Copenhagen with Kids: 3-Day Family Itinerary (Tivoli, Aquarium & More)
Copenhagen: Tivoli Gardens Entry Ticket
Planning a family visit to Copenhagen: what you need to know first
Copenhagen is one of the genuinely good cities for families. It is compact, has excellent public transport with pram-accessible stations and buses, and the main family attractions — Tivoli, Den Blå Planet aquarium, and Experimentarium — are all world-class. What it is not is cheap. A family of four (two adults, two children) can expect to spend 2,500–4,500 DKK per day on attractions, food, and transport, depending on how carefully they plan.
This 3-day itinerary is built for children aged approximately 4–14. Families with toddlers should read the notes on pram access and nap logistics. Families with teenagers may want to add Copenhill (ski slope on a waste facility roof), the Meatpacking District evening, or a bike tour.
One logistics note before you start: book Tivoli and Den Blå Planet tickets online in advance, especially in July and August. Both sell out on peak days, and online prices are typically 20–30 DKK cheaper than gate prices.
Day 1: Tivoli Gardens and Vesterbro
09:00 — Arrive at Tivoli when the gates open
Tivoli Gardens opens at 11:00 most days (10:00 on some school holiday days — check the calendar). Arrive 10 minutes before opening. The queue for popular rides — the wooden roller coaster Rutschebanen, the Dæmonen, and the Aquila swing tower — is manageable at opening and doubles by noon.
Entry tickets:
- Adults: approximately 195 DKK
- Children (3–7): approximately 100 DKK
- Children under 3: free
- Unlimited rides wristband (all rides, all day): approximately 320 DKK for adults, 275 DKK for children
If your children are ride-focused, the unlimited wristband pays off within 4–5 rides. If they are more interested in the gardens, live entertainment, and carousel than thrill rides, pay per ride (tokens sold at machines inside, around 40–65 DKK per ride).
Book Tivoli Gardens entry tickets online Tivoli unlimited rides ticket — skip the queue and ride all day09:00 — Inside Tivoli: what to prioritise with children
For ages 4–8: The vintage carousel (Karusellen) from 1895, the Merry-Go-Round, the Mirror Maze, the pantomime theatre (free performances, check daily programme), and the Ferris wheel. The Star Flyer (a towering swing ride, 80 m) is technically suitable for younger children but visually intimidating — assess on the day.
For ages 9–14: Rutschebanen (wooden roller coaster, one of the world’s oldest at 100+ years, operators ride alongside and hand-brake each car — unique experience), Dæmonen (inverted coaster), Aquila (360-degree swinging ship), and the bumper cars.
Practical tip: The Tivoli Boy Scouts run a free bag check at the main entrance. Use it — pushing prams through ride queues is impossible.
12:30 — Lunch inside Tivoli
Tivoli food is expensive. A family lunch inside will cost 600–900 DKK. The cheaper options:
- The food stalls near Vesterbrogade entrance: fish cakes (around 70 DKK), hot dogs (60–80 DKK), falafel (75 DKK)
- Grøften (the old Danish restaurant): reliable, traditional, busy — a sit-down meal runs 150–200 DKK per adult, 80–110 DKK children’s menu
- Bring food: Tivoli allows picnic food brought in. A supermarket (Netto or Irma) near the hotel, sandwiches and drinks, will cost 200–300 DKK for a family of four versus 700–900 DKK inside.
15:00 — Afternoon free time or second round
Children under 10 will need a break by 14:30–15:00. The King’s Garden (Kongens Have) and its playground is a 20-minute metro ride away — free, large, and central. For families staying at it, the Tivoli Lake and garden areas provide a calmer alternative to the ride zones.
18:00 — Tivoli at dusk
If you leave and come back with an evening re-entry, the mood shifts noticeably. Tivoli’s 100,000 lights turn on at dusk. The pantomime theatre does an evening performance. The queues for the major rides are actually shorter from 18:00–20:00 than they were at 13:00.
