Visiting Christiania with kids
What works with children
The absence of cars, first. Then ALIS Wonderland, the skate bowl, and the ramparts and the lake, which are open green space with self-built houses along the water and Green George, the recycled-wood sculpture, standing in it. Nemoland runs free concerts on summer Sundays. The full list is on things to see.
The brief before you go in
Two rules, said once at the gate. Ask before taking a photograph of anyone, and do not run — running reads as trouble here for historical reasons and children do it without thinking. People live behind these doors, so a gravel path between two houses is a drive rather than a shortcut. See rules and etiquette.
Tours that carry children
The City Highlights bike tour supplies children’s bikes from age four, along with helmets and ponchos, and caps the group at eight riders. The e-bike tour has child seats and cargo bikes available. Neither suits a child who cannot yet ride confidently in traffic, and strollers are not carried on the bike tour.
Frequently asked questions
Is Christiania suitable for children now?
Considerably more so than before 6 April 2024, when residents ended the open-air cannabis trade by removing the Pusher Street cobblestones. There is no traffic inside, and the ramparts and the skate bowl suit children.
Can children join the bike tours?
The City Highlights bike tour supplies children’s bikes from age four, and the e-bike tour has child seats and cargo bikes. Neither works for a child who cannot ride in traffic; details on bike tours.
What should I tell children before we go in?
Ask before photographing anyone, and do not run. Those two cover almost everything. Paths between houses are private drives rather than shortcuts.