Tivoli Gardens: Nighttime Magic

Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark

Hoppy Easter, friends! A few days ago, we took a virtual trip to Tivoli Gardens, the world’s second oldest amusement park and one of the great park gems out there. Well, that was during the daytime. And Tivoli Gardens is beautiful enough just under the sun. But what truly makes this beloved attraction an charming and unforgettable icon is its transformation after dark. At night, Tivoli becomes a glowing and gleaming wonderland of lights and illumination, with an ambiance that is tailor-made to create lasting memories. Much like a Disney Magic Kingdom park, Tivoli evokes something enchanting and romantic under the stars. And today’s complement to last Tuesday’s update is going to show just why Tivoli Gardens is an absolute treasure in Copenhagen!

Classic Ambiance

Tivoli opened way back in 1843, which means it has nearly two hundred years of history behind it! Of course, much of the park isn’t quite that old, but there are plenty of elements that have persisted through the decades! From classic amusement park rides of early 20th century vein to the park’s lush gardens to classic cafes and verdant promenades, Tivoli Gardens carries the weight of a celebrated institution that has brought generations of families back for time-honored traditions.

The nighttime glow of the park is serene and soothing.

The park itself isn’t really separated into different, neatly organized themed lands, which is why it’s more of an amusement park than something on category with Disney. But it does have a lot of different themes around, celebrating various architectural styles and environments from all around the world, and maintaining a certain Scandinavian chic about itself.

What’s really great about the park is the sense of space and environment that it creates that is utterly transportive. In many parts of the park, architecture and thematic elements and trees and overhead archways frame views and enclose paths that evoke a feeling of discovery. There’s always something beckoning around a corner, enticing guests to continue on their way.

These arched light elements and whimsical carousel horses mounted against the rocks on the side of Rutschebanen are part of the park’s old school charm.

The rides help with this classic feel too. While Tivoli has its fair share of contemporary thrill rides, it also features a wonderful selection of almost antique (or antique style) amusement park rides. Each of them glow with warmth from the nostalgic globe lights that trace their forms. There are lights everywhere—overhead, along building facades, tracing ride structures, and more. It all imparts a feeling comfort and reassurance. Here, everything is safe and lovely and wonderful.

With brightly lit rides everywhere, Tivoli is incredibly photogenic at night!

Central Lawn & Garden Areas

Like I mentioned earlier, Tivoli doesn’t have clearly defined “lands” or other organizational geographical zones, so I’ve organized the rest of this photographic tour by general categories of themes that bind these various sectors of the park.

The main walkway near the entrance of the park.

The first is the area immediately around the Open Air Stage, which is effectively the central green space at the heart of the park. The way the park is laid out, guests actually reach this area fairly quickly and directly after entering the park and following a brief stroll down the main walkway. This front area of the park is lighter on amusement park rides. Instead, it is more emphatic on ambiance and relaxation.

There are plenty of cafes and rest areas that allow guests to sit down and take in the ambiance. The glow of everything all around harmonizes with the more naturalistic setting, and this part of the park is typically more tranquil—except for nights when outdoor concerts are gracing the actual Open Air Stage. From here, guests have glimpses of some of the park’s taller and more iconic highlights, such as its soaring Star Flyer and Golden Tower rides and classic Rutschebanen roller coaster.

The Nimb Hotel looks a bit gaudy when all lit up—kind of like a Christmas display—but it’s extravagant and stellar nonetheless!

The Open Air Stage on a non-concert night.

Although they’re not as prominent at night as they are by day, the actual gardens are still a lovely spot to stroll through. Beautiful grande fountains, caringly manicured planters, and a colorful assortment of flowers still catch the eye through the spring, summer, and even fall seasons. The mature trees that dot the pathways add to the naturalistic scene, which takes on a special feel in the evening hours.

Fountains and gardens create a lovely, green environment at Tivoli.

There are so many little almost hidden corners to the park.

At night, the various bistros and restaurants around the park are also often busy with dinner guests, not unlike the evening scene in any European city. Guests sitting outside, enjoying a delicious meal, taking in the atmosphere, are not an uncommon sight throughout the park. There’s a casual cosmopolitan feel at some of these restaurants, but one that maintains a sense of glamour as well!

