Nearby, the H. C. Andersen House and Garden takes visitors on an exploration of his works through their senses with art, hands on experiences, music, light, smell, and architecture. It houses a Children’s Cultural Center, a Fairy Tale Land which allows for dress up and prop play, making paper cutouts, drawing and painting. In the garden, winding paths, flowers, hedges, and trees are tranquil surroundings to reflect, imagine, and enjoy just as H.C. Andersen would.
Copenhagen was his home for most of his life, so why not begin with a visit to the Hans Christian Experience? It’s a whimsical journey where his fairytales come to life, with displays dedicated to the author, his life, and his works. Conveniently located on City Hall Square, it isn’t far from Tivoli Gardens.
The magnificent Royal Danish Theater, where he spent so much time and which had such an impact on his life, stands grandly on Kongen Nytorv square in the center of the city. It’s the oldest theater in Copenhagen, dating to 1748, now home to Royal Danish Ballet. Scheduled tours are available (only in Danish), and the cafe in the beautiful foyer offers light fare you can enjoy while overlooking the square.
Just a stone’s throw from Kongens Nytorv square is the Nyhavn harbor area, the neighborhood in which H.C. Andersen lived. The historic buildings have been preserved, and today it’s a lively area of bars, restaurants, specialty shops, sightseeing and pleasure boats. Stroll the cobblestone streets, explore, and perhaps stop for coffee or a beer (øl). In Nyhavn you literally will be in his footsteps!
Tributes to H. C. Andersen and his work can be found all over Copenhagen. Perhaps most famous is the statue of the Little Mermaid, sitting on a rock in the harbor. Thousands of visitors stop by each year, and she has become an unofficial symbol of Copenhagen. One of the city’s main roads is named H. C. Andersen Boulevard, which very appropriately runs right next to Tivoli Gardens.