Denmark is a country bursting at the seams with literary charm. Copenhagen is perhaps the ultimate fantasy city for book lovers. If you are a lover of #literature, fairy tales and Shakespeare, then take a look at what #copenhagen has to offer! If you visit literary Copenhagen, you will find a number of charming book cafés where you can relax for an afternoon, indie bookstores and fairy tales come alive on every corner. From here you can also make day trips to Hamlet Castle or to the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen in Odense.

Our Saviour's Church is located in the Christianshavn district, which is easily accessible by bus from the city's main railway station. It was mentioned in Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth: The main character Axel has to climb the tower for five days in a row to cure him of his fear of heights before he goes into the volcano. A unique ascent will certainly be enough for you, as there are 400 steps. You'll be rewarded with an incomparable view!

Hans Christian Andersen is not only Denmark's most famous writer but also the man who brought the Western world many of his best fairy tales, which are still read, adapted and deeply loved today. Although he was born in Odense, he spent much of his adult life as a writer in Copenhagen.

Not far from City Hall, you'll find a cute museum of sorts dedicated to Denmark's most famous writer. The Fairy Tale House, located directly opposite the inner-city wonderland of Tivoli, is a great interactive exhibition documenting Andersen's childhood in Odense, his life in Copenhagen and the journeys that inspired his work. It also brings his most famous fairy tales to life with recreations of scenes for you to view, like Thumbelina, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Emperor's New Clothes, and more.

Directly in front of the Fairy Tale House and with a view of the Tivoli Theme Park there is a detailed statue of Andersen himself. He sits with a book in his hand facing Tivoli, the world's second oldest amusement park, nestled in the heart of Copenhagen. 

Whether you are on Andersen hunt or not, you should visit the Tivoli. Andersen himself visited this old theme park the day it opened and had a deep love for it. So much so that the Tivoli itself inspired him to write his fairytale The Nightingale.

At the Assistens cemetery there are two graves which are the destination of two very different groups of pilgrims: In one grave rests the fairytale poet #hanschristianandersen, in the other the philosopher #sørenkierkegaard. 

The Søren Kierkegaard monument is hidden in a serene park behind the Danish Jewish Museum and the Royal Danish library. The famous Danish philosopher faces a small pond and stares out at the water, a book in his hand.

The Royal Danish Library, also known as "The Black Diamond," is a massive work of art, from the ultra modern to the antiquated. Do visit the little gift shop on the main floor for special book editions, some lovely postcards, and delicious fairy tale-themed sweet treats.

Nyhavn (or New Haven) is the most photographed place in Copenhagen. A row of picturesque houses in various bright colours leading to a jetty on the eastern edge of the city centre.

Andersen spent most of his life here and wrote one of his most famous stories "The Princess and the Pea" when he lived in Nyhavn 20. He also lived in Nyhavn 67 for twenty years, and today there are many Danish restaurants and cafés here. In this picturesque place you can take a boat down the canal or just watch the world go by.

Right next to the old military fortress Kastellet stands the iconic statue of Andersen's Little Mermaid. It is a great place to take pictures, but be warned, the statue is very small. The Little Mermaid used to look at the sea instead of at the promenade, and fishermen and sailors would wave goodbye and greet her as if she were her good luck charm protecting her on the sea. She now stands in front of the promenade so that tourists can see her better.

These and many other great spots can be found in our Copenhagen Guide for book lovers!