Freetown Christiania

Christiania is Copenhagen's unique pearl, located in the Christianshavn area, a free-spirited and self-governing community with around 800 permanent residents. 

Christiania is full of picturesque buildings and houses, full of green gardens, beer halls and gift shops. It is also a popular place for music venues and performances. It's considered to be one of the most popular tourist spots in Copenhagen -and in Denmark in general-, which can be easily accessible by bus or bike.

Christiania dates back to 1971 and is located in an area, where once military barracks stood - they were abandoned later on. During the years it became a popular spot full of stalls, especially along the Pusher Street, where people sold cannabis. This has changed over the years, and Christiania is fighting hard to be cleared of all the drug-related activities. Posters were even hung around the city, asking residents to buy their hash elsewhere but in Christiania. 

Hence, Christiania still today maintains its very 70s vibe. The entire neighbourhood is very rich culturally and is home to numerous beer halls, organic restaurants, galleries and unique souvenir shops including t-shirts, coins and smoking pipes. Christiania has a reputation of satisfying multiple food tastes, from vegan food to Danish cakes, burgers and much more. 

Places to Eat

Depending on your mood and time of the day, there is a variety of restaurants and cafes you can choose from. If you would like to have fantastic burgers and sandwiches, head over to the café Nemoland. For a delicious vegan dish combined with a cosy atmosphere, try out the Morgenstedet. If you are in the mood for some Asian cuisine, you can find a tasty vegetarian menu at the Café Loppen. Don't miss out on visiting the Sunshine Bakery, where you can buy typical Danish cakes and pastries, at a rather low price. 

Rules, rules, rules...

Even though Christiania has a very relaxed vibe to it, it’s still considered a rather rough neighbourhood especially around the Pusher Street. As you enter the fenced area, you will see a list of rules, which locals -as well as visitors- abide by. Such as, avoid taking pictures, avoid running and of course abstain from buying or selling cannabis. To get the most out of the experience, you can take a tour of the area with a local tour guide, who is actually from there, and may have a rather personal story and anecdotes about the community. 

As Christiania is self-governed, the rules to be followed were established by the local residents; it is also free of taxes (keep that in mind!). In addition, the area is completely car-free, hence you either need to get around by foot or by bike. It is in Christiania, where the famous cargo bikes originate from, as families had to find a way of transport with their children, without of course using cars. 

One more tip, if you happen to visit Copenhagen during the winter months, do make a stop at the Ch[ristmas market](https://www.livetheworld.com/post/a-guide-to-denmark-s-hyggelig-christmas-markets-hl6o) in Christiania, it will be worth the trip.