Help, I’m an International in Denmark at Christmas! What Can I Do?!

Be alone!

This was the summary of responses I got when I posted this question about ‘What to do when I’m alone over Christmas’ in a Facebook group for internationals in Denmark.

It struck me hard.

Not because it was necessarily bad advice. But because it sounded so defeated. Like spending Christmas alone in Denmark was just something you tolerated rather than something you could turn into an actual experience. But also, it’s true. If Kulturnatten brought people outside then Christmas keeps them inside. 

Last year luck was on my side and I spent Christmas with a Danish family. So, I experienced the real deal; pakkeleg, risalamande and dancing around the Christmas tree. Everything was there. This year, because of unavoidable circumstances, I couldn’t join them. 

Those Facebook comments made me realize how fortunate I’d been last year. But they also lit a fire inside me. If I was spending Christmas alone in Copenhagen this year, I wasn’t going to just survive it. I wanted to figure out how to make it work.

So I made a list. Not a sad list. An actual game plan.

A Quick Disclaimer before We Start

This guide leans heavily on Copenhagen because that’s where I live and what I know best. Most specific venues and events I mention are Copenhagen-based. 

However, the approach works anywhere in Denmark. Find your local community spaces, explore your city’s empty streets, check what student organizations are doing in your city. Think of this as a template you can adapt wherever you are, with Copenhagen as the main example.

With that being said, let’s get going with our guide. 

Get Outside and Explore

Coming from a warm country, it always feels like a punishment to go out in late December. But trust me. This leap of faith is going to be a game changer for you. So, what to do outside?

Go Troll Hunting

Ever wondered what your city looks like without the usual chaos? Christmas Day gives you that chance.

Thomas Dambo’s trolls aren’t just around Copenhagen. They’re scattered across Denmark. Jutland has several, Funen has a few, and Zealand is full of them. No matter where you live, check the troll map. Chances are you’ve got one hiding in a forest within an hour of you.

On Christmas Day, you’ll probably have these trails completely to yourself. No joggers. No families with strollers. Just you, the forest, and a giant wooden troll staring down at you bringing in all the ‘Attack on Titan’ vibes.

Pack a thermos of coffee or gløgg, dress for the cold, and turn it into an adventure. 

Now, the exercise will clear your head as the fresh air resets everything. Moreover, the photos will make your friends back home question their life choices while they sit through another awkward family dinner.

Take a Quiet Streets Walk

If troll hunting sounds like too much effort, just walk around your city (or you can bike).

Each Danish city, small or large, turns into a ghost town at Christmas. Aarhus, Odense, Aalborg, and even the smallest coastal towns all acquire that strange but cozy Nordic peacefulness. Take a walk around your local center, your harbor, your neighborhood. The magic is the same everywhere.

Imagine a Copenhagen Nørrebro without crowds, Nørreport without the sound of cycling, Nyhavn without tourists. For Aarhus, imagine the Latin Quarter falling completely silent. I’m actually thinking about seeing the Hans Christian Quarters in Odense during the holidays. I have a feeling that it’d look something like a fairytale town. 

Now, while going out you can bring your headphones if you want. Or not. 

Just watch the lights in people’s windows (don’t get reported though!). Feel like you are in your own Nordic noir. This is your city in a way that it never is the other 364 days of the year.

Escape to Nature

Sometimes, when you’re alone, the best thing to do is lean all the way into it.

If you are in the vicinity of Copenhagen, the Forest Tower at Camp Adventure in South Zealand is a one-hour drive. The reception is closed on December 24th and January 1st, but the tower operates from sunrise to sunset.

In fact, the chatbot on the website assured me that it’s accessible if you buy your ticket online beforehand. 

There’s a meditative quality to being alone in the woods while the rest of the world is at home with their loved ones. The silence is different there. Not the lonely silence of an apartment that is empty. A silence that makes you feel small in a good way.

If you live well away from Zealand, find your own local nature gem: Himmelbjerget near Silkeborg, Rold Skov in North Jutland, or the woodlands around Svendborg and Odense. The issue is not where. It’s the tranquility.

