Visit This Fairy Tale Inspired City in Denmark

Odense is a city in Denmark. This city is where Hans Christian Andersen lived and wrote many of his fairy tales. Many of his fairy tales have been turned into movies. Between the stories and movies, it isn’t surprising that a museum focusing on Andersen was opened in Odense. And yet, that is only one of many fairy tale experiences you will have when you visit this city in Denmark. If you have been searching for a unique family vacation, I recommend putting Odense, Denmark at the top of your list.

The city of Odense is conveniently located two hours to the west of Copenhagen. Walking around this city in Denmark will have you thinking you are wandering through the pages of a book. The cobblestone streets, pastel-colored townhomes, lush gardens, and steeples that look like witches’ hats will have you taking lots of photographs.

I recommend starting your journey in Odense at Andersen’s birthplace. This house is now the Hans Christian Andersen Museum that I mentioned above.

Inside the museum, you will see exhibits filled with Andersen’s works of art. He created numerous drawings and cut-outs in addition to his fairy tale stories. Many of his stories can be found within the books at this museum. But a better way to experience these tales is by listening to them at the listening posts.

After you have explored the museum, you can head over to Andersen’s childhood home. It is a yellow home on Munkemøllestræde. He lived there from the time he was two years old until he turned fourteen. The house is quite small at only eighteen square meters. Your kids may be shocked at how so many people could live in a house that tiny.

A short walk from the home down to the riverbank will have you seeing Eventyrhaven. This is Andersen’s Fairytale Garden complete with pergolas, bridges, and hedgerows.

A fairy tale sculpture trail isn’t too far away from the garden. Follow the trail along the river to see all types of fairy tale sculptures dedicated to Andersen’s characters.

After exploring near Andersen’s home, you must venture out further into the countryside. This will allow you to see all the inspirational sights Andersen used for his writings. Start at the Dunes of Skagen before going deep into the dark woods of Jӕgersborg Dyrehave.

It’s an absolute must to spend some extra time at Gisselfeld Kloster. That is the royal estate that Andersen used to inspire him to write The Ugly Duckling.

And make sure you have your camera ready for the views from the cliffs of Stevns Klint.

A day trip to Copenhagen is a must if you want to explore the Nyhavn Canal and the Tivoli Gardens. The Little Mermaid statue is in the Langelinie Promenade there too.

You don’t need to travel to Copenhagen though. There is plenty to keep you busy during your family vacation in Odense. I recommend filling in your extra time by checking out the more than one hundred castles and manors scattered throughout Fyn.

Before you leave to return home, you must try to find all the different statues of Hans Christian Andersen scattered throughout the city. There is a map to help you out.

We all remember hearing fairy tales as bedtime stories. Bring those memories to life for yourself and your family by visiting the fairy tale city of Odense in Denmark. I guarantee this is one family vacation everyone will remember forever!

So, are you ready to book your next family vacation in Odense to experience the fairy tales?

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