Freetown Christiania

Freetown Christiania is a self-governing community in Christianshavn, founded in September 1971 when people moved into an abandoned military area made up of the old Bådsmandsstræde barracks and part of the city's ramparts. Over the following decades it grew into a neighbourhood of around 850 to 1,000 residents with its own rules, decision-making assemblies, workshops and small businesses. Since 2012 the land has been owned by a residents' foundation, and Danish law applies here as it does elsewhere in the country.

Most visitors come to walk. The area mixes former military buildings with self-built houses, colourful murals, gardens, workshops and paths along the water and the green ramparts. Visit Copenhagen's guide to the area points to places such as the café Månefiskeren, the small home-cooking spot Grønsagen, the Christiania brewery, the recycling hall Den Grønne Genbrugshal, the women's smithy Kvindesmedien and the open-air gathering place Nemoland, which often has music. It also describes the ramparts of Christianshavn as a large, easily accessible green area for a walk.

Pusher Street, long known for its open cannabis trade, was physically dug up in 2024 after residents and police acted together to close the trade, and buying cannabis is illegal in Christiania just as it is in the rest of Denmark. The community asks visitors to respect that people live here: do not look into homes, follow the signs, keep paths clean and only take photographs where it is allowed.

The best way to understand Christiania is with a resident. Rundvisergruppen, the community's own group of guides, has shown visitors around for more than 30 years, and the tours explain the history, the buildings and how decisions are made. Allow at least an hour and a half to walk around on your own, more if you stop for coffee or food.

Christiania lies in Christianshavn, within walking distance of Christianshavn metro station and the Church of Our Saviour. Christiania works well combined with a climb up the church spire, a walk along the Christianshavn canals or a trip across the harbour to Nyhavn by the Inderhavnsbroen bridge. Christiania attracts around half a million visitors a year, so weekday mornings are calmer than summer weekend afternoons.