Hans Christian Andersen and his relationship with Malaga
Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish writer behind The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling, may have been born the son of a shoemaker in Odense, but his imagination and restless feet carried him far beyond Denmark. A passionate traveller, he explored much of Europe, often with unusual habits and eccentricities that matched his unique character.
Among his most curious travel quirks was carrying a rope in his luggage at all times, just in case he needed to escape through a hotel window during a fire. This blend of caution and eccentricity was typical of the man who turned folk tales into timeless stories loved worldwide.
Hans Christian Andersen’s first encounter with Malaga
In 1862, Andersen embarked on a grand tour of Spain, travelling from Barcelona to Gibraltar. But it was Malaga, where he stayed for nearly a month, that truly won his heart.
He arrived in the city by steamship on 30 September and checked into the Fonda de Oriente, once located on today’s Alameda Principal. This elegant, tree-lined boulevard was already becoming the beating heart of Malaga in the mid-19th century.
Andersen quickly fell in love with the city, writing in his travel book I Spanien (In Spain): “In no other Spanish city have I been as happy and as comfortable as in Malaga.”
It was more than a passing impression. The Mediterranean climate, the lively port and the relaxed Andalusian way of life deeply contrasted with his native Denmark, leaving a lasting impression on the celebrated storyteller.
During his stay, he also travelled to Granada to see the Alhambra, but Malaga remained his cherished base until his departure for Cartagena on 29 October.
A literary legacy with roots in Malaga
By the time he reached Spain, Andersen was already famous across Europe. His works The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Snow Queen, Thumbelina, and The Little Match Girl had been translated widely, cementing his reputation as Denmark’s most celebrated author.
His stories would later inspire countless adaptations, including Disney’s Frozen.
Malaga’s role as a cultural crossroads between Europe and North Africa particularly resonated with Andersen, who often saw himself as an outsider in elite literary circles.
The city’s warmth and cosmopolitan character made him feel at home, far from the cold and formality of northern Europe.
Andersen’s memory in modern Malaga
Today, visitors can find a bronze statue of Hans Christian Andersen on the Alameda, near Malaga’s port, sculpted by José María Córdoba and commissioned by the Danish Royal Family.
The statue shows the author seated peacefully on a bench, as if still enjoying the sunshine and Mediterranean atmosphere he so admired in October 1862.
Andersen’s connection to Malaga enriches the city’s already vibrant cultural heritage. Just as Phoenician merchants, Moorish rulers and Victorian travellers once left their mark, so too did a Danish storyteller who found unexpected happiness on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
Whether you’re strolling along the Alameda Principal where Andersen once stayed or sipping a café con leche at a traditional terraza, you’re retracing the steps of one of the world’s greatest literary figures and sharing in Malaga’s timeless charm.
Daryl is the co-founder of Malaga Guru. He is a copywriter, editor and translator who moved to Malaga a decade ago having first fallen in love with the city on his Erasmus year. After working for many years at local expat newspaper SUR in English, Daryl gained expert knowledge in life from the perspective of foreign residents and decided to co-found this site in 2016.