The main entrance to Christiania on Prinsessegade is marked by a simple wooden gate and the community's distinctive logo — a yellow circle with three yellow dots, representing the circular shape of a coin with holes, a reference to the Danish øre. The gate is the threshold between central Copenhagen and the free state, and the contrast is immediate: within a few metres the sound and pace change completely.
Tours of Christiania leave from just inside the gate on weekdays and some weekends — a good introduction to the history and ongoing politics of the commune. The guide is usually a long-time resident who can explain the legal status, the community governance structure, and what the current relationship with the Danish state looks like.