Please note: the following information applies only to Denmark, not Greenland or the Faroe Islands.

Business Customs

Punctuality is crucial. Always arrive on time for meetings; it is considered rude to be late or too early. Advance appointments are always required.

• Greetings: A firm handshake is the standard form of greeting upon arrival and departure.
• Communication: Danish businesspeople are generally direct and prefer to get straight to the point. They value efficiency and appreciate a well-prepared and concise presentation. Most Danes have excellent English-language skills, so interpreters are almost never needed.
• Informality: While initial meetings may feel somewhat formal, Danes quickly adopt a more relaxed and informal tone. They often introduce themselves by their first name. The dress code is typically business casual, but it is best to err on the side of formal for an initial meeting.
• Gifts and Entertaining: Business gifts are not a common custom. Business entertainment usually takes place during lunch rather than dinner. Invitations to a business partner’s home for dinner are rare in the early stages of a relationship. 

Work-Life Balance and Holidays

• Standard Workweek: The standard workweek is 37.5 hours.
• Vacation: Employees are entitled to a minimum of five weeks of paid vacation per year, plus an additional five days for some. Most Danes take at least three weeks of vacation during the summer, typically in July.
• Holiday Periods: Business is generally very slow during specific periods, and it’s not advisable to schedule meetings during these times:
• Summer Vacation: Late June to mid-August.
• Christmas/New Year: December 20 to January 5.
• Easter Week: The week leading up to Easter Sunday.
• Workday Schedule: Danes prioritize their leisure and family time. It is not common to schedule meetings after 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. On Fridays, many Danes leave work early, often between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Do not plan meetings on weekends or national holidays.

Telecommunications

Telecommunication services are highly developed.  Telephone systems provide first-class digital service, and several cellular system providers offer excellent European and worldwide mobile communications.

• In Denmark, telephone numbers consist of eight digits.  There are no area or city codes. When calling from outside Denmark, the eight-digit number must be preceded by the country code 45, often written as +45. 
• In Greenland, telephone numbers consist of six digits, preceded by country code 299 if calling from abroad.
• The Faroe Islands country code is 298 followed by a five-digit telephone number.

Transportation

Denmark’s transportation infrastructure is exceptionally well-developed, ensuring easy movement throughout the country and connecting it to neighboring nations. All major islands and the peninsula of Jutland are linked by a comprehensive network of trains, tunnels, and bridges.

• Copenhagen, the capital with a population of about 1.4 million, is the nation’s primary business and government center. It is located on the island of Zealand, directly across a narrow strait from Sweden, to which it is connected by the Øresund Bridge. 
• Denmark’s second-largest city, Aarhus, is on the Jutland peninsula, roughly a three-hour drive or train ride from Copenhagen. Business travelers can also navigate the country with ease via domestic flights, ferries, and buses.
• Denmark has over 44,400 miles of paved roads, including 750 miles of freeways, and a 1,500-mile railway network. The country is also renowned for its extensive bicycle infrastructure, which includes over 2,900 miles of dedicated bike lanes.

Local transportation in Copenhagen 

• Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup) is the busiest airport in the Nordic region, serving as a major hub for Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and connecting flights to the United States and Europe.
• Passenger Numbers: After recovering from the pandemic, passenger traffic has surpassed previous records. In 2024, CPH welcomed 29.9 million passengers, a significant increase from the previous year. For 2025, the airport forecasts approximately 32 million passengers, solidifying its position as a key regional and international transit point.
•  Infrastructure: The airport has a maximum capacity of 83 operations per hour and can accommodate 108 airplanes. It is well-connected to the city center by metro, with a journey time of just 14 minutes.
• Metro System: The Copenhagen Metro is a modern, efficient system with four lines (M1, M2, M3, and M4). The M4 line, which was extended to reach southern Copenhagen (Sydhavn), officially opened in June 2024. The metro operates day and night with short intervals, serving central Copenhagen and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Ports

• Copenhagen’s modern seaport handles both freight and cruise liners and has become one of the most popular cruise departure points in Europe. Other significant ports are located at Esbjerg, Aalborg, Aarhus, and Fredericia. The Port of Esbjerg is a major hub for offshore wind and oil and gas activities in Denmark

Language

• Virtually all Danes have a good working knowledge of English and most Danish businesspeople speak English as their second language.

Health

• A visitor to Denmark faces no special health risks, as the overall health conditions are excellent.  
• Denmark is almost entirely surrounded by sea and has a moderate maritime climate. The average temperatures range from about 25˚F in February to 75˚F in July. Temperatures vary slightly from day to night.  Average annual rainfall is approximately 28 inches, and on average, it rains every third day in Denmark. Days are short in winter, with about seven hours of daylight in December and January. Daylight in summer lasts 16-18 hours on clear days.
• Danish medical care is of high quality and is comparable to the medical care one finds throughout Western Europe. Diagnostic laboratories and specialists in all fields of medicine are available. Hospitals are well-equipped and maternity hospitals and many clinics are available. Almost all doctors and dentists speak English, especially in large cities.
• The system for delivering healthcare in Denmark is significantly different from that in the United States. Danish citizens and permanent residents of Denmark qualify for free hospitalization and medical treatment under the Danish National Health Service. While medical treatment and hospital care is covered by the Danish National Health Service, it may require referral from a general practitioner, which often results in waiting periods. To avoid waiting time in these situations, patients may choose to seek medical and hospital care privately as paying patients.
• Tourists and business travelers do not qualify for treatment under the Danish National Health Service, except in cases of emergency. Tourists will not be denied medical care unless the medical facility determines that the emergency occurred as a result of a pre-existing condition, in which case the individual must be prepared to pay for all services received.  It is important for those traveling to Denmark to keep up-to-date health insurance that covers overseas travel.
• Most over-the-counter medicines are available locally. They may not, however, be available at the same quantities without a prescription as in the United States, and they may not be available under the same brand names as those used in the United States. Prices are generally the same or lower than in the United States. Tourists should bring a supply of the medicine that they know they will need. In case of emergency, dial 112 for an ambulance, the fire department, or the police.

Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays

Denmark is in the Central European Time Zone.  Central European Standard Time (CET) is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+1).  Like in most countries in Europe, summer (daylight saving) time is observed in Denmark, where the time shifts forward by one hour, i.e. two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2).  After the summer months, the time in Denmark shifts back by one hour to Central European Time (CET, (GMT+1)).  The time changes do not necessarily occur on the same days as in the United States, but generally a week or two earlier in the spring and the fall.  The EU has voted to abolish daylight saving time, but this has not yet come into force as of fall 2023.

•    Normal business hours are from 9.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
 

Table: Local holidays 2025 & 2026:

Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings

Temporary exemption from duty can be granted, for instance, to the following:

• Goods intended for public displays at exhibitions and fairs
• Commercial samples
• Professional tools and equipment
• If the goods are put to unauthorized use or are not exported within the prescribed time they must go through normal customs clearance and become liable for relevant duties and taxes.
• Please also see Chapter 3 on Trade Regulations and Standards – Temporary entry.

Resources

• U.S. Embassy in Denmark: https://dk.usembassy.gov/
• Danish Train Services https://www.dsb.dk/
• Copenhagen Airport https://www.cph.dk/
• Weather – https://www.dmi.dk/
• Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – https://um.dk/
• Denmark’s official website – https://denmark.dk/
• Tourist in Denmark – https://www.visitdenmark.com/
• American Chamber of Commerce in Denmark – https://amcham.dk/
• Police - https://politi.dk/