The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid
3.5
About
Born of a fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, the statue incarnation of the Little Mermaid has watched over Copenhagen's harbor since 1913. In 2010, Den Lille Havfrue, as she is known in Danish, left her post to represent Denmark at the World's Fair in Shanghai.
Duration: < 1 hour
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Inner Oesterbro
Home to the largest number of embassies in Copenhagen, Inner Oesterbro has Østerbrogade and Nordre Frihavnsgade streets where shopping for clothes and modern Danish design is a must, particularly if you're not on at budget. There exists a great array of cafés and restaurants, from the reasonably priced to pricier Michelin ones. Fælledparken, one of the largest recreational areas in Denmark, is a park home to the Copenhagen Carnival as well as one of the world’s largest relay runs, with thousands of teams competing over several days.
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3.4
16,590 reviews
Excellent
3,004
Very good
4,426
Average
6,500
Poor
1,941
Terrible
719
Gee231205x2022
109 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
I would recommend getting the harbour bus to Nordre Toldbod (Københavns Havn) as it is only an 8 minute walk to the statue from here. The bus runs from Nyhavn and other stops in the city centre quite regularly. There is a restaurant and a nice food shop on the walk to the statue.
You'll know you are close when you start to see a crowd of people (although might be different if earlier or later in the day). People seem very keen to grab a selfie with the statue. The closest you can get is by climbing down some steep rocks, so be careful if icy or it's been raining. She is a little underwhelming, although I had known in advance that it is quite a small statue. If you are in the area head on a bit further to see her cousin.
You'll know you are close when you start to see a crowd of people (although might be different if earlier or later in the day). People seem very keen to grab a selfie with the statue. The closest you can get is by climbing down some steep rocks, so be careful if icy or it's been raining. She is a little underwhelming, although I had known in advance that it is quite a small statue. If you are in the area head on a bit further to see her cousin.
Written 11 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ronald R
Stromness, UK514 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Some people complain about the size of the Little Mermaid, well folks it's in the name little! It's a pretty, reasonably sized statue on a rock with a nice background if you find a good spot for your photo. I would recommend an early morning stop here for a less people photo and we can also recommend the walk back into Nyhavn after a visit to the Gelfion Fountain.
Written 5 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David
Fairfax County, VA475 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
Unlike many people who visited this statue, I was not disappointed when I visited. Not really because I was amazed, but more so because I knew what I was expecting.
The statue is pretty enough. But, it is also tiny. A lot of people might or might not know this before they visit, so I recommend that they realize that they aren't visiting the Colossus.
The statue is pretty enough. But, it is also tiny. A lot of people might or might not know this before they visit, so I recommend that they realize that they aren't visiting the Colossus.
Written 19 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eating all over the world
Copenhagen, Denmark100 contributions
July 2024 • Couples
I’ve been living in Copenhagen for more than 20 years, and there is so much to do here which should be mandatory. I would not recommend tourists to go see the little mermaid taking into account all the other excellent cultural experiences you can have here. If you want to see sculptures, go to Glyptoteket nearby which holds the extensive Carlsberg collection of world class art.
And if you do want to do the Hans Christian Andersen tour, spend a little time and take the train to his hometown Odense where you can actually see the house he was born in and handwritten notes and much more.
And if you do want to do the Hans Christian Andersen tour, spend a little time and take the train to his hometown Odense where you can actually see the house he was born in and handwritten notes and much more.
Written 4 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kitd1275
Bergen, Norway494 contributions
Feb 2025 • Couples
The Little Mermaid statue is beautifully set against the backdrop of the sea. It’s best to visit early in the day, as many tourists come to see it later. Additionally, it’s preferable to go on a dry day, since rain or snow can make the stone surfaces slippery.
Written 12 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
therichastill
Stevenage, UK3,672 contributions
Sept 2024 • Solo
Obviously the Little Mermaid is now one of Hans Christian Andersen's most well known tales. Alot of this is thanks to Disney.
It's OK to go and see the statue of her sitting on the rock but the location is out of the city and a little bit of a trip. There are loads of tourists milling about and trying to get the perfect selfie so you may want to give it a miss.
I had a far more enjoyable time looking at the other statues in the area and the view of the waterfront.