Tivoli closes at 22:00 on weekdays, 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Dinner: Vesterbro near the hotel
Walk 5 minutes west into Vesterbro for dinner. Avoid the restaurants immediately facing Tivoli (tourist pricing). Paludan Bogcafé (near Rådhuspladsen) is a books-and-café with children’s menu at 80–110 DKK. Wokshop Cantinen (Vesterbrogade) — Asian canteen, 100–150 DKK per adult, child portions available.
Day 2: Den Blå Planet aquarium and Kastrup afternoon
08:30 — Metro to Copenhagen Airport / Den Blå Planet
Den Blå Planet (the National Aquarium of Denmark) is in Kastrup, 2 minutes’ walk from Kastrup Metro station (M2 line, 20 minutes from central Copenhagen). Opening: 10:00. The architecture alone — a spiral building designed by 3XN, resembling a manta ray from above — is worth seeing.
Inside: the Ocean tank (one of Europe’s largest, sharks, rays, and tuna), the Amazon River section (piranhas, anacondas, river turtles), Arctic and North Atlantic zones, coral reef displays, and touch pools. Allow 2.5–3 hours for the full visit.
Tickets: approximately 185 DKK adults, 100 DKK children (3–11), free under 3. Covered by the Copenhagen Card.
Book Den Blå Planet aquarium tickets in advance11:00 — What children love most at Den Blå Planet
The touch pool (shallow tank with starfish and rays) consistently gets 20-minute queues on busy days — go there first. The Amazon rainforest section is genuinely immersive with overhead canopy and free-flying birds. The Ocean tank viewing tunnel lets children sit on the floor and watch sharks swim overhead.
Practical note: the café inside (Blå Planet Café) is reasonable — lunch for a family of four runs 450–600 DKK. There is a free picnic area outside with harbour views if the weather is good.
13:30 — Amager Strandpark or return to city
Amager Strandpark (Amager Beach) is 10 minutes from Den Blå Planet on foot or by a short bus ride. A 4.6-km blue flag beach with a lagoon section, playground, and beach volleyball. In summer (June–August), the water temperature reaches 18–22°C. A calm afternoon here resets children’s energy for the evening without spending more money.
Alternative if the weather is poor: Kastrup Fort (a 19th-century sea fortress, free, walkable from the aquarium) or take the metro back to the city and rest at the hotel.
16:00 — Rosenborg Castle for older children
For families with children aged 9 and above, Rosenborg Castle is worth fitting into the late afternoon. The crown jewels in the treasury — which include the Danish regalia, a solid gold throne, and jewels under close-range museum lighting — tend to impress children more than adults expect. The castle itself dates from 1606 and looks unmistakably like a fairy-tale castle.
Entry: 170 DKK adults, 90 DKK children (under 17 free for some national card types — check at the desk). The King’s Garden surrounding the castle is free and has an excellent playground near the south entrance.
18:30 — Dinner near Nørreport
Nørreport is the metro hub between Rosenborg and the city. The surrounding streets (Fiolstræde, Studiestræde) have mid-range restaurants. Café Nørreport has a children’s menu at 85–95 DKK. Riccos Coffee Bar (Fiolstræde) for after-dinner hot chocolate (65 DKK) — popular with Danish families.
Day 3: Experimentarium, Nørrebro neighbourhood, and a canal walk
09:30 — Experimentarium in Hellerup
Experimentarium is a hands-on science centre in Hellerup (15 minutes by S-tog from Copenhagen Central, or 20 minutes by bus from the city centre). It reopened in a completely rebuilt building in 2017 and is genuinely excellent — ranked among Scandinavia’s best science centres.
Key areas: the body exhibit (heartbeat listeners, lung capacity tests, optical illusions), the sustainability zone (wind tunnels, energy experiments), the playground for under-6s, and the outdoor science garden. Allow 3 hours; families with 8–12 year olds typically want 4+.
