Tivoli Gardens is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. Today it is on the must-see list of just about everyone who comes to Copenhagen. Throughout the park's 15 acres, you will be able to find something for everyone in your party.

European pleasure gardens were what inspired Tivoli’s founder Georg Carstensen (1812-1857) to build this beautiful entertainment complex. In 1841, he applied to King Christian VIII to build "Tivoli & Vauxhau" for 5 years. The gardens opened in August of 1843. The original plans included formal gardens, trading posts, a concert pavilion, a theater, a fireworks display platform, games, and restaurants. Today you can still find this and more at Tivoli. In 1944, Nazi sympathizers tried to break the sprits of the Danes by burning the buildings of Tivoli. Undaunted, temporary buildings were erected, and within a few weeks, Tivoli was back to its original beauty.

More than 3 million people visit Tivoli every summer. Today they have more than 20 rides of all types. They do have some older wooden roller coasters, but nothing in the way of hyper-coasters. They have 36 different restaurants on the grounds. Throughout the summer, a number of concerts and performances are held. The gardens boast an impressive display of more than 100,000 blooms.

A few years ago, they opened up Tivoli in the winter for Christmas visitors, and it has become a popular event. Christmas in Tivoli is celebrated from mid-November until the end of December. At that time, Tivoli is truly a beautiful place to be. You can ice skate on Tivoli Lake. They have various shows through the gardens, including a performance of The Nutcracker performed by the Royal Danish Ballet. One of the display halls becomes an incredibly cute gnome village with about 20 different gnome villages. The days are shorter and the lights of Tivoli get to twinkle a little longer.

We were here during this time, and it was simply amazing. There were lights everywhere. Even in the winter, there were still beautiful blooms all over the place. The gnome village was simply adorable. Fire barrels can be found everywhere to warm you up before you move on to the next spot. Being here, I felt as if I had been transported to a page out of a fairytale. It is simply just that charming.

The gardens were established over a century ago and the flowers, trees, and shrubbery are breathtaking in their beauty and those alone make a trip to Tivoli Gardens worthwhile.

If you want more of a thrill, the wide selection of rides for all ages should prove more than sufficient for even the hardened amusement park visitor. And although Americans may find the roller coasters smaller than what they are accustomed to, the coaster rides themselves leave absolutely nothing to be desired. One of my favourite thrill rides is Valhalla, taking you back to the age of Vikings. Without spoiling the surprise, I think I can safely say that you'll have to take a minute to regain your footing when you exit this one.

For the slower rides, the boats, sailing the lake in the center of the gardens is nice, relaxed, and quite romantic and the Pixie Train is a cute Scandinavian interpretation of Christmas elves.

If you are more inclined to let your kids rampage through the gardens on their own (don't worry, it is quite safe) while you play for keeps, there are scores of various prize-games to be played, including an arcade hall full of slots.

As evening falls, the sun sets on the park and the millions of lights go on, visit one of the many restaurants with menus that can satisfy anyone: burgers, hotdogs, and fries to filet mignon with a score of ethnic dining including Italian, Chinese, Yugoslavian, Greek, etc. etc. The prices vary from very affordable to rather expensive, but they all have one thing in common: they are fully worth what you pay.

After dinner, enjoy the beautiful garden in its night attire, lights sparkling everywhere, bathing the lake, the flowers, the buildings in beautiful lights and shades, turning Tivoli into a night wonderland. This is the perfect time for all those romantic rides or for quiet strolling through the park until the night ends with Tivoli's amazing fireworks.

A day in Tivoli is a day in a magic wonderland for all members of the family, young and old.

It costs 55 DKK ( about £5.50 ) to get in. The best entrance is the grand red-brick archway on Vesterobrogade, just down from the Radhusplasen ( town hall sqaure ). Most travel guides say it is not worth visiting it in the winter, but it takes a very hard soul not to be moved by the thousands of fairy lights, numerous Christmas stalls with the stallholders in festive costume, and gallons of glog that are in abundance during the run up to Christmas.

There is also a Christmas play ( in 2003, it was a production of "A Pain in the Neck" - a comedy based around Dracula! ) to see. It is worth pointing out that although there are many restaurants within the Gardens, the prices tend to be about 30% dearer than outside the gardens and should really be avoided.

Also, all the amusement rides are not free, but must be paid for with tokens purchased in the park; these, again, are quite expensive, but this does not detract from the glorious innocence the Gardens still exudes, and it will delight anyone still young at heart.