Straight out of fairy tales: A guide to the wonders of Copenhagen

Denmark’s capital is filled with history, charm, mold-breaking architecture and design. There is superb food and drink, and a dash of magic to bring it all together to create an unforgettable city break.

Copenhagen’s allure is enduring and is just as inspiring today as it has been for centuries. It’s atmospheric harbor quays have long inspired writers such as Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) who spent most of his life in the city. Andersen, although a prolific writer of novels, plays and poems, is best known for his fairy tales, such as The Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen, and The Emperor’s New Clothes, all which have enchanted children of many generations. But Copenhagen has not only inspired fairy tales with its magical surroundings, but also more serious narratives, such as Hamlet by none other than the Bard himself, William Shakespeare.

Follow in the footsteps of fairy tales, history and enchanting surroundings, and let Copenhagen inspire you.

The Little Mermaid

Copenhagen’s best-known sight is also its smallest one. The Little Mermaid is just over one meter tall, but has been the symbol of Copenhagen since it was installed in 1913. It was inspired by the fairy tale of the same name by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. First published in 1837, it tells the story of a mermaid emerging from the waves every day to watch human life on land, longing to be part of it. The sculpture was created by Edvard Eriksen and sits on the coastal stretch of the Langelinie Promenade. This popular walkway is situated alongside the Kastellet citadel, which dates back to the early 1600s.

Nyhavn

Just a few hundred meters from the Little Mermaid is Nyhavn, known for its colorful houses. Even though called New Harbour, Nyhavn dates back to the 17^th century, when its waterfront pubs and bars were as packed with sailors as they are today with locals and visitors. Utterly photogenic, this area is full of charm and atmosphere, so much so that Hans Christian Andersen spent much of his working life alongside Nyhavn’s quay. He wrote numerous fairy tales, such as The Princess and the Pea, when living at number 20. Not one for relocating far away, he also lived at number 67, as well as at number 18. To find out more about the life and work of Hans Christian Andersen, visit the Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tale House near the town hall.

Kronborg Castle

You might not call Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, a fairy tale, but seeing the actual castle which inspired the tragedy, is still quite magical. Lying less than 50 kilometers outside of Copenhagen, Kronborg Castle is called Elsinore in the play, after the town of Helsingor, where the castle is located, and whose English name is, in fact, Elsinore. Its origins dating back to 1420, Kronborg Castle is located on a perfect spot protruding into the Oresund Strait, within touching distance of Sweden. Now a Unesco heritage site, the Renaissance castle is full of history and magnificent interiors. It’s not surprising that it inspired a world-renowned play, although whether Shakespeare ever visited in person is still unknown. In the summer, during the annual Shakespeare Festival, you can watch performances of Hamlet within the castle’s grounds.

Tivoli Gardens

Opened in 1843, Tivoli Gardens is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. The oldest lies in Bakken, roughly halfway between Copenhagen and Kronborg Castle, and dates to 1583. Tivoli Gardens, right in the heart of Copenhagen, however, is more famous, and inspired not only Hans Christian Andersen, who lived and wrote just down the road, but also Walt Disney. It could be dismissed as a ‘theme park’ at first glance, but it is, as the name suggests, more of a garden than an amusement park. While there are thrilling rides and old-fashioned carousels, you can also find magical gardens, a lake with a Japanese pagoda, temples, and stages for ballet and other performances, plus some seriously good restaurants. The place turns on its full charm at night, when the entire garden is decked out with twinkle lights. At Christmas, is it a veritable magical location.

The Round Tower

The Round Tower is a tower straight out of a fairy tale, and it doesn’t take much imagination to imagine Rapunzel letting her hair down the length of it. Right in the center of Copenhagen stands this 35 meter tall tower, perforated by windows. Built in the mid-1600s, the tower is lovely to look at from the outside, but only revels its secret on the inside: instead of a spiral staircase leading to the observatory at the top, there is a cobble-stoned spiral walkway to the top. No steps. And, according to legend, a Russian tzar once rode all the way up on his horse. The headroom might have been tricky, but it is a nice story.

Six Forgotten Giants

Trolls are part of ancient Nordic folklore and tell stories of large, evil creatures living in the wildernesses. More recently, the cute, little, spiky-haired, pug-nosed toy creatures we all know have also originated in Denmark. Denmark has very much embraced the legend of the trolls, and not only has a Troll Museum and a Troll Forest in northern Denmark, but also plenty of locations where the myth comes to feel like reality. You can even go troll hunting. One of the best destinations to revel in all things troll-related is in suburban Copenhagen.

Here, Danish artist Thomas Dambo specializes in gigantic wooden sculptures of trolls, and ‘hides’ them across the entire country. On Copenhagen’s outskirts, there are six so-called Forgotten Giants to be found via a downloadable map, hidden in the forest, on meadows, or along the coast. Even more are scattered all around the world and across Denmark. You can either hike from the center of town or, preferably, drive to get the most out of your troll hunt. Searching for these lovely sculptures – each one different from the others – certainly makes for a great day out for the whole family, exploring in and around Copenhagen.

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