Our column Inside Denmark takes a closer look at the stories we’ve been talking about over the last seven days. This week, editor Becky Waterton writes about Copenhagen Council moving to ban new hotels in the city centre.
Tourism to Denmark is rising, and the number of foreign tourists booking overnight stays in Denmark so far this year is already 7.4 percent higher than it was at this point in 2025.
Denmark is maybe not what you would instinctively think of when you picture a tourist destination – most of us who actually live in Scandinavia would rather jet off somewhere warm than stay here for the summer – but ‘coolcations’, trips to colder destinations, are rising in popularity, with Denmark an obvious option.
Don’t get me wrong, there are benefits to tourism, and indeed many of us came to Denmark for the first time as tourists before deciding to move over. Denmark is a great country and it’s always fun when friends and family come to visit and you can show them around your new home (and maybe convince them to move over too).
But at the same time, overtourism can make cities essentially unlivable for residents, put a strain on infrastructure and resources, and anti-tourist sentiment can also end up being targeted at the international residents of a city.
Housing in central Copenhagen is already unaffordable for many people living and working in the city, and there’s always a risk that high levels of tourism means that city-centre flats become more profitable than Airbnbs.
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This week, Copenhagen City Council announced plans to ban the establishment of new hotels in the city centre with the aim of spreading out tourists to other parts of the city.
The city has previously discussed introducing a tourist tax and launched a scheme in 2024 to reward visitors and locals for green good deeds – like picking up rubbish or taking the bus – with free food, coffee or cultural activities.
What do you think? Is Copenhagen getting too touristy, or is the council overreacting? If you live in another part of Denmark, have you also noticed the number of tourists rising in recent years? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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In other news
New figures released by Statistics Denmark this week have revealed where Denmark’s 80,000 new international residents came from last year. We’ve put together a map where you can see just how many people came here from your country.
A major train crash took place on Thursday as two local trains in northern Zealand collided head-on. On Friday, healthcare services announced that the five people who were originally considered to be in critical condition following the crash no longer have life-threatening injuries. We don’t know yet what caused the crash and probably won’t for some time.
Did you get a tax rebate on Friday? If not, make sure that it isn’t because the tax agency needs more information from you.
If you’re planning on traveling to Denmark from a non-Schengen country any time soon, be aware that there are long queues at passport control in Copenhagen Airport. Travelers we spoke to told us that they had to wait more than an houreven though they have Danish residence permits.
On the topic of flights, it looks like jet fuel shortages could cause major issues for travelers this summer. What are your rights if you’re flying to or from a European airport and your flight is disrupted?
If you’re more of a train traveller, then there’s good news – there are new direct trains between Germany and Copenhagen launching this spring.
Finally, if you have any old Danish banknotes lying around then be aware – in just six weeks, more than three billion kroner is set to become worthless.
Inside Denmark is our weekly newsletter for members which gives you news, analysis and, sometimes, takes you behind the scenes at The Local. It’s published every Saturday.
