Is the Andersen walking route in Copenhagen difficult?

No, it is an easy, flat walk. Most of the route follows paved sidewalks and pedestrian streets, though be prepared for some cobblestones in the older parts of the city center.

Where is the best place to see Hans Christian Andersen's house?

Nyhavn is the best location, as he lived in three different buildings there (numbers 18, 20, and 67). Number 20 is particularly significant as it is where he wrote his first fairy tales.

Can I go inside the buildings on this self-guided walk?

You can enter the Magasin du Nord Museum and the Round Tower during their opening hours. The houses in Nyhavn are private or used for businesses and cannot be toured internally, but their exteriors are well-preserved.

Is this walking route suitable for children?

Yes, it is very family-friendly. Children often enjoy seeing the colorful houses of Nyhavn and the Round Tower, and the City Hall statue is a popular spot for photos.

What is the best time of day for this literary walk?

Late morning is ideal. This allows you to finish in Nørrebro just in time for lunch in one of the many trendy cafes near the cemetery, and ensures the Magasin du Nord Museum is likely to be open.

Is the Little Mermaid statue included in this walk?

The Little Mermaid statue is located further north at Langelinie. While it is inspired by his work, it is about a 20-25 minute walk from Nyhavn and is considered an optional extension rather than a core part of this specific city-center route.

Is the cemetery stop worth it?

Absolutely. Assistens Cemetery is one of Copenhagen's most beautiful green spaces and provides a peaceful, local perspective of the city away from the main tourist hubs.

Literary Copenhagen: The Andersen Trail | Walking Tour

About This Tour

Copenhagen is a city built on stories, and no one shaped its narrative more than Hans Christian Andersen. This self-guided walk invites you to step into the 19th-century world of the master storyteller, exploring the cobblestone streets, royal theaters, and harbor-side homes where his most famous fairy tales came to life. Whether you are a fan of 'The Little Mermaid,' 'The Emperor’s New Clothes,' or 'The Ugly Duckling,' this walking route provides a deep look at the man behind the myths. You will begin in the heart of the city at Kongens Nytorv, where Andersen first arrived as a poor, ambitious fourteen-year-old with dreams of the stage. As you navigate the Indre By neighborhood, the audio walk highlights the architectural landmarks that witnessed his rise from a struggling artist to a national treasure. You will see the iconic colorful houses of Nyhavn where he lived for decades and the grand Round Tower, which famously appeared in his stories. This literary journey is more than just a list of landmarks; it is a neighborhood stroll through the evolution of Danish culture. Unlike a traditional guided tour Copenhagen offers through agencies, this self-guided adventure allows you to linger at the sites that inspire you most. You can pause for a coffee in the same harbor where Andersen watched the ships or sit quietly in the peaceful Assistens Cemetery at the end of your journey. Along the way, you will discover how Copenhagen’s transformation from a medieval fortress to a modern capital mirrored Andersen’s own personal journey. This walking tour Copenhagen experience is designed for those who want to blend history with literature at their own pace. By the time you reach the final stop, you will have a profound understanding of why Andersen remains the heart and soul of this enchanting city.

Highlights

Explore the attic room where Andersen lived at Magasin du Nord

See the three different houses in Nyhavn where the author resided

Visit the Round Tower, a landmark mentioned in 'The Tinderbox'

Stand before the iconic statue of Andersen at the City Hall

Pay your respects at the author's final resting place in Assistens Cemetery

Discover the Royal Theater where Andersen's career began

Tour Stops (6)

Magasin du Nord Museum

Our self-guided walk begins at the Magasin du Nord department store, but we are looking for the small museum tucked inside. In the 1820s, this site was the Hotel du Nord. A young, then-unknown Hans Christian Andersen rented a tiny attic room here between 1827 and 1828. Imagine the aspiring writer looking out over Kongens Nytorv, clutching his manuscripts and hoping for a breakthrough. Today, a small museum preserves the spirit of his residence. It is a humble beginning for a man who would eventually become a world-renowned author. This stop sets the stage for his lifelong relationship with the city’s urban landscape, where high society and poverty often lived under the same roof.

The Royal Playhouse and The Old Stage

Just across the square stands the Royal Danish Theatre’s Old Stage. When Andersen arrived in Copenhagen at age 14, he didn't want to be a writer—he wanted to be an actor, a dancer, or a singer. He spent years haunting the corridors of this theater, begging for roles and training. Though his physical awkwardness eventually ended his stage career, his time here was vital. He met his future patrons within these walls, and the dramatic flair of the theater would later infuse his prose. As you look at the grand facade, consider how many of his stories feel like stage plays, filled with vivid characters and dramatic transformations.

Nyhavn 18

Welcome to Nyhavn, the most photographed spot in Copenhagen. While tourists flock here for the colorful houses and boat rides, for Andersen, it was home. He lived at three different addresses in this harbor: numbers 18, 20, and 67. At number 20, he wrote his very first collection of fairy tales in 1835. However, number 18—the red house—is where he spent his final years. He loved the view of the masts and the bustling life of the canal. Though he was a frequent traveler, Nyhavn was the closest thing he had to a permanent anchor. Take a moment to imagine him strolling these docks, perhaps finding the inspiration for 'The Little Mermaid' in the brackish water.

The Round Tower

Continuing into the medieval heart of the city, we reach the Rundetaarn, or Round Tower. Built by King Christian IV as an observatory, it features a unique spiral ramp instead of stairs. Andersen was fascinated by this building. In his famous story 'The Tinderbox,' he describes a dog with eyes 'as big as the Round Tower.' It was a standard of measurement for scale and wonder in his mind. The tower represents the scientific and intellectual curiosity of the Golden Age of Denmark, a period when Andersen was rubbing shoulders with scientists like Hans Christian Ørsted. The ramp was designed so a horse and carriage could reach the top, a feat of engineering that remains impressive today.

Hans Christian Andersen Statue by the City Hall

As we move toward the City Hall Square, we find the most famous likeness of the author. Created by Henry Luckow-Nielsen, this bronze statue depicts Andersen sitting with a book, looking toward the Tivoli Gardens. It is a bittersweet location; Andersen was a frequent guest at Tivoli and loved the fantasy of the park, which inspired his story 'The Nightingale.' Notice how the bronze on his knees is polished bright—this is from decades of children sitting on his lap for photos. Though he was often lonely and felt like an outsider in life, he is now perpetually surrounded by the public he sought to enchant with his words.

Hans Christian Andersen Gravesite

Our journey concludes at Assistens Cemetery in the Nørrebro district. This is not just a graveyard, but one of the city’s most beautiful parks. Andersen’s grave is modest, marked by a tall, slim headstone in a family plot shared with the Collin family, who were his lifelong benefactors. Standing here, you can reflect on the journey from the poor boy in the attic at Magasin du Nord to the man buried among Denmark’s elite. He shares this space with other giants like Søren Kierkegaard. It is a peaceful place to end your self-guided adventure, surrounded by the nature that he so often personified in his tales of flowers, trees, and birds.

Frequently Asked Questions

The walk is approximately 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) long. It typically takes between 90 and 120 minutes depending on how long you spend at each stop, especially if you choose to climb the Round Tower.