Tivoli Gardens facts for kids

This article is about Tivoli (disambiguation)|Tivoli. For other uses, see Tivoli Gardens (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids
Tivoli Gardens
Attractions
The entrance to Tivoli
Location	Copenhagen, Denmark
Coordinates	55°40′25″N 12°34′06″E / 55.67361°N 12.56833°E / 55.67361; 12.56833
Opened	15 August 1843; 181 years ago (1843-08-15)
Owner	Tivoli A/S
Operated by	Tivoli A/S
General manager	Lars Liebst (current) Susanne Mørch Koch (from 1 September 2020)
Attendance	4.6 million in 2016
Total	25
Roller coasters	4
Water rides	2

Welcome to Tivoli Gardens, often just called Tivoli! This amazing amusement park and garden is located right in Copenhagen, Denmark. It first opened its doors on August 15, 1843. This makes Tivoli the third-oldest operating amusement park in the world! Only Dyrehavsbakken (also in Denmark) and Wurstelprater in Austria are older.

Tivoli is super popular! In 2017, about 4.6 million people visited. This makes it the most visited amusement park in Scandinavia. It's also one of the most popular seasonal parks globally, right after Europa-Park. Plus, it's the fifth most visited park in all of Europe. You can find Tivoli right in the heart of Copenhagen, next to the main train station.

Discovering Tivoli's History
Exciting Rides at Tivoli
Entertainment and Shows
Images for kids
See also

Discovering Tivoli's History

How Tivoli Began

When Tivoli first opened, it was called "Tivoli & Vauxhall." The name "Tivoli" came from a famous garden in Paris. That garden was named after a town near Rome, Italy. The "Vauxhall" part was inspired by Vauxhall Gardens in London. Tivoli is even mentioned in books like Number the Stars by Lois Lowry!

The person who created Tivoli was Georg Carstensen. He got permission from King Christian VIII to build the park. He told the King that "when people are having fun, they don't think about politics." The King agreed and let Carstensen use a large area of land. This land was outside the city walls at the time.

Early Attractions and Music

From the very start, Tivoli had many cool things to see and do. There were buildings that looked like they came from faraway lands. You could find a theater, places for bands to play, and lots of restaurants. Beautiful flower gardens filled the park. There were also early amusement rides, like a merry-go-round and a simple scenic railway.

When night came, colorful lamps lit up the gardens. On special evenings, amazing fireworks shows happened. You could see the fireworks reflected in Tivoli's lake. This lake was once part of the city's old defense system.

An aerial photo showing the park from above.

Hans Christian Lumbye was Tivoli's music director for many years. He was inspired by composers who wrote waltzes. Lumbye became known as the "Strauss of the North." Many of his songs were inspired by the gardens themselves. Today, the Tivoli Symphony Orchestra still plays his music.

The Pantomime Theatre

In 1874, a new Chinese-style Pantomimeteatret (pantomime theatre) was built. The audience stands outside, and the stage is inside the building. The theater's "curtain" is a mechanical peacock's tail!

This theater has always shown Italian pantomimes. These shows feature characters like Cassander (the old father), Columbine (his daughter), Harlequin (her lover), and the funny servant Pierrot. These shows don't have spoken words, which is great because visitors from all over the world can enjoy them!

Tivoli's Spirit of Change

Tivoli is always changing and adding new things. But it also keeps its old charm and traditions. Georg Carstensen once said, "Tivoli will never, so to speak, be finished." Many years later, Walt Disney said something similar about his own park, Disneyland. He said Disneyland would "continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world." This shows how Tivoli inspired other famous parks!

In some languages, like Danish and Norwegian, the word tivoli has even come to mean any amusement park.

Exciting Rides at Tivoli

The Dragon Boat lake with Dæmonen roller coaster in the background.

Tivoli has many thrilling rides! Let's explore some of them.

