Thinking about Christmas markets brings to mind picturesque chalets, hot chocolate, mulled wine, warm chestnuts, chorals, ice skating, and artisanal gift ideas. And snow!
Montreal offers great outdoor entertainment during winter, including a few Christmas markets that are definitely worth the trip. But experiencing the magic of Christmas markets in Europe is still on my bucket list.
This morning, as I was reminiscing about our trip to Denmark, I decided to check out what Tivoli Gardens does during Christmas. It must be magical. And it seems it is!
As the name implies, Tivoli Gardens is an amusement park with a beautiful garden right in the heart of Copenhagen. Being in Denmark, the food is genuinely good, not just park good. No need to pay the park entrance fee to find a comfy spot to sit and eat at the bustling Tivoli Food Hall since there are street entrances. We went there twice on our trip because there are lots of choices and it’s cheaper than eating at normal restaurants.
To wrap up that history lesson, Walt Disney visited Tivoli Gardens, open since 1843, before creating Disneyland. You clearly notice how this visit greatly inspired Disney.
Several Christmas markets in other European countries are more well-known but living with two people who enjoy amusement parks, Christmas in Tivoli tops my list.
You can hunt little Elf and win a prize, see Father Christmas, watch two light installations (Fireflies and Luminous Planets), attend a Christmas Illuminations show, and admire all the lights spread out across the park.
The light, sound, laser, fire, smoke and water show is inspired by The Nutcracker with Tchaikovsky’s music as the golden thread.
It’s something we’ll definitely do one day. For now, my family and I will visit the local Christmas markets and experience the warmth and joy they bring us. On the plus side, it supports the local economy. Your best bet to know what’s going on at both Village de Noël (Atwater market) and Le Grand Marché de Noël de Montréal (Quartier des Spectacles) is to follow @noelmontreal on Instagram.
If you plan to visit Copenhagen, check out my neighbourhood guide.
+ photo credits: Tivoli Gardens
