If you're planning a Christmas trip to Copenhagen, chances are Tivoli Gardens is already on your list.
Every winter, Denmark's famous amusement park is transformed with thousands of Christmas lights, festive market stalls, traditional food, seasonal entertainment and rides for all ages. It's one of the most popular Christmas attractions in Europe, but it's also one of the few that charges an entry fee.
After spending a full day at Tivoli during our own Christmas weekend in Copenhagen, I can honestly say it's much more than just a Christmas market. We explored the festive stalls, tried the food, went on the rides and stayed until after dark when the gardens looked even more magical.
In this guide, I'll share everything you need to know before you visit, including the 2026 opening dates, ticket options, food prices, what we spent, how to get there and whether I think Tivoli Gardens is worth the money.
Just a quick note before we begin. Some of the links in this guide are affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.
✔ Christmas season: 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 (closed on Christmas Eve)
✔ Opening hours: Typically 11:00am to 10:00pm Sunday to Thursday and 11:00am to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays
✔ Gardens entry: From around €28 per person
✔ Gardens + Unlimited Ride Pass: From around €52 per person
✔ Prefer fewer rides? Individual ride tickets can also be purchased inside the park
✔ Our tip: Stay until after dark when the Christmas lights really bring Tivoli to life.
Tivoli Gardens is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world and one of Copenhagen's most famous attractions. Located opposite Copenhagen Central Station, it combines traditional fairground rides, beautiful gardens, restaurants, theatres and seasonal events all in one place.
During the Christmas season, the gardens are transformed with thousands of twinkling lights, festive decorations and around 60 wooden market stalls selling everything from Danish Christmas treats to handmade gifts and decorations.
Unlike most Christmas markets, Tivoli is a paid attraction. Your entry ticket gives you access to the gardens, Christmas market, entertainment and seasonal displays. If you want to experience the rides, you can either buy an Unlimited Ride Pass or pay for individual rides during your visit.
Whether you're travelling as a couple, with friends or as a family, Tivoli offers far more than just a traditional Christmas market. We spent almost an entire day here and still found plenty to see and do.
Tivoli Gardens transforms into a Christmas wonderland every winter, making it one of the most popular festive attractions in Copenhagen.
13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027
Closed: 24 December (Christmas Eve)
Opening hours vary slightly throughout the Christmas season, but you can generally expect:
● Sunday to Thursday: 11:00am to 10:00pm
● Friday and Saturday: 11:00am to 11:00pm or midnight
We visited on a Saturday and stayed until after dark. Seeing the gardens illuminated by thousands of Christmas lights completely transformed the atmosphere and was one of our favourite parts of the day.
If your schedule allows, I'd definitely recommend planning your visit so you can experience Tivoli in both daylight and after dark.
Top tip: Opening hours can occasionally vary for special events, so it's always worth checking the official Tivoli website before you travel.
Tivoli Gardens couldn't be easier to reach from Copenhagen Airport and is one of the reasons it's perfect for a festive weekend break.
We travelled into the city using Copenhagen's excellent public transport network, but you have two easy options.
The quickest and easiest option is to take the direct train from Copenhagen Airport to København H (Copenhagen Central Station).
The journey takes around 15 minutes, and Tivoli Gardens is directly opposite the station.
You can also travel by metro from the airport, although it involves changing lines.
We took the M2 line from the airport to Kongens Nytorv, then changed onto the M4 towards København Syd, getting off at København H.
Adult tickets from Copenhagen Airport to the city centre cost around 30 DKK (approximately €4 / £3.50) and can be purchased from the ticket machines or through the DOT Tickets app.
We found the whole journey straightforward, and all signs in the airport were clearly marked in English.
When booking your visit, you'll notice there are two main ticket options. The right one depends on whether you simply want to explore the gardens and Christmas market, or if you plan to enjoy the rides as well.
We chose the Unlimited Ride Pass and Gardens Entry and, for us, it was definitely the right choice.
