[Northern Europe 15-Day Independent Travel] Day 2: Copenhagen Half-Day Tour & Flying to Helsinki

Table of Contents Trip Overview Trip Preparation Copenhagen Half-Day Itinerary Freetown Christiania: Art and Self-Governing Culture Church of Our Saviour: A 360-Degree View of Copenhagen Airport Metro & SAS Flight to Helsinki Grocery Shopping in Helsinki: Getting Ready for Self-Catering Life in the Nordics Trip Summary & Other Nordic Travel Journals 1. Trip Overview This morning, we spent half a day exploring Copenhagen, visiting the vibrant and artistically free Christiania neighborhood, then climbing Our Saviour's Church to enjoy the panoramic city views. After returning to the hotel at noon to collect our luggage, we flew with SAS Airlines to Helsinki, Finland. Upon arrival, we checked into an apartment-style room and headed to the supermarket for groceries to start our Nordic "self-catering" lifestyle! Section 2: Trip Preparation Transportation Methods Getting around Copenhagen city center: Take bus 2A to Christiania (download the DOT tickets app to purchase tickets, single journey 24 DKK).

Airport transportation: Take the Airport Express Train (Københavns Lufthavn), one-way fare is 36 DKK. Flight information: SAS Airlines Copenhagen → Helsinki, flight time 1 hour 15 minutes. Getting around Helsinki: From the airport, take the P line or I line train to Helsinki Central Station (Helsingin päärautatieasema), the ride takes about 30–40 minutes, one-way fare in Zone ABC is 4.1 euros.

Accommodation Copenhagen: Before heading out in the morning, we left our luggage in the girls' room, then returned to the hotel at noon to pick it up and check out. Helsinki: We stayed at Rauhallinen asunto keskustassa (booked via Airbnb). The elevator is very small, fitting only 1 person plus 1 suitcase at a time. This apartment has a full kitchen, perfect for long-term travelers who want to cook for themselves, and it's also the only accommodation on this Nordic trip with a bathtub.

III. Copenhagen Half-Day Tour Itinerary 1. Christiania Free Town: Art and Self-Governance Culture Take the 2A bus to Copenhagen's most distinctive "autonomous district" — Christiania (Christiania). Originally a military barracks, it was occupied by artists and hippies in 1971 and gradually developed into an "independent community" not directly controlled by the government, centered on freedom, peace, and creativity. Upon entering Freetown, your eyes will be greeted by vibrant street graffiti and artistic installations throughout. This place is free from the constraints of ordinary cities and even has its own laws and currency. The most famous "Pusher Street" prohibits photography, but the signs on site feature a checkmark symbol, leaving visitors confused about whether photos are actually allowed or not.

Since we visited in the morning, it felt far less dangerous than I had imagined — instead, it felt more like a neighborhood full of artistic atmosphere, perfect for travelers interested in alternative culture to explore. 2. Church of Our Saviour: A 360-Degree View Over Copenhagen After leaving Freetown Christiania, we walked to the Church of Our Saviour (Vor Frelsers Kirke). What makes this Baroque-style church so special is its exterior spiral spire, which you can climb to the top of for a panoramic view over the entire city.

Tickets need to be booked online in advance—even if there aren't many people on-site, registration through the internet is required. We booked the nearest available time slot right there and got in immediately! Climbing the tower is quite thrilling. The stairs are narrow and steep, and as you approach the top, they even become open outdoor stairs—a real challenge for people with a fear of heights. But when you stand at the tower's peak, the sight of Copenhagen's red brick buildings interwoven with blue canals is absolutely breathtaking, like a stunning landscape painting!

3. Airport Metro & SAS Airlines to Helsinki After returning to the hotel to pick up our luggage, we took the Airport Metro to Copenhagen Airport. Nordic airports are highly self-service oriented, and with SAS Airlines, the check-in, baggage drop, and boarding process was almost entirely self-service, making it extremely efficient.

Before boarding, we wandered around the duty-free shop and unexpectedly discovered a clothing store from a Danish design brand. Since I had forgotten to bring jeans, I conveniently picked up a pair of pants there. Finally, at the airport chain bakery Lagkagehuset, we bought some bread for lunch before getting ready to board.

The flight takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, and along the way we could look down at the scenery of the Baltic Sea, looking forward to the Finland trip that's about to begin! 4. Grocery shopping at a Helsinki supermarket, getting ready for a Nordic self-catering life After arriving in Helsinki, we took the airport train into the city and checked into an apartment-style room. We originally planned to try a Finnish sauna, but it was already late (around 8 o'clock), so we decided to go to the supermarket first to buy ingredients, getting ready for the self-catering life ahead.

Helsinki's supermarkets offer more variety than Copenhagen's, and the prices are relatively cheaper. We bought basic ingredients like eggs, ham, and lettuce, and also brought braised dried tofu and quail eggs from Taiwan, ready to enjoy tonight. Dinner was cooked by Fat Auntie, and the menu is spicy dry noodles with lettuce and ham. Taking a bite of hometown flavor on a cold Nordic night feels especially satisfying!

A little evening episode: after dinner we suggested taking a walk by the sea, hoping to catch the northern lights. Helsinki's nights are livelier than Copenhagen's, with shops staying open later. Unfortunately, even though the aurora index was high, we were still too far south to see the northern lights, so in the end we only took a few night shots before wrapping up a fulfilling day.

Trip Summary & More Nordic Travel Stories Our last half day in Copenhagen let us experience a completely different atmosphere—from the rebellious spirit of Freetown Christiania, to the elegant Church of Our Saviour, to the efficient experience at a Nordic airport, perfectly wrapping up this Danish journey. Next, we'll be heading into Finland, kicking off our winter adventure in Helsinki & Rovaniemi! Explore more independent travel stories from the four Nordic countries The Nordics aren't just about the Northern Lights and snow — they also offer urban elegance, polar mystery, and cultural depth. This journey across Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden will take you to explore the charm of Europe's purest corners! 🇩🇰 Denmark Free & Easy 📍Day 2: A Day Trip to Copenhagen | 📍Day 3: Exploring Freetown Christiania, Flying to Finland 🇫🇮 Finland Polar Adventure 📍Day 4: Helsinki City Tour & Overnight Sleeper Train | 📍Day 5: Santa Claus Village & First Encounter with the Northern Lights 📍Day 6: Husky sledding & city exploration in Rovaniemi | 📍Day 7: Aurora paradise by Inari Lake 🇳🇴 Norwegian cruise itinerary & aurora hunting 📍Day 8: Cross-border from Inari to Kirkenes by cruise | 📍Day 9: Staying in Hammerfest & life on board 📍Day 10: Tromsø Museum & cable car snow views | 📍Day 11: Transportation disrupted, stranded in Tromsø 🇸🇪 Swedish Cultural Stroll and a Perfect Finale 📍Day 12: Fly to Stockholm and marvel at the Northern Lights high in the sky | 📍Day 13: City Hall & the Vasa Museum 📍Day 14: A deep dive into the Old Town and Swedish culture