Christmas in Tivoli 2026, Copenhagen: dates, times

In Copenhagen, Christmas is celebrated above all in Tivoli, the historic amusement park right next to the central station. In Advent the gardens are filled with Christmas trees, strings of lights and wooden stalls, and the rides keep running. The short answer for 2026: according to Tivoli's official calendar, Christmas in Tivoli runs from Friday 13 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. It is open every day except Christmas Eve, 24 December.

Christmas in Tivoli 2026: dates

Dates and times from Tivoli's official website and opening calendar (see sources), as of October 2026.

With 52 days, Christmas in Tivoli has one of the longest seasons of the big Christmas markets in Europe:

Season: calendar days from the first to the last day, including closed days.

Opening times

Unlike most markets in Germany and Austria, Tivoli stays open between Christmas and New Year: on 25 and 26 December and right up to 3 January. On New Year's Eve the gardens are open until midnight, and Tivoli celebrates the turn of the year with fireworks.

What to expect at Christmas in Tivoli

The gardens. Tivoli opened in 1843 and is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. At Christmas its paths, the lake and the old buildings are decorated with Christmas trees and thousands of lights, and the wooden stalls sell gifts, sweets and warm drinks. It is at its most beautiful after dark, which in Copenhagen in December means from mid-afternoon.

The rides. According to Tivoli, all rides are open during the Christmas season, plus two special Christmas rides for children, the Elf Train and the Forest Carousel. Children can also visit Santa in his house in the gardens.

What to eat and drink. Look out for gløgg, the Danish mulled wine served with raisins and almonds, and æbleskiver, small round pancakes with jam and icing sugar. Tivoli's restaurants serve Christmas lunch and dinner; for the busy December weekends, book a table in advance.

A ticket, not a free market. Unlike most Christmas markets in Europe, Tivoli has an entrance fee. Rides are paid separately or with a ride pass. If you plan to come back several times, look at the season pass on Tivoli's website; Tivoli tickets^* are also sold on Tiqets.

When to go

• Weekday afternoons are the calmest. Friday and Saturday evenings in December are the busiest.
• From about 15:30 it is dark in December, and the lights come on – arrive in the afternoon to see Tivoli by day and by night.
• Between Christmas and New Year Tivoli is open again from 25 December, which makes Copenhagen a good choice for a trip over the holidays.
• 24 December is the only day of the season when Tivoli is closed.

Getting there

Tivoli is right opposite Copenhagen Central Station (København H), so you can step off the train straight into the gardens. From Copenhagen Airport the train runs to the central station in about a quarter of an hour. From Hamburg and Germany there are direct trains to Copenhagen; train connections to Copenhagen^* can be compared on Omio.

If you arrive on the day you leave, or only have a few hours between trains, you can use luggage storage near Copenhagen station^* (Radical Storage).

Where to stay

The area around Tivoli and the central station is the most practical for a Christmas trip: you can walk to the gardens and take the train to the airport. Indre By, the old town between Strøget and Nyhavn, puts the classic sights within walking distance but is expensive. Vesterbro, just behind the station, has more cafés and restaurants and is often a little cheaper. For the Advent weekends and New Year, book early.

More than Tivoli: Copenhagen in winter

Between visits to Tivoli, Copenhagen is easy to explore on foot. Walk along Strøget and its Christmas lights to Nyhavn with its colourful gabled houses, see the changing of the guard at Amalienborg and visit Rosenborg Castle with the crown jewels. On a cold day, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek opposite Tivoli and the National Museum are good options. Our ready-made three-day plan for Copenhagen combines Nyhavn, the palaces and Christianshavn – read more in how many days in Copenhagen.

Weather in December

Copenhagen is dark, damp and windy in December rather than very cold: on average about 5.7 °C by day and 2.7 °C at night, with 61 mm of rain over the month (ERA5, 2015–2024, see our guide to the best Christmas markets in Europe). Snow is possible but does not usually stay long. Pack a waterproof jacket, a warm hat and gloves.

Denmark is in the EU, so EU mobile plans work there without extra roaming charges. Travelling from outside the EU, for example from the UK, a travel eSIM for Denmark^* (Airalo) is usually cheaper than roaming; our eSIM price index compares the prices per gigabyte.

How YesTrip helps

Add Copenhagen and your travel dates to a trip in YesTrip: the AI day plan puts Tivoli, Nyhavn and the palaces into a sensible order on a map, the forecast shows the weather for your actual travel days, and the packing list suggests warm and waterproof clothes to match. If you want to combine two cities, the Tallinn Christmas market 2026 also stays open into January, and the Hamburg Christmas markets 2026 are a direct train ride away.

Copenhagen trip planDay by day, with map and tips

Also for the same trip: Stockholm Christmas markets 2026, Lübeck Christmas markets 2026.

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