13 Quick Tips for Newcomers to Copenhagen

13 Quick Tips for Newcomers to Copenhagen

Author: Kay Xander Mellish August 28, 2026 Duration: 9:54

Just arrived in Copenhagen? Welcome to Denmark! Now here's what nobody tells you.

From getting an ugly bicycle and navigating the honor system on public transport to dating, drinking, saving money, seeing a Danish doctor, and even talking to a priest when you're feeling lonely, here are 13 quick tips to help you understand Copenhagen and settle into Danish life.

Some are practical. Some are surprising. And some could save you from making a very Danish mistake.

13 Quick Tips for Newcomers to Copenhagen — a lightning round from Kay Xander Mellish, host of the How to Live in Denmark podcast.

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The How to Live in Denmark podcast is the longest-running English-language podcast in Denmark, and one of the leading English-language resources on Danish culture and everyday life in Denmark now.

The podcast host is Kay Xander Mellish, an American author, speaker, and cultural commentator who has lived in Copenhagen, Denmark, for more than 25 years. 

Through her books, keynote speeches, workshops, and consulting, Kay helps international professionals, global companies, universities, and newcomers understand Danish culture, Danish working culture, cross-cultural communication, and the practical realities of living in Denmark. 

She has advised organizations across Europe and North America on working effectively with Danish colleagues and building successful international teams.

She is the author of several books including How to Live in Denmark, How to Work in Denmark, Working with Americans: Tips for Danes, Working with Danes: Tips for Americans and The Danish Year. Her work combines firsthand experience, careful observation, and a dry sense of humor to explain not just what Danes do, but why they do it.

As an international keynote speaker, Kay speaks to audiences in Denmark, across Europe, and in the United States on Danish culture, Danish working culture, and cross-cultural communication. Kay saw one of the music group Nirvana's last live performances. 

She lives in Copenhagen.


For anyone curious about or currently navigating Danish life from the outside, How to Live in Denmark serves as an essential, on-the-ground guide. Hosted by Kay Xander Mellish, an American writer who has made Denmark her home for over ten years, this conversation cuts straight to the heart of the everyday realities in one of the world's most homogenous-and often puzzling-societies. Rather than lengthy lectures, you'll find concise, ten-minute episodes packed with practical advice and cultural translation. This isn't just about travel tips; it's a deep dive into the unspoken rules of Danish social etiquette, the nuances of the local workplace, and the sometimes surprising path to feeling at home in a country frequently labeled the world's happiest. Mellish draws from her own long-term experience to explain everything from navigating the infamous Jantelov to understanding the Danish approach to business meetings and casual Friday night hygge. As Denmark's longest-running English-language podcast, it has become a trusted resource for internationals, whether they are planning a move, newly arrived, or have been settled for years but still occasionally find themselves wondering, "Why do Danes do it that way?" Each episode feels like a chat with a well-informed friend who helps decode the complexities of a fascinating culture, making your time there richer and a lot less confusing.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

How to Live in Denmark
Podcast Episodes
Copenhagen vs Berlin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:13
Copenhagen and Berlin are less than an hour apart by plane, but very different in spirit. Copenhagen is a mostly clean, mostly safe, mostly well-run, mostly get up early in the morning and get to work type of city. Berli…
Brok: The Danish art of petty complaints [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:25
Brok rhymes with clock, and it is a Danish word that describes the petty complaints that are common in one of the happiest countries in the world, and one of the richest. It's complaining as a social activity, usually ab…
Authenticity and the Danish Summer Light [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:22
These are the light times in Denmark. In May and June, it's light until 10 or 11 in the evening, and then the sun is back around 4am. It's a nice contrast to the dark times in winter, although all that light can make you…
My Awkward First Year in Denmark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:16
One thing no one ever tells you about moving to a new country is the incredible awkwardness of it. As a newcomer, you are constantly doing or saying or planning the wrong thing, something that would be perfectly reasonab…
The Scheduled Dane: Why Friendship Needs a Calendar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:26
Danes usually don't do spontaneous. They do calendars. This episode looks at why a country that can count 8,000 ballots in three hours still needs two weeks' notice for almost everything else. From perfectly timed buses…
Vintage TV and movies as a guide to Danish culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:09
Watching vintage TV and movies is a great way to survive the long Danish winter—and if you're learning Danish or trying to understand Danish culture, it's even better. Many classic Danish films and TV shows are available…
December: Little Nisse, Big Money: The Danish Year Part 12 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:04
The nisse is a centuries-old figure in Danish folklore, and every December these tiny, mischievous spirits take center stage. While Santa Claus makes one big appearance late in the month, the nisse are active the whole s…