REVIEW · SCAVENGER HUNTS AND CITY GAMES
Copenhagen Little Mermaid Exploration Game and Self-Guided Tour
Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid Exploration Game turns a simple walk into a fairy-tale scavenger hunt. You follow in-app directions from Kongens Nytorv to the famous statue at Langelinie, passing royal buildings, city fountains, bronze sculpture groups, and places linked to Hans Christian Andersen.
I like the freedom to start at any hour and stop when you want. I also like the low price, about $6.01 per person, and the fact that your group can play privately without a guide or set departure time. The main drawback is the app. If the code, map, or game fails, you are left without the experience you paid for, so prepare your phone before setting out.
- A story-led walk: Follow a Little Mermaid theme through central Copenhagen rather than simply ticking off sights.
- A clear route: Begin at Kongens Nytorv and finish at the Little Mermaid in Langelinie.
- An inexpensive option: At about $6.01 per person, it costs far less than a traditional guided city tour.
- Flexible timing: Start any time during the stated 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM operating window and pause along the way.
- No entrance tickets included: The sights are viewed from outside unless you separately choose to enter a museum or building.
- A phone is essential: You need the app, the correct booking code, and a working connection or downloaded material.
From Kongens Nytorv to Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid
The route begins at Kongens Nytorv, Copenhagen’s largest square and the eastern end of Strøget, the city’s main pedestrian shopping street. This is a useful starting point because it sits in the middle of central Copenhagen and is close to public transportation.
You are not meeting a guide here. Instead, you open the game on your smartphone and follow the directions and audio stories. The activity is offered in English, and only your own group takes part.
The route then leads toward a series of well-known city sights. Some stops invite you to look closely at a building or statue. Others add a short piece of history or a puzzle-like task. You should think of the experience as a walking game with sightseeing built around it, not as a conventional lecture delivered by a person.
The advertised time is two to three hours. That is a reasonable allowance if you walk steadily and pause only briefly. If you stop for photos, food, shopping, or a longer break, the route can take more time.
The Royal Danish Theatre and the opening chapter
The first listed stop is the Royal Danish Theatre, known in Danish as Kongelige Teater. The theatre is Denmark’s national performing arts institution, and its historic purpose-built venue dates from 1874.
You get about five minutes here, with no admission included or required for the activity. That short stop tells you what kind of experience to expect. You are seeing the exterior and using the app to receive the story, rather than entering for a performance or taking a backstage visit.
This works well for a first stop because it places you in a major cultural part of Copenhagen without asking you to commit to an indoor visit. If you already have theatre tickets or want to see the building at a slower pace, simply pause the game and return to it later.
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Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy-tale connection

The next stop is the Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tale House, linked to Copenhagen’s best-known fairy-tale writer. The activity allows about ten minutes here.
The Andersen connection gives the route its strongest theme. The Little Mermaid is not just a famous statue at the end of a harbor walk. It also belongs to the wider world of Danish fairy tales, and the game uses that idea to connect several city sights.
Do not expect a full museum visit from this stop. The activity does not include admission tickets, and its directions are designed for outdoor sightseeing. If the house is presented as a place to view rather than enter, treat it as a brief story stop and save your indoor museum plans for another part of your day.
This is also one of the points where the game format may appeal to families. A short task or audio story can hold attention better than a long block of facts, especially when you are walking with children.
Agnete and the Merman by the water

The route continues to Agnete and the Merman, a group of bronze sculptures in Copenhagen. You are given about ten minutes to take in this less universally known stop.
This is one of the more useful parts of the route because it adds something beyond the city’s headline sights. The Little Mermaid attracts most of the attention, but Copenhagen has other public sculptures tied to stories and legends. Agnete and the Merman helps widen the theme before you reach the final statue.
The short time allocation also keeps the walk moving. You can look at the bronze figures, listen to the audio material, and continue without turning the stop into a formal museum visit.
If you enjoy sculpture, allow yourself extra time here. The app gives you a framework, but you control the pace. You do not need to rush simply because the game lists ten minutes.
The Stork Fountain on Amagertorv

The Stork Fountain is located on Amagertorv, one of central Copenhagen’s best-known squares. It was presented to Crown Prince Frederik, later Frederik VIII, and the route allows about five minutes.
This stop places you back in the center of city life, surrounded by the pedestrian streets and central shopping area. It is a good reminder that the activity is not only about the final mermaid statue. You are also using the walk to connect Copenhagen’s public squares, monuments, and royal associations.
Five minutes is enough for a quick look and a photograph. If you are already near Amagertorv before starting, you may find the opening section especially easy to combine with your own plans. You can also pause for a snack or browse the nearby streets without losing the whole route.
The tradeoff is that a self-guided game cannot adjust its explanation to your interests. A live guide might spend longer on the fountain or answer questions. Here, the app gives you the material and you decide how much attention to give it.
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Amalienborg Palace and Denmark’s royal family

The route includes Amalienborg Palace Museum, with about ten minutes allotted. Amalienborg is an important stop for anyone interested in Denmark’s royal family, which still resides inside the palace complex.
The name can create confusion, so keep your expectations clear. This experience does not include museum admission. You are not buying a palace tour with a room-by-room visit. The game takes you to the sight and provides audio stories, while any interior visit would be a separate expense and activity.
That limitation is important when judging the price. At $6.01, the experience is inexpensive because you are paying for the app-based route and game, not entry to Copenhagen attractions. If you want royal interiors, plan and pay for those separately.
The palace stop still adds value from the outside. It breaks up the fairy-tale theme with a strong royal setting and gives the route a sense of progression from central squares toward the waterfront.
Meeting the Little Mermaid at Langelinie

