I stepped off the plane in Copenhagen with my backpack and a bold goal: to explore Denmark on $50 a day. Within hours, the sticker shock hit me; a simple draft beer cost around $12, and I realized this was not a typical budget destination.
In fact, most budget travelers spend over $100 per day here on average. Denmark’s high cost of living and strong economy mean prices for food, accommodation, and transport are steep by global standards.
It’s no wonder most tourists only stick around Copenhagen a few days before the costs send them moving on. But as a determined backpacker, I saw this as the ultimate budget travel challenge.
This is my trek through one of the world’s happiest (and priciest) countries.
Why Denmark Is So Expensive
Traveling in Denmark will test any budget. The country consistently ranks among the most expensive in Europe due to its high wages, 25% sales tax (VAT), and robust social welfare system funded by taxes.
Eating out or staying in a hotel can blow through money in no time – the cost of living here is just really high. A summer influx of tourists can drive prices even higher, especially in Copenhagen’s peak season. Yet, there’s a silver lining: you do get incredible quality for those high prices.
Infrastructure is modern and efficient, tap water is clean (so you can refill bottles for free), and the overall travel experience is top-notch. In fact, compared to its Nordic neighbors (I’m looking at you, Norway), Denmark isn’t quite as extortionate.
It’s often described as moderate by Scandinavian standards – more on par with pricey places like Iceland or the UK. Knowing this helped me mentally prepare: yes, Denmark is expensive, but every krone spent would come with quality and memorable experiences.
Rather than give up, I embraced Denmark’s costliness as motivation to travel smarter. I would need to sacrifice comforts and think creatively – the very mindset that makes budget travel rewarding.
Here’s how I managed my $50/day (approx 330 DKK) challenge, from finding beds and meals to enjoying Danish culture, all through a frugal traveler’s lens.
Finding a Bed for the Night
Hostels & Budget Stays: Traditional accommodation in Denmark can be alarmingly expensive. A basic hostel dorm bed in Copenhagen runs around 330 DKK per night (roughly $50) – literally an entire day’s budget gone on just a bed! Private rooms or hotels can be double or triple that.
To save money, I got strategic. I targeted hostels that are part of the Danhostel (Hostelling International) network, which has over 60 locations around the country. By purchasing an HI membership for 160 DKK, I scored a 10% discount at these hostels – every bit helps.
I also avoided weekends and booked well in advance to snag the lowest rates. In smaller towns, hostel prices were a tad lower than Copenhagen’s, and some even included breakfast.
Work Exchanges: My secret weapon for free accommodation was volunteering. As one travel blogger wrote, “there are many hostels in Copenhagen, but they aren't cheap at all – my golden tip is to check the volunteering opportunities… with Worldpackers”.
Following that advice, I arranged a work-exchange at a cozy Copenhagen hostel. In exchange for a few hours of help at reception and housekeeping, I got free lodging (and sometimes meals). Not only did this save me a fortune, it also introduced me to fellow travelers and friendly locals.
Three nights of volunteering basically freed up ~$150 in my budget – enough for several more days on the road. If committing to a multi-week volunteer stint isn’t your plan, Couchsurfing is another fantastic option.
Many generous Danes host travelers for free. By staying with locals via Couchsurfing, you not only save money, you gain insider knowledge on hidden gems and cheap finds. I crashed on a Copenhagen student’s couch and in return got a personal bike tour of the city’s street art – a win-win that cost $0.
Camping & “Fri Teltning”: Outside the cities, I often turned to nature for a frugal night’s sleep. Wild camping is technically illegal in Denmark, except in designated areas – but fortunately the government has set aside over 275 woodlands where you can pitch a tent for free (the concept is called “fri teltning,” meaning free tenting).
I spent a few nights under the stars in these permitted forests, which are scattered all across the country. The sites are typically basic (sometimes just a clearing or a simple shelter), but they are safe, scenic, and totally free.
Waking up to birdsong in a Danish woodland, with zero accommodation cost, was one of the most empowering feelings on this trip. Do note, you’re usually limited to 1-2 nights in each spot and you must leave no trace behind – a fair trade-off for a $0 bed with a million-dollar view of nature.
