Bohemian Life & History of Christianshavn

Christianshavn: Where Copenhagen Breathes

When I first arrived in Copenhagen, I did what most visitors do – wandered Strøget, saw Nyhavn, took a million photos of bicycles. But it wasn’t until I joined a walking tour of Christianshavn with Copenhagen By Mie that I felt like I truly got under the skin of the city.

The moment we crossed the bridge into Christianshavn, everything shifted. The streets grew quieter, the buildings more lived-in, the pace gentler. It reminded me a little of Amsterdam with its canals and crooked houses – but it felt like Copenhagen. Just a different, more reflective version of it.

Our guide led us along the water, weaving stories of Christian IV and sea captains into the scenery around us. We strolled through narrow streets where old merchant houses leaned together like old friends, and all the while we could see the spires and green copper rooftops of the old town peeking through in the distance, like gentle reminders of where we’d come from.

What struck me most was how different the vibe was compared to the inner city. Here, people moved more slowly. They smiled more. The cafés were smaller, the conversations less rushed. There was a creative, slightly rebellious energy to the place – not loud, just quietly confident.

We paused at one spot by the water, facing the edge of Christiania. You can’t go in with a guide, but from here, you still feel its presence – the murals, the homemade homes, the sense of something a little wilder tucked into the edges of a royal city. Our guide explained the history and tensions of the area with honesty and care, never romanticizing it, but never dismissing it either.

As the walk came to an end near the blooming Opera Park, we were offered a small surprise treat – nothing flashy, just thoughtful. Some guests even hopped on a ferry to head back across the harbor, a lovely bonus if timing and weather allow. I stayed behind for a while, just watching the light shift over the water.

This tour showed me a Copenhagen I didn’t know I needed – softer around the edges, filled with stories, and far from the noise. Christianshavn felt like a pause button in the best possible way. A place where the city exhales.

Please wear suitable footwear for walking, and bring an umbrella or rain jacket in case of rain.

For your tour, you will be in a small group of a maximum of 10 people.

If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We’ll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.

This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of six and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of six are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of six. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.