10 Best Things To Do in the City of Copenhagen Christiania

Christiania is an independent town with great charm and a unique culture to discover during your visit to Denmark. Located six minutes from the centre of Copenhagen, it's the ideal place to explore craft exhibitions, spaces like the Green Light District, murals and street art that are characteristic of the area, with no rules or limitations. Bear in mind that it used to be an abandoned military base and many of the houses are architecturally unique and have their own solar panels.

The best way to get from Copenhagen to Christiania is by bus. There are many options for going out in the city, such as taking a tour to taste the popular local beer, enjoying a sauna bath or strolling along Pusher Street, a street that holds a very interesting secret that I will tell you about in this article.

Christiania is characterised as a small town where murals, street art and craft exhibitions abound. The streets are colourful and lively, and proof of this is that the Christiania Art Gallery is located right in the centre, where you can take photos and learn about the history of its creators.

Inside you will meet Marios and Stephanie, who come from South Africa and bought the house in 2018 to exhibit their creations. You'll discover a variety of objects to buy and there are always fun activities to share with friends or family, such as live jazz, food stalls and outdoor barbecues on weekends.

Chirstiania is one of the more extreme destinations, as the way the city works is quite unique. The Old Execution may seem like a strange place to visit, but it holds interesting stories about life in the area during the wartime and will help you understand the beginnings of the town.

Here you will find fascinating stories and sites, such as the Old Execution Hut from 1946-1950, better known as Københavns Gamle Henrettelsesplads or Copenhagen Old Execution Space.

This site was used in World War II and is now located at Second Redan, near the Aircondition building. The wooden walls have fallen down over the years, but you can still see some of the concrete structure and structures used during the war.

For a cosy evening with a difference, head to Pusher Street for BørneTeateret, also known as Christiania's Jazzklub & Children's Theatre, an opera house that is home to performances by local jazz artists and children's theatre. In recent years they have added new activities such as comedy, hip hop, rock, electronic and country nights.

Jazz is one of the genres of music that has represented Denmark since the 1920s, with the development of Danish jazz over the years, specifically in the 1940s, reigning supreme on the streets of Christiania today.

During your stay in Christiania you are bound to experience one of the best Scandinavian traditions: enjoying a sauna bath. In the area you will come across the Badehuset Bath House which has been in operation since 1971. It is one of the most popular attractions so it is advisable to arrive early.

Upon arrival you'll find a wall covered in graffiti, so it's easy to spot the location. Remember that Christiania is a very liberal city, and inside you'll find most of the fun consisting of saunas and pools, mud bath areas, massage tables with aromatic oils and a yoga area.

The approximate cost of entry is €5, which includes access to the lobbies and a towel to dry off with. Be aware that everyone inside is naked, but don't worry, it's a safe and friendly space. Note that they don't work on Mondays, but you can visit from Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 09:00 p.m.

There are many places to eat in Christiana, one of the most special is Spiseloppen which offers a variety of vegetarian, vegan and European dishes. If you prefer meat, there are also steak options on the menu. It is advisable to book a table on their official website, where you can also find out about the variety of options on the menu and their prices.

Dinner here can cost around €100 and the best dishes range from €17 to €33. You can also order takeaway and if you're with a group of six people, the restaurant offers a guided tour of the city - not to be missed!

Other places to eat in Christiania

Walking the streets of Christiania is a unique and fun experience, but you'll probably be hungry and want to stop for a bite to eat. Take a stroll through Nemoland, a cafe bar where you can drink local beers that are only found in this independent city. In addition, there are always concerts for visitors to enjoy. This quaint place offers a summer and winter menu, during the warmer temperatures you can enjoy the garden and when the cold weather arrives the enclosed facilities by the fireplace are available.

There is street food such as burgers, or more gourmet options such as ham tartare, terrine, braised pork and battered mini grignotines, among others. Additionally, this café has been around since 1970 and has undergone modifications, for example, during the war it was an underground pub.

Try vegan food in Morgenstedet

If you want to try a new type of cuisine or you are looking for a healthier option, I invite you to stop by Morgenstedet, a restaurant with a vegan proposal prepared with organic ingredients. The chefs vary every day, so you won't know what to expect every time you visit.

They are closed on Mondays, but work from Tuesday to Sunday and are located near the factory area. Dishes range from around €10 to €15 and you can find more information on their official website.

Bike tours are highly sought after in Copenhagen, as they allow you to tour the city at your own pace and explore the sights at your own pace. This is an excellent plan to do in Christiania, as the city is small and hides many interesting secrets.

To make the most of this ride, I recommend taking the Syddyssen trail to cycle around the city and enjoy the old infrastructure. A very interesting fact is that you will find abandoned boats that are used as houses and are decorated in a cheerful way, according to the hippie aesthetics of the city.