If camping isn’t your style, Denmark also has hundreds of official campgrounds and rustic shelters that charge a small fee (far less than any hostel). Some even come with facilities like water and toilets.
I met other backpackers who biked across Denmark carrying tents, spending almost nothing on lodging by stringing together these wilderness sites. For a minimalist adventurer, Denmark’s outdoors can be a paradise of free shelter.
Eating Well on Less than $15/Day
Food in Denmark can easily bust your budget if you’re not careful – a sit-down restaurant dinner can run 200 DKK or more.
I quickly learned to eat like a local and embrace a mix of street food, grocery store staples, and the occasional splurge at lunch. Here are the strategies that kept me well-fed for under $15 per day:
Street Eats & Local Snacks
Denmark might not be known for street food in the way of, say, Southeast Asia, but it does have an unsung hero: hot dog stands. Scattered around city squares and transit stations, these stands sell pølser (Danish hot dogs and sausages) loaded with toppings for about 25–35 DKK each.
They are cheap and filling, and I often grabbed one for lunch on the go. As Nomadic Matt notes, street stalls selling hot dogs are plentiful and only cost a few dollars – perfect for budget travelers.
In Copenhagen, I visited Reffen, a trendy street food market, not to indulge in pricey gourmet fare but to hunt for affordable bites. Even in such markets, you can find a hearty bowl of ethnic cuisine or a burger for under 60 DKK if you explore the vendors.
Another tip: look for bakeries in the late afternoon. Danish bakeries make amazing pastries and sandwiches, and some discount their goods before closing. More than once, I scored day-old bread or a pastry for a bargain and paired it with cheese from a supermarket for a DIY breakfast.
Supermarket Strategy
Speaking of supermarkets, they became my best friends. I made a habit of visiting local grocery chains like Netto, Fakta, or Rema 1000 and stocking up on breakfast and snacks.
An entire loaf of rye bread, a pack of ham, and some fruit could total around 50 DKK and feed me for multiple meals. Cooking your own meals is by far the biggest money-saver in Denmark.
Many hostels provide communal kitchens, and I took full advantage by preparing simple dinners like pasta or stir-fry with fresh veggies.
Shopping where the Danes shop also led me to discover local budget favorites: a tub of leverpostej (liver pâté) or a pack of pickled herring is inexpensive and goes a long way on crackers or bread for a true Danish smørrebrød-style snack.
I’ll admit, some of these rustic eats were an acquired taste, but they kept me under budget and immersed me in local flavors.
Lunch Deals Over Dinner
I learned to make lunch the main meal of the day when I wanted to sample Danish cuisine at restaurants. Many cafés and eateries offer midday specials or buffet deals that are far cheaper than their dinner menus.
For example, in Aarhus I found a small restaurant with a lunch smørrebrød platter (open-faced sandwiches with various toppings) for 85 DKK – not super cheap, but a fraction of what a full dinner would cost.
Filling up at lunch allowed me to just have a light sandwich or supermarket salad for dinner. Also, tap water is free and safe everywhere, so I always asked for tap instead of buying drinks – avoiding the $4 bottled water or $5 sodas adds up over time.
And of course, I refilled my water bottle religiously (Denmark’s tap water is held to very high standards, so skip buying bottled water).
The Occasional Splurge
Even on a tight budget, I didn’t want to miss out on all the foodie experiences. Denmark has fantastic bakeries and famous foods like Danish pastries and fresh seafood. I treated myself to these in moderation.
One hack: I went to Torvehallerne market in Copenhagen just before closing time and scored a discounted cinnamon roll from a vendor who didn’t want to toss out unsold goods.
And when I craved a taste of the New Nordic cuisine (the kind of stuff that made Copenhagen famous on the culinary map), I sought out student cafés and street food halls offering creative dishes at lower prices.
For instance, in Odense’s Storms Pakhus street food hall, I found dozens of stalls with international and Danish dishes where locals were eating on a budget – it’s a lively scene and much cheaper than a formal restaurant.
By balancing these little splurges with mostly self-catered meals, I managed to keep my daily food costs well under $15 and still savored the flavors of Denmark.
