6 Reasons to Visit the World’s Happiest Country 172 Comments

Is that a woman or a 12-year old drinking beer? I don’t know, but they’re happy about it.

Denmark has recently emerged as the world’s happiest country, beating out Bhutan, the long-time favorite of anthropologists everywhere.

The birthplace of LEGO–a contraction of leg godt or “play well”–offers even the first time visitor an incredible sense of hygglige: amiable cosiness.

“I remember you mentioned in your book,” my Danish editor said over lunch in Copenhagen two weeks ago, “that you had a big head.” I do have a huge head. I took a bite of delicious Esrom cheese and nodded for her to continue, keeping one eye on the wienerbrød.

“But you don’t have a huge head. You just have a healthy, normal-sized Danish head.” I smiled–home at last.

Even if you don’t have a Danish bloodline like I do, there are some good reasons to visit Copenhagen, the capital of the world’s happiest country…

The First Published Map of World Happiness: the US ranks 23rd, the UK 41st, and Japan and France at 90th and 62nd respectively.

Here are just 6 of them:

1. More than 80% of the Danes speak English.

English movies are almost never dubbed in Denmark. Combined with excellent free education, this results in a high % of Danes speaking more pleasant English than the average Brit or American.

“OK, I’ll see you for dinner at 6pm then,” I said to one friend named Christopher over the phone. “You shall. Have a nice evening and see you soon,” he responded. Did I just get out-Englished by a non-native speaker? I felt like a TOEFL student.

You’re more likely to have communication problems in the bayou of Louisiana or in a pub in Manchester than you are in Copenhagen.

2. Christiania–the anarchist state of Scandinavia.

In 1971, a 101-acre site formerly used for army barracks was effectively seized and converted by hippies into “The Free State of Christiania.” They hotwired themselves into the power grid, created their own form of goverment, as well as a rich community of shops, schools, recycling programs, and most things you would associate with a normal township–but they claimed sovereignty and paid no taxes. It became a haven for artists, alternatives, and soft drug dealing, among other things, and the Danish government–though allowing Christiania to exist as a proclaimed “social experiment”–has been trying to shut them down for more than 35 years. In 1991, the appointed powers within the anarchist state agreed to pay rent and cover the costs of water and electricity.

I spent a late night wandering through the beautifully painted historical buildings of Christiania, ultimately ending up with two friends at The Woodstock Cafe, where we drank organic beer and met interesting vagabonds from all over the world. Dogs played outside among the metal barrels, which glowed like jack-o-lanterns from the flames inside them, producing surreal shadows on the graffiti all around us. It was incredible.

Most Danes agree that Christiania’s days are numbered. It’s an anachronism that has somehow survived every attempt to demolish it, but it’s nine lives will soon be up. Get there before it’s gone.

3. Danes pair food and wine better than most Italians or French.

That’s a strong statement, but I was amazed at how precisely, and insistently, most decent restaurants paired courses with wine. Restaurant Saa Hvidt, featuring young culinary superstar Frederik Hvidt, offers a prix fixe 5-course meal with five separate wines for each tapas-like dish. Incredible and unlike anything I’ve had in more than 30 other countries. Danish cheese is also the best I’ve ever had.

For a taste of real home-cooked Danish food, eat with a local family for about 400 DKK through the Dine with the Danes program.

5 small courses and 5 delicious wines at Saa Hvidt, with the good people from Borgen.

4. The people are beautiful but seem unaware of the fact.

As Bill Bryson once observed: you could cast a Pepsi commercial here in 15 seconds.

Right up there with Argentina, Denmark has a jaw-dropping number of gorgeous people. The truly beautiful part, and unusual differentiator, is that appear blissfully unaware of the fact. There is little LA-style pretension unless you go to a social climber magnet like Club NASA, which helps to pull the mirror gazers off the streets. Go in the spring or summer and there is no need for catwalks–the sidewalks at Nyhavn are good enough. For those feeling the club or lounge itch, Vega and JazzHouse are hard to beat.

