Attraction
Tivoli Gardens
Copenhagen's amusement park and pleasure garden, open since 1843 beside the Central Station, with historic rides, gardens, concerts, restaurants and seasonal Halloween and Christmas events.
The Little Mermaid
Edvard Eriksen's small bronze statue from 1913, sitting on a rock by the Langelinie promenade and inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale.
At a glance
- Type
- Bronze statue and harbourfront landmark
- Area
- Langelinie / Østerbro, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Official site
- visitdenmark.com
Good to know
- Free
- Open-air
- Harbourside promenade
Why we recommend it
The Little Mermaid is Copenhagen's best-known statue and one of the most photographed sights in Denmark. The bronze figure sits on a rock at the water's edge on the Langelinie promenade, gazing towards the land, and was unveiled on 23 August 1913. It was a gift to the city from Carl Jacobsen, the son of the founder of Carlsberg, who had been moved by a ballet based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale of 1837 about a mermaid who gives up her voice for love.
The sculptor was Edvard Eriksen. Jacobsen first asked the ballerina Ellen Price to pose, and her features are often linked to the face, but the body was modelled on Eriksen's wife, Eline. Visitors are often surprised by the size: the statue is only about 1.25 metres tall, so it is better to come expecting a small, quiet work of art rather than a monument. It has had a difficult life. Its head was sawn off in 1964 and again in 1998, an arm was removed in 1984, and it has been painted, blasted off its base and daubed with slogans several times. Each time it has been repaired.
The statue suits everyone and costs nothing to see, and it works best as part of a longer walk rather than a destination on its own. Coach parties and cruise passengers arrive through the day, so come early in the morning or in the evening for fewer people. The rocks around the base are uneven and can be slippery, so take care if you climb down for a closer photograph, and keep an eye on children close to the water.
Getting there is easy on foot. It is around a 15-minute walk from Østerport station, and many visitors combine it with Kastellet, the star-shaped 17th-century fortress whose grassy ramparts are just behind the promenade, and the National Gallery of Denmark is within walking distance as well.
Another option is to see the statue from the water. Several canal and harbour tours from Nyhavn sail past the Little Mermaid, which gives a different angle and fits it neatly into a sightseeing trip. From the promenade you can also continue south along the harbour to Amalienborg and Nyhavn.
The Little Mermaid FAQs
Is it free to see the Little Mermaid?
Yes, the statue is in a public place on the Langelinie promenade and costs nothing to visit.
How big is the Little Mermaid?
It is about 1.25 metres tall, smaller than many visitors expect.
Who made the statue?
The sculptor Edvard Eriksen. It was a gift from Carl Jacobsen and was unveiled on 23 August 1913.
How do I get to the Little Mermaid?
It is about a 15-minute walk from Østerport station, along the harbour past Kastellet.
When is the best time to visit?
Early morning or evening, when there are fewer tour groups.
Can you see the statue from a boat?
Yes, several harbour tours from Nyhavn pass the Little Mermaid.
What is nearby?
Kastellet fortress, the National Gallery of Denmark and the harbourfront walk south to Amalienborg and Nyhavn.
Which fairy tale is it based on?
Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, published in 1837.