Last Updated: September 29, 2021
Best Places To Live In Denmark
Denmark has consistently made it into the top 10 countries in the world to live in and in the US News ratings was ranked the second-best in the world in 2020 when it comes to quality of life. Denmark has also been in the top three of the happiest countries in the world for the last 7 years, so with consistent credentials like that, moving to Denmark is not a bad idea.
Denmark is not the biggest country in the world and it takes just 5 hours to drive from one side to the other, but it is home to 7,000 kilometers of stunning coastline, so you’re never far away from a white sand beach with clean a fresh seas lapping its shores.
Denmark, like most Scandinavian countries, is known for its high taxes, which might put some people off but the rewards far outweigh the costs. The healthcare system is excellent, as are the schools (and they are free), they look after the environment to a very high standard, and the welfare system is pretty incredible too.
From a business perspective, Denmark is pretty great too and won ‘the best place to do business’ in CEOWorld magazine. There are plenty of job opportunities for ex-pats in Denmark, the unemployment rates are low, and the income per capita is high.
To top it all off, the Danes are great people. Always happy, outgoing, and welcoming while also being rather beautiful in true Scandinavian style. So, now we know that Denmark is one of the best places in the world to live, let’s look at the best places to live in Denmark.
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Copenhagen
Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, is one of the best cities to live in Europe, let alone in Denmark. It sits on the western side of the country on a large island and is connected via a bridge to the city of Malmo in Sweden.
Copenhagen is beautiful. The city is full of green spaces, large parks with deer in them, a series of white-sand beaches, and a large cultural scene. There are tons of museums and art galleries to visit, world-class restaurants, an excellent transport system, and everyone uses bikes, so the streets are much quieter and less polluted than most cities.
Along the shores, you’ll find sauna houses and decks which are a great place to hang out in the summertime and enjoy a winter sauna followed by a dip into the sea to refresh yourself. A lot of Danes start their day with a coffee and a swim, all year round.
Copenhagen is the business center of Denmark and home to a lot of international companies. Finding a job isn’t so hard and the salaries are in line with the high cost of living making it very manageable once you’re set up.
The quality of life in Copenhagen is some of the best in the world. The apartments and houses are lovely, you can be in the sea within minutes, out in the countryside in half an hour, and enjoy things like sailing, fishing, and kite surfing right on your doorstep.
Aarhus
Aarhus is the second biggest city in Denmark after Copenhagen and was actually founded by the Vikings. Aarhus’ location on the western shores just beneath a protective peninsular provided them with safe anchorage for their fleet in the Bay Of Aarhus and great access to roam and invade Sweden just across the shores.
While still being quite large and lively, Aarhus is a lot more peaceful and quieter than Copenhagen, with a slower pace of life, and it’s way more affordable too!
If you love being surrounded but culture and arts then Aarhus is the best place to live in Denmark for you. There is barely a street without some kind of artistry on it and the city even won the European Capital of Culture in 2017 which is saying something.
The city feels more like a busy town with stunning architecture and a central canal that runs down its length. All the residents spend their Sundays at cafes and restaurants along the canal and they are about as welcoming as any locals could be. Living in Aarhus is like being a part of one giant family.
Aarhus is also home to top-notch bars and restaurants, and it has a lively nightlife scene too. On the weekends, you can be at the beach in no time, visit the national parks, and even go island hopping in the bay. Sailing is super popular and it’s one of the best ways to explore the coastline.
Employment opportunities in Aarhus and pretty easy to come by. The cost of living is high compared to the rest of the world but when you compared it to other parts of Denmark and taken into account the good salaries, it’s very manageable.
Aalborg
Aalborg is one of Denmark’s few major cities that isn’t on the coast, but it’s still surrounded by water. Aalborg is in northern Denmark and was built on the banks of a river that connects the sea to an intricate system of big lakes just west of the city, and the river is the main feature.
If you love sipping great coffee and eating delicious croissants by the riverside, then this might just be the best place to live in Denmark for you.
Aalborg is the major university city of Denmark and thus it’s full of young students that create a buzzing and fresh atmosphere. It’s all home to Denmark’s main sports events which are held at the Nordkraft Sports Centre, so there is always something going on to take part in.
Aalborg is an old historic Danish city with lovely architecture, winding streets, great cafes, restaurants, and bars, making it a lovely place to wander around. It’s not too big, or too small, or too busy, it’s kind of perfect.