Tickets: approximately 230 DKK adults, 180 DKK children (3–17), free under 3. Covered by the Copenhagen Card.
Book Experimentarium tickets in advanceThe Experimentarium café is moderately priced (90–130 DKK per adult for lunch). The nearby Tuborg Harbour outside has a bench-and-waterfront lunch spot if you bring food.
13:00 — S-tog back and Nørrebro lunch
Return to the city. Nørrebro is worth a slow walk with older children who can walk 2–3 km without complaint. Jægersborggade is the most interesting street — independent shops, bakeries, craft coffee, and a friendly neighbourhood atmosphere. Lunch at Grød (porridge and grain bowls, 85–120 DKK, very popular with Copenhagen families) or any of the Lebanese and Turkish places on Nørrebrogade (80–110 DKK, generous portions).
15:00 — Nørrebropark and the lakes
Walk from Nørrebro to the Copenhagen lakes (Sortedamssøen, Peblinge Sø) — three artificial lakes running along the boundary of the old city. The 6-km lakeside path is flat, pram-accessible, and gives a view of the city not seen from the tourist circuit. Swans are consistently present (children’s reliable entertainment). This is free, unhurried, and genuinely how Copenhagen families spend afternoons.
16:30 — Nyhavn for the final late afternoon
Walk or take the metro to Nyhavn for the late-afternoon light. Children’s particular interest: the boats moored in the canal (some are open to board as museums — check the Nyhavn historic ships programme). Buy an ice cream cone (65–85 DKK from proper gelaterie — avoid the tourist-facing stalls that charge 95 DKK for a single scoop). Sit on the north quay (the unfashionable side, cheaper, better light in the afternoon).
18:30 — Final dinner: somewhere your family will actually enjoy
The honest recommendation for the final evening:
- With children under 8: MASH (Bredgade) for steakhouse and children’s menu, or The Laundromat Café (Elmegade, Nørrebro) for burgers and milkshakes in a book-filled café — both are family-tolerant in a way that Copenhagen’s trendy restaurants are not
- With children 9+: Bæst (Guldbergsgade, Nørrebro) for sourdough pizza and natural wine — not cheap (170–220 DKK per pizza) but one of the few genuinely good restaurants that works for family groups
- Budget option: Reffen street food market (open May–October) — 30 minutes by bus, a huge outdoor market with 50+ food vendors, seating on the waterfront, and enough variety that everyone finds something. Around 120–160 DKK per adult, less for children.
Practical family logistics
Pram and metro access
All M1/M2/M3/M4 stations have lifts. The S-tog (suburban rail) has step access at some stations — check before using if you have a large pram. Metro doors are wide enough for most standard prams. The harbour buses (routes 991/992, 26 DKK per journey) have large deck spaces for prams and bikes.
Copenhagen Card for families
The Copenhagen Card for 72 hours (adults: 1,099 DKK, children 3–11: 549 DKK) includes public transport and entry to 80+ attractions including Rosenborg, Christiansborg, Experimentarium, Den Blå Planet, and dozens more. For this 3-day itinerary, a family of two adults and two children spending as described above saves approximately 800–1,200 DKK with the card versus individual tickets. Calculate with your specific children’s ages and planned attractions.
Copenhagen Card: transport + 80 attractions includedSupermarkets for family food budgeting
Netto (cheapest), Fakta, and Irma (premium, good quality) are the main chains. A Netto or Fakta near any central hotel allows you to buy breakfast, picnic lunch, and snacks for a fraction of restaurant prices. Family-of-four breakfast from a supermarket: 150–200 DKK. Same breakfast at a hotel or café: 500–750 DKK.
Frequently asked questions about Copenhagen with kids
Is Copenhagen child-friendly?