Roller Coasters

The Roller Coaster (Rutschebanen): This is a famous wooden roller coaster built in 1914. It's one of the oldest wooden roller coasters still running today! An operator rides along to control its speed. It's known as an ACE Coaster Classic.
The Demon (Dæmonen): This steel roller coaster is super fast! It has an Immelmann loop, a vertical loop, and a zero-G roll. The ride lasts less than two minutes. In 2017, you could even add a virtual reality experience to feel like you were flying through ancient China!
The Camel Trail (Kamelen): This steel coaster opened in 2019. It goes up to 26 km/h (16 mph) on a 60.2 m (197.5 ft) track. It's a smaller ride, perfect for kids aged 2 and up.
The Milky Way Express (Mælkevejen): This powered coaster opened in 2019. It reaches 36 km/h (22 mph) on a 312 m (1025.4 ft) track. It's also suitable for children aged 2 and up.

Other Thrilling Rides

Aquila – This giant swing and spinner ride opened in 2013. It can create forces up to 4 Gs! You need to be at least 1.2 m (3.9 ft) tall to ride.
The Bumper Cars – A classic ride that has been around since 1926.
Fatamorgana – This tall hybrid ride opened in 2016. It's the first of its kind in the world! It offers two ways to ride: a milder version or a thrilling one where you're spun around at high speed.
The Golden Tower – A Turbo Drop tower that opened in 1999. It lifts you 63 m (207 ft) high before a quick drop!
The Skyship (Himmelskibet) – This is an 80 m (262 ft) tall sky flyer ride that opened in 2006. It gives you amazing views of the city! You need to be at least 1.2 m (3.9 ft) tall.
Tik Tak – This spinner ride opened in 2018. It spins you through "time and space" both vertically and horizontally at high speeds!

Fun for Younger Kids

Tivoli also has many rides just for younger children:

The Astronomer (Astronomen) – Space-themed roundabout boats.
The Blue Sapphire (Den blå Safir) – A mini Ferris wheel.
The Animal Carousel (Dyrekarrusellen) – A classic carousel from 1920.
The Dragon Boats (Dragebådene) – You get to pilot your own boat on the water!
The Flying Suitcase (Den Flyvende Kuffert) – A dark ride inspired by H.C. Andersen's stories.
The Little Pilot – Airplanes that spin around.
The Panda (Pandaen) – A mini drop tower.
The Vintage Cars – On-track cars that opened in 1959.

Past Rides

Vertigo – This giant swing ride closed permanently in 2021. It was a looping plane ride where you could control your plane, reaching speeds of 100 km/h (62 mph).

Entertainment and Shows

Tivoli Gardens is not just about rides; it's also a big part of Copenhagen's cultural scene!

The Pantomime Theatre

Harlekin and Columbine performing at The Pantomime Theatre.

The Pantomime Theatre is an outdoor theater with a unique Chinese style. Its special front curtain looks like a peacock's tail and needs five people to operate! This theater mainly hosts classic Italian pantomime shows. It also features ballet and modern dance performances.

The Tivoli Youth Guard

The Tivoli Youth Guard is a group of boys and girls aged 8–16. They wear uniforms similar to the Royal Danish Guard, complete with tall bearskin hats! They give concerts, march in parades, and represent Tivoli at special events.

Live Music and Festivals

During the summer, Tivoli hosts a live music series called Fredagsrock (Friday Rock). Many famous bands and singers have performed here, both international and Danish.

Tivoli Gardens is also one of the many places that host concerts during the Copenhagen Jazz Festival.

Other Attractions and Events

The Tivoli Concert Hall – This hall hosts classical music concerts.
The Glass Hall Theater – This theater hosts music events and shows for kids.
Tivoli Aquarium – You can visit this aquarium located under The Concert Hall (extra charge).
Amusement Arcades – Play games and win prizes (extra charge).
Halloween Fest – A special event in October with spooky decorations.
Christmas Holidays – The park transforms into a magical Christmas wonderland in December.
Fireworks Shows – During the summer, there are amazing fireworks shows every Saturday night!