5. Danish design is incredible to experience, even for non-designers.

“It doesn’t cost money to light a room correctly, but it does require culture.” This quote from Poul Henningsen, encapsulates the beauty of Danish design minimalism. Much like in Japanese design, form follows function, and half of the time I found myself in a great mood in Copenhagen, I realized it was due to the planned passage of sunlight in Danish architecture, as well as their understanding of interior lighting intensity and placement.

Bigger is not better, as is so often the case in the US, and the tallest building in Copenhagen is a modest 358 feet.

From the sleek silverware of 2001: A Space Odyssey to the most famous chairs in the design world, the Danes have a functional and pleasant feast for the eyes almost anywhere you go, whether the renowned Louisiana museum or your hotel lobby.

6. Bite-sized goodness: public transportation is as good as Japan, and you can cover the entire city in a weekend.

I looked at where I wanted to go. It was on the other side of the map from my hotel. “How long does it take to get there by taxi? 20 minutes?” The receptionist looked at me and laughed: “10 minutes by bicycle.” Copenhagen is probably the most hassle-free capital I’ve ever visited.

Rent a bike for 100 DKK and you can cover 1/2 of the “Barcelona of the North,” as design god Sir Terence Conran calls it, in an afternoon. 1-3-hour bike tours from Central Station are a perfect first-day orientation. The numerous S-line and Metro stations, in addition to HUR buses, will get you where you want to go if self-propelled locomotion isn’t your gig, but the average Dane bicycles 375 miles per year. Get off your ass and join them for the real Danish experience.

###

Looking for other happy travels?

Here are the combined top 10 according to separate studies from the University of Leicester in the UK and Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the latter of which had 953 indicators (!):

* 1 Denmark
* 2 Switzerland
* 3 Austria
* 4 Iceland
* 5 Bahamas
* 6 Finland
* 7 Sweden
* 8 Bhutan
* 9 Brunei
* 10 Canada

6-month old salted cod and four other pairings in Copenhagen. And, yes, there was caviar in the dessert.

Posted on April 14th, 2008

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172 Comments

Tyson Williams — April 14th, 2008, 6:51 pm

Yay for Canada being #10 on the list, but it looks like more EU countries are at the top of the list.
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Seduction Chronicles — April 14th, 2008, 7:11 pm

Interesting, but I’ve always wondered why the “happiest places” in the world in many cases have a higher suicide rate than the USA/Australia. Could it be that the way they rank these happiest places is because of certain socialized programs/standard of living?

I think Dennis Miller breaks down this concept well. He says that in the end, when we lose the “struggle” in life, we often turn out weaker and have less resolve to excel in many ways. I’m not saying socialized anything is bad, but at a certain point we have to realize that life more like the Serengeti plains than the Garden of Eden.
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Elle — April 14th, 2008, 7:14 pm

Hmmm….totally agree w/Denmark! But clicking through the link says Switzerland is tied for #1. Now, I love the beauty of Switzerland, but I’d never think to describe the locals as “jolly.”

Maybe they’re just happy on the inside!!
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Nana — April 14th, 2008, 7:20 pm

Am now intrigued with Danish cuisine, especially with the “best cheese” comment. Since I don’t think I’ll be able to head to Denmark any time soon, do you know of any Northern California Danish restaurants? I’d be very interested in delving into the food!
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- rob — January 5th, 2011, 9:06 pm
  
  Hi nana, in California, im not completely sure of any Danish restaurants in Northern CA.. I live in southern CA, and a small town north from me, called Solvang (Danish meaning “Sunny Valley”) is a Danish Village. Solvang was founded by the first Danes who immigrated here from Denmark, and all of the architecture and such is Danish design. there are many delicious Danish bakeries and restaurants where you can get some great Danish quisine, and theres plenty of sights to see. theres a few seperate Danish museums, and windmills which you can take tours of also.. Solvang is pretty much a small taste of Denmark in america! if your interested in that kind of thing id suggest going to google and looking up Solvang California
  Reply
Blake Mead — April 14th, 2008, 7:22 pm

