Tivoli at Christmas is included. Here is exactly what you get — and what to plan around it.
The Copenhagen Card covers Tivoli Gardens access during the Christmas season — one of Europe’s most visited festive experiences. It also covers every major indoor museum, all public transport, and on the Discover card, the airport metro. This guide covers what is included, what is not, and how to build a December visit worth the price of the card.
Both Discover and Hop cards include entry to Tivoli during the Christmas season — the lights, the market stalls inside the gardens, and the entertainment. Rides are not included and cost roughly €20–30 extra per person.
Every major indoor museum is included as normal — 80+ on Discover, 40+ on Hop. December is the quietest month for Copenhagen’s museums — shorter queues, no summer crowds.
The Discover card covers all public transport including the airport metro — useful if you’re flying in for a Christmas break. The Hop card covers the hop-on hop-off bus in the city centre only.
The outdoor Christmas markets at Nytorv, Kongens Nytorv, Nyhavn and Højbro Plads are free to everyone. The card covers transport to all of them but does not cover food, drinks, or market stall purchases.
Tivoli is Europe’s oldest amusement park and its Christmas incarnation is something genuinely different. The gardens are strung with over 100,000 lights, æbleskiver and gløgg stalls line the paths, and live entertainment runs most evenings. It is crowded on weekends — arrive at 4pm on a weekday as darkness falls and it is at its most atmospheric.
Beyond Tivoli, Copenhagen has several free outdoor markets that need no card at all. Nyhavn is decorated with lights and lined with wooden stalls — walk it in 20 minutes. Nytorv hosts a traditional Danish market in the city centre.
Kongens Nytorv has a market and an ice rink. Højbro Plads adds another cluster near Strøget. None of these charge entry, and the card covers transport to all of them on the Discover card.
The card’s real value at Christmas is the combination: Tivoli in the evening plus three or four museums during the day. December is the quietest month for Copenhagen’s museums — shorter queues, no summer crowds, and many permanent collections are at their best in winter light.
Opening dates run mid-November to late December, with a short reopening in early January. Check the Tivoli website for exact dates each year as they vary slightly.
One of Europe’s most visited Christmas experiences — 100,000+ lights, æbleskiver stalls, gløgg, an outdoor ice rink, live entertainment, and the historic gardens transformed for the festive season. Gardens entry is included on both Hop and Discover cards. Rides require separate tickets purchased at the park.
December is the quietest month for Copenhagen’s museums. All of these are covered by the card — pair them with an evening at Tivoli for a full day out.
A spectacular winter museum visit — the winter garden at the centre of the building is filled with palm trees and sculptures, creating a warm refuge from the December cold. French Impressionists, Egyptian antiquities, and Danish Golden Age paintings.
Denmark’s largest museum — Viking treasures, runic stones, medieval artefacts, and an excellent children’s wing. One of the best full-morning options in December when the weather keeps you indoors.
Danish design and craft at its finest — the permanent collection includes furniture, textiles, ceramics, and fashion. Particularly relevant at Christmas given Denmark’s tradition of considered, minimal festive design.
The Danish Crown Jewels and 400 years of royal history — the castle is particularly dramatic in winter when the surrounding gardens are bare and the interior feels more intimate. One of Copenhagen’s most visited attractions year-round.
Both open from 10am (Design Museum from 11am on some days — check ahead). The National Museum suits history lovers; Design Museum Denmark suits those interested in craft and interiors. Allow two hours for either. Both are a short walk or metro ride from Central Station.
On the Discover card, the train to Kronborg Castle is included — 40 minutes each way, dramatic in winter light, rarely crowded in December. Leave by noon to be back in Copenhagen by 3pm. On the Hop card, use this time for Rosenborg Castle or Glyptoteket instead.
Show the card QR code at the entrance — no queue for a ticket window. Darkness falls around 3:30–4pm in December, which is when the 100,000+ lights switch on and the gardens reach their most spectacular. Allow two to three hours. Gløgg and æbleskiver are available throughout the gardens — budget around €8–12 per person for food and drinks.
After Tivoli, take the metro or bus to Nyhavn — free entry, no card needed, decorated with lights along the historic canal. Nytorv market is five minutes on foot from Kongens Nytorv metro. Both markets wind down around 9–10pm. The Discover card covers all transport; the Hop card covers the hop-on hop-off bus which stops near Nyhavn.
Yes — if you plan museum visits alongside Tivoli. Tivoli alone (€20) does not justify the card price on its own. Add three or four museums at €14–26 each and the card breaks even quickly. On the 48-hour Discover card at $133 (€115) for one adult: Tivoli (€20) + National Museum (€16) + Glyptoteket (€16) + Design Museum (€16) = €68. Add the airport metro return (€14) and you are at €82. One more attraction — Rosenborg, say — takes you to €98, well past break-even. The card pays off by lunchtime on day two.
The Discover card is the better choice for most Christmas visitors — especially anyone flying into Copenhagen Airport. The airport metro is included, which saves €14 per adult return. Add that to the museum savings and the card justifies itself before you reach Tivoli.
The Hop card works if you are already in Copenhagen, have no need for the airport metro, and plan to stay in the city centre. It still covers Tivoli and 40+ city museums — the maths works for a dense two-day itinerary. Use the full worth-it breakdown to run your own numbers.
Three options cover most Christmas trips. See our duration guide for a full breakdown.
A 24-hour card ($91 / €79 Discover, $93 / €80 Hop) works if your visit is genuinely one day — Tivoli plus the National Museum and Glyptoteket gets you to break-even. But most Christmas visitors find 48 hours more comfortable. See the full duration guide before choosing.
Yes — gardens entry to Tivoli during the Christmas season is included on both the Discover and Hop cards. You show the QR code in the app at the entrance. Rides inside Tivoli are not included and require separate tickets purchased at the park, costing roughly €20–30 per person. See the full Tivoli guide for more detail.
All outdoor Copenhagen Christmas markets are free to enter — Nyhavn, Nytorv, Kongens Nytorv, and Højbro Plads charge nothing at the gate. The card covers transport to all of them on the Discover card (metro and buses) and via the hop-on hop-off bus on the Hop card. The only market where you use the card for entry is Tivoli Gardens.
No. The Copenhagen Card covers admission to attractions — it does not cover food, drinks, or purchases at any market stall, inside Tivoli or outside. Budget separately for gløgg, æbleskiver, and any gifts. A reasonable food budget for an evening in Tivoli is €15–25 per person.
Most of Copenhagen’s major museums are open in December, with one consistent pattern: many close on Mondays. Open Tuesday through Sunday: National Museum, Rosenborg Castle, Glyptoteket, Design Museum Denmark. Frederiksborg Castle is open every day including Mondays. Check the winter guide for a full list with opening hours.
It can be. Roughly half the card’s museums close on Mondays — including Rosenborg, Glyptoteket, and the Design Museum. If your only day is a Monday, plan around Tivoli (open daily during the Christmas season), Frederiksborg Castle, and the free outdoor markets. Avoid scheduling museum-heavy days on Mondays. See the duration guide for itinerary tips.
Discover if you are flying into Copenhagen Airport — the airport metro return alone saves €14 per adult, and the card adds unlimited transport and 80+ attractions including Kronborg and Louisiana. Hop if you are already in the city and have no airport transfer to make — it still covers Tivoli and 40+ museums. Both cards work for Christmas; Discover covers more ground. See the full worth-it breakdown.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before use. Activate in the app when you are ready — not when you buy.
Prices from $91 (€79) · Both Discover and Hop available · See all prices →