I’m not sure this restaurant exists anymore, but I did love the modernist style of some of the buildings at Tivoli—quite Scandinavian!

The Asian Section

The closest thing to a cohesive theme at Tivoli Gardens occurs at the back of the park, where the park’s Asian-inspired attractions reside. Dæmonen—The Demon—is a highlight, but the marvelous reflections along the lake give an even greater touch of romance to the setting. The Japanese Tower authentically styled pagoda is traced in green, red, and yellow accents, coloring its iconic form in light. Lights running along the flower beds cast the hues of the florals around as well.

The Japanese Tower and its reflection look stunning at night.

The Golden Tower and Dæmonen help fill out the park skyline.

At Dæmonen, the theme shifts into more of a directly Chinese aesthetic, with red hanging lanterns and a might, swirling Chinese dragon seemingly floating above the pathway overhead. Red—the color of prosperity—is cast everywhere, and it’s complemented nicely by the pretty purple tracer lights that run along the roller coaster itself. During earlier evening hours, the dining areas are often full of people enjoying quick serve meals, evoking the night markets of Asia. It’s actually pretty impressive how cohesive and thorough the theming is!

The Demon coils tightly around this little China-inspired section.

The glowing lanterns and hanging dragon are excellent photo fodder.

it was even a bit rainy on one of the nights I was there, offering even better scenes!

Just adjacent to the “Asia” area is a part of the park that takes on a more Middle Eastern feel. This seems geographically appropriate, since right next to East Asia is West Asia. The theming and ambiance is not quite as sprawling or in-depth here—it lies mostly in the aesthetic of a couple of rides and a snack booth—but it’s enjoyable nonetheless.

Vertigo on the right, the Golden Tower on the left.

Tivoli Illuminations

Each night, Tivoli Gardens also has its own nighttime water fountain extravaganza, similar to World of Color at Disney California Adventure. The difference here is that Tivoli Illuminations actually predates the DCA spectacular by nearly a decade. Opened in 2002, Tivoli Illuminations is also much smaller in scope than World of Color and less formal. There are viewing areas in several places all around the lake, and the show is more artistic in nature rather than storytelling.

The world is a carousel of col—wait, sorry, wrong park.

Still, the music is epic and thrilling, and the sights and sounds offer a dazzling delight. With colorful fountains, fog effects, lasers, and even some fire, this show is a terrific way to cap off a magical night in the park, and it is sure to leave a smile. For best viewing angles, go to the viewing area near the Vertigo thrill ride or the bridge that connects the Orangerie theater with the Asian-themed area.

The show is shorter and less extravagant than World of Color, but still a fun spectacle!

And there you have it, a special, sparkling look at one of the great amusement parks of the world, in all its nighttime glory. It’s one of my favorite parks in the world, ranking only behind the more prominent Disney parks and Universal Japan and Islands of Adventure, and I think it’s pretty obvious why it holds such high esteem.

Back when I visted in 2014, I came away thinking that this park represented an enhanced version of our beloved Knott’s Berry Farm at home. Both parks share plenty of similarities, from their historic character mixed with modern thrill rides to their stricly urban setting and relatively compact park layouts. But one thing that I appreciated about Tivoli was its sense of escapism absolutely everywhere throughout the park. At Knott’s, there are certain areas where you can’t help but notice the outside world. But at Tivoli, that’s all closed off. There are hardly any areas where guests can sense the presence of the streets bounding the park. So in that case, the park is very much like Disneyland.

Whatever comparisons you want to draw, one thing is for certain. Tivoli Gardens is a grand creation. And it’s one of those places that should be on the bucket list of any theme or amusement park enthusiast!

TIVOLI GARDENS AT A GLANCE

Name: Tivoli Gardens
Address: Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 København V, Denmark
Web Site: https://www.tivoli.dk/en/
Admission: 135 Danish Krone (adults 8+ yrs), 60 Danish Krone (children 3-7 yrs), FREE (children 2 yrs & under, disabled guests)
Hours: 11:00am - 11:00pm Mon. - Thu., 11:00am - 12:00am Fri. - Sat. (subject to change), spring through Christmastime
Metro Stop(s): København H (serves M3 & M4 Lines), Copenhagen Central Station (serves A, B, Bx, C, E, and H Lines)