Tivoli Gardens Copenhagen: Family Guide to Rides, Tickets, and Food
Tivoli Gardens was at the very top of our list when we started planning Copenhagen with kids. It is right in the middle of the city, it feels like a classic amusement park and a botanical garden at the same time, and it works just as well for a quick afternoon as it does for a full day. We spent most of the day bouncing between kid-friendly rides, snack stops, and quiet corners where the boys (ages 6 and 4 at the time) could run around or just watch the lights.
In this guide, I’ll walk through what Tivoli Gardens is, how Tivoli Gardens tickets work, our favorite rides, family-friendly food options and practical tips for visiting with kids. If you are trip-planning, make sure to check my Copenhagen itinerary guide.
What is Tivoli Gardens?
Tivoli Gardens is an amusement park and garden right in the center of Copenhagen. It opened in 1843, which makes it one of the oldest amusement parks in the world, and it still feels very different from a modern theme park. You get classic rides, concerts, lakes, a giant food hall, and flower beds all in one space.
The park has more than 30 rides ranging from gentle carousels to big coasters. There are also playgrounds, theaters, live music, fireworks during some seasons, and lots of places to just sit with a snack and people-watch.
One fun detail to share with kids is that Tivoli Gardens helped inspire Walt Disney when he was dreaming up Disneyland after a visit to Copenhagen.
Where Is Tivoli Gardens and How to Get There
Tivoli Gardens could not be easier to reach. The entrance is right across the street from Copenhagen Central Station, which means you can get there by:
- Train from the airport or suburbs
- S-train or regional train from other parts of Denmark
- Bus or metro with a short walk
- On foot from many central neighborhoods
Because parking in the center of Copenhagen is expensive and limited, I recommend using public transport or walking rather than driving if you can.
If you are using a Copenhagen Card, it usually includes public transport around the city plus free entrance to Tivoli Gardens.
Tivoli Gardens Tickets and Passes
Before you go, it helps to understand how Tivoli Gardens tickets work so you do not spend half your day at a ticket window.
Entrance vs Rides
Tivoli splits costs into two main parts:
- Entrance ticket: lets you go into the gardens, see the lights and entertainment, and use the restaurants.
- Ride options: you can either buy individual ride tickets or get an unlimited Ride Pass wristband (sometimes sold in a package with entrance included).
Important details to know:
- Children under 3 enter Tivoli Gardens for free with a paying adult.
- Children ages 3–7 need their own entrance ticket at a reduced price.
- Children under 1 do not need a Ride Pass to go on rides, but they must be accompanied by a paying guest over 14.
If you know you want to ride a lot, the Entrance + Ride Pass package usually works out cheaper than buying everything separately. Prices change by date and season, and Tivoli uses a visitor calendar so lower-demand days are cheaper.
When you look at Tivoli Gardens tickets online, pay attention to the type of pass you’re choosing. You’ll usually see options for:
- Entrance only
- Entrance + unlimited Ride Pass
- Extras like aquarium access or ride photos
If you are using the Copenhagen Card, your card covers the entrance ticket to Tivoli Gardens. You still need to purchase Tivoli Gardens tickets for rides separately (either a Ride Pass or individual ride tickets).
Where to Buy Tivoli Gardens Tickets
You can buy Tivoli Gardens tickets:
- Online on the official Tivoli website or app, where you can also see the visitor calendar and prices for specific days
- On site at the ticket booths outside the main entrance
Buying online is usually faster with kids, and sometimes cheaper on quieter days.
When is Tivoli Gardens open?
Tivoli Gardens is not open every single day of the year. Instead, it has several main seasons:
- Summer: Main season from spring through late September
- Halloween: Runs through much of October with pumpkins and spooky decorations
- Christmas: Mid-November through early January, usually closed on December 24 itself
- Some years also have a shorter Easter or winter season around March or February
Opening hours change by season, but a typical summer day is roughly 11 am to 10 pm, with Fridays and Saturdays extended to midnight.
Before you go, double-check the official Tivoli calendar for the exact dates and hours for your visit.
Visiting Tivoli Gardens with Kids
From the moment we walked through the gate, Tivoli felt very manageable with kids. The park is compact, and you move from rides to gardens to food in just a few minutes of walking.