Excellent review Tim! My list of places to visit is long, but Denmark just moved to the top of the list. Christiania sounds like a “must-see”.
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Shashi Bellamkonda — April 14th, 2008, 7:30 pm

I echo your sentiments. i visited Denmark in the late 80s. There is a contrast between Denmark even with the other Scandanavian countries.
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Marsello — April 14th, 2008, 7:33 pm

Totally agree with point # 4, my buddy and I went to Denmark and I have to tell you, Danish women are some of the best looking women on the planet. Blue eyes and platinum blonde hair without the “attitude” of course. Plus they seem to think Asians are exotic creatures, we totally felt like Harold & Kumar goes to Denmark dude.

http://www.feedbacksecrets.com
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Soultravelers3 — April 14th, 2008, 7:34 pm

Ahh, looks like fun! We will be going to Denmark and quite a few countries on the “happy list” during this years travels…can’t wait.
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Clay Collins | Anti-Hacks for Living — April 14th, 2008, 7:37 pm

You’re making me jealous! Some day I will live my version of your life
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Gurpreet — April 14th, 2008, 7:38 pm

Hi Tim,

When you were talking about dessert…the thing that grows in the garden, that you called weeds, is nettles…popular ingredient at the moment in Copenhagen (not sure if that’s because it’s in season or just in fashion at the moment).

Glad you’re enjoying Cph.
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Tim Ferriss — April 14th, 2008, 7:44 pm

@Donovan,

I’ve seen the stats on suicide in Scandinavia as well. I suspect — pure speculation — that, unlike Japan, suicide in these places are largely a result of the long periods of darkness due to their latitude/location. Large-scale SAD with predictable results.

I’d love to see any studies that have been done comparing cumulative annual exposure to sunlight and subjective reported well-being. I suspect there is a strong connection.

All said, though, those Danes make the best of some rainy and cold days. Makes you want to slap people who complain about the fog in SF

Tim
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- Ana — May 1st, 2013, 1:51 pm
  
  I’ve actually seen studies showing that most suicides happen in summer time, when it’s not dark and cold. And that it should not have much to do with weather. Maybe it could be because most Danes are satisfied and doing very good in life. No poverty, no “real” worries about the future, a very “easy life”, etc. So when you are not doing well, and compare yourself to the rest of the Danes, you really feel bad compared to them, because the standards are so high there. Another thing, I saw a study about that, is that Danes are not very into religious communities where suicide is seen as a sin and you go to hell. That is the believe of many Christians (I think the Bible calls it a sin?), but not many Danes are religious. Also, sometimes Greenland (part of Danish Kingdom) is taken into the statistics, and they have a very high rate of suicides.
  Reply
Anna Sabino — April 14th, 2008, 8:06 pm

If Hawaii was a country in itself, it would definitely be on the list.
Thanks for the Denmark post, interesting, especially since I’ve never been…

Anna
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Jennifer Bingham-Heart — April 14th, 2008, 8:34 pm

Wanderlust is boiling inside me… soon soon I will make my escape. I have to work your worksheet to see how much I need to make Denmark and Europe happen. My friend Konrad says Polish women are the most beautiful but some have ‘tude. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but there are many empirically attractive specimens in clusters around the globe. Are the men in Denmark as attractive and Large Brained/Big Headed as you?

Bill Bryson is one of my brothers favorite authors. I think “A Walk in the Woods” is his favorite because it takes place near his house. Gotta love NJ!
I think my brother would like to be him. He just needs a beard and glasses.

Hugs,
Jen
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Jennifer Bingham-Heart — April 14th, 2008, 8:43 pm

Oh a great place for wine or beer pairings in the US is http://www.rosemarysrestaurant.com/ which is in Las Vegas. It’s off the strip, in a unassuming strip mall. Superb and amazing! Their tasting menu with perfect pairings and fabulous service. I felt like a royalty with napkins that matched my skirt. I haven’t been may places but it is one of the best places I have ever dined.

