When you are planning on traveling to a new country, you often search for things to do there. You can then come across advice on what not to do while visiting. However, this advice is not always accurate. In this post, I want to address 10 myths I have come across about things you should never do in Denmark.
#1 You Should Never Rent a Bike
Myth: You should not rent a bike when visiting Denmark because you are going to be a danger to yourself and other cyclists.
Truth: If you are comfortable riding a bike and you are aware of the rules in Denmark, then biking can be a good way to get around.
If you have never ridden a bike before, you should not try to learn, especially in a big city like Copenhagen. However, there is nothing wrong with renting a bike as long as you know the rules. Most areas have dedicated bike lanes, and you should bike in the flow of traffic. You should not bike on sidewalks, and it is good to use hand signals. For the signals, you raise your hand up if stopping and raise your left or right arm when turning. Lastly, you should be considerate of other cyclists. You should not stop in the middle of the bike lane and block other cyclists.
#2 You Should Never Jaywalk
Myth: If you jaywalk, you will be stopped by the police and fined 700 DKK.
Truth: While there is a 700 DKK fine for jaywalking, there is an exception to this rule. If you are more than 30 meters away from the pedestrian crossing, you can walk across the road.
Jaywalking is the act of walking across the road while you are not at a pedestrian crossing. There is a fine for jaywalking, but you can cross the road if you are more than 30 meters (around 100 feet) away from a pedestrian crossing. Furthermore, you should use your judgment. If the road is busy and you are more than 30 meters from the pedestrian crossing, you should walk down to the crossing because you are likely going to have to wait longer for the road to be clear. However, if it is late at night and there are no cars around or you are on a smaller side street that is not busy, it is perfectly fine to cross the road if there is no pedestrian crossing nearby.
#3 You Should Never Bring Flip-Flops
Myth: You should not bring flip-flops when packing for a trip to Denmark in the summer. Instead, you should bring a sweater, a raincoat, and winter shoes.
Truth: Bring flip-flops, but also bring comfortable walking shoes and clothes you can layer.
I have seen people claim that the summer in Denmark only lasts for a couple of days and the rest of the time it is cold and rainy. Even though the weather does vary from year to year, it is generally warm during the summer. If you are visiting Denmark during the summer and plan on visiting a beach, bring your flip-flops. However, if you do plan on visiting various tourist attractions, I do recommend a good pair of comfortable walking shoes. The summer nights can get cooler, so it would be good to have a sweater or light jacket you can layer. Also, it can rain year-round in Denmark, but usually, it is just light showers that do not last long. If you are concerned about the rain, bring an umbrella.
#4 You Should Never Visit Denmark in the Winter
Myth: The winters are cold and dark. Therefore, you should not visit Denmark during the winter.
Truth: Denmark is colder, and daylight is shorter during winter, but there are numerous activities you can do.
Just because it is cold during the winter, it does not mean you should pass on visiting Denmark. One of my favorite winter activities to do is to visit the Christmas markets, and Tivoli goes all out with winter decor. You can also enjoy a glass of gløgg (mulled wine) and æbleskiver (small, round pastries made from pancake batter) at a cafe. Also, winter bathing is quite popular. If you are visiting Denmark during winter, you should pack warmly. You should bring a winter coat, sweater, long-sleeve shirt, and warm pants. It is also good to have winter accessories, including a scarf, gloves, and a hat.
#5 You Should Never Have Cash
Myth: Everywhere in Denmark takes credit and debit cards, and it is pointless to carry any cash.
Truth: While most shops, restaurants, and attractions accept cards, there can be instances where you cannot pay with a card, and instead, you would need to pay with cash.
If you visit a farmer’s market in Denmark, they often do not accept cards. Instead, they accept MobilePay. However, you need a Danish phone number and CPR number to sign up for the app. Therefore, cash is the only other way to pay. Some street vendors and smaller cafes may also only accept cash. It will not hurt to carry some cash with you just in case. If you have some cash left over after your trip, you can spend it at the airport before you leave.