The final stop is The Little Mermaid, at Langelinie, 2100 København Ø. The bronze figure, created by Edvard Eriksen, shows a mermaid becoming human while seated on a rock.
You have about ten minutes here, though the statue is the natural place to linger. The endpoint gives the whole walk a clear purpose. You are not simply wandering through Copenhagen with an app. You are following a route that builds toward one of Denmark’s most recognizable public artworks.
The statue is outdoors, so there is no attraction admission to use. You can finish the game, take photographs, and continue exploring Langelinie or return by public transportation.
The route’s end is also its practical weakness. You finish away from the original starting point, so you should check your next connection before beginning. The supplied information confirms public transportation near the activity, but it does not specify a return route or travel time. Plan your onward journey after reaching Langelinie.
What the $6.01 price really buys you

At around $6.01 per person, this is one of the cheaper ways to add structure to a Copenhagen walk. You are paying for an English-language smartphone game, directions, audio stories, and a route linking several sights.
You are not paying for a human guide, attraction admission, transport, food, or a private vehicle. That makes the price attractive if you mainly want an organized path and a little extra storytelling.
The value depends on how much you enjoy self-guided activities. If you would happily walk from Kongens Nytorv to the Little Mermaid using a free map, the game may feel like an added layer rather than a necessary purchase. If you want prompts, puzzles, and a reason to notice more along the way, the small fee is easier to justify.
Group discounts are available. For groups larger than 15, you are asked to make multiple bookings. Since the activity is private, it can suit a family or small group that wants to move at its own pace rather than join strangers.
The app matters more than the map

The biggest practical issue is not the walking route. It is getting the app to work.
Some users have had trouble with the game failing to load, incorrect access codes, or maps and descriptions taking too long to appear. Support is available through chat 24 hours a day, and an email address is provided for help, but a problem at the starting point can still spoil your plans.
I recommend doing the following before you reach Kongens Nytorv:
- Download the required app and activity material in advance.
- Check that the booking code works.
- Confirm that the map and first task open correctly.
- Charge your phone fully.
- Keep the booking confirmation available.
- Learn how to pause the game before you start walking.
The activity allows you to start at any time after booking and resume later. Still, use the pause function deliberately. A timing problem can force you to restart or return to a previous stop, which is especially irritating if you have already walked a long distance.
Is this a tour or a scavenger hunt?
The honest answer is that it is closer to a scavenger hunt with sightseeing than to a guided tour.
You get directions, audio stories, and a themed route. You do not get a person explaining Copenhagen in real time, answering questions, or changing the plan to suit your group. The game element may make the walk more engaging, but it also means you must read instructions and interact with your phone while exploring.
That format is a good fit if you like solving small tasks and discovering a city through a clear route. It is less suitable if you want a polished historical talk or a relaxed walk with no screen time.
The route can also cover a lot of ground. Three hours is possible, especially if you take a break only once or pause for photographs. Wear comfortable shoes and avoid placing this directly before a tightly timed reservation.
Flexibility, group size, and accessibility
You can begin at any hour during the stated operating period of 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM, from August 29, 2019 through February 7, 2027. The experience can be played after booking without rescheduling, and you can stop and resume later.
That flexibility is useful in Copenhagen. You can fit the walk around breakfast, a museum visit, or an evening meal instead of building your day around a fixed departure.
The experience is private, and service animals are allowed. Most people can participate, but the supplied information does not give detailed accessibility guidance for surfaces, seating, or restroom access. If your group has specific mobility needs, ask the provider before booking.
Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted.
Who should book this Copenhagen game?
I would choose this activity for families, couples, and small groups who want a playful way to connect several central sights. It also suits independent visitors who prefer not to follow a fixed group departure.
It is particularly useful on a first day in Copenhagen, when a planned route helps you get your bearings and see several recognizable places. The English audio stories make it accessible to English-speaking groups, and the low cost keeps the risk modest.
I would skip it if you want detailed indoor visits, a professional guide, or a fully dependable experience that does not rely on your phone. I would also avoid scheduling it when you have only two hours available, since stops and breaks can push the walk toward three hours.
Should you book the Little Mermaid Exploration Game?
Book it if you see the price as payment for structure, storytelling, and a private city game. The route links Kongens Nytorv, the Royal Danish Theatre, Andersen’s fairy-tale connection, Agnete and the Merman, the Stork Fountain, Amalienborg, and the Little Mermaid in a sensible sightseeing walk.
Skip it if you expect admission tickets or a live guide. The palace, theatre, and other places are sightseeing stops, not included interior visits. Before you go, test the app and code, charge your phone, and leave enough time to reach Langelinie without rushing.
For about $6.01, I think it is a fair buy for the right kind of visitor: independent, phone-ready, and happy to trade a traditional tour guide for a flexible game.
FAQ
Where does the Little Mermaid Exploration Game start?
It starts at Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Where does the activity end?
It ends at The Little Mermaid in Langelinie, 2100 København Ø.
How long does the experience take?
The expected duration is approximately two to three hours.
Is a live guide included?
No. This is a self-guided activity using a smartphone, in-app directions, and audio stories.
Are entrance tickets to the attractions included?
No. The activity does not include entrance fees. The listed sights are visited as part of the outdoor route.
What language is the game offered in?
The experience is offered in English.
Can I cancel for a full refund?
Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded.
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