We booked our tickets through GetYourGuide because they offered free cancellation and the option to book now and pay later. If you book through the GetYourGuide app, you can also save 5% on eligible tickets using our exclusive code BUILDABREAK5.
After booking, we received a QR code which was scanned at the entrance. Although the queue looked long when we arrived, it moved surprisingly quickly.
If you've purchased an Unlimited Ride Pass, you'll need to collect your wristband once inside the park. Simply scan your QR code at one of the self-service wristband machines and your wristband will be issued in seconds.
A Gardens Entry ticket gives you access to Tivoli Gardens, including the Christmas market, festive decorations, seasonal entertainment and beautifully illuminated gardens.
With this ticket, you can:
● Explore the Christmas market stalls
● Enjoy the festive lights and decorations
● Watch seasonal entertainment and performances
● Visit the shops, cafés and restaurants
● Walk around the gardens at your own pace
This ticket does not include the rides. If you decide you'd like to go on any attractions during your visit, you can purchase individual ride tickets inside the park.
If your main reason for visiting is to experience the Christmas market and soak up the festive atmosphere, a Gardens Entry ticket is likely to be all you need.
If you're planning to make the most of everything Tivoli has to offer, I'd recommend choosing the Gardens Entry + Unlimited Ride Pass.
This ticket includes everything in the Gardens Entry ticket, plus unlimited rides throughout the day.
You'll get:
● Entry to Tivoli Gardens
● Unlimited access to the rides (subject to height restrictions)
● Entry to the Christmas market
● Access to the festive decorations and light displays
● Seasonal entertainment and performances
● Access to the shops, cafés and restaurants
For us, the Unlimited Ride Pass was well worth the extra cost. We enjoyed several of the bigger rides during our visit, and if we'd paid for each one individually, it would have quickly worked out more expensive.
Once inside the park, simply scan your QR code at one of the wristband machines and you'll be given a wristband to use throughout the day. It only takes a minute and couldn't be easier.
For us, yes. When we were booking our tickets, we debated whether to buy a Gardens Entry ticket and pay for rides individually or spend a little extra on the Unlimited Ride Pass.
In the end, we chose the Unlimited Ride Pass and didn't regret it. We were able to jump on rides throughout the day without worrying about the cost of each one, and it gave us the flexibility to revisit our favourites after dark when the park looked completely different.
If you only want to explore the Christmas market, enjoy the festive atmosphere and browse the shops, a Gardens Entry ticket will probably be enough.
However, if you're travelling with children, teenagers or simply enjoy theme park rides yourself, I'd recommend paying the extra for the Unlimited Ride Pass. Individual rides can cost up to 90 DKK (around €12) each, so it doesn't take long before the Unlimited Ride Pass becomes the better value option.
Whether you're travelling with toddlers, teenagers or adults, there's genuinely something for everyone, which is one of the reasons we thought the admission price represented good value.
Our tip: Tivoli has more than 30 rides, ranging from gentle carousels and family attractions to some surprisingly thrilling rollercoasters. If you're visiting with children, I'd definitely recommend buying the Unlimited Ride Pass. They'll almost certainly want to go on multiple rides throughout the day, and paying individually can quickly become expensive. We stayed from opening until late evening and had no trouble getting our money's worth from the pass.
As soon as you walk through the entrance, it's easy to see why Tivoli Gardens is one of Europe's most popular Christmas attractions.
The gardens are filled with thousands of twinkling lights, beautifully decorated Christmas trees and festive displays around every corner. Wooden market stalls line the pathways selling gifts, decorations and seasonal food, while Christmas music and the smell of roasted almonds and mulled wine add to the atmosphere.
One of my favourite parts of the day was simply wandering around without a plan. Every area of the gardens feels slightly different, and it's worth taking your time to explore rather than rushing from one ride to the next.
