11 ways to go green like a Dane

A cyclist rides past a graffiti wall covered with green hearts

VisitCopenhagen / Copenhagen Media Center

Eat yourself green

In Denmark we grow herbs, vegetables and fruits on the rooftops of our high-rise buildings. Pop up to ‘Gro Spiseri’ on Østerbro and enjoy leafy goodies from the restaurants’ lush rooftop farm in their adjacent greenhouse eatery. It's an easy trend to bring back home - just create your own mini farm, whether it’s just a few herb plants in your kitchen window, or a small vegetable garden in your backyard.

Jens Dige

Party like a Dane

What’s worse than a hangover after a party? The clean-up in the morning. The Danish 'return and earn' principle softens the blow by giving you a little bonus for clearing up responsibly. All you have to do is take the plastic and glass bottles to your nearest grocery store, where you will find a reverse vending-style machine rewarding you with money for everything you put in. All we can say is - go ahead and host that party!

Royal Library Garden

Martin Heiberg - Copenhagen Media Center

Work up a thirst

It’s important to stay hydrated. Along with bottomless mimosas and free-flowing Carlsberg, Denmark has some of the cleanest and best tasting tap water and will keep you thirsty for more. The City of Copenhagen has put up more than 60 drinking fountains all over Copenhagen, meaning you can hydrate all you want at absolutely no cost. Just click here to find a map of all of them.

Martin Heiberg

Use a bike wherever possible

With more bikes than cars in the streets of Copenhagen, it’s obvious that Danes love to cycle. A complex network of green cycle routes, cycle superhighways, 10-meter-wide cycle paths and cycle-bridges lets you cut through traffic and get from A to B in a jiffy. Unleash your inner cycle enthusiast and get to know Denmark’s unique cycling culture on a day trip or a full week's tour.

Too Good To Go

It’s simply too good to go

Think food is expensive in Denmark? It doesn’t have to be. Save money, eat delicious food and fight food waste like a Dane with the Too Good to Go app. The company allows you to buy food that would otherwise be thrown out from bakeries, cafes, hotels and restaurants, for a super reduced price. Top tip: order a 'magic bag' full of unique delights.

Kim Wyon

Explore Denmark's islands

Next time you’re thinking about a trip out on the water, choose Ellen the electric ferry, and go island hopping like a sustainable Dane. Multiple Danish islands are currently working towards a 100% sustainable status, where they rely entirely on renewable energy - Samsø is one of them. Ellen runs between Søby and the island of Ærø, 'the Danish solar island', known for its boats, beach huts and vivid colours.

Green Kayak / Copenhagen Media Center

Combine pleasure and do-gooding

You can rent a kayak for free in most of Denmark's cities - with one catch. You have to bring in the trash. GreenKayak bridges the gap between having fun and doing good. Doing this in one of Denmark’s biggest cities, Copenhagen, Aarhus or Odense, can be an extraordinary experience, as you paddle in between high-rise buildings, under bridges, and beside stunning monuments. It is an awesome way to act against pollution and enjoy a free day out on the water at the same time.

Take the S-train to explore more of Denmark's capital area

Niclas Jessen

Take a different route

If you’re not the biggest cycling enthusiast – don’t worry! It is possible to discover Copenhagen and the rest of Denmark in a sustainable yet social and fun way. Copenhagen has got a new metro that not only will take you all around the city, but also offers an architectural experience. If you’re looking to travel beyond Copenhagen, you can also do it by car-sharing and carpooling, using the Go-more, LetsGo, and ShareNow apps.

Join the giant troll hunt

When it's time for a break from the city, Danes love to get in touch with nature. Thomas Dambo's troll treasure hunt is one of the most fun ways to enjoy it and to explore new and lesser-visited areas. The giants are made out of recycled materials and you need a mobile phone and a keen pair of eyes to find the hidden coordinates as you search through the countryside. It's a great way to combine nature, sustainability and having fun.

Søren Larsen

Head for the trees

You can also connect with the woods in a super Danish way at a treehouse retreat in the middle of an untouched forest landscape in the outskirts of Aarhus. The cabins have been carefully built around tall old trees which run through the entire cottage. Enjoy views over Mariager fjord, connect and find the peace you’ve been yearning for in green surroundings or go biking, hiking or fishing in the natural landscape.

Astrid Maria Rasmussen, Copenhagen Media Centre

Embrace the trash talk

Copenhagen’s newest waste to energy plant is not just about burning trash. You can ski down, then climb, hike or run up it. By engaging in fun-filled activities, you’re not only supporting the epicenter for Copenhagen’s urban mountain sport, but also a smart and sustainable city solution that creates heating and electricity for Copenhagen households. Now, can your local rubbish plant do that?

More on Denmark's green scene

Denmark's most sustainable restaurants

Go green in Denmark

The old railroad on Amager in Copenhagen

10 of Denmark's best vegetarian & vegan restaurants

People eating in the greenhouse room at Gemyse Tivoli in Copenhagen

Go on an outdoor adventure

Woman looking at Lille Tilde, Forgotten Giants by Thomas Dambo

Cycling in Denmark

Denmark’s most stunning wild shelters