CHRISTIANIA
Highlights
Christiania is based on an old military complex, that was abandoned in the late 60's. In 1971 it was squatted(?) and ever since, it has been an urban experiment and hippie village within Copenhagen.
Go to christiania.org for background info and current events.
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You are allowed to take photos in Christiania, except from the Green Light District.
There are many entrances to Christiania, but starting from the main, you will have a big yellowish building on you right.
In that you will find 'Galloperiet', Christianias museum of art, next door Spiseloppen, a nice 'a la carte' restaurant in rostique(?) settings, operated collectively by locals. Further down you'll find Loppen, a concert venue/club with diverse genres and names, and even further 'cafeloppen' a café housing an artisan shop and 'Folkeaktion', the Christiania Share.
The share itself makes a good souvenir, you'll get a nice share/print with the amount you paid (I believe the minimum price is dkk 20 or 50) and you will support the Christiania Fund buying the land from the state.
Back to the main entrance and straight ahead, you will find a skatepark on your rigt, some shops selling food and t-shirts and a small open air market place with stands selling souvenirs and smoking gear.
On your left you'll find 'Christianias Jazz Club' an intimate little stage with open jams going on Wednesdays and Fridays and with small concerts with, often, prominent names. A hundred meters down to the left, Den Grå Hal', the biggest indoor space in Christiania, provides frames to big events, theater plays, markets and concerts. See whats on at www.dengraahal.dk. And make sure to visit the Christmas Market from around the 8th to the 20th of december, if around by then.
From the Jazz club, still on Pusherstreet, you'll enter the green light district, marked by colored lanterns hanging and lightening up the area. Remember: 'The Green light District' is a no photos zone – don't take pictures. However, you ARE allowed to take photos outside the Green Light District.
The trade happens explicitly, for a hundred meters and you wan't have doubts where it starts and ends. In the beginning on your right, there's a bakery and on the other side of 'Pusher street', there's a smaller music venue called 'Operaen' (the Opera).
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At the end of 'Pusher Street' and the 'Green Light District' There is a eatery called 'Grøntsagen', serving homemade organic food in 'hyggelige' surroundings.
Next door to the right 'Nemoland' a big cafe/bar with outdoor tables and benches and a stage for live music. You can buy food also. In the cafe they accept credit card.
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Continue to the left(north) from 'Grøntsagen' and you'll pass 'Kvindesmedien', (the women's blacksmith), where you can buy hand crafted artisaneries(?) and furniture, made by three strong, skilled women, running the place.
To the right(east) there a bike shop and next to that 'Månefiskeren', an iconic cafe with outdoor facilities and billard/pool tables inside. They serve light foods and coffees and you can borrow chess and backgammon games at the bar. No alcohol served.
Continue around the corner of 'Månefiskeren' and you'll enter the street 'Fabriksområdet'.
A hundred meters up on your right there's a small grocery store and in front a little square where people hang out.
Next to the store, there's a small vegan restaurant called 'Morgenstedet', with a outdoor tables in a small garden for the summer season.
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From there on, it is mostly residential houses. Homemade houses and pretty little gardens on both sides of the streets.
Remember the people living there are families with kids, so please be respectfull and don't be too noisy.
The area is not well lit up, so it is better esperienced in day time.
Walk around the big buildings and alongside the waterfront, to discover the beauty of this post-industrial space.
If you continue all the way to the end of the street, around 500 m, you will enter 'Refshalevej' a street running next to the water towards 'Refshaleøen'.
Follow that(to the right) for a beautyfull walk alongside the water.
The first street you will pass is some ten minutes walk ahead. Cross that and continue alongside the canal on the other side.
Follow the water front onward, keep it to your left, and follow the crowd, if any, further ahead and at some point you'll enter the food market Reffn.
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