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Visit Europe’s Only Real Fairytale City – Odense!

Growing up with Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytales, we just had to go visit his childhood home in Odense, Denmark. We learned about his life, as well as searched for the fairytale statues that dot the town.


Europe is full of quaint, pastel fairytale cities, but there is no place that deserves that distinction more than Odense, Denmark. The birthplace of arguably the most famous fairytale author of all time, Hans Christian Andersen, Odense certainly fits the bill. No matter where you go in the city, you will see something relating to the famous Hans Christian Andersen stories.

Old houses on cobble stone streets of Odense, Denmark.

Hans Christian Andersen House

After our visit to Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, we were driving down into Germany but we weren’t quite finished with our Scandinavia tour and even though Odense was not on the direct route, nothing was going to stop this lover of fairytales from visiting this literary landmark. Driving into town, we didn’t even stop for a snack. We drove directly to a parking lot closest to the Hans Christian Andersen  House and Museum.

The exterior of Hans Christian Andersen's childhood home.
The exterior of Hans Christian Andersen’s childhood home.

Odense is named after the Norse God Odin, with meanings for not only war and death, but poetry and wisdom, so what a fitting place to produce such a prolific writer and poet. Hans Christian Andersen was born to a mother and father who were extremely poor.

Free fairy tale theater in the summer in Odense.
Free fairy tale theater in the summer in Odense.

Father was forced into being a shoemaker and his mother was a washerwoman. Their house was located in the section of the city that beggars and paupers lived, and he dreamed of escaping that life by becoming an actor. It’s no wonder that he was able to interweave scenes from his own home and life into his books.

Inside Hans Christian Andersen's childhood home.
Inside Hans Christian Andersen’s childhood home.

Growing up with some of Hans Christian Andersen’s more popular books, like The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor’s New Clothes, and The Ugly Duckling, I still had no idea just how prolific he was. Over the course of his life, he published 168 tales. He was also an artist and had produced many beautiful paper cuttings. Many of his original works, personal items, and books that have been published in Denmark and around the world are on display at the museum.

Toad statue in the Fairytale City - Odense.
The Toad.

When you first enter, you are met by his likeness, surrounded by pen, paper, and scissors. The exhibits detail Hans’ life from his poor childhood to leaving home to go to Copenhagen, then his travels as he became a famous author. Andersen traveled extensively, traveling as far east as Constantinople.

Odense town hall.
Odense Town Hall.

He also traveled to Britain and stayed with his contemporary, Charles Dickens, for more than a month. We walked slowly around trying to absorb as much as we could, but then the highlight came at the end as we were able to walk through his childhood home.

The Woman with the Eggs statue.
The Woman with the Eggs.
Steadfast tin soldier statue.
The Steadfast Tin Soldier.

Outside of the museum, after taking a look at the aging exterior of his family home, we walked by an outdoor theater. Each summer they tell one of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales. In the summer of 2017, you can see a rendition of The Little Mermaid. The show is for kids and is free, but it is in Danish.

Famous Hans Christian Andersen bench sculpture in Odense.

The town itself also celebrates Hans Christian Andersen’s life and fairytales. There are statues of him and characters from his stories all over town. You can follow this map and do a scavenger hunt with the kids!  We loved them.

Tall fairytale statue in Odense.
How many fairy tales do you see in this sculpture?

Visiting Odense

Visit Odense Tourist Information website for a map to the fairytale statues of the town that can be downloaded here.

The Hans Christian Andersen House and Museum
Cost: 30 DKK for adults, but it’s free for all children up to age 17
Days and times: Every day in the summer from 10:00-5:00, and the rest of the year it’s closed on Mondays and the hours are from 11:00 – 4:00.

Hans Christian Andersen's pen and inkwell in the Odense museum.

Odense is the third largest city in Denmark, located on the island of Funen, near the main highway to Copenhagen.

You can visit Odense on a day trip out of Copenhagen, but it would be a long day. It is a better plan to make it a stop on your way to or from the capital.

Hans Christian Andersen 200 year celebration manhole cover.

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Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.

Pin Europe’s Real Fairytale City for later!

Odense is the birthplace and childhood home of the famous fairytale author, Hans Christian Andersen.

Laurie

Monday 15th of July 2019

Ny grandfather was born in Odense and his name was Sophus Anderson...we have never been there but Denmark looks beautiful!

Jim Vail

Monday 15th of July 2019

How cool is that? I wonder if he was related to Hans Christian? Denmark is beautiful!

galanda23

Wednesday 24th of May 2017

I grew up with Hans Christian Andersen's stories and loved them, but didn't have any idea that he was born in Odense. I love these metal sculptures!

Corinne Vail

Wednesday 24th of May 2017

Anda, Odense is such a compact and easy city to get around and Hans Christian Andersen is celebrated in so many ways. It was really fun!

Rhonda Albom

Friday 19th of May 2017

I like what this city did to embrace their favourite son. The statues are a real treat. I wonder what sort of things Charles Dickens and Hans Christian Andersen talked about when they were together for a month.

Corinne Vail

Sunday 21st of May 2017

Rhonda, For such a small, quiet city it is really great that they celebrate Hans Christian Andersen to the point they do. It was fun walking around town trying to locate a statue, then trying to figure out which tale it belonged to. I found many fairy tales I've never read before.

Amy Cancryn

Wednesday 17th of May 2017

I never knew this existed. I will research more and see when we can make it.

Corinne Vail

Thursday 18th of May 2017

Amy, I would go in summer when the free fairytale plays are happening, even though they are in Danish the costumes are great.