Hug numero dos,
Jen
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Steve — April 14th, 2008, 8:58 pm

Suicide in Scandinavia doesn’t carry the social stigma that it does in the states where many suicides are categorized as “accidents.” If someone is in a bad situation and no longer wants to live, they are free to exit. Maybe this leaves the happier people for those polls, or the other countries rate lower in happiness because they force miserable people to keep living.
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Sheamus — April 14th, 2008, 8:59 pm

Both the UK and Germany are below Columbia on that list – that can’t be right, surely? I guess it truly is subjective.
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Brian — April 14th, 2008, 9:03 pm

Why are all the prices in DKK and not euros?
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- rob — January 5th, 2011, 8:59 pm
  
  Denmark, was one of the few European countries that stayed with its own currency instead of switching to euros like most of the others, if your traveling from another country, you can go to a local bank and exchange your dollars or euros into Danish Kroners so you can shop and eat as much as you’d like
  Reply
Ravenwood — April 14th, 2008, 9:04 pm

Seduction Chronicles: you’re definitely on to something there. As someone who has lived in Scandinavia (Sweden and Denmark both) for all his life, I can tell you that these happiness studies would be laughed at by a lot of natives who feel crushed under taxes and state nannying.

Besides, exactly how do you quantify such a thing? Being somewhat of a grumpy curmudgeon, I am very skeptical of some government droid declaring that I am indeed “happy”…

Bare mine 2 øre
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- Benjamin — September 30th, 2012, 5:55 am
  
  True story. But we get tons of stuff for the high taxes, in US people die because they can´t afford medicine, while the Danes get money from the state to buy medicine if they´re poor (and if they don´t have a job they get a bit money too). And it´s free to go to the hospital. And children can go to do the dentist for free. And we have one of the best school systems in the world. I could go on forever.
  
  Many Danes probably says they´re unhappy, because they think that the rest of the world is an utopia.
  
  By the way, it´s called “Bare mine 25 øre”, not “Bare mine 2 øre”.
  Reply
Adam — April 14th, 2008, 9:08 pm

Interesting about the food and wine pairings. It could help that they don’t have a ton of local wine to choose from, but have a huge variety from relatively close by, thus freeing people to choose from a wealth of options without local prejudice.

I’ve only been to Copenhagen once, and then only for two or three days, but it was the dead of winter and I still found it one of the most enchanting and fun cities I’ve ever visited.

I remember how shockingly manageable the city was (we walked from one end to the other) This is a huge plus for me when I’m travelling. Not that I avoid big cities, but often my best memories come from smaller places where one can discover the local secrets in a shorter time. It has something to do with people in small cities being a little less jaded and maybe a little more open to strangers…
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Ravenwood — April 14th, 2008, 9:13 pm

That being said, Tim is absolutely right that Denmark is a wonderful place and you should visit. Might be interesting to check out other parts than Copenhagen too, the rural parts, such as Lolland, are quite lovely. Check out the classic dogma film Mifunes sidste sang if you want a look at that part of the country.
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Ravenwood — April 14th, 2008, 9:15 pm

Sorry, that link was incorrect. Read here for more on the Danish dogme movement.
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Bob Smith — April 14th, 2008, 9:34 pm

If you want Danish food in California, you could just take a drive over to Solvang and go wild. Also:

Copenhagen Danish Restaurant & Bar
Redwood City

Copenhagen Bakery
Burlingame

Anna’s Danish Cookies
San Mateo

Lighthouse Diner
San Rafael
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Lani — April 14th, 2008, 10:01 pm

My ex is Danish and I must say that I too have been seduced by the Danish culture. There is much pride and beauty and the food is yummy (try Lighthouse Cafe in Sausalito. I believe also the catering for the Danish Soldier’s Club of Northern California).

When I saw the article proclaiming Danes as the happiest in the world, I asked my then BF and Farmor (his mom) to explain why they would be blessed with that distinction. Their answer was quite frank and surprising: Danes have lower expectations.