Some family-friendly things we loved:
- Rasmus Klump’s World: A big ship-themed playground where kids can climb, slide, and explore. It is a good place to let them run between rides, and you can meet Rasmus Klump (basically Tivoli’s Mickey Mouse, but a bear) nearby
- Gardens and lakes: When everyone needed a reset, we simply walked around the lakes and watched the ducks or sat by the fountains.
- Evening lights: Staying until it got dark was a highlight. Tivoli is covered in fairy lights and glowing lanterns at night, and the rides look completely different.
If your kids are used to US-style theme parks, Tivoli can feel calmer and more mixed. Many locals simply come in the evening for dinner and a walk, so it has a nice mix of families, couples, and groups of friends.
Best Tivoli Gardens Rides for Kids by Height and Thrill Level
Tivoli has more than 30 rides, and not all of them are geared to kids. Since we visited when our boys were ages 6 and 4, we focused on the family rides. Height requirements can change, so always check the sign at each ride. Here is how we approached it.
Big Coasters and High-Energy Rides
These rides are best for kids who like a lot of speed and are tall enough for the bigger height brackets.
- Milky Way Express: A compact coaster where you race through space. Officially, kids need to be at least 130 cm to ride alone; children between 100 cm and 130 cm can ride with an adult. My older son was able to go on this ride and really enjoyed it.
- Aquila: A spinning, swinging ride that feels like flying in circles through the night sky. The minimum height is around 120 cm, so this one is often a “big kid plus adult” pick.
- Bumper cars: Always a hit. Both kids liked helping steer and bump into their parents.
- Galley Ships: A classic swinging ship ride that both boys enjoyed.
Family Coasters and Classic Views
These are still exciting but work well for slightly shorter kids who are ready for more than a carousel.
- The Mine: A dark ride with gentle thrills and lots to look at. Our boys loved spotting little details in the scenes.
- Ferris Wheel: Tivoli’s vintage Ferris wheel gives wonderful views of the park and the Copenhagen skyline.
- The Roller Coaster (Rutschebanen): One of the oldest wooden coasters still operating. It is not the flashiest ride in the park, but it has a nice mix of speed and history.
- Fun House: A walk-through with moving floors, mirrors, and gentle challenges. Great for kids who like to explore at their own pace. It’s a little challenging to watch your kids inside because it’s dark, so make sure to have a plan in case you get separated.
Story Rides and Gentle Circuits
These are good mid-day options when everyone needs a break from intense thrills.
- Flying Trunk: A story ride based on Hans Christian Andersen tales, where you ride in little “suitcases” past scenes from the stories. The pace is slow and the ride lasts a few minutes. We enjoyed this so much that we rode three times!
- Vintage Cars: Kids can “drive” cars around a landscaped track while adults sit next to them. It feels like a gentle city drive through mini-bridges and greenery. My youngest loved it!
- Music Carousel: A classic carousel with music and animals.
Boats and Animal Rides
These rides are ideal for younger or more cautious kids, especially when one sibling is still under many height requirements.
- The Panda: A gentle circular ride where kids ride in panda-shaped seats. It has a lower minimum height (90cm) and feels calm.
- Camel Train: Another slow ride where kids sit in camel-shaped cars and circle the track. This was a big hit with my youngest who loves camels.
- Dragon Boats: Pedal boats shaped like dragons that you steer around the lake. Adults can pedal while kids “help.”
- Tivoli Aquarium: Technically not a ride, but our boys enjoyed the tanks and watching the fish. It is a good rainy-day or “we need some quiet” stop.
Always check each ride’s height board at the entrance, especially if you are planning your day around specific attractions. For our family, it helped to scan the map first and mark the rides we knew both kids could enjoy.
Food at Tivoli Gardens with Kids
One of the biggest perks of Tivoli is that you can actually eat well inside the park. There are more than 40 food and drink options ranging from quick snacks to sit-down restaurants.
Here are the spots we recommend for a day with kids.
Easy Lunch Ideas
- Hallernes Smørrebrød (Tivoli Food Hall): Open-faced sandwiches with generous toppings based on Danish smørrebrød traditions. You order at the counter and find a seat in the food hall, which works well when everyone wants something slightly different.
