A world apart from the opulent splendor of Royal Copenhagen, this self-proclaimed “freetown” sits on the edge of one of the city’s most expensive neighborhoods. It has provided a safe haven for hippies, dreamers, and nonconformists since the 1970s, when a band of ideological squatters moved into the abandoned army barracks with the aim of creating a self-sustaining community, free from the shackles of the state. Today, it’s a bucolic, tumbledown wonderland of cozy cafés, bars, music venues, art galleries, and shops.
Prinsessegade, • www.christiania.org
With its graffitied entrance, this is the biggest music and cultural venue in the freetown of Christiania. The former stables double up as a unique bazaar during the Christmas period, selling everything—even locally carved instruments.
Dare to go bare at this back-to-basics nudist bathhouse; the cheapest and friendliest unisex sauna in the city. For under $8, you can try a wonderful Moroccan rasul (a mineral cleanser).
To really get a feel for the area, join one of the regular walking tours of Christiania and learn more about the fascinating history of the self-styled freetown from one of its residents. Tours depart regularly.
This former fruit and vegetable market is now one of Copenhagen’s most vibrant bars, offering cheap booze and eats to be enjoyed on its terrace. The outdoor stage hosts regular free music concerts in the summer.
What started life as a humble skate ramp has become one of the city’s best skate parks. The vibrant graffiti murals adorning the walls are now an attraction in themselves.
Tuck into hearty vegetarian fare at this cozy cottage-style restaurant set just off Christiania’s main drag. It was originally established as a volunteer-run collective.
Christiania’s tongue-in-cheek tribute to the SMK—National Gallery of Denmark, this quirky gallery has a collection of wonderful arts and crafts.
This cozy café with a laid-back vibe is the perfect spot to unwind or enjoy a game of bar billiards. There’s regular free jazz and reggae concerts in the quaint cobblestone courtyard.
Christiania’s oldest business, this blacksmith started out producing furnaces in the early 1970s before switching its attention to building cargo bikes.
This intimate live music venue is a cornerstone of the city’s alternative music scene. With gigs almost every night of the week, and a great program that includes everything from Scandinavian punk to Danish dub-reggae, it’s the ideal place to end your night out.
In 2004, as residents of Christiania sought to gain permanent rights from the government to occupy the area, they tried to appease the state by tearing down the colorful hash stalls that brazenly lined Pusher Street at the time. One such booth, the interestingly named “Smoke-away” stall, survived intact and has been displayed in the city’s Nationalmuseet.
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