From Aalborg, you can explore the northern coast of Denmark which is famed for being wild with good surfing and stunning beaches. There is also an international airport that connects you to the rest of Scandinavia, making it a great base to explore the region from. There are affordable, daily flights to Copenhagen, Gothenburg, and Oslo so a weekend away is always in reach.
There are plenty of job opportunities in Aalborg, especially if you work in education, and the salaries are excellent, which makes the cost of living easy to manage. The area isn’t as expensive as Copenhagen or Aarhus, but being Danish, it still quite expensive when put on the world stage.
Vejle
The small city of Vejle is a diamond in the rough and if you’re looking for a peaceful balance of nature, culture, and town life, you’re likely to think that Vejle is the best place to live in Denmark.
The city sits about two hours drive from Aarhus making it far less touristy and a bit of a hidden gem. The city is an ancient port thanks to its position on the east coast. The port lies in the Vejle Fjord which is stunningly beautiful and offers great views of and from the city, sailing, swimming, and hanging out on the pretty beaches is very popular in this town.
The streets are cobbled, windy, with hidden alleyways and courtyards which are all dotted with stunning contemporary architecture. There are loads of world-class restaurants that serve delicious food, seaside cafes, and the nightlife isn’t too bad either.
If you love some art and culture then the 10 free art museums and galleries will keep you busy on the weekends and evenings. They consistently update their exhibitions so you’re always kept entertained whatever happens.
Another wonderful thing about Vejle is how easy it is to get into nature and enjoy beautiful hikes, and you can be in Copenhagen within a few hours for a weekend away.
Being a small town, employment in Vejle might be a little tricky for an ex-pat but it’s not impossible and the cost of living is a lot lower than the other major cities mentioned. If you’re looking for a relaxed cultural place to live in Denmark, then Vejle might just be it.
Odense
Odense is the birthplace of fairy tales as it was the childhood home of Hans Christian Andersen but it’s not all about children at play. Odense is also the third-largest city in all of Denmark with 200,000 residents and is an important industrial hub.
The city of Odense sits on Funen Island to the west of Copenhagen. It’s a charming city full of life that is brimming with opportunities for ex-pats, especially in the ICT sector. The area is known for developments in drone works, robotics, and general IT services.
While English-speaking jobs are available, most roles will require you to speak at least one Scandinavian language, so learning Danish is a good idea. The city is also home to The University of Southern Denmark and the Odense University Hospital which often put up job postings looking for ex-pat professors to join.
The city of Odense is full of trendy bars, cafes, great restaurants, and fun nightlife. You’ll also find a lot of museums and galleries where you can get your cultural fix plus there are a ton of parks, green spaces, and playgrounds to hang out in.
As with all Danish cities, the sea is never far away. Saunas, swimming, hanging out on beaches, and hiking in the surrounding countryside are all things you can do within minutes of Odense. The people of Odense are all super friendly and welcoming, so if you’re an educator, engineer, or work in the IT sector, then it might be one of the best places in Denmark to live for you.
Moving To Denmark
As you can see, there are hundreds of reasons to go and live in Denmark, after all, it’s one of the happiest countries in the world with a fantastic quality of life. If you live in the EU or Scandinavia, you can simply go to Denmark and get a job without the need of getting a visa or a work permit.
Anyone who lived outside of the EU will have to apply for a visa to travel to Denmark, and then get a work permit after finding a job and receiving an employment contract. Work permits cost around $500 so they are quite affordable, and most of the time, the company employing you will pay for it.
Learning Danish
If you’re serious about moving to Denmark, then learning some Danish is pretty much a must. Most employment opportunities that are English-speaking will also require you to also be able to speak one Scandinavian language, and Danish is going to be far more useful to you than any other.
Also, by learning Danish, you’ll be able to break down any cultural boundaries with the locals much faster and become embedded into the Danish culture in no time.
The Weather
Whilst living in Denmark, you’re going to experience all 4 seasons. The summers can be super hot which makes it ideal for relaxing on the pretty beaches and having a very refreshing dip in the cool seas around them.
The winters are usually quite wet, super cold, but they do usually bring some snow with them which is beautiful around Christmas time. Also, the Christmas markets, lights, and atmosphere in Danish cities during the holidays is pretty hard to beat.
What are you waiting for?
If you have been thinking about moving to Denmark, just up and go for it. Once you have a job there and settle in, you’ll be extremely glad you took the risk and made the choice to go. Chances are, you will never want to leave as the country and the Danes are impossible not to like and very hard to leave.
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