- Tivoli Food Hall: Besides Hallernes, there are pizza stalls, Asian street food, and more, so you can mix and match without leaving the park.
- Anarkist Bar: A craft beer bar connected to Tivoli that serves Nordic-style pizzas and a long list of beers on tap and in bottles. There is both an entrance from outside and a connection to Tivoli itself, so it works whether or not you are spending all day in the park. Our boys loed the pizzas here.
Sweet treats and coffee breaks
- Cakenhagen: A patisserie that feels like a fancy cake shop, with layered cakes, pastries, and hot drinks. It is known for a classic Danish pastry selection with a French twist and is very popular for coffee breaks inside Tivoli.
- Espresso House: A familiar coffee chain where parents can grab a latte while kids share a muffin or cookie.
- Rasmus Klump’s Pancakes: Near the playground, this small spot focuses on pancakes themed after the beloved Danish character Rasmus Klump.
- Vaffelbageriet and other waffle stands: Perfect for late-night waffles with ice cream when the lights come on.
For parents: Japanese Pagoda
- Japanese Pagoda area: Around the pagoda and lakeside, seasonal pop-ups appear, especially in summer and at Christmas. It is a pretty place to sit in the evening while the kids ride nearby.
Seasonal Magic: Summer, Halloween, and Christmas at Tivoli
Tivoli Gardens changes personality with the seasons.
- Summer: Long opening hours, outdoor concerts, fireworks on some nights, and the gardens in full bloom. This is a good time to plan a late evening visit for lights and cooler temperatures.
- Halloween: The park fills with pumpkins, spooky decorations, and themed attractions, and many rides stay open into the evening. It is festive but still family friendly, with lots of kid-level Halloween touches.
- Christmas: Tivoli is often described as one of Europe’s most magical Christmas experiences, with markets, thousands of lights, an ice rink, and seasonal shows. It has even been included on lists of top Christmas markets in the world.
If your family loves Christmas trips, you might also enjoy pairing Tivoli’s Christmas season with other European Christmas markets, like the ones I cover in my Best Christmas Markets in Europe for Families guide.
Practical Tips and Safety Basics for Families
A little planning goes a long way when you are visiting Tivoli Gardens with little kids. Here are some of the things that helped us and that line up with Tivoli’s own family information.
Before You Go
- Check the calendar: Confirm that Tivoli is open during your dates and which season you are visiting.
- Decide on tickets: Look at Tivoli Gardens tickets online and compare entrance only vs packages with Ride Passes, especially if you plan to ride a lot.
- Dress in layers: Even in summer, evenings in Copenhagen can be cool. Bring a light jacket or sweatshirt for everyone.
At the Park
- Use a stroller or wagon: Even though the park is compact, little legs get tired. You can rent strollers and pull wagons at the Service Center for a fee plus a refundable deposit, or bring our favorite stroller for Europe along.
- Use a wristband for contact info: Simple wristbands where you can write your phone number, so staff can contact you quickly if a child gets lost.
- Plan quiet breaks: Mark playgrounds, gardens, or the aquarium on your map as “reset spots” where you can step away from crowds or weather.
- Watch height boards: Height requirements are strict and can vary by ride. Check the board and be ready with a backup plan if one child cannot ride.
- There is a dedicated baby changing house near Rasmus Klump’s World with microwaves, nursing chairs, and changing tables, along with changing rooms in other parts of the park.
Food and Budget
- Mix restaurants and snacks: Plan one sit-down meal in the food hall and fill in the rest of the day with lighter snacks and ice cream to keep everyone moving.
- Bring water bottles: Copenhagen tap water is safe to drink, so refill bottles at sinks and fountains to avoid constant drink purchases.
For more ideas on helping kids handle new places and routines, you can also look at my post on how to prepare toddlers for new experiences.
Final Thoughts
Tivoli Gardens is one of those rare places that works just as well for history-loving adults as it does for ride-obsessed kids. Our entire family loved our visit and would absolutely go back!
If you are planning a Copenhagen trip with kids, I would absolutely keep Tivoli Gardens on your must-do list. It can be a half-day stop between museums, or the centerpiece of a full day.
As always, feel free to email or send me a message on Instagram. I am always happy to help other families plan their travels!
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