Transportation on a Tight Budget
Crisscrossing Denmark with limited funds required a bit of planning, but the good news is the country has excellent transportation – and some ways to save if you know where to look.
Buses vs. Trains
Denmark’s trains are fast and comfortable, but wow can they be pricey if you buy last-minute tickets. A standard intercity train fare can easily be 200-400 DKK depending on distance.
To stick to my $50/day goal, I largely opted for buses between cities. Long-distance buses (like FlixBus) are extremely popular with backpackers in Denmark for good reason: they’re safe, reliable, and far cheaper than trains.
For example, I traveled from Copenhagen to Aarhus (about 4 hours) for around $20 USD on a FlixBus, whereas the train for the same route could cost 2-3 times that amount. Similarly, a bus from Copenhagen to Odense was about 70 DKK (roughly $10) when booked in advance.
The trade-off, of course, is time – buses are slower and occasionally delayed by traffic. But with free onboard Wi-Fi and comfy seats, I didn’t mind the extra hours, especially since it kept my wallet happy.
Whenever possible, I booked my bus tickets a few weeks early; Denmark’s bus fares rise closer to departure, and summer routes can sell out. Using platforms like Busbud or Omio helped compare schedules and prices quickly.
Train Tricks
Sometimes, the train made more sense (for instance, when crossing longer distances in a time crunch or reaching smaller towns not served by bus). Luckily, Denmark offers “Orange tickets” on their rail network – these are limited, advance-purchase fares sold online at up to 60% off the normal price.
By planning a couple of legs of my journey in advance, I scored an Orange ticket from Copenhagen to Aalborg at nearly half price, simply by traveling on an off-peak midweek morning.
If you can be flexible with timing, booking trains outside rush hour yields big savings. Another tip: rail passes. I met a traveler using an Interrail/Eurail pass, which can be cost-effective if you’re zipping around a lot in a short time.
In my case, my slower pace made point-to-point tickets with Orange discounts cheaper, but it’s worth crunching the numbers for your itinerary.
City Transportation
Within cities and towns, I hardly spent a dime on transit – and not because Copenhagen’s metro isn’t great (it is). But walking and cycling turned out to be the best ways to experience Danish cities and save money.
Copenhagen and other cities like Aarhus or Odense are incredibly bike-friendly, with hundreds of miles of dedicated bike lanes. Over 40% of Danes bike to work or school, and as a visitor I found cycling to be the cheapest and often quickest way to get around urban areas.
Most hostels rent out bikes for about 80-100 DKK per day, but I hunted around and found a local shop in Copenhagen’s Nørrebro district renting bikes for 90 DKK for 48 hours – effectively under $7 per day.
Some accommodations even have free bikes for guests, so always ask! Pedaling along the Copenhagen lakes and down quaint cobblestone streets saved me metro fare and provided some of my favorite memories. When the weather turned nasty (Danish rain can be fierce), I did use public transportation a few times.
Copenhagen’s buses, metros, and trams are efficient and not too expensive if used sparingly. A single fare in the city is about 24 DKK, but I recommend getting a City Pass if you plan a day of sightseeing. I bought a 24-hour city transport pass for about $10 and it covered all my buses, metro rides, and even the train to the airport.
That pass paid for itself after a few rides. Another option in the capital region is the Rejsekort travel card, which locals use – it automatically calculates fares and gives discounts up to 50% compared to buying single tickets. For a short visit it might not be worth the hassle, but for longer stays the Rejsekort can shave a few kroner off each trip.
Ferries and Island Hopping
Since Denmark is an archipelago of sorts (over 70 inhabited islands), ferries are sometimes part of the transport equation. I visited Bornholm, a picturesque island, by taking a ferry from Ystad (in Sweden) for about $14 – surprisingly affordable.
Many inter-island ferries are subsidized and reasonably priced, and some smaller ones are even free for pedestrians.
If your Denmark adventure takes you beyond the Jutland peninsula and Zealand (the island with Copenhagen), keep ferries in mind as a scenic, cost-effective travel mode.
Just watch out: bringing a car on the ferry costs a lot more, but as a foot passenger or with a bicycle, it’s budget-friendly. Overall, by mixing buses, the occasional cheap train, biking, and ferries, I got everywhere I wanted to go without blowing my $50/day cap on transportation.