Consider a Day Trip

Aarhus is an option if you are in Zealand. Three hour train ride, totally different atmosphere. On the other hand, if you’re already in Jutland, go the other way instead. Odense, Silkeborg, or even Skagen if you’re looking for drastic winter scenery. I’ve checked on both Rejseplanen and DSB website that there are regional trains on the 25th. But even so, give it a check before you plan. 

Den Gamle By in Aarhus is open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, which is crazy considering almost everything else is shut down. 

Usually this outdoor museum represents how life was in Denmark between the 1700s and 1900s. However, during Christmas time, they adorn it with historic decorations and floating pieces of apple.

You can walk through the cobblestone streets, visit antique shops and homes which are decorated according to different periods of Christmas and feel almost as if youare really  there. The city is a lot quieter than it would normally be, but it is still charming.

Moreover, you can make more out of your trip by enjoying ARoS Art Museum (open on Boxing Day only), colorful harbor buildings, and cozy cafes that could be serving (fingers crossed for this).

Sometimes the best remedy for loneliness is simply to change your surroundings.

Solo train journey, new city to explore, satisfaction of doing something adventurous when everyone said everything would be closed. By the way, do figure out your accommodation if you want to stay for the night. 

Find Your People

I think at Christmas, we mostly enjoy the company of people. So, it gets tough when you don’t find that gathering all of a sudden. 

Yilin, an international student at the Royal Danish Academy, explained it like this: 

“I spent Christmas in Copenhagen because I didn’t want to spend too much on round-trip airfare, and since it was my first time in Denmark, I wanted to experience the local holiday culture. My friend warned me that there would be fewer and fewer shops open on the streets, shorter daylight hours, and a higher incidence of winter depression. The holiday has only been over a few days, but I’m already starting to feel a bit lost and empty. I need to find ways to enrich my life.”

That feeling of needing to fill the emptiness? That’s exactly why finding your people matters. You’re not the only one feeling this.

Nabo’s Online Crafting Meetup

Nabo is a community platform for internationals in Denmark. The word literally means neighbor. They’re hosting an online crafting meetup during the Christmas period.

Details are still being finalized, so check mynabo.dk for timing. This is perfect if you want company without leaving your apartment. 

Grab your materials, whatever you’re into (Christmas cards, origami, anything), pour some gløgg, and craft alongside other internationals who are also figuring out Danish Christmas.

Here’s the thing-

Nabo runs regular online workshops and affinity groups. Even if you miss this specific event, the platform’s worth exploring for other ways to connect with people who understand what it’s like being far from home.

Join a Student Julefrokost

Studenterhuset in Copenhagen usually organizes Christmas lunches specifically for international students and people who can’t go home for the holidays. The best part is that it happens at the Copenhagen University Old Library Building. On normal days, you’d need to buy a ticket to visit this historical building. 

In Aarhus, check with Aarhus Student Council. Odense has similar offerings through its student organizations.

Yilin suggested that there are plans that Copenhagen Chinese Students’ Union will arrange something for Christmas. So, you can also look into your own community. If there’s nothing yet, then maybe you can arrange something with your countrymen. 

Everyone at these events is in the same situation. Away from family, making it work, maybe a bit homesick, but determined to have a decent time.

You eat traditional Danish Christmas food, drink more than you planned, sing drinking songs without knowing the words, and bond over the shared weirdness of spending Christmas in a country that isn’t quite yours yet. Check websites early because spots fill up fast. If luck’s on your side, then you might be able to make it by the time this gets published. 

Find Your Local Live Music

Mojo Blues Bar is a Copenhagen classic. They have live music every single night of the year, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On December 25th, they host a Blues Jam where musicians and music lovers just gather to play and listen.

It’s cozy, authentic, and somehow both festive and completely un-Christmassy. Only 130 people fit, so it feels intimate rather than overwhelming. Both the shows on 24th and 25th December have free entry.

But the spirit isn’t limited to the capital. Many cultural houses and bars in Aarhus, Odense, and Aalborg host December events or live music on the 25th. Check local listings. You might be surprised what’s open.

This is where you go when you want to be around people but don’t want to explain why you’re not with family. Everyone’s just there for the music, and honestly, that’s perfect.

Community Houses (Plan Ahead)

Folkehuset Absalon’s Christmas events in Copenhagen are sold out this year. I’m mentioning it anyway because you can sign up for their newsletter for next year.