Although Tivoli is beautiful during the day, I'd definitely recommend staying until after dark if you can. As the lights come on, the whole park feels even more magical, with the rides, lake and market stalls all beautifully illuminated.
Whether you're visiting for the rides, the Christmas market or simply to soak up the festive atmosphere, it's much more than just an amusement park.
One of the highlights of visiting Tivoli at Christmas is exploring the festive market stalls dotted throughout the gardens.
There are around 60 wooden stalls, selling a mix of traditional Danish Christmas gifts, handmade decorations and seasonal food. Unlike some Christmas markets where many of the stalls sell similar products, we found there was a good variety, making it enjoyable to wander around and browse.
You'll find stalls selling:
● Scandinavian Christmas decorations
● Handmade ornaments and candles
● Knitwear, hats and scarves
● Wooden toys and gifts
● Ceramics and homeware
● Local crafts and souvenirs
● Danish sweets and festive treats
● Mulled wine (gløgg) and other seasonal drinks
We thought the market had a more premium feel than many of the Christmas markets we've visited elsewhere in Europe. It felt less crowded with novelty stalls and much more focused on quality gifts, traditional decorations and local produce.
Even if you're not planning to buy anything, it's worth taking your time to explore. The stalls are beautifully decorated and are just as much a part of the experience as the rides and Christmas lights.
One thing that really surprised us during our visit was the variety of food available. Whether you're looking for a quick snack while exploring the Christmas market or a sit-down meal to warm up, there are plenty of options throughout the gardens.
As you'd expect, you'll find all the classic Christmas market favourites, alongside traditional Danish dishes and international cuisine.
Some of the festive treats available include:
● Gløgg (Danish mulled wine)
● Æbleskiver (Danish pancake balls)
● Caramelised almonds
● Flæskesteg (Danish roast pork sandwiches)
● Hot chocolate
● Gingerbread
● Fresh pastries
● Churros
Alongside the market stalls, there are also plenty of restaurants and cafés serving everything from Italian and Asian cuisine to traditional Danish dishes, burgers and steaks.
Although Copenhagen has a reputation for being expensive, we thought the prices at Tivoli were quite reasonable for a major tourist attraction.
● Two loaded hot dogs and a bottle of water: 144 DKK (around £17)
● Large churros with chocolate sauce and ice cream: 60 DKK (around £7)
The portions were generous, especially the churros, and we didn't feel like we were paying much more than we have at other European Christmas markets.
If you're visiting for the whole day, I'd recommend mixing a few festive snacks from the market stalls with one sit-down meal or a larger lunch. It worked well for us and meant we got to try a good variety of food throughout the day.
One of the biggest reasons Tivoli Gardens stands out from most Christmas markets is that it's also one of the world's oldest amusement parks.
There are more than 30 rides spread throughout the gardens, ranging from gentle attractions for young children to high-speed rollercoasters and thrill rides for older children, teenagers and adults.
We visited on a busy Saturday in December and were pleasantly surprised by the queue times. Even the most popular rides rarely had waits of more than around 30 minutes, so we managed to fit in far more than we expected.
If you're visiting with children, I'd definitely recommend buying the Unlimited Ride Pass. Tivoli is much more than a Christmas market, and the rides are a huge part of the experience. Paying individually can soon become expensive, whereas the ride pass lets you enjoy the park without constantly thinking about the cost of each attraction.
Some of the most popular rides include:
● The Demon rollercoaster
● The Golden Tower drop ride
● Aquila
● The Star Flyer
● The historic wooden Roller Coaster
● The Ferris Wheel
● The Flying Trunk
● The Little Dragon
● The Classic Carousel
There are attractions suitable for toddlers, younger children, teenagers and adults, making Tivoli a genuine family attraction rather than simply a theme park for thrill seekers.
Our tip: Stay until after dark if you can. The gardens are beautiful during the day, but once the lights come on and the rides are illuminated, the whole park feels even more magical. It's one of the highlights of visiting Tivoli at Christmas.
