5 Things To Consider Before Relocating to Copenhagen in 2023

Copenhagen is unique in many respects: its lip-smacking food, scenic landscapes, powerful economy, and welcoming people are a few reasons why people love visiting this place. Many Europeans consider it the world’s happiest city since typical workdays are shorter, a college education is free, vacation days are longer, and personal interactions are unrestricted.

If you plan to move to Copenhagen to live, study, or work, it is wise to prepare before relocating. This article describes the five things you must consider before relocating to this beautiful city in Denmark.

5 Things You Must Consider Before Relocating to Copenhagen in 2023

Purchase a Bicycle

There’s a reason this is at the top of the list – Copenhagen is considered a “biker’s paradise.” Most residents own bikes, and back-of-the-envelope calculations show that around 70,000 bikes and bikers are on the city’s streets, travelling over 1.40 million KMs every day. 

Since the transportation options are expensive here, having a bike can keep you from spending a fortune every time you hit the road. The availability of dedicated bike lanes makes it easier for people to ride through the city.

Work and Leisure Go Hand in Hand

Denmark is recognized as one of the best countries for employment because of its work-life balance. Data shows that the residents of Denmark, including Copenhagen, get around 16 hours every day to care for their personal needs and socialize.

However, this doesn’t mean that workers are paid less. In fact, companies and the government in Denmark are believed to offer generous salaries to their employees.

If you are a citizen of any Nordic country, Switzerland, or EEA/EU, you don’t need a work permit to get employed in Denmark. But, if you need a work permit, know that it’s pretty easy to secure one if you manage to get a job in Copenhagen.

Get Acquainted With Copenhagen’s Business Culture

Although Copenhagen has an unofficial yet religiously followed dress code involving black and white, many Danish companies do not specify such dress codes.

But, if you think you will gossip during the break hours, you might be in for a shock, as most Danish employees do not prefer communicating with each other, let alone with strangers not speaking their language.

Hence, if you want to make it big in Copenhagen, it’s better not to get distracted from your primary responsibilities during the 37 hours of work assigned to you every week.

Finding an Accommodation Isn’t Always Easy

No matter how experienced you are in house hunting, you might experience hard luck when finding properties in Copenhagen.

If you try to find a flawless Scandinavian-design property close to Copenhagen’s city centre, you may have to return empty-handed. However, the city’s outskirts, especially Frederiksberg, are pretty beautiful, and you can find large houses with landscaped gardens at a fraction of the price you’d be paying in Copenhagen.

And Frederiksberg is only five kilometres away from Copenhagen’s city centre. Remember to sign a contract before occupying a property, though!

Learn Danish If You Can

Since Danish is the official language of Denmark, it is wise to learn a bit of Danish to mix well with the local population. Although most Danish people understand and speak English, you may still face difficulty communicating in Copenhagen without knowing the country’s official language.

Fortunately, the Danish government offers free spoken Danish classes to foreigners.