Although travel is currently on hold for the time being, there really is no better time to plan your 2021 trips like now! If you've yet to visit any Scandinavian country, we definitely recommend Denmark. Copenhagen is not only a stunning city, but it is home to some of the friendliest people you will ever come across.
While Copenhagen has lots of things to offer, many of which might break the bank, there are still countless things to do in Denmark on a budget! From a stroll through Nyhavn, Christianhavn, or visiting The Little Mermaid, Copenhagen has loads of free spots to visit, many of which are well worth it, too! The city itself has become quite the sight to see, so much that many celebs have flocked to Copenhagen to soak up everything the city has to offer.
When visiting Denmark, every tourist should plan their trip around Copenhagen, and a visit to some of their most historic sights will make it just that much more worth it. Whether you've been or not, you can never go wrong with a visit to a city as beautiful as Copenhagen, and a trip over to The Little Mermaid is a must-see.
10 It Was Inspired By The Fairy Tale
If you have ever visited or plan on visiting Copenhagen, then we definitely recommend paying a visit to the cities iconic 'The Little Mermaid' statue! Not only is this one of the biggest tourist attractions across Copenhagen, but it also has quite the history. The sculpture itself was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, which was later depicted in Disney's "The Little Mermaid".
9 The Statue Was A Gift To The City Of Copenhagen
The Little Mermaid sculpture was first commissioned back in 1909 by Carl Jacobsen, who just so happened to be the son of the founder of Carlsberg. Jacobsen covered the costs of the statue and hired artist Edvard Eriksen to create what has since become a symbolic point in the city of Copenhagen. The statue was officially unveiled in 1913 and sees hundreds upon hundreds of tourists and locals every single day.
8 Two Different People Posed For The Statue
Although one might think that the statue was created completely freehand, it appears as if not one, but two different people actually posed for Eriksen to create the stunning art piece. Ellen Price, a famous ballerina, and model at the time, was asked to pose for the statue alone, however, she did not want to pose nude, so her face was used for the mermaid's head while the nude body was then inspired after Eriksen's wife, Eline Eriksen.
7 Bike On Over To The Little Mermaid
If you are wondering what spots to visit in Copenhagen and how to get to them, we will always recommend biking! Not only is Copenhagen the world's most bike-friendly city, but they actually have more bicycles than cars. Most residents and locals have their own bikes, but there are countless rental companies and apps that allow you to rent one of their orange bikes right of the street. The Little Mermaid is found in the Nørrebro region of Copenhagen, which is extremely accessible by bike, and won't break the bank.
6 Or Take A Boat Ride Tour
If biking really isn't your thing, Copengahgen has thousands of electronic scooters available for rent across the city too, however, if there is one other cool way to see the Little Mermaid statue, then it is definitely by boat! One tour, The Grand Tour from Nyhavn, allows tourists to take off from Nyhavn, Copenhagen, and stroll through the port all the way to the statue where you can not only get a stunning glimpse of all of Copenhagen but up close and personal with the Little Mermaid herself.
5 However, Don't Expect A Nice & Shiny Statue
Although the statue was a stunning bronze color when it was first unveiled in 1913, you can expect a not so bronze statue now. Due to oxidation, the bronze statue slowly corroded into a green one that isn't as shiny as it once was. Despite the statue taking in the effects of time, it is still well worth a visit. The area has a number of posts with historic explanations regarding the statue, that allow visitors to look just about everything there is to know about this mermaid slowly transforming into a human.
4 There May Be Signs Of Vandalism During Your Visit
The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen is easily one of the biggest and most popular spots in the city for vandalism. While most areas in booming cities experience graffiti or other forms of vandalism, the Little Mermaid experiences vandalism with a hidden message. Those who vandalize the statue often do for politically charged reasons that include beheading the statue, sawing off her arm, splashing red paint over her. During one event, "Free Hong Kong" was painted across the statue, showing the political messages the vandals leave behind to create a much bigger message for the public to witness.
3 It Has Been Replaced A Number Of Times
Although the statue itself has remained in its place since 1913, many of its parts have been replaced, fixed or refurbished due to certain acts of vandalism. The Little Mermaid has been decapitated a handful of times throughout her time sitting atop her rock. The statue has also had her arm cut off many times too, all of which later had to be refurbished and welded back onto the statue. Tourists can still see the lines in which the head and arm were cut, showing just how many times the Little Mermaid has experience vandalism.
2 Prepare For Pretty Large Crowds
As mentioned, the Little Mermaid is one of the busiest spots in all of Copenhagen, since it is an official symbol of the city. Due to its notoriety, don't expect to have the statue to yourself throughout your visit. Crowds are quite common, particularly in the afternoon, so if you are hoping to avoid crowds, we would definitely recommend heading over to the Little Mermaid either early in the morning or after sunset. Since the statue is available to the public for free and at all times of the day, you can visit her whenever your heart desires!
1 It Might Be Slightly Underwhelming
After everything you have gathered regarding this historic statue created by Edvard Eriksen in the early 1900s, then you must expect something grand when seeing it in person, however, that is not always the case. Many tourists claim they left feeling "underwhelmed" regarding how small the statue actually is. The size is often overlooked, and while it may appear big in photos, the statue itself is quite small and can definitely leave you wondering where the rest of it is.