The next stop is the Copenhagen Opera House, which offers special discounts. A few streets away you will find Pusher Street where karaoke, live music and festivals are organised and from here you can see the whole city. You can also continue strolling the streets and stop at bars built from recycled furniture.

To finish the tour, be sure to stop by the marble Frederiks Kirke, a Lutheran church with a variety of monuments to explore, or around Amalienborg Palace, one of Copenhagen's finest palaces, which is a six-minute bike ride from the city.

One of the most famous streets in Christiania is Pusher Street, also known as the Green Light District. There are few pictures of this place on the internet, as it is forbidden to document what goes on inside. This is the most unique area of the city, at first glance there are shops selling clothes, handicrafts and tourist items, but if you look closely you will find hooded people selling drugs from open-air stalls.

As such, the sale of soft drugs is allowed in Christiania, however the police raid some of the stalls because they sell hard drugs that were banned a few years ago. To visit this area, it is best to sign up for a guided tour. Would you dare to live this extreme experience?

In Christiania the houses are very close to a lake that divides the city in two. It is an area that is best approached in a group or with a self-guided audio tour, as some days the surroundings are desolate. Many trails lead to this point and you can approach it by bike or on foot.

The lake is ideal for a picnic and a short walk takes you out of the city to the Little Mermaid, another popular spot in Copenhagen. Nearby, you can also cross the Dyssebroen Bridge that connects Christiania to Amager, home to other interesting and picturesque tourist attractions.

A must-do during your stay in Christiania is to explore the pubs to sample Christiania's beer. You can find it in some local places like Nemoland, the Cheap Beer Bar and Bryghus.

The beer, called Økologisk Christianias Thy Pilsner, is distinguished by the city's flag and an eye-catching orange wrapper, but the best part is the experience: it's brewed organically and has a fresh, slightly bitter taste with a malty aroma.

Many people come to Christiania to enjoy Den Grå Hal, a concert and recital hall that hosts artists from all over the world. It was created in 1891 to train horses and after renovations it became an auditorium for theatre, live music, Christmas markets, art exhibitions, fairs, congresses and much more. One of the most famous bands to have performed here is the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Although Christiania is a small city compared to the rest of Copenhagen, there are still plenty of places steeped in history to visit during your time in the area.

Stop by Christiania's souvenir shop

The best place to pick up a souvenir from Christiania is the gift shop where you'll find a variety of products inspired by the commune's hippie culture, such as shirts, mugs, scarves, flags and stickers. There are several stalls scattered around the city and it's easy to identify them because they are red and have a flag consisting of three yellow circles.

Go skateboarding

Sports enthusiasts will find a welcoming space to practice their skateboards and meet new people. Being a car-free city, people can walk, play and use their bikes or skateboards without taking any risks. There are also special areas, the best of which is located at Alis Wonderland, a skateboard park that is open every day, 24 hours a day, and is completely free to enter.

If you're visiting Christinia in December, don't miss the Christmas market

The colourful city of Christiania welcomes Christmas with lots of merriment and special events. It is considered to be one of the best Christmas markets in Copenhagen and you can access the attractions in the corners of this district. To celebrate, the locals organise a market where you can taste baked almonds, sip mulled wine or enjoy local food.

Cool off in Christiania Strand Park

If you go during the summer, you can cool off in Christiania Strand Park, an oceanfront park with a bohemian flair. The best thing about it is that it's completely free and is located between Copenhagen and the independent city.

In general, Christiania offers a variety of things to do, for example near the cycle paths, you can rest at the Stupa, a Buddhist statue.

Get to know Christianshavn

A few streets away is Christianshavn, home to some of Copenhagen's finest buildings, such as the Opera House, the Sofiebadet Turkish baths, the Christiania Art Gallery and St Saviour's Church, which is famous for allowing you to climb to the top for the best views of the city.

Christiania was formerly known as Christianshawn and the area was the site of a former military dugout. This camp operated from 1802 until 1822 and then was abandoned for many years, it has now been restored by the locals and operates as a self-contained area with a hippie style. If you want to spend the night in Christiania to continue exploring its streets, it is advisable not to go too far and opt for hotels in the surrounding area

To communicate you will need to speak English, since it is one of the languages used by tourists to get around. The main language in Denmark is Danish and other Scandinavian languages, but practically nobody speaks Spanish.

Some curious facts:

• Cars are not allowed to circulate, they are replaced by bicycles.
• It is not advisable to visit the city at night, because some areas have no streetlights and are dark.
• It is forbidden to run in the city, as this can frighten the vendors in the area, who often mistake it for a raid.
• Houses in this area cannot be bought or sold, so they are passed down from one generation to the next. If abandoned, they are taken over by the inhabitants.
• Guided tours cannot enter the interior of Christiania, but they can bring you by bus and give you a guide to what you can do during your stay or offer you an audio-guided tour.