Very much so. Copenhagen has an infrastructure built for children — wide pavements, pram-accessible public transport, generous family ticket pricing at most museums, and a culture where children in restaurants and cafés are expected and welcomed. The main friction points are cost (high across the board) and distances (the city spreads over a wide area, so a good metro or Copenhagen Card strategy is essential).
What age is Tivoli suitable for?
Tivoli has attractions for children from age 2 upwards. The carousel, mirror maze, and pantomime theatre work for very young children. Most thrill rides have height requirements — typically 100–120 cm for the larger coasters. Children aged 4–12 get the most from a full day; teenagers (13+) may find the pace slow by early afternoon unless they are ride-focused.
Is Den Blå Planet worth visiting with children?
Yes — it is consistently one of the best-reviewed attractions in Denmark. The touch pool, Amazon section, and shark tank are genuinely impressive. The building is outstanding architecture. The only caveat: it is in Kastrup, 20 minutes by metro, which makes it a half-day commitment. Do not combine it with a Tivoli day; give it its own day.
What is the Experimentarium and is it worth the price?
Experimentarium is a large hands-on science centre in Hellerup. It is the best science museum in Scandinavia for children aged 5–14. The price (roughly 180–230 DKK per person) is high but the quality justifies it — children typically spend 3–4 hours without getting bored. Covered by the Copenhagen Card.
How do I get around Copenhagen with a pram?
The metro (all lines) has lifts at every station. Airport-to-city metro runs every 4–6 minutes. The S-tog (suburban train) is less pram-friendly but manageable. Buses have designated pram spaces and are boarded at the front door. Taxis and Bolt/Uber accept prams — request an estate car (kombi) for large prams.
What are the free things to do in Copenhagen with children?
The King’s Garden and its playground (Rosenborg Castle area), Amager Strandpark (beach, free), the Copenhagen lakeside walk, Assistens Cemetery in Nørrebro (surprisingly pleasant, where Hans Christian Andersen and Søren Kierkegaard are buried — children tend to take this in their stride), the Royal Library waterfront (Black Diamond), Frederiksberg Gardens and the zoological gardens’ free outer perimeter, and the harbour promenade from Nyhavn to the Little Mermaid.
What should I know about eating out with children in Copenhagen?
Children’s menus exist at most family-oriented restaurants (typically 80–120 DKK for a main and juice). More upscale restaurants often lack children’s menus — call ahead or check online. Smørrebrød lunch restaurants (traditional open sandwiches) are usually not child-menu venues but the food (rye bread, fish, meat) is accessible and high quality. For picky eaters: Italian and burger restaurants are well-represented throughout the city.
Is there a LEGOLAND day trip possible from Copenhagen with children?
Yes — LEGOLAND Billund is in central Jutland, approximately 2.5 hours by train from Copenhagen (train to Vejle, bus to Billund). A full-day return trip is possible but long; staying overnight in Billund makes more sense for a LEGOLAND-focused trip. A dedicated LEGOLAND guide covers the logistics in full. For a 3-day Copenhagen family trip, LEGOLAND is an ambitious addition — consider it as a separate trip or as a 4th day extension.
How do I book Tivoli tickets and are they cheaper online?
Tivoli entry tickets bought online are typically 15–25 DKK cheaper than gate prices and allow you to skip the entrance queue. Tickets are available via the official Tivoli website or GetYourGuide. On peak days in July and August, online-only allocations can sell out — book the evening before at minimum, a week ahead for busy summer weekends. The unlimited rides wristband is also available online with the same advance-booking discount.
What is the best neighbourhood to stay in for a family visit to Copenhagen?
Vesterbro is the most practical for families — central (walking distance to Tivoli), well-served by metro and bus, with family-friendly supermarkets, bakeries, and restaurants. Mid-range hotels are cheaper here than in Indre By. Frederiksberg is the quietest and safest-feeling alternative, with excellent public transport connections and less tourist density. Avoid staying in Nyhavn — the location is pretty but noisy at night and hotel prices are inflated.
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