Absalon does communal dining, board games, and events designed to bring people together. Their Christmas dinners are legendary in Copenhagen’s international community. For next year, you need to jump on this early.

And if you’re not in Copenhagen, look for your city’s version of a community house. Places like Godsbanen in Aarhus, Studenterhus Odense, Aalborg Streetfood events, and local kulturhuse often run similar gatherings.

The Cozy Solo Experience

This is actually one of the rarest moments that you’ll get to work on yourself. So, here are some things you can do if you decide to stay put. 

Cook an Epic Meal

You know that recipe that takes four hours and uses every pot you own? The one you keep saying you’ll make when you have time?

Christmas Day is that time.

Make fresh pasta from scratch. Try a Beef Wellington. Attempt traditional Danish æbleskiver even though you’ll definitely burn the first batch. Bake bread. Roast something that needs constant basting.

The point isn’t making it perfect. It’s having a project that fills the day, makes your place smell incredible, and gives you something to feel proud of when you finally sit down to eat at 9 PM.

On my first Christmas here, I baked Basbousa (A Middle-Eastern dessert) and last year I attempted to make Firni (A Bangladeshi dessert). 

So, if you think this is a good plan, then go for it. Pour some wine, light candles, put on a good playlist, and feast like temporary Danish royalty.

Pet Sitting

Most people in Denmark leave for Christmas. Their pets stay behind.

Sign up on Pawshake or Trustedhousesitters ahead of time. You could spend Christmas cuddling someone’s dog or cat, getting paid, and staying in a cozy Danish home. 

I myself found some posts in Facebook groups where people were looking for pet sitters for the holiday period. 

It gives your day structure because animals need walking and feeding. It provides companionship because dogs don’t care that you’re not Danish. And honestly, explaining your situation to a Golden Retriever beats therapy pricing.

Plus, you’re genuinely helping a family travel with less worry.

Volunteering (With Caveats)

I’ll be honest here; many traditional Christmas volunteering opportunities, like the Red Cross nursing home visits in Copenhagen, require Danish language skills.

But you still have options.

Check frivilligjob.dk and volunteering.dk early in December for opportunities welcoming English speakers. Cultural Volunteers and Huset KBH in Copenhagen sometimes have events where international volunteers work. Similar opportunities exist in other cities through local volunteer centers and international community organizations.

One super important detail here is that you have to plan ahead. Don’t wait until December 23rd. However, if it’s too late now, then you can keep your eyes out for next year. 

Even if organized volunteering doesn’t pan out, create your own version. Check on elderly neighbors. Offer to walk dogs for people traveling. Ask local organizations if they need last-minute help.

Christmas feels weird when you’re far from home. But it’s also a reminder that community is what you make it.

A Few Practical Matters 

Before you jump into executing one or several of the plans here, hold your horses. I’ll share some practical advice from my first Christmas here. 

First of all, stock up on your necessary groceries. Because grocery stores won’t open for a few days. Next, give some thought to what exactly you want to do and make further plans for it. For example, if you’re going for the solo cooking marathon, then find the recipe you want to follow, gather the ingredients, and check your equipment. The same goes for solo trips. Don’t get stranded somewhere this Christmas. 

If possible, then learn how to take pictures of solo adventures. Charge up your powerbank, keep warm clothes on, and stay hydrated. 

Making Peace with It

I won’t tell you that spending Christmas away from home is easy. 

But here’s the thing-  the Christmas you create for yourself can matter just as much as the one you’d have at home. Maybe more, because you chose it.

You’re not going through traditional motions. You’re building new traditions. Learning that you can be okay, even good, in moments that feel uncomfortable or lonely.

Five years from now when you’re back home dealing with family drama and overcooked turkey, you might actually miss this quiet Christmas in Denmark. The one where you spent the morning hunting for trolls, the afternoon cooking an elaborate meal for one, and the evening listening to live blues with strangers who somehow felt like friends.

You see, the Danish language has this word: hygge. And it’s not just candles and blankets. It’s about creating coziness and contentment in everyday moments.

This Christmas, you get to hygge on your own terms.

So grab that Tuborg, put on your warmest coat, and go make some memories. Denmark is waiting for you, quiet and cold and surprisingly magical.

Merry Christmas, you adventurous soul. You’ve got this.