Christmas at Tivoli 2019: It’s time to get festive
Gigantic trees, snow-covered market stalls, magical performances and all the gingerbread you can eat… When one of the world’s oldest amusement parks does Christmas, there’s no holding back!
Each year the traditional Christmas spirit comes alive at Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens, and the whole amusement park is transformed into one huge Christmas market. This year, the festivities are set to run right through until 5 January 2020.
Find out what’s in store at Tivoli this Christmas, and don’t forget to buy your entry tickets via Norwegian Reward, and earn CashPoints towards your next trip!
The Christmas market at Trainsbury Station
Take a magical journey at Trainsbury Station, which has been completely decked out for Christmas. Here you’ll find some cosy Danish-style ‘hygge’, alongside plenty of Christmas cheer.
There’s an old steam train with wagons full of stalls featuring goodies, Christmas decorations and gift ideas, while the station itself is decorated like an old-fashioned train, and offers some delicious Christmas food and hot drinks.
It’s safe to say that this is one of the best Christmas markets in Europe.
The Model Train
If you want to see even more trains, we recommend you check out the model train that runs around the water fountain. You can also put yourself in the driver’s seat of the Danish State Railway’s train simulator and take the steam locomotive on your own Christmas adventure.
Christmas trees and decorations
Thousands of glittering lights and twinkling Christmas trees can be seen across the Tivoli grounds, lighting up the winter darkness and bringing a sense of magic to the snow-covered gardens.
The main Christmas tree can be seen in all its glory in front of the Nimb Hotel. Here, a ten-metre high tree sparkles and gleams with over 3,000 Swarovski crystals.
And don’t miss the elegant light show over Tivoli’s lake, where every night the still waters are lit up with sound, fire, smoke, and lots of surprising effects, all choreographed to music from Tchaikovsky’s ‘The Nutcracker’.
Performances and entertainment
The Snow Queen
The performance of The Snow Queen premieres on 1 December with ballet, song and music. It’s a new adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale of the same name, featuring a story of friendship, courage, love and innocence, with a touch of sorcery, too!
This poetic story features over 40 dancers, and is recommended for the whole family, including international audiences. You might recognise it already, as Andersen’s tale was also the inspiration for Disney’s Frozen.
Children’s theatre and Christmas show
The Elf Patrol is this year’s Christmas musical at the Glass Hall Theatre. Performed in Danish, young and old alike will enjoy following the elves’ journey into the forbidden zone.
Other performances put on during the Christmas season are the English-language comedy The Three Brexiteers, which is loosely based on Alexander Dumas’s famous novel, The Three Musketeers, and The Great Christmas Show, featuring Danish pop singer Durhan G, and the renowned Danish Chamber Orchestra.
For more information and to buy tickets, take a look at the full programme of Tivoli Christmas events.
Lucia celebration
If you take a walk through Tivoli on 13 December, you can witness the beautiful Lucia parade, where over 100 carollers welcome Christmas with famous Christmas songs.
Tivoli Guard’s Christmas parade
Another parade worth following is the Tivoli Guard’s Christmas parade. These young musicians, aged between 8 and 16 years, march through Tivoli on Saturdays and Sundays in the run-up to Christmas.
The Guard, dressed in their classic red jackets and large bear skin hats, also travel around the world to showcase their talent.
It wouldn’t be Tivoli without rides
What’s a trip to Tivoli Gardens without a go on some of the fantastic rides and attractions? Aside from all the usual carousels, fun-houses and fast-paced wild rides, you’ll also be able to take a trip on The Milky Way Express this Christmastime, a revamped roller coaster opening 6 December 2019.
Honey Cake Castle
Have we forgotten to mention Santa? He’ll be accepting visits in his Tivoli grotto right up until 24 December, and while he does so, his elves will be hard at work baking the nicest gingerbread and honey cakes in the Honey Cake Castle.
The elves would like to have some help, so they’re inviting anyone with a sweet tooth to decorate their own honey cake hearts here.
Festive food and drinks
There are plenty of wonderful smells coming from the food stalls at Tivoli this Christmas. Some Danish goodies you can try are marshmallow snowballs, roasted almonds, æbleskiver (pancake balls), crullers, waffles and churros. And there’s plenty of hot chocolate, coffee and mulled wine to wash them down.
If you’d like to celebrate New Year’s Eve at Tivoli, there are lots of restaurants to choose from, but you’ll need to reserve a table in advance. The biggest celebration is held in Hans Christian Andersen’s castle, where dinner is finished off with a fabulous firework display followed by dancing.
If you have other plans for New Year’s Eve, a Christmas dinner in December is another option. You can choose your festive meal from a number of restaurants, which serve traditional Danish Christmas dishes like herring, duck or pork ribs, as well as other delectable delights.
Earn CashPoints with Norwegian Reward
If you’d like to experience Christmas at Tivoli, you can purchase entrance tickets with unlimited use of the attractions through Norwegian Reward and earn 15% CashPoints!
You’ll also earn CashPoints on air travel with Norwegian to Copenhagen and on hotels and car rental.