Things I wish I would've known when I moved to Denmark
When moving to a new place, there tends to be a lot of things we learn later on that we wish we had known earlier - things that would have made the transition easier or maybe saved us time and/or money. Often they are things locals forget are relevant to newcomers because they take for granted the knowledge they have about how to best live life somewhere. We asked international students, if they could, what advice they would give their past selves about moving to Denmark. Here's what they said.
I wish I would’ve known…
... to consider the weight of the bike you choose against the amount of hills you will need to climb on that bike. The hills wouldn't be so tough if my bike was lighter, more like a racing bike.
... that cheaper train tickets for DSB, called Orange billet, are available for purchase two months prior to your travel date - this makes it about the same price as a FlixBus but the train is much more comfortable.
... to buy an e-sim rather than a sim card so I could easily switch between my Danish and home phone numbers for verification purposes.
... that PayPal is the easiest and cheapest way to move money between non-EU and Danish bank accounts. I could have saved hundreds of euros on transfer fees had I known this sooner.
... Danish. There are many more job opportunitites for those who know it.
... about pant. You pay extra kroner for each pant bottle or can, and then you can get it back by returning the bottles or cans in the pant machines.
... that GreenMobility can get expensive if you don't buy a package - driving per minute adds up!
I wish I would’ve known…
… how insanely reliant the bureaucracy here is on technology. Newly arrived non-EU students should prepare to manually activate certain things (such as MitID) due to passports possibly not having the chip needed to activate things from home.
… when and how many hours I’m able to work part-time versus full-time as a non-EU student. Also, while applying to internships, knowing whether or not I would need an extra work permit during academic months so I can apply early enough for it.
... how cold it really gets (severely underestimated) and how colder months will inevitably affect your physical and mental health, especially if you're not taking precautions like taking vitamin D pills and exercising/moving frequently.
… that community is everything. If it feels like you can't get past something in Denmark, make sure you find your people and you will figure it out.
I wish I would've known...
… the limitations for non-EU students (no SU, no unemployment or housing benefits).
... about the flexibility of the university when talking to student counsellors regarding your studies.
I wish I would've known...
… about the necessity to have a Danish phone number (for things like MobilePay, for example).
… how hard it is to find a job and how long it can take. It is what stressed me out the first few months and I would have had other expectations had I known before that it takes a lot of time to find something as a non-Danish speaker and with a lot of other students as competition (even for service jobs).
I wish I would’ve known…
… how strict the transport inspectors are. When I first moved in, I was using my home bank to pay for everything since I didn't have a Danish bank account yet, and it takes around 2-5 minutes to process an online payment (especially if the internet is slow). The first week after I arrived, I was waiting for the payment of the ticket to process when the Letbane arrived. Since I had started the process way before the Letbane's arrival, I thought it was going to be okay. However, as soon as I got on the tram I was fined because the payment was still loading. I tried to explain the situation to the inspector but the only thing they said was that it had to be complete before going on any transport.
From then on, I learned it is better to wait for the next bus or tram if your ticket is still processing. Also, it's your responsibility to have enough battery on your phone to be able to show your ticket. If your phone is dead and you don't have a physical Rejsekort, you'll be fined. Please note that the physical Rejsekort will close in May 2026.
I wish I would’ve known…
… when an apartment is described as unfurnished, there is literally NOTHING in it, which means not even lightbulbs or wires/outlets for hanging lights. You must get it done or do it yourself.
I wish I would've known...
… Aarhus is not a flat city at all. 😅