Free and Low-Cost Activities Across Denmark
One of the greatest things about Denmark is that many of its best experiences are free or very cheap – especially if you enjoy the outdoors and cultural sights.
I was delighted to find I could fill my days with amazing activities without spending much at all. Here are some of the budget-friendly highlights from my journey:
Urban Exploration & Free Museums
Simply wandering the streets of Danish cities is a joy. In Copenhagen, I joined a free walking tour (tips-based) to get oriented, then spent hours strolling the historic center, harborfront Nyhavn (the picturesque canal lined with colorful 17th-century buildings), and the alternative community of Christiania – all for free.
Many museums in Denmark have free admission on certain days or even year-round. For example, the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen is always free to visit, offering a deep dive into Viking treasures and Danish history at no cost.
I also discovered the David Collection, an incredible Islamic art museum in Copenhagen, which is free every day. If you time it right, you can catch others on their free days – a number of museums are free on Wednesdays or have special hours (the Thorvaldsen Museum of sculpture, for instance, is free on Wednesdays).
It pays to check museum websites in advance. Thanks to these opportunities, I enjoyed world-class art and history without paying a single krone.
Parks, Gardens and Nature
Denmark’s natural beauty is accessible to all and mostly free of charge. I spent many afternoons in Copenhagen’s parks like Kongens Have (the King’s Garden) and Frederiksberg Garden, picnic lunch in hand, watching local life.
In Aarhus, I visited the Den Japanske Have (Japanese Gardens) – a serene Japanese-designed garden complete with koi ponds and a tea house – which was completely free and perfect for a quiet picnic. Outside the cities, the entire country becomes your playground.
Denmark has five UNESCO World Heritage sites that are totally free to visit, including the ancient Jelling Rune Stones (often called Denmark’s “birth certificate” carved in stone) and the sprawling Wadden Sea National Park on the west coast with its abundant birdlife.
I’ll never forget biking out to the Jelling stones in the evening; not only was there no entrance fee, but I had the site practically to myself in the golden hour light, feeling connected to a 1000-year-old piece of history.
Nature lovers shouldn’t miss Møns Klint, the dramatic white chalk cliffs on Møn island – there’s no fee to hike along the clifftop trails and take in the stunning Baltic Sea views.
Whether it’s hiking, cycling, or just relaxing by a beach, enjoying Denmark’s outdoors kept my budget intact and enriched my journey immeasurably.
Unique Free Attractions
Denmark has some quirky, wonderful attractions that cost little to nothing. Scattered in forests and parks around the country are the Forgotten Giants – huge wooden troll sculptures created by artist Thomas Dambo.
Hunting for these hidden giants became a fun treasure hunt for me and a fellow backpacker I met. We cycled through Copenhagen’s outskirts to find a few of them, following online maps and local hints.
Not only did we get a great bike ride, but each giant we found felt like a mini victory – and of course, they’re all free to visit and make for great photos. Another surprise was Dyrehavsbakken (or just Bakken), the world’s oldest amusement park, located in a wooded area north of Copenhagen. Entry to Bakken is completely free – you only pay if you want to go on rides.
I spent an evening there listening to live music and soaking up the carnival atmosphere without spending a dime, watching Danish families and teenagers enjoy a night out. It was like Tivoli Gardens’ charming vintage cousin, accessible to even the stingiest traveler.
Additionally, simple local rituals provided free entertainment: every day at noon in Copenhagen, you can watch the Changing of the Royal Guard at Amalienborg Palace – a ceremonial march that costs nothing and gives a taste of royal pageantry. In summer, many towns have free festivals and concerts.
I was lucky to be in Roskilde during a free public concert series (outside of the big paid festival) and in Aarhus during a city cultural night where museums and galleries stayed open late for free. By tapping into community events and public attractions, I found that I never ran out of things to do, despite spending very little.
Socializing on a Budget
Meeting people and enjoying the nightlife in Denmark can be pricey (nightclub entry and $10 beers were out of my range), but I still found ways to socialize cheaply.