They attributed this in part to the privilege that Danes are brought up with (such as free education). Their view is that many Danes take advantage of social programs that others in different countries work so hard for. This results in a lack of ambition or drive to succeed above the minimum required.

On the other hand, there are many notable celebrities, millionaires, entrepreneurs and/or scholars that are produced by this small country (population 5,468,120), such as model Helena Christensen, owner of Maersk Shipping, author Hans Christian Andersen, Nobel Prize winner Niels Bohr (quoted in 4HWW).

In any case, I thought this comment was interesting coming from native Danes. Regardless, it is a rich culture and I plan to visit Denmark in the near future. Skoal!

Lani
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- Benjamin — September 30th, 2012, 6:01 am
  
  I agree with what you say.
  
  By the way, your farmor is your father´s mother. Didn´t you mean svigermor, that means mother-in-law.
  Reply
Kevin — April 14th, 2008, 10:02 pm

I NEED to get to Denmark SOON!!!

Chirsitania sounds like paradise to me.

Tim, how the hell can I do a trip to Denmark cheap?? With the dollar down and the Euro up, it seems impossible. Should I just keep saving away or do you have some tricks up your sleeve on this country????

Thanks for the great post!

Kevin
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Rasmus — April 14th, 2008, 10:12 pm

Being a Dane, who somehow got stuck in the US, this was a fantastic post! It really made me miss my hometown and look forward to going back there. So, thanks!

On an unrelated note, I just picked up your book and look forward to reading it.
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Stine — April 14th, 2008, 10:19 pm

Aw, what a nice surprise to see a such a nice post about my hometown

Glad you enjoyed København Tim, but aim for the summer months next time, it is SO much nicer!
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e — April 14th, 2008, 10:32 pm

My family is Danish and I’ve been to Denmark many times. It’s gorgeous and really loved this post.

Thanks, Tim!

By the way, most of the staff at the University of Santa Monica is reading your book and love it!

Keep up the good work.
e
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Aaron — April 14th, 2008, 10:41 pm

Hi Tim,

I really enjoyed reading this post and hearing about your adventures in pretty people land. Living in LA, I can’t yet wrap my mind around flocks of gorgeous ladies without the attitude. These last two posts were two of your best yet. Your writing style is succinct and simple.

NOTE: Your TOEFL link is not working.
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Robin Gerlach — April 14th, 2008, 10:41 pm

Ahh how I love the bicycle culture of Copenhagen. Yes, it along with Stockholm were the most expensive cities on my Europe tour, but worth every Danish Kroner! The ambience, beautiful (oblivious to the fact) people, and clean air from the ratio of bicycles to automobiles make it a hard country to compete with. It was great reading this post, brought back some memories. I wonder if you had the chance to eat at Pussy Galore, yes that’s the restaurant name.
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Michael — April 14th, 2008, 10:48 pm

It’s interesting the happiness indices are produced by European Universities. Could there be any cultural bias in what constitutes happiness?
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Hoo Kang — April 14th, 2008, 11:05 pm

Hey Tim,

Off the topic, however I thought this was the best way to tell you that your translation for the Korean 4HWW is out.

I have a picture posted here for ya.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hookang/sets/72157604548305661/

###

Sweeeet! Thanks so much for posting this up, Hoo Kang!

Tim
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Jon Moss — April 14th, 2008, 11:46 pm

Well, no surprises that the ULK is not vying for the top spots. It sucks at the moment for many, many reasons. Weather, tax, political correctness gone mad, and the apparent attitude of the government towards the hard working, honest populace – if you fall in that category, then we are going to sh*ft you at every given opportunity.

I for one, am not impressed.

Now where is that Danish application form….?!
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Jose Castro-Frenzel — April 15th, 2008, 12:03 am

……I was told the same from my cousins in Germany. I have heard nothing but good things about Denmark. Did minimalism give birth in Denmark? Anyways great clips.

