Practical tips for moving to Denmark

Practical tips for moving to Denmark

Author: Kay Xander Mellish February 21, 2021 Duration: 6:19

While I'm not an authority on the Danish visa or immigration systems, I'm often asked for practical tips about moving to Denmark. So here are a few things to think about when you're packing your suitcases or, if you're doing a corporate move, packing your shipping container.

Number one, make sure you bring money. Denmark is an expensive place to live where you will own less stuff, but better stuff.

That said, there's no need to bring much furniture, even mores if your furniture is nothing special.

You can often buy Danish design furniture cheap at local second-hand stores and flea markets, and for everything else, there's always IKEA - in Denmark, or across the water in IKEA's homeland of Sweden. 


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: English Episodes: 151

How to Live in Denmark
Podcast Episodes
Christmas in Denmark Part 2: Get Yourself an Elf Hat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:59
Wearing an elf hat at Christmas time is a way to show you've got a sense of humor about yourself. You're likely to see an elf hat on your boss, your professor or somebody else you're supposed to respect. The post Christm…
Ørestad, Ørested and Øresund:  Why I still get lost in Denmark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:06
I still get confused about Danish place names. A lot of names sound so similar that I am constantly getting lost in Denmark. People's names are tricky, too. The post Ørestad, Ørested and Øresund: Why I still get lost in…
The Two Months of Christmas: Holiday drinking in Denmark begins now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:04
The 12 days of Christmas is an old French Christmas song. But those 12 days have nothing on the Danes, who have more than two months of Christmas, and would probably have it last all the way to spring if they could get a…
Just buy more insurance: Crime and Punishment in Denmark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:57
Traditionally, there has been little crime in Denmark, which is a society based on trust. But when that trust is broken, Danes get confused about what to do. They don't like the idea of punishment. The post Just buy more…
No planned hangovers: Ways I refuse to integrate in Denmark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:53
More than a decade after moving to Denmark, there are still a few things I won't do to fit in. I won't cook fried fish balls, or watch Danish talent shows on TV. And I won't plan my hangovers in advance.
Here come the dark times: Winter in Denmark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:43
The dark days of winter in Denmark last from October to March. The sky is dark when you get up in the morning, and it's dark when you leave work. If you are moving to Denmark and want your friends and relatives to visit…