, we need to talk about what it is. Tivoli Gardens is the oldest amusement park in Denmark, opening in the 1800s. Many generations of Danes (and tourists) have enjoyed wandering through the park, riding its attractions, and dining in ones of its many restaurants.
Unsurprisingly, since Tivoli Gardens is an amusement park, there’s a big focus on family friendly entertainment. You’ll definitely find that here. However, since Tivoli Gardens has long hours, as the night goes on, you’ll find the families disappearing and the adults enjoying the night.
Things to Do at Tivoli Gardens
Tivoli Gardens isn’t just about the rides. This was hard for me to wrap my head around because when I think of an amusement park, my mind goes straight to rides. In fact, whenever I visited amusement parks, I only ever focused on the rides and paid little attention to anything else that was available.
Amusement Rides at Tivoli Gardens
Since Tivoli Gardens is an amusement park, I think it makes most sense to start this post by talking about the rides. Now, I love a good amusement park (my family drove the 16 hour round trip drive to Ohio’s Cedar Point for many years), but Tivoli Gardens is not that big. That’s the first thing you need to understand. There aren’t rides, but it’s not like amusement parks in the United States where there are dozens and of roller coasters and other rides to choose from.
Tivoli Gardens has one roller coaster: The Demon. This roller coaster has three loops and stands 28 meters (90 feet tall). Since my roller coaster trips going up were to Cedar Point and Six Flags Great America, this isn’t super impressive to me. But The Demon is definitely the most intense ride at Tivoli Gardens.
Beyond Tivoli’s roller coaster, you’ll find a Ferris Wheel, swing rides, spinning rides, a carousel, and more.
Eat Some Food
There are food options all over the park. Yes, you’ll find the traditional amusement park staples of popcorn, cotton candy (candy floss in Europe), ice cream, and candies. But you’ll also find plenty of options for full meals. Honestly, as I scrolled through the Tivoli Gardens website in preparation for my trip, I’m pretty sure there were more things listed on the “Food & Drink” page than on the “Rides” page.
Beyond the restaurants inside the park, there’s also the Tivoli Food Hall. While guests inside Tivoli Gardens can enter the Tivoli Food Hall from inside the park, Tivoli Food Hall is accessible to the public.
Whether you eat at the Tivoli Food Hall or one of the restaurants inside Tivoli Gardens, there are plenty of options for food. But like everything in Denmark, be ready to pay. There aren’t many “cheap” options. Even my ice cream was $6 USD.
Watch a Show
Before you go (and when you arrive), look to see what programs are available. There are several stages throughout Tivoli Gardens so keep a look out for what is available. While there are plenty of shows and activities that are included in the price of your ticket, not every show is. Make sure that you pay attention some performances can cost an additional 375 DKK per person.
During the summer months, consider a visit on Friday nights, when rock concerts (included with the price of your ticket) are offered.
And keep an eye out throughout the day. During my visit, school marching bands were performing. Honestly, it reminded me of my school trip where my high school band went marching through Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Apparently marching through theme parks is a school band tradition across multiple countries.
Play Some Games
Like at many other amusement parks, there are plenty of carnival games. You’ll find traditional carnival games, plus some video games as well.
Wander the Gardens
Yes there are shows and rides and food, but I loved just wandering through the gardens. The setting of Tivoli Gardens is beautiful and honestly it was nice to just walk through and see the various flower displays and take everything in.
At night, the gardens are lit up with beautiful lights. Just keep in mind that in summer, the sun sets very late so keep an eye on things. If you want to see the lights, you’ll need to plan to stay late. During the winter months, the sun sets early so it should be no problem catching the garden lights.
Entrance Fees
A visit to Tivoli Gardens is not cheap. As of summer 2024, it costs 160 DKK to enter the gardens. That’s nearly $23 USD at the time of writing and that’s the cost per adult. Tickets for children, students, and seniors are cheaper. So while a visit to Tivoli Gardens can be a great family friendly activity, it’s not cheap (although to be fair, most of Denmark is not cheap).
