Christian's Harbor (Christianshavn)

With tall, thin houses running alongside canals, Christian’s Harbor reminds many visitors of Amsterdam, and city planners were, in fact, inspired by the Dutch city. The neighborhood is popular with tourists who come to stroll the streets on a city tour or take a boat cruise along the canals. Several popular landmarks, including the famous Church of Our Savior with its twisting spire, the Royal Danish Opera House, and the Overgaden Institute for Contemporary Art, are nearby.

• Christian’s Harbor can be reached by walking over the Knippelsbro bridge or cycling along the Inderhavnsbro bridge.

• Bring your camera—the colorful houses make great photo subjects.

• Climbing the 400 steps to the top of the church tower is a popular activity.

• The area is wheelchair accessible.

Christian’s Harbor is located in central Copenhagen and is easy to access from other major points downtown on foot or by bike. The nearest metro stop is Christianshavn. Guided tours also visit the area with transport provided.

A city neighborhood, Christianshavn is open to the public 24 hours a day year-round. The various museums, concert venues, cafés, and restaurants in the area have varying opening times.

Christianshavn is also home to Christiania, the partly self-governing Freetown famous for its anarchistic history and famously relaxed attitude to cannabis use. The village is home to around 1,000 residents who reclaimed the land from a military barracks in the 1970s and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors per year. Residents themselves built the many homes, with eco-friendly credentials as an important focus.