Day 2,653 of Traveling the World | Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark | May 8, 2025
Jan and Mike
Tivoli Gardens! – the world’s third-oldest amusement park, opened in 1843. It was visited by Walt Disney four years before Disneyland opened in 1955. Hans Christian Anderson was a frequent visitor. The only other time we were in Tivoli Gardens was in late August 2012 – and only at night. We missed out on all of these beautiful spring flowers, and the feeling of a city coming back to life after the deep cold of winter. So this time, we visited during the day. There are no photos of Tivoli at night in this blog because, honestly, we were too tired after walking around all day – and spending many daylight hours – to wait until dark. The lights don’t go on until about 9:00 pm, and even then, it is still light outside in this northerly city. If we had waited until 9:00 for the lights, the park would have closed an hour later. But the beauty and whimsy you will see in the photos surpasses any need to see the place at night.
There are no demarcations here between children’s rides and adult rides, children’s areas vs adult areas – the park is all one piece. It feels like you are in the 1800s – it is genteel and garden-like. Modern rides have likely taken the place of outdated children’s rides, as money has to be made catering to everyone. The entrance fee to the park was about $25 for adults, which does not include rides. You can, of course, add a ride pass for a fee, or make it an annual pass. If you wish to take an a la carte ride, prices are between $8-15 US.
Hungry? There are more than 60 restaurants, from top-tier restaurants for which you need a reservation to hot dog and hamburger stands. But being here, you mostly get a sense of walking through a beautiful tree- and flower-filled park. There are lots of benches and so many beautiful areas that just take your breath away. The photos below give you a good idea of what it is to visit. It was well, well worth the entrance fee, and of course, we would recommend it to families as well as single travelers or couples. There is really nothing like it.
Yep. This captures the flavor of Tivoli Gardens...almost 200 years old, and going strong.
The main entrance (from 1890), as you are greeted with Tivoli Gardens’ grand archway.The original entrance was a wooden gate.
Wild masses of flowers of every color and type greet you!
This is Nimb Hotel inside the park, dating to 1909. It was recently taken over by Hilton when Hyatt let go of the SLH (Small Luxury Hotel) brands. Even though we are Hilton members, $1,100 for the cheapest room and $4,200 for the Executive Suite are way out of our budget. But, hey, a stay includes free entrance to Tivoli Gardens – and all the rides!
We couldn’t believe our eyes – Nimb Hotel’s huge lawn was being trimmed by the garden version of a roomba – designed to look like a rabbit.
The patio of the famous, all-glass-walls Glass Restaurant was the only part open – the inside was filled with scaffolding and workers.
We don’t know what the former use of this building was – notice the guard shacks – but now it is a music school.
A really pretty sunken garden with fountains, benches, flowers, trees, walkways, and people.
Feels like a lazy afternoon from 100 years ago! Some things just don’t change.
A glimpse of the Japanese Pagoda across the lake.
The Pantomime Theater, opened in 1874.
More of the glorious spring flowers.
What a cute idea at the beginning of a handrail! He has a twin holding up the other end.
Looks like the whale is getting her snack!
This unnamed three-masted ship in Lake Tivoli is said to be a replica of a pirate ship from about 1700.
These dark purple tulips are amazing.
A tiny church in Lake Tivoli.
Throughout most of the park, Copenhagen’s City Hall towers are prominent.
The Japanese Pagoda, dating to 1900.
A modern roller coaster with loops and sharp curves – the Demon. There was a long line waiting to get on!
The Flying (- we got that far!) Kuffert!? We didn’t know that word – turns out to be “suitcase,” which in turn is a story by the famous Dane, Hans Christian Anderson.
“The Fun Wheel – Try Your Luck.” There were a lot of these carnival-type games, but not many people were playing. This worker is shooting the breeze with the park security guards.
They make the various paths so inviting, you just want to walk everywhere!
We liked this pretty alley, with the prisoners making off with the loot overhead.
The Japanese Pagoda, framed by the lake.
As we already mentioned, there is no set children’s area, or one with adult rides or themes – all are intermixed. Welcome to Scandinavia!
Even in tiny spaces, they have added unusual and beautiful flowers to decorate.
A lovely promenade.
Just a pretty row of buildings.
This is the Dragon ride. Imagine Dragons! – Made of stylized plastic, it is a bit of a stretch to imagine these guys as dragons. The angular design looked very European to us.
What a word! This is the Boiled Sweets house. Boiled sweets are known to exist from the 1100s, when sugar was introduced to Europe. In Denmark, originally the royal apothecary made them to make medicine more palatable – but that gave way to eating sugar for pleasure.
One ride had figures and lights in a circle overhead – this, of course, is the Trumpeter.
This ride is called the Himmelskibet, the Skyship. It had the most-shrieking-girls of all the rides, so of course, we had to share it with you! (Boys don’t shriek, y’know.)
The pretty Alpine exterior of the Waffle House.
The Balloon Ferris Wheel was inaugurated in 1943, for Tivoli’s Centenary.
This is the Grand Prix game, dating to 1935. Cyclists (automated, not live) circle the room, each holding boxes of chocolates. A chance to win the prize costs $3 US.
Another of the fountains.
The concert hall. Concerts haven’t yet started, but if you buy a ticket for one, you can enter Tivoli without the entrance fee.
A view toward one of the park’s plazas and fountain.
More of the thousands of tulips that decorate the park.
The classic Music Carousel.
The pretty entrance to the garden restaurant, Kilden.
Do you see the large lollipops in the middle?…with the sign that says, “1,000 grams – 295”? That is a lollipop weighing just over 2 pounds that costs – $45 US!! Crazy!
Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, we used to work “claw machines” to win stuffed animals. How quaint that seems – how times have changed! For $1.50 US, kids can win an iPhone, a PlayStation 5, an Apple Watch, or AirPods. We have no idea how hard it is, though, as we didn’t try – we still haven’t needed any cash or coins in Scandinavia.
Two signs, two messages – what they mean really is anyone’s best guess: “Live fleas are bought at the highest daily price.” “Pause – the predators are fed.”
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