Copenhagen Alternative Private Tour: Vesterbro & Christianshavn

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Recommended by 100% of reviewers

| Copenhagen, Denmark

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210 to 240 minutes (approx.)

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Overview

Copenhagen is one of the most interesting and fun cities in Europe. But it can be hard to find out what to visit and where to go. This Copenhagen Alternative Tour has been curated to include some of the most interesting sights and hidden gems of Danish culture.

Get an insight into Copenhagen's quirky side, from a former red-light district turned into a super cool area to an 800 residents micronation. Get an up-close look at some of the city's more offbeat places, all in half a day with a Local Private Guide.

What's Included

Metro Tickets
Local Tasting and a drink in a traditional restaurant (Only included in the Full Option)
3:30 to 4 hs. Private Tour with a local guide

The guide will not go with you into Christiania as they are not allowed.

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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Viktoriagade
1620 København, Denmark

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Freetown Christiania
Copenhagen Municipality, Denmark

Freetown Christiania, a car free zone where 800 people reside in one of the most interesting, organized and open minded communities in the world started by squatters in the 70’s on a former military structure, now among Copenhagen´s most visited places.

What To Expect

Viktoriagade

Formerly this was an area of fortifications, created by Christian IV, in 1600. These fortifications were in turn protected by a moat. In 1950, the process of redevelopment of the area began and this moat looked more like an open sewer. It was decided to place this now famous street over the old moat. The land along the street was sold in lots starting in 1856. Mostly buildings dedicated to charity, such as for officers' widows, were constructed. The buildings at numbers 8, 10 and 12, built in the mid-1800s, are listed in the Danish register of protected buildings and sites.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Det Ny Teater

Opened in September 1908, it is one of the largest theaters in Denmark. The idea of construction was to create a large theater and at the same time open a passage between Gammel Kongevej and the new Vesterbro Passage (now part of Vesterbrogade).

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Værnedamsvej

Its name refers to the name of a beer collector, Werner Dam, who acquired a piece of land in the 1700s and opened a popular beer garden on the site. It was also known as Slagtergaden (literally "Butchers' Street"), due to its large volume of butchers.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Saxogade

In the early 1950s, Saxogade residents sent a large letter of protest. They had had enough of the miserable housing conditions. We have to keep in mind that this neighborhood, at first, belonged to factory workers, who had come from the countryside to the city, looking for an improvement in their quality of life. The desire for an improvement in their housing was centered mostly on the children, since the families lived in overcrowded, small one-room apartments, where they could sleep up to 10 people.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Skydemuren

The shooting range wall is a castle-like wall flanked by two residential properties located between Skydebanehaven and Istedgade. The wall was constructed as a bullet trap to protect traffic along the then new street, Istedgade, from projectiles from the Royal Danish Army at Skydebane (the Shooting range), which was where Skydebanehaven is today. The wall forms the point de vue for Skydebanegade , which with its uniform, richly decorated houses starts from the opposite side of Istedgade.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Istedgade

Istedgade is named in memory of the 1850 Battle of Isted in the First Schleswig War. It is one of the most important streets in Vesterbro, renowned for its role in the second world war and for being a drug-hit area and the largest red light district in Scandinavia. During WW2 the street was an important refuge for the Danish resistance and the phrase: "They can take Rome, they can take Paris, but Istedgade will never fall" was a popular slogan

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Istedgade 31

Stjerne Radio opened its doors in September 1942, run by Carl Munck and JK Søndergård. They soon began to transmit the English broadcast of BBC radio through loudspeakers. It was an essential part of the Danish resistance.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Meatpacking District, Copenhagen

A revitalized industrial area known for its trendy dining scene and buzzing nightlife.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Oksnehallen

Exhibition space located in an old market, part of the brown area of the Meatpacking District. It was built in 1891 to house merchant offices and had a capacity for 1,600 heads of cattle. The market remained in use until the White Zone opened in the 1959s.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Halmtorvet

Copenhagen's haymarket was originally located just inside the Western City Gate where the City Hall Square lies today. It closed on 1 January 1888 and relocated to the area outside the new Livestock Market which had opened at the site in 1879. Market days were Wednesday and Saturday and up to several hundred loads of hay and straw were traded and distributed to cattle and horse stables around the city.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Men's Home for homeless

Established in 1910, this private organization (subsidized by the Danish state) aims to help homeless and vulnerable people recognize and use their own resources to make a good life and contribute to a diverse society.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Istedgade 20

Maria Church This small church opened in 1909 and today serves as a shelter for homeless people, families in need and socially marginalized groups. It has an active social involvement in the neighborhood. It provides daily care to all who come seeking both spiritual and economic support, including vulnerable groups such as illegal immigrants, drug addicts, prostitutes and people whose lives are criminalized.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Copenhagen

Lunch in a classic Danish restaurant. (Only included in the Full Option)

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

København H

Built in 1911 and inspired by the architectural style of the town hall building, it is the largest railway station in Denmark (Nørreport St. has the highest passenger flow per day). It has 7 platforms and 13 tracks.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Knippelsbro

It is a 115 meter long drawbridge. It was built in 1937 and connects Copenhagen with the island of Christianshavn. The current name comes from Hans Knip, who was in charge of operating the bridge and collecting tolls from passing ships in 1641. He lived with his family on the same bridge.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Christians Kirke

A rococo style Church built between the years 1754-59. The church was originally called Frederik's German Church, named after Frederick V (1746-1766), and for many years served the German-speaking congregation in Copenhagen, who wanted their own church.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Strandgade 4

This building from the 1780s: until recently it housed the DieselHouse Museum (now moved to København SV) that tells the story of B&W, dating all the way back to 1843, where it all started with a one-man smithing workshop. Later on, B&W developed into being one of Denmark’s largest workplaces, and it retained that title a hundred years ahead. A symbol of the Danish industry (1865-1979, today MAN Energy Solutions).

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Asiatisk Plads

Former base of the Danish Asia Company (1732-1843), today the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and convention center.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Sankt Annae Kirke

A place to see listed buildings from the 1600s-1700s, including the row of houses 8-22 with remains from some of the oldest houses in CPH (built at ca.1650), no. 14 being the best preserved.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Wildersgade

Street dates from 1617-22 (from the founding of Christianshavn), today a quiet residential, cobblestone street with mansions, old houses and warehouses from the 1700s-1800s.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Wilders Kanal (Pass By)

Originally a busy market square, today it is an ideal place to relax and enjoy the water views. Here you will also find one of the most expensive marinas in CPH (only to use if you are a member of the yacht club). We show the Wilders Plads 10 building, a beautiful 2-story timber-framed house. Built in 1736, originally as a sailmaker's workshop and housing.

Søkvæsthuset (Pass By)

A big yellow neoclassical building from 1754-6, now listed, it was a naval hospice and later used to house the Danish Naval Museum/Orlogsmuseet until 2016.

Church of Our Saviour

It is a baroque church, famous for its twisted spire with an external spiral staircase with which you can climb to the top. It is also a living parish church for about 8000 people.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Christianshavns Voldgade (Pass By)

This was a defense zone, created in the time of Christian IV, to close the ring of protection of the capital and prevent the attack of the Swedes.

Freetown Christiania

It is a partially self-governed neighborhood of about 1000 residents, created in 1971 by a group of hippies protesting the lack of housing, on military land abandoned by the Danish army. This neighborhood community, covers an area of approximately 34 hectares and is the second most visited sight in Copenhagen after Tivoli with half a million tourists visiting per year.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
The tour will not be cancelled in case of rain.

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Copenhagen Alternative Private Tour: Vesterbro & Christianshavn?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CEST). Read more Apr 2025