Hostel common rooms and city plazas (like Copenhagen’s City Hall square or Aarhus’s Latin Quarter) were great for striking up conversations. I also learned that many bars have happy hour deals or early evening specials.
In Copenhagen’s Nørrebro area, I went to a student bar where a pint was half-price before 8pm, allowing me to cheers with new friends without the high cost.
And since Danes themselves love to party at home (“vorspiel”, or pre-party, is a thing), I was invited to a small get-together through a Couchsurfing host where everyone brought their own cheap supermarket beers.
It was these personal connections – essentially free and deeply enriching – that made my trip feel full of warmth despite the often chilly wind and high prices outside.
Budget Adventures in Denmark
While Copenhagen was the focal point of my trip, I knew I had to go beyond the capital to truly experience Denmark – and interestingly, traveling outside the big city often made it easier to stay on budget.
Each region and town had its own ways to save money and unique rewards for doing so.
Aarhus
Denmark’s second-largest city, Aarhus, quickly became one of my favorite stops. As a major college town, it has a youthful vibe and, importantly for me, plenty of cheap eats and nightlife geared toward students.
I found an affordable hostel in the city center and immediately noticed prices for food and drinks were a notch lower than Copenhagen. You can find lots of cheap bars and good budget restaurants in Aarhus thanks to the student population.
One evening, I followed a group of local students to a street lined with kebab shops and pizzerias where slices and shawarmas went for under 50 DKK. In Aarhus’s vibrant Latin Quarter, indie cafés offered budget-friendly lunch specials to compete for the student crowd – I enjoyed a hearty bowl of soup and homemade bread for about 60 DKK at one place.
The city also has attractions like the modern art museum ARoS (famous for its rainbow panorama) and the open-air museum Den Gamle By – not free, but they offered student discounts which I was able to use with my international student card.
And many of Aarhus’s delights were gratis: the lively harbor area, the Salling Rooftop (a department store roof turned public viewpoint over the city), and the endless summer nights spent at the public squares.
Aarhus proved that beyond Copenhagen’s high prices, Denmark could be done more cheaply while still delivering big on culture and fun.
Odense
Odense, the hometown of fairy-tale author Hans Christian Andersen, charmed me with its small-city coziness. I timed my visit during summer when the city puts on the H.C. Andersen Festival, and I stumbled upon a delightful treat: a Hans Christian Andersen parade in the old town.
Dozens of characters from the famous stories (think: the Little Mermaid, the Ugly Duckling, and more) danced and paraded through the streets in costume. Watching this whimsical performance was completely free – I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and it felt like a bit of Danish magic made just for budget travelers like me.
Odense is much easier on the wallet in general; I rented a bike from my hostel for a modest fee and explored the green parks and riverbanks that crisscross the city (all free to enjoy).
The Andersen Museum itself had an entry fee I chose to skip, but even wandering the cobbled streets and seeing the outsides of Andersen’s childhood home and the playful public art (like tiny fairy-tale sculptures hidden around the city) made for a fulfilling day.
In smaller cities like Odense, prices for basics like coffee or pastries were slightly lower than in Copenhagen, and locals were excited to share recommendations – my Odense host pointed me to a local bakery with 2-for-1 pastry deals after 5pm. Little wins like that kept my budget balanced and my sweet tooth satisfied.
Rural Jutland and Beyond
A large part of Denmark’s appeal lies in its countryside, islands, and small villages – areas that see fewer tourists and can be wonderfully budget-friendly. I ventured to places like Skagen at the northern tip, where the North Sea and Baltic Sea meet.
Biking through dunes and heathland cost nothing, and the natural spectacle of two seas clashing at Grenen was free. In western Jutland, I spent a day hiking in National Park Thy, Denmark’s oldest national park, which had well-marked trails through dunes and pine forests (again, no entrance fee).
Public shelters in that area provided free overnight stops for hikers and cyclists, reinforcing that you can roam the Danish wilds with almost no money if you’re prepared.
On the island of Møn, I camped near the base of Møns Klint cliffs at a basic campground that charged a token amount (honor system payment dropped in a box). It was perhaps $5 for the night, and I fell asleep to the sound of waves – far more memorable than any pricey hotel could ever be.
