Gap Year Programs in Denmark

Because Denmark is so amazing, it’s probably pretty hard for anyone to chose only one location. But fear not, we’re here to help. Have a go at some of these following most popular locations for not only a gap year in Denmark, but gap year travel in Europe on the whole

Copenhagen is a vibrant city with endless attractions to suit every taste and interest, most of them either within walking distance or a quick bike ride away. Come with a study abroad or language immersion program and immerse yourself in the Danish culture, backpack the country, and discover all it’s little treasures. Or—volunteer at local Danish festivals or in an educational program and help other develop their skills. Your Danish gap year focus is up to you!

Your days here will never be boring because there’s something new to do all the time. Raise your adrenaline level at the Tivoli Gardens amusement park, taper your shopping addiction in Strøget, Copenhagen’s largest shopping area, fall in love with (and get lots of songs stuck in your head when you visit…) the Little Mermaid statue, or attend the biggest rock festival in Europe, Roskilde. You’ll need a whole gap year just to scratch the surface!

Aarhus is the second biggest city in Denmark, and was recently named the European Capital of Culture. With a young population that keeps growing, the city is buzzing with cafes, restaurants, bars, and great street food markets that you shouldn’t pass on. With countless museums (like Den Gamble, which is an open museum and the gateway to the real Danish life) and cathedrals (like Aarhus DomKirke—Denmark’s most important piece of architecture), and it’s even home to the Concert Hall Musikhuis Aarshus. 

Whoever said gap years in Denmark are boring clearly hasn’t done their homework! Here, you will continuously enrich your knowledge and become more like one of the locals each day.

The list of opportunities and options for a gap year in Denmark is endless, but here are the most popular activities that past gappers have chosen—you might also want to give a them a try.

Volunteer. Practice hygge and adopt life’s simple pleasures by connecting with others and volunteering abroad. Although a wealthy country, volunteers are always welcomed to help local communities with different projects, and it’s an excellent opportunity to meet new people and open up your mind to a new culture. But that is not the only way you can make a difference. You can assist local teachers or take care of the elderly population by working at a residential home. You can find endless volunteer opportunities in both Copenhagen and Aarhus for your gap year in Denmark. 

Language Study. It is said that Danish is one of the hardest languages to learn, and though Denmark is a very English-friendly country, who doesn’t love a challenge? There’s no better or more efficient way to learn Danish if not with an immersion language program (with promises of fika). For maximum results, refrain from using English unless you really have to and dive yourself à la Ariel into this new world.

Internships. Kick-start your career with hundreds of internship opportunities in companies like IBM, Nestlé or Siemens, in different cities all over Denmark. It is a great way to get hands-on experience in your field of practice and become an integrated part of a multicultural workplace. With a gap year internship in Denmark, your souvenirs won’t just be salty licorice and a bike bell—you’ll also walk away with incredible new professional skills.

Costs. Denmark is known for its high standard of life. Finding a cheap meal at a restaurant is pretty much impossible and street food is as expensive as it is delicious. Breakfast and a cappuccino can set you back $10 and an inexpensive dinner can come up to $30 per meal. To keep your budget under control during your gap year in Denmark,buying groceries and cooking at home is highly recommended. Most of attractions are also quite expensive, but strolling around the beautiful streets and neighborhoods of Copenhagen are free and healthy for your pocket. 

Accommodation. Unless your program has accommodation included in their price (which we hope it does!), finding accommodation in Denmark is a ridiculously hard thing to do. Further, if you want to venture on your own, rent prices are not cheap. A one bedroom apartment in the city center, like Copenhagen, can come up to $1600 per month, or about $1000 outside the city center, with a four month advancement payment (yowza! That’s multiple thousands of dollars!). Our best advice for beating the budget blues? Start collecting donations for your gap year from friends and family now—FundMyTravel is a great place to start.

Visas. Depending on your nationality, you might not require a visa, or a tourist visa should suffice. Generally, when applying through a program, the only thing you’ll have to worry about is having a valid passport. Do your research before adventuring yourself and check out our Embassy directory to ensure you have all the needed documentation.

Safety. Denmark is one of the safest countries in the world, with low crime rates and very good health care system (just in case you get sick or somehow hurt!). It doesn’t mean that you can just go crazy. Be as cautious as you’d be anywhere else in the world and you’ll have next-to-nothing to worry about.

The Danes are obsessed with their gummies. They love this candy so much that you find them everywhere, in any shape or form, any imaginable taste and in ridiculously big amounts. And if you love them as much as they do, you can find great weekend discounts at all the supermarkets.

Don’t be surprised if you see young people walking with bottles of beers in their hands on the street in broad daylight—the drinking age in Denmark is 16, and you’re allowed to enjoy your beer pretty much everywhere. While you’re at it, be sure to eat some of the most traditional and famous Danish dishes like Smørrebrød, Wienerbrød, Tarteletter, Danish Frikadeller, or the Danish hot-dog-on-the-street, Pølse (it truly puts any Chicago hotdog to shame).

Now, write down your wildest adventure dreams and pack your bags. If there’s any country where those dreams will come true, it’s Denmark. Doing a gap year in Denmark is going to be a unique and unforgettable experience like no other—go and find out for yourself!

Keep reading! 10 ways to maximize learning on your gap year.