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.

----------------

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
Learning Danish through song lyrics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:17
One of the tips I often give to newcomers in Denmark is to learn Danish through song lyrics. Find a Danish lyricist whose music you enjoy listening to on repeat. The repetition will help you get a feel for how the Danish…
Job switching in Denmark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:51
Denmark has one of the highest job mobility rates in the world - about 20% of Danes start new jobs each year. Frequent job changes are a reflection of the Danish concept of "flexicurity" – flexibility with the security o…
The Design Quirks of Copenhagen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:12
Did you know that Copenhagen has its own color? It's called Copenhagen Green, and it's a dark emerald green, mixed with a fair amount of black. A little like the dark green we see on the leaves of trees here late in Augu…
Who is Holger Danske? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:35
Many countries have a fictional character who represents them. Uncle Sam for the USA, Marianne in France, Mother India. Others have a legendary figure, who was real at one point but is now shrouded in myth, like King Art…
The white magic of the Danish graduation hat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:01
In June of each year, the streets of Denmark are suddenly full of young people wearing stiff white caps with bands of various colors - burgundy, midnight blue, light blue. These teenagers have just graduated from gymnasi…
Do you have to speak Danish to work in Denmark? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:52
If you're only in Denmark for a few months, it might not be worth the investment in time to learn much more than the basic pleasantries in Danish. But you plan to stay in Denmark for more than a year or so, it's a good i…
Why Danes Find Compliments So Awkward [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:12
A story I've heard over and over again when I talk to internationals working in Denmark is this: They thought they were going to get fired. They'd been working for a year or so at professional-level job in Denmark, often…
Romance in Denmark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:43
Whether you're navigating the cobbled streets of Copenhagen on a first date, exploring the charming countryside with a new companion, or swiping right in the pursuit of love, this episode offers the inside scoop on Danis…
Finding light in the Danish Winter Darkness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:10
Many internationals newly arrived in Denmark struggle with the long Danish winter. The darkness that starts to fall in the early afternoon means that 5pm looks just like 8pm, which looks just like midnight, which looks j…
New Year's Eve Traditions in Denmark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:24
It's almost Week 1, in the weekly numbering system that's widely used in Northern Europe, where the year starts with week 1 and runs through to Week 52 or 53, depending on the calendar. It's very efficient for planning,…