A must for die hard fans. I would suggest paying a visit to Odense where there are more statues about some of his other stories.
It's OK to go and see the statue of her sitting on the rock but the location is out of the city and a little bit of a trip. There are loads of tourists milling about and trying to get the perfect selfie so you may want to give it a miss.
I had a far more enjoyable time looking at the other statues in the area and the view of the waterfront.
A must for die hard fans. I would suggest paying a visit to Odense where there are more statues about some of his other stories.
Written 2 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brittany_11_10
Los Angeles, CA1,863 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
The statue is cool; the stories behind it (both the original tale by Hans Christian Andersen, and that of the sculptor, Edvard Eriksen) are a classic, and neat, respectively; and it's in a beautiful area of the city (though that could be said about so much of Copenhagen).
However, we went on a Saturday afternoon (in mid-September, but it was still warm and sunny), and it was just too crowded. Our fault going on a Saturday afternoon, but it fit with our seaplane ride (which I highly recommend!), so that's when we on the waterfront.
I bet if you go early in the morning, or maybe a random Tuesday in February, you probably won't have to deal with the crowds, or, like us, just forget about taking any picture and glimpse it as you make your way through the crowds.
However, we went on a Saturday afternoon (in mid-September, but it was still warm and sunny), and it was just too crowded. Our fault going on a Saturday afternoon, but it fit with our seaplane ride (which I highly recommend!), so that's when we on the waterfront.
I bet if you go early in the morning, or maybe a random Tuesday in February, you probably won't have to deal with the crowds, or, like us, just forget about taking any picture and glimpse it as you make your way through the crowds.
Written 8 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ScotsJimmy
Scotland116 contributions
May 2024 • Family
It is what it is... a small statue, that is it. There is nothing much else here so just be aware of that before you go and you wont be disappointed. We visited in the early evening when the sun was close to setting, it was a lot quieter and the light was lovely. I suppose it is a must do if going to Copenhagen but just lower your expectations.
Written 23 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Razorfish
Little Rock, AR5,490 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
The first afternoon we were in Copenhagen we walked over to the Little Mermaid statue to get a photo. It is one of the iconic things I think about when I think about Copenhagen. It was very crowded when we arrived as a couple of buses had dropped off their loads. Still we had a nice walk through the Kastellet park getting to the statue.
Written 21 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tsetso K
Sofia, Bulgaria509 contributions
Dec 2024 • Family
The mermaid is one of the thing that people connect to Denmark, when you hear a statue of mermaid. The story of the statue is important, not the size nor the destination and how far it is, there is public transport, busses and taxis that can take you there. If most of the tourist bothered to look a bit more into what's the reason for the statue ti be build, and not the size, it would be higher ranked. I really did enjoy the story, the monument, even the overpriced store nearby.
Written 3 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hi
whats the best way to get from Oceanskaj cruise terminal to little mermaid
thanks
Written 11 January 2019
the mermaid is an easy stroll from the normal cruise dock
Written 9 February 2019
Gli harbour bus che sono inclusi nei mezzi del citypass quante linee sono? Solo quella che va dalla sirenetta al diamante o ce ne sono altre?
Written 20 August 2017
Sarò sincera, sono arrivata lì grazie ad un amico esperto del posto tramite mezzo di terrà quali metro e bus. Non saprei darti informazioni precise.
Written 24 August 2017
can get very busy so I would suggest early in the day to try and avoid the crowds. there are no time restrictions as it is an open area
Written 9 July 2017
We are cruising in June Do you know if Statue is in walking distance from port Many Thanks
Written 27 January 2017
Yes,it is. You dont have to worry about the distince in Copenhagen, you can go by walk, by bike and everything it's close to you.
Enjoy:)
Written 28 January 2017
It is free.
You just see it a few meters away when you walk down by the water on "Langelinie", or on your way to the park; you can take a few steps down on rocks to get close and take a picture.
Written 24 April 2016
Do the bedrooms have hairdryers?
Written 3 December 2015
Mom asked and didnt take Metro to Havfruen is tjat even possible..?
Written 10 May 2015
You can take s-train (s-tog),nearest station is Østeport
Written 5 June 2015
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