nyhavn harbour // copenhagen, denmark

The Little Mermaid

Notorious for beer, sailors and prostitution, Nyhavn Harbour in Copenhagen was a must see destination on our family road trip last May-June. Nothing says quality family time like sailors and prostitution, amiright? The harbour was built between 1670-1673 by King Christian V - not actually by the King of course, the Swedish prisoners from the Dano-Swedish war did all the dirty work.

The Little Mermaid was commissioned in 1909 by Carl Jacobsen and is based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. It sits in the harbour (a long, but beautiful walk from Nyhavn Harbour - made enjoyable by stopping for a few beers at one of many beer carts), and has been a tourist attraction since 1913.

For a delicious bite to eat, stop at Holberg no. 19, a great neighborhood cafe just a few blocks away from the hustle of the harbour. Owned by an American ex-pat, this was a great find (thanks Rick Steves) for a fresh lunch - something that is often hard to find while on holiday.