Now, before we go any further, there’s something really important to note. To enter Tivoli Gardens, you’ll need to pay the entrance fee. If you want to ride any of the rides, you’ll need to pay extra. So if you have a family of thrill seekers, be prepared to pay for it.
You can purchase your tickets at the gate, but you can also purchase your tickets online in advance. This allows you to skip the ticket line and enter Tivoli Gardens quickly.
Cost of Rides at Tivoli Gardens
Individually
If you only want to ride one or two rides, it may be better financially to purchase tickets as needed. The cost of rides varies from ride to ride with the less intense rides costing less than the more intense rides. For example, the Carousel costs 50 DKK, but The Demon roller coaster costs 90 DKK.
If you plan to purchase rides individually, you can use the automated ticket machines located near the rides.
With a Ride Pass
If you plan to ride many of the rides, you’ll need to buy a Ride Pass. This Ride Pass is an extra cost and is not included in the price of admission. In summer 2024, Ride Passes typically start at 299 DKK for adults (half price for children under 8 years old), but the actual cost of the Ride Pass varies from day to day. Additionally, on certain days, you may find a deal if you purchase a Ride Pass that does not start until after 6:00 pm.
For exact pricing for your trip, visit the Tivoli Gardens website.
Money saving tip: If you know for certain that you’ll be visiting Tivoli Gardens and purchasing a Ride Pass, purchase your entrance ticket and Ride Pass together, online in advance. While it won’t save you a lot of money, it will save you a little bit (about 40 DKK – which is about what I paid for ice cream at Tivoli Gardens).
Should You Visit Tivoli Gardens?
I’m a believer that every sight is right for someone, but it’s not necessarily meant for everyone. So what does that mean for Tivoli Gardens?
I think families who are willing to spend the extra money for rides could have a great visit to Tivoli Gardens. After spending time exploring lots of museums, let kids be kids (and adults be kids) and have some fun.
For the average traveler, I think you need to really think about it. I paid for Tivoli Gardens, more because I was curious about it than because I wanted to go on rides. My curiosity stems from observing others.
While a lot of travelers want to talk to and meet locals to find out about a place, I’m content to sit back and observe and this was a great place to do it. I got to see what all the fuss is about and got to see a great sight along the way. I enjoyed my time at Tivoli Gardens, but I’ll be the first to admit that a visit to Tivoli Gardens isn’t for everyone.
When to Visit Tivoli Gardens
Winters have the fewest visitors and therefore you can expect a slightly lower price. However, winters have the worst weather (expect it to be cold) and have limited daylight. For example, in Copenhagen, the sun rises around 8:30 am and sets at about 4:00 pm in January.
Summers have long days with the sun not setting until 9:00 or 10:00 pm. You’ll also have the best weather. However, crowds are at their highest.
Typically, shoulder season can offer the best mix between daylight hours, weather, and tourist crowds. But I personally would recommend traveling very late spring to very early summer or very late summer into very early fall. Basically, try to catch that cut over between spring and summer or summer and fall.
I traveled in mid April and while the weather was ok, it wasn’t great. Plus some sights still had limited hours. If I were to do this trip again, I’d aim for mid to late May.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, I can only present the facts. The only person who can decide whether a visit to Tivoli Gardens is right for you. I can say that I am very happy I visited, but it’s important to note that I’m content with people watching.
Continue Your Adventure
Denmark: Start your trip to Denmark with a day in Copenhagen, which includes a stop at some of its best churches. Continue your planning with my Denmark Travel Guide.
Sweden: A visit to Sweden will generally include its capital city of Stockholm, which is full of awesome sights and museums. If you have extra time in Stockholm, consider a day trip to either Uppsala or Drottningholm Slott. But don’t miss Gothenburg, another great city that feels more relaxed than Stockholm. Continue your planning with my Sweden Travel Guide.
Norway: While so much of Norway’s beauty is found outside its cities, add a quick stop in its capital city of Oslo. Plus, check out my Norway Travel Guide.
Scandinavia: Start planning your trip to Scandinavia with this 10 Day Itinerary, featuring stops in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Check out my Scandinavia Budget for a realistic look at travel costs and budgeting tips. Plus, here’s my top tips for traveling Scandinavia.