Copenhagen/Christiania


 * Christiania was also a historical name of Oslo

Christiania is a self-governing "free town" established in 1971, a city within the city, on the site of a military barracks as an alternative to mainstream culture. Cannabis is sold openly on stalls, and smoked openly throughout the area, despite it being illegal in Denmark. Nonetheless it's quite safe and popular as a tourist site.

Get in
Christiania is car-free, and parking conditions outside can be hellish in good weather, so do what everyone else does and jump on a bike, if that doesn't cut it, take public transit; there are two options:


 * Take the metro to Christianshavn station, from there it is about a 6-minute walk (500 m), when you exit the metro station continue straight ahead (south) until the second intersection (there is a furniture store on the corner) turn left down (east) Prinsessegade and walk a couple of hundred meters, you won't miss it, if you have any sort of idea what you are looking for.
 * You can also bus opt for bus 9A, which stops right outside the entrance, it leaves from both Vesterport and the central station, about every 10 minutes for most of the day.

See
There are hundreds of buildings on Christiania, in all sorts of imaginative shapes, sizes and colours ranging from old army buildings dating back to the by-gone barrack days, to elaborate self-build homes. The best way to see them is just walking around sucking in the atmosphere. There is graffiti art everywhere, too. All the buildings have their own story. If you are friendly, open-minded, a bit lucky, and outside the main tourist season, you can sometimes get locals to tell you the, often amazing, stories of their particular house; otherwise the regular walking tours are a good introduction to the main sights.









Do
Christiania is something of a powerhouse in Copenhagen's cultural life, especially on the alternative scene, and there will almost always be something going on, in one of the many club and venues dotted around the central part near Pusher street, or the open air scene on Café Nemoland (listed under drink). One of the most popular activities is simply buying some weed and consuming it at a chill spot.





Buy
Christiania offers some truly unique shopping, apart from its (in)famous major export item: cannabis. If you want to bring home a really unique souvenir from Copenhagen, there are a bunch of interesting options here. In addition to stores listed below, there is also a Bazaar at the entrance to Pusher Street where you can buy everything from cannabis posters, to bongs and Jamaican clothing.

Despite efforts by the police to shut down the cannabis trade here, the selling is still going on relatively openly. The cannabis market in Copenhagen is estimated to around 1 billion kroner (€134 million) annually, and with Christiania still being the epicentre, neither is there much chance of the trade disappearing any time soon. But potential buyers should be aware that police occasionally patrol the area, and you could potentially be fined if you are caught possessing hashish. Harder drugs are however frowned upon on Christiania, and requesting them is a faux pas.



Eat
With some of the best vegetarian food you'll find anywhere in town, the residents love for everything organic, and the social responsibly (and socialism) so enshrined in the fabric of Christiana culture, that prices are kept at quite reasonable levels — especially considering the quality, Christiania is an excellent place for lunch and dinner. Often there is an open barbecue up on Pusher street dishing some yummy burgers and hot dogs.



Sleep
There is no public option for sleeping, unless you bump into someone willing to lend you a couch. The nearest hotels are in Amager or Downtown

Stay safe
This area presents a dramatic shift of mood from the rest of Copenhagen. Cannabis is being openly sold and consumed throughout Christiania, especially on Pusher Street, so be aware of that if you decide to bring children.

Some of the cannabis sellers are employed by gangs. Do not take photographs in or near Pusher Street, or you will be confronted by a local pusher or gang member, with threats of violence. None of them wants to be identified by the police, which means they have to keep a low profile. They keep an eye out for policemen or journalists working undercover. That said, if you respect the nature of this unusual environment and its rules, you should be okay. Exercise common sense by keeping an eye on your surroundings and belongings, and keep a low profile.

No matter how relaxed Christiania might seem, possession and sale of cannabis are still illegal in Denmark. While the police very rarely manage to make their way into Christiania proper, those wishing to take cannabis out with them should be careful: if you don't want to risk arrest, don't bring anything illegal outside the Free State's borders.

Respect
You won't find any rules carved in stone or typed-up in bylaws, but Christiania has been around for some time, and they don't tolerate some things. The following rules are generally accepted by everyone:


 * No cars are allowed in Christiania
 * No weapons are allowed in Christiania (this includes defensive items like pepper spray and bullet-proof vests)
 * No hard drugs are allowed in Christiania (eg opiates, cocaine, ecstasy, etc)
 * Do not take photos inside the Green Light District (Pusher Street) – this is where weed is openly sold.
 * Be respectful. Many people live in Christiania. It's open to visitors, but never forget that you're their guest.