Copenhagen vs Berlin

Copenhagen vs Berlin

Author: Kay Xander Mellish July 27, 2026 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. Berlin is fun, exciting, and a little bit chaotic. 

Long before I lived in Copenhagen, I lived in Berlin for a couple of years. Imagine my surprise when, on a return visit, I found myself staying next to a shop called "Hygge", filled with Danish pillows, candles, and wooden figurines. 

It was a Danish theme store, right in the middle of the German capital city, filled with items designed to create a cozy Copenhagen atmosphere in the raw rough streets of Berlin.

Of course, it's not uncommon for one city to have little tributes to a different city. After all, Copenhagen has a Berlin Bar, and a clothing store called New Yorker, and an Old Irish Pub.

But Berliners and Copenhagners have a special respect for each other. Berliners enjoy Copenhagen calm, while Copenhagners go to Berlin to get a taste of big-city life.

Hear more in this July 2026 podcast.

Read more at howtoliveindenmark.com, or book Kay Xander Mellish for an in-person or virtual presentation on Danish culture or living in Denmark at www.kxmgroup.dk.


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

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