Tracing the Footsteps of Hans Christian Andersen in Copenhagen

When you’re in Denmark, it’s hard not to hear about Hans Christian Andersen. He is probably one of the most well-known Dane ever. Andersen might be a prolific writer of plays, novels, and poems, but he is best remembered for his fairy tales such as, “The Little Mermaid”, “Thumbelina”, “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, “The Ugly Duckling”, and many more. These fairy tales are not created just for kids. The underlying values and morals that the stories teach us make his works admirable.

If you’re a fan of H.C Andersen, you should spend a day following in the footsteps of this great man, and delve deep into fairy tale Denmark at the following fascinating sites.

H.C Andersen Fairy Tale House

Begin at H.C Andersen Fairy Tale House and see how his childhood in Odense unfolded. You’ll also learn about his moving to Copenhagen where he spent much of his adolescence, and his numerous journeys which served as inspiration for his fairy tales. The classics are exhibited with light and sound effects, making his world-renowned stories come to life.

H.C Andersen Fairy Tale House Details
Address: Radhuspladsen 57, 1550 Kobenhavn V
Opening Hours:
1 Jan 2017 to 14 Jun 2017 Sun-Thu 10am to 6pm. Fri & Sat 10am to 8pm.
15 Jun 2017 to 31 Aug 2017 10am to 10pm daily.
1 Sep 2017 to 31 Dec 2017 Sun-Thu 10am to 6pm. Fri & Sat 10am to 8pm.
Entrance Fees: 54DKK (adult), 36DKK (child between 4-11 years old), Free with Copenhagen Card

The Round Tower

For panoramic views of the city, take a little walk to The Round Tower. This 17th century tower and observatory Rundetaarn is Europe’s oldest functioning observatory. Though the tower is only 36 metres tall, you need to walk up a 209 metres long spiral pathway to get to the top for magnificent views of Copenhagen. You will also be lead to the library hall where H.C Andersen would often sit and write his fairy tales. The hall hosts art, culture, history, and science exhibitions now. There’s also a ‘floating’ glass floor hovering 25 metres above ground where you can see the tower’s core.

The Round Tower Details
Address: Kobmagergade 52A, 1150 Kobemhavn K
Opening Hours:
1 Jan 2017 to 30 Apr 2017 Mon, Thu-Sun 10am to 6pm. Tue & Wed 10am to 9pm.
1 May 2017 to 30 Sep 2017 10am to 8pm daily.
1 Oct 2017 to 31 Dec 2017 Mon, Thu-Sun 10am to 6pm. Tue & Wed 10am to 9pm.
Website: http://www.rundetaarn.dk/en/
Entrance Fees: 25DKK (adult), 5DKK (child between 5-15 years old), Free with Copenhagen Card

The Little Mermaid

This sculpture at Langelinje Pier was inspired by H.C Andersen’s fairy tale about a mermaid who gave up everything to be united with a prince on land. Unveiled on 23 August 1913, The Little Mermaid is now more than 100 years old. In the fairy tale, the little mermaid swims to the surface from the bottom of the sea and perch herself on the rock, staring longingly towards the shore hoping to catch a glimpse of her beloved prince every morning and evening.

The Little Mermaid was a gift from Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen to the City of Copenhagen. He fell in love with the character after watching a ballet performance based on the fairy tale at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen. He was so mesmerized by both the fairy tale and the ballet that he commissioned the sculptor Edvard Eriksen to create the sculpture of the mermaid.

The Little Mermaid is located at Langelinie, 2100 Kobenhavn O.

Nyhavn

The colourful houses lining the quays of Nyhavn and vibrant atmosphere attract huge crowds. It’s a must-see on any visit to Copenhagen. H.C Andersen spent most of his life living in 3 different houses here, and wrote many popular fairy tales overlooking the harbour in Copenhagen’s centre. He used to live in house number 20 where he wrote “The Princess and the Pea”, “The Tinderbox”, and “Little Claus and Big Claus”. He also lived twenty years in house number 67 and two years in house number 18.

House number 9 is the oldest house in the area dating back to 1681, and amazingly, the design of the house has not been altered since that time. Here’s a little history on Nyhavn – it was originally a busy commercial port where ships from worldwide would dock, hence the area was packed with sailors, ladies of pleasure, pubs and alehouses. Today, the houses have been given a splash of refreshing colours, renovated and now house classy restaurants and cafes.

I would recommend getting superb churros from Rajissimo, and enjoying it by the quayside. Well, if you prefer savoury bites, just grab a hotdog from any of the hotdog stands lining the quayside. Just key in “Nyhavn 1-71, 1051 Kobenhavn K” on your GoogleMap and you’ll get directions to this lovely area! More information can be found at https://www.nyhavn.com/.

I only spent 4 days in Copenhagen, so I was unable to cover all the places that are linked to H.C Andersen. If you have more time, it will be interesting and fun to check out his childhood home on the beautiful island of Funen, only an hour from Copenhagen. You can also visit Holsteinborg Castle that’s less than 2 hours from Copenhagen. The Count and Countess living there then, extended an invitation to H.C Andersen, who visited them every year until his death. There’s also the King’s Garden in the grounds of Rosenborg Castle. This park is famous for H.C Andersen’s statue. Hope you’ll have fun learning about this amazing man in Copenhagen!