Picture Copenhagen in 1843. Just outside the city ramparts, after dark, coloured lamps light the garden and the music of H. C. Lumbye is playing. That is how Tivoli looked from day one, and some of that magic is still there today.
The History of Tivoli Begins in 1843
The park was opened by journalist Georg Carstensen, who had seen amusement parks abroad and wanted Copenhagen to have one too. According to the story, he persuaded King Christian VIII by saying that “when the people are amusing themselves, they do not think about politics.” The first roller coaster lasted only seven seconds, yet it provoked both excitement and outrage. Among the first visitors was Hans Christian Andersen, who is said to have found inspiration at Tivoli for his fairy tale The Nightingale.
The Guard in Red
Carstensen founded the world’s first youth guard as early as 1844. The Tivoli Youth Guard wears black bearskin hats, red jackets and white trousers, parades through the gardens, and plays at the main entrance when the park opens for Easter. It is one of the sights that make the garden feel as if it has never changed.
The Curtain That Falls When the Show Begins
The oldest surviving building in the park is the Pantomime Theatre, now a listed landmark. Its front curtain is shaped like a peacock’s tail and, as Tivoli’s own website puts it, it is probably the only theatre in the world where the curtain falls as the performance begins. The programme features classical pantomimes and ballets.
The Garden That Inspired Disney
Walt Disney visited Tivoli in 1951, and according to several sources he found inspiration there for his future parks. Disneyland opened in 1955.
Easter and Christmas
At Easter, Tivoli opens to the music of the Tivoli Youth Guard at the main entrance, and children are welcomed by Rasmus Klump, Pingo and Flora, along with the pantomime figures Pierrot, Harlequin and Columbine. Staff line the main avenue with flags, a “cherished tradition.”
From 13 November to 3 January, the garden is dressed for Christmas: lights, decorated trees, snow-covered stalls, visits with Santa and the forest animals, and rides on the Elf Train and the Forest Carousel. The Youth Guard parades on Saturdays.
Halloween in Tivoli: Everything Waiting for You Until 1 November
This autumn the garden is decorated for a Halloween that is “scary, but still cosy.” The autumn garden is full of pumpkins and lights, and the programme is split between families and those who like a fright.
For families:
- Rasmus Klump’s Halloween show on the Open Air Stage
- Pumpkin carving at the Mill
- Visits with the witches in the Herb Garden
- Potion brewing at a giant cauldron
- A game of tag in the labyrinth
- The Little Ghost Train and The Witch’s Carousel
For those who love a scare:
- Villa Vendetta, an abandoned mansion in Tivoli Castle
- The Haunted House, in underground tunnels beneath the old wooden roller coaster
Halloween Illuminations light show: about eight minutes of lasers, fire, smoke and water on Tivoli Lake, set to music composed by Jeppe Kaas. Shows start every evening at 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 PM, with an extra 10:30 PM show on 23, 24, 30 and 31 October. It is best watched from the bridge across the lake or from in front of the Camel Trail. It is included in the price of a Tivoli entrance ticket.
“Halloween on the Mountain” shadow play: from sunset until closing, shadows of strange animals and creatures said to live under the mountain appear on its slopes. It is included in the price of a Tivoli entrance ticket.
Come in Costume Day, Sunday 1 November: from 11 AM, families are invited to come dressed up. From 11 AM to 4 PM there is face painting on the Gasoline Grill terrace, the “Halloween Hunt” (children in costume collect treats at stations around the garden, with maps at the Service Center and in Little Tivoli), and sweets are handed out while supplies last. Children must be in costume and accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over.
Food: sweets and autumn treats at the stalls, restaurants serving Danish, French bistro and Asian cuisine, and you can also picnic on the Lawn.
Visitor Information
- Address: Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 København V (right next to the Central Station)
- Dates: the Halloween programme runs until 1 November 2026
- Tickets: a Tivoli entrance ticket is required for everything. The light show, shadow play and Come in Costume Day are included in its price, with no extra charge. Prices and opening hours vary by day, so check the official website before you go.
- Contact: info@tivoli.dk, +45 3315 1001
