Christianshavn

We took this canal tour in Copenhagen and enjoyed it very much: http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/netto-boats-gdk585017

While on it, we passed a little canalside cafe in Christianshavn and walked back to it afterward. Not only was it fun to wave at the people going by on the boat tours (as so many people had waved to us), but the food was good. This was it: http://www.baadudlejningen.dk/en/

We also ate at this place, recommended in Rick's book, and loved it, although it's not in Christianshavn. http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/restaurant-nytorv-gdk412550

Opening times for May 2016 (and probably for 2017 too) were:

• Monday - Saturday: 09:30-19:00
• Sunday and Bank Holiday: 10:30-19:00

Their homepage (in danish): http://www.vorfrelserskirke.dk/taarnet

If you want to visit the Freetown of Christiania https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freetown_Christiania You can do so on a guided tour: http://rundvisergruppen.dk/indexENG.htm

Just be ware that since it's home to the biggest open market for (illegal) hashish in Denmark, on the are know as pusher street, there can be heavy policed presence which usually incites riots. A guided tour will keep you away from any potential trouble, though tourists are usually left alone. If you can look past the illegal trade and bad press, it's a really interesting place.

For lunch or dinner, try Copenhagen Street Food on Papirøen (Paper Island)

Maybe this would suit you: http://www.duffyboats.dk/en

or http://goboat.dk/en/

Morten,
Are you recommending not to visit Freetown, Christiana on one's own? I am not likely to be offended or upset by bad press but would like to feel "safe". I am interested in a walk through the community and lunch at the food stalls. I don't know why, but a guided tour to visit a community doesn't feel right to me.

Vandabrud, you can do just fine on a walk through Christiana on your own perfectly safely, we are an age 60 couple and had no issues wandering through there several times on our trip in 2014. We started with the tour (I forget if it was free or not) as we wanted to hear about Christiana from residents, and it was a fascinating and educational walk. We learned stuff we never would have learned on our own.

No sign of "riots". I am more concerned about bad behavior spilling out of legal bars from pub crawls, which is not an issue here.

We went to Christiania about a year ago, and were never once concerned for our safety. Just don't take any photos on Pusher St., they frown upon that. Make sure you get out of the more "commercial" part of Christiania (which is interesting in its own right) and walk in the quieter residential sections - the homes are very unique and it's quiet and peaceful.

No I am not recommending not to visit Christiania on your own. As Steve says, don't take photos of pusher street, tourist have been assaultet in the past for doing that. Otherwise you should be fine. Like Larry says, the tour is run by locals, that is members of the community you are visiting. I have been to Christiania quite a few times both with school, friends and relatives, but the tour gave me a much better view of the place and you hear some great stories as well.

Ahh, tour run by residents. I don't know why I didn't think of that. I will take your advice and participate in a tour.

Hi Morten,
I really want to visit Christiania while I'm in Copenhagen during the week of 4th September. Where does one find/sign up for the tours that are led by residents? I would really love to do this...I've heard about this place all my life. Such an interesting social experiment!

Anita, have a look at the link I posted earlier in this thread: http://rundvisergruppen.dk/indexENG.htm

Thanks! I'll take a look...

Thanks to all who posted, the comments and noted links are just what I was looking for.

Definitely visit freetown, you'll be safe, just go during the day... its worth seeing how they live for sure.

I did hear they were trying to shut it down though, I was there in September and it was still there :)

Day, they have shut down Pusher Street, the area where you could buy weed. The rest of Christiania is still alive and well.

We took the canal cruise in Copenhagen and saw Christianshaven and didn't see anything there that impressed us.