In the Footsteps of Hans Christian Andersen: A Copenhagen Walking Tour

(38 reviews)

Copenhagen audio tour: In the Footsteps of Hans Christian Andersen: A Copenhagen Walking Tour

This is a 2.8mi walking tour

It takes an average of 120 mins to complete.

Copenhagen

Denmark

$11.99

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About the Tour

Hans Christian Andersen, the beloved fairytale author, got his start in Copenhagen and spent many years of his life in the city. On this walking tour, you’ll step into his enchanting world, exploring the places that ignited his imagination and gave birth to enduring stories.

Starting outside the prestigious Royal Danish Theatre, this tour takes you past the Nyhavn area and Amalienborg (the Danish royal family’s official residence) and through the King’s Garden, finishing near the Bishop Absalon monument. Along the way, you’ll delve into Andersen’s literary career. I’ll tell you about the friendships he cultivated within the artistic community, and how theatre became a source of inspiration for his timeless tales.

On this two-hour tour, you’ll see:

Nyhavn, the iconic waterfront district brimming with colourful buildings, historic charm, and a few hidden stories
The reconstruction of the room Andersen lived in, before the block became Magasin du Nord department store
The breathtaking Frederik’s Church, known locally as the Marble Church, an architectural masterpiece
The Hans Christian Andersen Monument in the King’s Garden, which stands as a timeless homage to the beloved storyteller
Rosenhaven, the flower-filled spot within Rosenborg Castle Gardens where Andersen sought solace and inspiration
Round Tower, a 17th-century tower and historical landmark which inspired Andersen’s poem The Terrifying Hour
Hans Christian Andersen cafe on Nyhavn where you’ll hear about the author’s love of travel

By the end of this tour, you’ll have a greater appreciation for the places and events that helped shape the author’s creative life.

Tour Producer

Pernille Schlander

5 tours

Hello! I’m Pernille.

I’m a Copenhagen-based storyteller and walking tour creator, and I’ve called this city home for more than 20 years. Influenced by years of travel and a chapter living in London, I bring a lifelong curiosity for cities into my work. For six years, I’ve been designing and guiding local walks, and over the past two years I’ve brought five immersive audio tours to life — weaving history, culture, and narrative together for curious travelers who want to experience Copenhagen beyond its obvious highlights.

Each tour is carefully researched and built from first-hand exploration. I walk every route myself, dive into historical sources, and craft each experience like a story rather than a list of facts — layering in small details that bring places alive and uncovering hidden gems you probably wouldn’t stumble upon on your own.

My work is especially inspired by Hans Christian Andersen, Danish traditions, Copenhagen’s changing neighborhoods — and hygge, the Danish way of creating warmth, comfort, and connection in everyday life. Whether I’m guiding you through grand landmarks, charming streets, or seasonal stories, my goal is always the same: to help you feel connected to the city and leave with a deeper understanding of its people, past, and personality.

If you enjoy thoughtful storytelling, gentle adventure, and discovering places through local eyes, I’d love to walk Copenhagen with you. Just bring comfortable shoes — I’ll take care of the stories (and a little Danish hygge along the way).

Preview Location

Location 12

Hans Christian Andersen Nyhavn 18 and 20

When you reach the souvenir shop on your right, stop and look up at the red house on your right it says number 20 above the door. You'll also find a plaque on the wall. This is the first place he lived in Nyhavn, the orange house next to it number 18, was not till much later.
... When you reach the souvenir shop on your right, stop and look up at the red house on your right it says number 20 above the door. You'll also find a plaque on the wall. This is the first place he lived in Nyhavn, the orange house next to it number 18, was not till much later.

Andersen, initially unsuccessful in Denmark, found success in Europe, particularly in Germany. Dependent on benefactors for sustenance and rent. At dinner parties, he told fairy tales to the children and they were very popular, so to try to earn his own money, he published a booklet "Fairytales Told for Children" in 1835 and it was a huge success, and this is where he found his niche.

Andersen's fairytales, crafted from a child's imaginary world, also reveal the depth of a great poet's storytelling. With intricate layers, his tales offer adults a chance to uncover profound meanings, making them timeless and appealing to both children and adults. Translated into 160 languages, Andersen's works, including "The Little Mermaid," are even part of China's school curricula. Comprising 156 fairytales, his most renowned works, such as "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" and "The Emperor's New Clothes," were penned during his stay at Nyhavn 20.

The Little Mermaid has a very special meaning for him and is probably also the best-known fairytale he's written.

Jonas Colin, the director of the Royal Danish Theatre, was like a father to Andersen, and he had a son called Edward, the same age as Andersen. What many don't know, is that he was in love with Edward - yes, it'll probably come as a surprise to you that in addition to 3 women, he was also in love with a man. He only faced rejection despite numerous attempts to establish a close relationship. Edward assisted him financially and with practical matters, but their connection remained strained, with instances of cruelty such as spiteful letters and exclusion from Edward's wedding.

We all know Disney's version of The Little Mermaid with a happy ending, but not Andersen's version. The fairytale is about unhappy unrequited love and the pain the mermaid must endure to be close to the prince she loves. Every step she takes feels like 1,000 sharp knives and she has no voice. In the end, the prince chooses to marry someone else. The little mermaid was warned by the sea witch that if the prince didn't fall in love with her, she would turn into foam and float to the heavens. On the prince's wedding night on his ship, her 6 sisters come with a knife, they have all given their beautiful hair to the sea witch for this knife and tell her that if she kills the prince with this knife, she'll become a mermaid again, but she can't make herself kill her beloved prince, and so she turns into foam and flies to the heavens.

4 years before his death he moved to Nyhavn 18, but he didn’t stay here much, he mostly stayed with friends, but I'll tell you about them later on the tour.

If you'd like to slip into the souvenir shop before we move on feel free to do so. When you're ready to move to the "sinful" side of Nyhavn, keep the buildings to your right and the street and the canal to your left and head down the street. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Hans Christian Andersen’s residence
The Royal Playhouse and The Old Stage
Hviids Vinstue
Nyhavn
Amalienborg Palace
Frederik's Church
The King's Garden
Monument Hans Christian Andersen
Rosenborg Castle
Trinitatis Church
The Round Tower
Stork Fountain
Strøget
Nikolaj Art Gallery

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Getting There

Route Overview

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Start location
August Bournonvilles Passage 8, 1055 København K, Denmark
Total distance

5km
Final location
Højbro Pl. 21-13, 1200 København, Denmark
Distance back to start location

412.65m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour kicks off at the Royal Danish Theatre, conveniently located near Kongens Nytorv metro station, where all four metro lines—M1, M2, M3, and M4—make stops.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

In Nyhavn there are numeraus of restaurants. and on the way you pass some nice cafees. Besides Nyhavn,

There is a restaurant just before Amalienborg, right by the pillar with the Plaque, called Restaurant Amalie, they serve traditional Danish food.

And there is a great Cafe just as you leave the Marble church Mormor which means Grandmas they serve traditional Danish pastries and cakes, and it is quite a quaint little place.

Best time of day

While the tour is available year-round, it's essential to note that it can get particularly crowded during the summer months, as we pass by many of the major tourist attractions, especially around Nyhavn.

Precautions

Copenhagen boasts an impressive 800,000 bicycles, and their riders navigate the city extensively. Always stay alert, as they might not be aware of your presence at all times.

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“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”