Adjusting to Copenhagen: What Shocked Me Most Upon Arrival

By Rudy Cone, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Before coming to Copenhagen, I anticipated some differences to the UK. I had been deep in research to settle my nerves and feel prepared, watching countless ‘Day in my Life’  videos on TikTok and YouTube and perfecting my Danish with a 100+ day streak on Duolingo. Yet, experiencing firsthand both the big and subtle differences was a whole other story. Quickly, I realised the reality of living in Copenhagen and being on a study abroad year did not meet my initial expectations. After a few weeks of reflection, I have put together a list of two types of differences I’ve had to navigate–cultural differences between the UK and Denmark, and realities that clashed with my idealised vision of study abroad.

First up, here are the culture shocks I’ve experienced in Denmark vs the UK:

Language

The second I touched down in Copenhagen, I realised just how widely English is spoken in the city! Most people speak English and will jump at the opportunity to practice it. Furthermore, despite any tutelage from Duolingo, speaking Danish is HARD. Even my professor, an Australian who’s lived here for 15 years, admits that the accent is so difficult to nail that he has stopped trying. This said, I do continue to be addressed in Danish, particularly in shops. To save some stress, learning basic greetings and how to understand and respond to questions like “do you want a receipt/bag” is useful. It is also good to note that Danish lessons here are available after your CPR appointment, though they require a deposit of about £200.  

Weather

Now as Manchester students, we are pretty used to unpredictable, and frankly rubbish, weather. However, compared to the UK in late August, I was surprised by how cold it was in Copenhagen upon arrival. In the first 4 days, I experienced lots of rain and wind, and many Danes explained that they had an awful summer weather wise. However, the following weeks after, I then experienced amazing long days with highs of 27 degrees. This was amazing and really made the start of the semester so enjoyable, filled with swimming, sunbathing, picnics. Therefore, don’t be disheartened by the stereotypes of freezing cold Scandinavia and expect a similarly erratic climate to Manchester at the start.

High Cost of Living

It’s true what they say, Copenhagen is expensive! Nonetheless, I was still very shocked by just how much more expensive it is to buy groceries here. Danes are happy to pay more for good quality produce. Also, tax is high, with things at least 30p more expensive than in the UK and meat particularly pricy.

As someone who is very tight with money, I found the trial and error of trying out different supermarkets while settling in quite hard. From what I have learnt, I would say don’t worry if you are spending a bit more on groceries and experiences in the first few weeks while you’re getting settled. However, the costs do add up quickly, so the faster you can investigate supermarkets and learn to budget here the better.

Public Transport & Biking

The first piece of advice I got here was to buy a bike ASAP, which I did – even before buying a duvet! Public transport is pricey, so renting or buying a bike is essential. The bike culture is also so big here that, after the first week or so, you may also experience being left out if you cannot cycle. However, it can also be helpful and convenient to get to know the city by metro when you first arrive (I used the city pass for the first few days).  

I must also stress that you MUST always pay for public transport. I know too many people who have been fined at least £80 for not having a ticket. One of these was a friend, fresh off a plane from Australia and new to Copenhagen and its metro system – the metro staff did not take this to be a sufficient excuse! Make the first thing you do be downloading the DOT app or buying a card/ticket at the machines.

Next, here are aspects of my study abroad experience that didn’t match my expectations:

The International Community

I think I expected Copenhagen’s community to be as integrated as Manchester’s, but there’s distinct divide between the Danes and internationals. I didn’t properly speak to a Danish student until the first week of classes, and I still don’t have any Danish friends. While I hope this will change in the future, the international community here is huge and very friendly. Perhaps it is because we are older and more experienced but making friends feels much easier than when starting Manchester. Everyone is so eager to invite new people and trying new things together, even after initial cliques may have been formed.

Moving In

Before arriving, I had prepared myself to have to buy EVERYTHING all over again like I was a fresher. However, the kitchen was already stocked with appliances from previous students. Therefore, I would advise you not to rush out to buy things straight away or pack them in your suitcase. This said, I was not prepared for how expensive it would be to buy things like towels, duvets, pillows, room decor. I wish I had known where IKEA was, or about the popular homeware store JYSK, in advance to save time and avoid stress.

Meeting my flatmates was also more nerve-wracking than I envisioned, especially considering I had already lived with two different sets of flatmates at Manchester. However, as both myself and my flatmates were busy, I did not meet them for 3 days even though I was sleeping in the accommodation. This gave me unnecessary anxiety that I could meet them in my worst early morning or late-night PJs and bed hair state. In hindsight, I would have liked to have been more confident in knocking on their doors and introducing myself, so I could feel more at home.

Being Unexpectedly Unprepared

Despite planning, some things caught me off guard. Notably, I did not organise a global bank account in advance. This was an issue, as I then had to get my parents to send me the bank card from the UK, which was costly. Going out without cash was also tricky since flea markets take cash or Danish mobile pay only. I also did not realise my UK Sim would charge me extra in Denmark, so I had to buy a Danish SIM plan (from Lebara) which took around 2 weeks to sort out.

Furthermore, I also wish I had researched biking in Copenhagen beforehand. Knowing how to book appointments for the rental service Swapfiets, or where the second-hand bike shops are located, would have made my life easier. Moreover, researching Danish biking laws and practicing these would have helped to ease the anxiety myself and others felt about biking in the city.

Strøm Festival

On a more positive note, I had a really nice experience on one of my first nights here. My flatmate invited me to Strøm Festival, where DJs set up on the trains and you could hop on at stops around the city for the metro party. It was such a cool experience and made me realise that, despite all the preparation in the world, it is not until you are really here that you can discover unique events like this and dive into the culture of the city. I definitely never envisioned that my first night out in Copenhagen would have been on a sweaty, moving metro!

Luggage Packing

Something I regrettably had not foreseen was how much I under packed. I assumed everyone would pack as light as I did (one 20kg suitcase + under seat bag), but many brought two even for a semester! If you don’t plan to go home during the semester, bring enough clothes for the changing weather. It’s also a very fashionable city, so I regret leaving some of my cool clothes at home. It’s also worth bringing some comfort items from home (especially British tea), to ease feelings of homesickness. I didn’t expect to miss some little random things, like my favourite shower gel and crisps.

Goodbyes

Lastly, nothing could have prepared me for the goodbyes to family. When applying for study abroad, and in the time building up to leaving, I had felt fine about being apart from everyone. I was also lucky to have my mum, dad and brother come up with me for the move which helped with the transition. However, despite this, I still found it harder saying goodbye than I expected.

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Overall, my first few weeks in Copenhagen have been filled with excitement, adjustment, and discovery. No amount of research could have fully prepared me for some of the surprises, but each experience has taught me something valuable about myself and Denmark. For anyone considering studying abroad, expect both unexpected challenges and unforgettable memories you could never have imagined. Copenhagen and studying abroad may not always match my initial vision, but I wouldn’t change a thing… so far.