#6 You Should Never Speak Danish Unless You are Fluent
Myth: If you have learned some Danish words, you should not test out your Danish skills because Danes will not understand you.
Truth: While Danish is a tricky language to speak, it is helpful to know a few words.
Many Danes understand English to some extent. Therefore, if you are at a restaurant or cafe, you can often order in English. However, when your server brings you your food and drinks, it is nice to say “tak” (thank you). If you made a purchase at a store, you are often asked, “Skal du have bon med?” or “Vil du have kvitteringen?” (Do you want the receipt?). It is easy enough to reply “nej tak” (no thanks) or “ja tak” (yes, thanks). It can also be helpful to know “hej” (hi) and “hej hej” (bye). If you have been learning Danish and want to practice the language, you are not going to be looked down upon or made fun of for testing your skills.
#7 You Should Never Approach Locals or Their Pets
Myth: You should not approach Danes or their pets because they are cold and want to be left alone.
Truth: Danes can be more reserved with strangers, but there is nothing wrong with talking to the locals.
There is a misconception that Danes are unfriendly to people they do not know. However, Danes can be quite friendly, and you just have to get to know them first. You will likely not become fast friends during your trip to Denmark, but there is no problem with starting a conversation with the locals. Also, as with the case of any dog you do not know, you should never approach it and pet it without talking to their owner first. A dog can be aggressive or anxious around strangers, and their owner will know best how their dog behaves.
#8 You Should Never Expect to Get Food After 9 PM
Myth: If you are out late at night or have a late flight, you will not be able to find somewhere to eat after 9 PM.
Truth: Grocery stores and most restaurants close by 9 PM, but there are always options to find food late at night.
If it is late at night and you are looking for somewhere to eat, fast-food restaurants are your best bet. In Roskilde, McDonald’s closes at 1 AM, and Burger King closes at 2 AM. In Copenhagen, McDonald’s and Max Burgers close at 2 AM, and Burger King closes between 2 and 6 AM. Furthermore, 7-11 is also open late. In Roskilde, 7-11 is open 24 hours, and you can get hot dogs and other quick meals. The 7-11 hours will vary by location, but 7-11 at Copenhagen Central Station is open from 5 AM-1 AM on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends.
#9 You Should Never Go Shopping on Sundays
Myth: Stores are closed on Sundays, and you should plan to go shopping on a different day.
Truth: While some stores are closed on Sundays, you can still shop at malls and other popular places on Sundays.
In Roskilde, the shops downtown are closed on Sundays. However, on the first Sunday of every month, some stores open. If you still want to go shopping on Sundays, the mall Ro’s Torv is open. Fisketorvet is a popular mall in Copenhagen, and it is open every day. Furthermore, many of the shops on Strøget (the main shopping street in Copenhagen) are open 7 days a week.
#10 You Should Never Visit the Popular Tourist Attractions
Myth: The tourist attractions are not worth your time or money to visit.
Truth: While some tourist attractions are often viewed as overrated, they can be worthwhile seeing at least once.
The Little Mermaid statue is often seen as the most overrated tourist attraction in Copenhagen because the statue is much smaller than expected. However, if you love Hans Christian Anderson and The Little Mermaid, it can be worthwhile stopping by if you are in the area. Furthermore, I have seen that Nyhavn is not recommended to visit because it is often crowded in the summer and when there is good weather. That said, it can be worth seeing the colorful 17th-century houses along the canal. The oldest house in Nyhavn is No. 9 from 1681, and Hans Christian Andersen lived in No. 20, 67, and 18.
Lastly, I have also seen people not recommending The Round Tower (Rundetårn) because there are better views in Copenhagen. However, I find the price worth it because you get to walk up the tower from 1642, see the functional observatory, and there are nice views of Copenhagen from the top. Even if you have seen people not recommending a specific attraction, you should not let that stop you from visiting an attraction you are interested in.
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