Definitely. This was actually our fourth trip to Copenhagen, but we'd never been inside Tivoli Gardens before. On each of our previous visits we'd walked straight past the entrance, thinking it was just another amusement park. Looking back, it's one of our biggest travel regrets.
Unlike Copenhagen's free Christmas markets, Tivoli combines a traditional Christmas market with a historic amusement park, making it one of the city's most unique festive attractions.
After finally visiting during the Christmas season, we couldn't believe what we'd been missing. It's so much more than a Christmas market. It's a beautiful amusement park filled with festive lights, Christmas decorations, live entertainment, fantastic food and over 30 rides for all ages. The atmosphere is unlike anywhere else we've visited.
If you're wondering whether the admission price is worth it, we'd say yes without hesitation. We arrived shortly after opening and stayed until late evening, and still felt like we could have spent even longer there.
Although we bought the Unlimited Ride Pass, you certainly don't have to spend the whole day on the rides. We loved wandering through the Christmas market stalls, stopping for food, taking photos of the decorations and simply soaking up the festive atmosphere. It really is a place where everyone can find something they enjoy.
Halloween is next on our list, as Tivoli is also famous for its spectacular autumn celebrations. That said, we'd happily return for Christmas again in a heartbeat. It genuinely feels like one of the best festive attractions in Europe and is somewhere we'd recommend to anyone planning a winter trip to Copenhagen.
One of the things we loved most about this trip was how affordable it turned out to be. Copenhagen has a reputation for being one of Europe's most expensive cities, but by booking flights early and choosing a budget-friendly hotel, we managed to keep costs much lower than we expected.
Here's what we paid per person for our one-night Christmas break.
● Return flights: £70
● Tivoli Gardens Unlimited Ride Pass: £47
● Hotel (1 night): £52
● Metro transfers: £7
Total: £176 per person
Food, drinks and any shopping were extra, but even after adding those in, we still thought Copenhagen offered good value for a festive weekend away.
We stayed at The Annex Copenhagen, just a few minutes' walk from Tivoli Gardens and Copenhagen Central Station. Although the hotel has shared bathrooms, they were modern, spotlessly clean and never busy during our stay. For the location and price, we'd happily stay there again.
When you compare the overall cost with many UK Christmas weekends, we actually thought Copenhagen offered excellent value, especially considering how easy it is to reach from the UK and how much there is to see and do in a short break.
Yes. We arrived shortly after opening and stayed until late evening, which gave us plenty of time to enjoy the Christmas market, ride the attractions, browse the shops and stop for food throughout the day. If you're visiting Copenhagen for a weekend, one full day at Tivoli is usually enough.
For us, definitely. Tivoli has more than 30 rides and individual ride tickets can soon add up. If you think you'll go on more than a few attractions, the Unlimited Ride Pass offers much better value and gives you the freedom to ride whenever you like.
Absolutely. Many visitors come just to enjoy the Christmas market, festive decorations, restaurants and atmosphere. A Gardens Entry Ticket gives you access to everything except the rides, which can be purchased individually if you decide to go on one or two during your visit.
Yes. Although Tivoli is popular with families, we saw plenty of couples and groups of friends enjoying the park without children. Between the Christmas market, restaurants, bars, live entertainment and thrill rides, there's plenty to keep adults entertained.
If possible, experience both. During the day it's easier to explore the market stalls and gardens, while after dark the thousands of Christmas lights transform the park into something truly magical. We thought the evening atmosphere was the highlight of our visit.
We'd recommend allowing at least six to eight hours, or ideally a full day. There's much more to see than many people expect, especially if you're planning to enjoy the rides as well as the Christmas market.
If you only have time to visit one Christmas attraction in Copenhagen, we'd choose Tivoli Gardens every time. Although the city's free Christmas markets are lovely, Tivoli offers far more than market stalls. Between the rides, festive entertainment, beautiful decorations and unique atmosphere, we thought it was one of the highlights of our entire weekend.
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