Traveling in rural Denmark often meant slowing down: taking regional trains that trundle through farmland (using my discounted tickets), or hitchhiking occasionally (yes, I dared to hitchhike twice in remote areas and got picked up by friendly Danes who were curious about my journey).
In these quieter parts, there may not be big attractions or Michelin-starred restaurants, but there are simple pleasures like farm stands selling strawberries, medieval churches to poke your head into, and lakes to swim in on a hot day.
Nearly all of it is free or very low-cost, proving that authentic Danish experiences lie beyond the cities – and they are accessible to even the poorest of backpackers.
Is Denmark the Toughest Budget Destination?
By the time I had zig-zagged across Denmark, I had gotten used to the wide-eyed reactions of fellow travelers when I told them my $50/day goal. Many assumed that kind of budget was impossible in a Scandinavian country.
Indeed, Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland) is notorious for high prices and is often avoided by backpackers with tight budgets.
Having traveled in other parts of Europe, I can confirm Denmark was one of the most challenging places to keep costs down – but not the worst! Norway, for example, is even pricier; in Norway a simple meal or bed can cost significantly more than in Denmark.
I met backpackers who blew through $50 by lunchtime in Oslo or Bergen. Sweden and Finland are slightly more affordable than Denmark, but not by a wide margin – a beer in Stockholm might be $8 instead of $12 in Copenhagen, for instance.
And outside of Scandinavia, you can of course travel much cheaper; in Eastern or Southern Europe, $50 a day can feel downright luxurious by comparison. That said, I found that Denmark’s value proposition is unique. For your money, you get extremely high standards of cleanliness, safety, and efficiency.
Plus, Denmark has a plethora of free offerings (as I’ve described) that make it feasible to experience the culture without constantly spending money, whereas some other expensive destinations (like Japan or Switzerland) don’t offer as many free activities.
One report I read described Denmark as “moderately priced” relative to other European countries, comparable in overall cost to Iceland or the UK. That made sense to me – I’d put Denmark in the same bracket as traveling in England or France in terms of budget impact.
It’s expensive, yes, but not completely outlandish if you’re mindful. In contrast, Norway or Iceland might be another 20-30% more expensive than Denmark across the board. So while Denmark was a steep climb for my wallet, I took comfort in knowing it could have been worse!
More importantly, I reframed the whole experience as a personal challenge rather than a hardship. Successfully spending under $50/day in Denmark felt like a badge of honor – one that came with stories and lessons I wouldn’t have gathered had I just thrown money at every problem.
For those wondering if Denmark is worth the high costs: absolutely yes. Despite the budget difficulties, the country’s quality of life and beautiful experiences justify the challenge.
From cycling along Copenhagen’s waterfront at sunrise to swapping travel tales around a hostel kitchen in Aalborg, I found that many of Denmark’s rewards – friendliness, culture, natural splendor – came free of charge.
And when I did spend money, I often felt I was getting good value (a delicious Danish pastry may cost triple what a croissant does in Vietnam, but oh boy, it might also be three times as tasty).
In summary, Denmark is up there among the hardest places to do on the cheap, but it’s by no means impossible. With the right mindset and tricks, even a backpacker can unlock the joys of this Scandinavian gem without going broke.
Final Thoughts
As I sat on my last evening in Denmark, watching the sun set over Copenhagen’s harbor, I reflected on my journey. I had spent three weeks in a country that many travelers skip or rush through because of the expense.
Yes, it was hard at times, I agonized over every purchase, got very tired of supermarket sandwiches, and had to pass on a few attractions that just didn’t fit the $50 budget.
But I also experienced something profound: a deep appreciation for every krone spent and every free pleasure gained.
Traveling through Denmark on $50 a day taught me creativity and flexibility. One day I was cooking cheap pasta in a hostel with new friends from Germany; another day I was feasting on foraged blackberries by a country lane to supplement my minimal lunch.
For any solo backpacker or minimalist adventurer eyeing Denmark, I say: go for it. Yes, you’ll need to budget like mad, but you’ll also discover a side of Denmark that rich tourists might miss.
Safe travels and skål (cheers) to doing the “impossible” trip…