Cheers

Jose Castro-Frenzel
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Abhinav — April 15th, 2008, 12:27 am

http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/04/14/6-reasons-to-visit-the-worlds-happiest-country/www.ets.org/toefl/
TOEFL – linking to above link is incorrect. Please correct it tim.

###

Oops! Not sure what happened there. I’ll get it fixed. Thx, Abhinav!

Tim
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Dennis Bjørn Petersen — April 15th, 2008, 12:52 am

Thank you very much for the kind words!

I’m really proud to say that I’m a Dane. Your Denmark review and the many positive comments really made my day

The picture is a classic Danish national team football (soccer) fan called “Roligan” (opposite of Hooligan, “Ro” means calm).

Being a small country we specialize in niche products like design, dairy products and luxury items.

It’s free to study no matter where, we are actually paid to study

We do however also pay a lot of tax. The average is about 40-45% income tax and with 25% VAT, it isn’t cheap to live in Denmark. 1 gallon of gas is about kr. 42 ($8.57)

If anyone is going to Denmark, let me know I’ll gladly help you out.
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- hasan — February 15th, 2013, 5:54 am
  
  hello dear,
  
  iam coming soon to Denmark along with my wife and my lil 6 months son
  
  email: hass_456@yahoo.com
  Reply
Johan — April 15th, 2008, 12:54 am

Somewhat weird that Sweden is one of the happiest, how does they measure that? We have a reputation of all being depressed =). Anyway, what was the name of that Danish restaurant, and was it as expensive as it looked?
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Tiara — April 15th, 2008, 12:56 am

Brian: Denmark doesn’t use the Euro.

I’d be skeptical of any study that puts Malaysia in the “happy” category…
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Perfect Life Project — April 15th, 2008, 12:56 am

These are extremely interesting results. I have lived in Finland for a year and loved the place and people. But I wouldn’t have said it was one of the 10 happiest countries on earth. Depression was rife and suicide very high. Heart disease and alcoholism were alarming.

I have travelled extensively through Sweden & Denmark & Canada, plus have lived with Danes. Denmark is a wonderful place, as is Sweden. The people are beautiful and friendly. I couldn’t argue with Denmark as No.1

As an Australian who has travelled and lived around the world, including USA, I am amazed that Australia ranks so far down. Obviously there are one or two indicators that weigh heavily against us. Otherwise, living in a wealthy country with inexpensive education and health-care, very low unemployment, wonderful weather, great surf and year round outdoor lifestyle, amazing fresh food and sensational wine seems pretty good to me.

Or maybe I am just too happy to notice.
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Daniel Richard | Winning Everyone — April 15th, 2008, 1:05 am

Wow! Thanks for sharing this! Makes me wanna place Denmark in the next list of places that I want to visit.
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ricardo — April 15th, 2008, 1:59 am

Tim, I can tell you people in Switzerland are not happy by any means. Everyone is just bitching about how cold minded people over here are, including me.
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Save The Males — April 15th, 2008, 2:12 am

Tim, take the time to read what these Danes say about their country
http://www.savethemales.ca/i_am_a_british_man.html
http://www.savethemales.ca/_i_am_neither_muslim_2.html
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Andreas Climent — April 15th, 2008, 3:37 am

Great read! I live in Malmö, Sweden which is connected to Copenhagen by the bridge over Öresund but I’ve mostly only been in Denmark for flight departures. Copenhagen has always struck me as a nice place. I’ll have to visit again soon and spend some serious time there!
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Mich Albright — April 15th, 2008, 4:11 am

Copenhagen is nice of course.. but there is more to Denmark than its capital.

What about a little love for the rest of the happy country?
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Jakob Dupont Knudsen — April 15th, 2008, 4:24 am

What a great post! I can confirm these six statements. I have lived in Denmark my entire life, and so far I have spent six years in Copenhagen. Let me know if you have any plans about comming here again, Tim It would be great to meet you and do a short interview.
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Björgvin — April 15th, 2008, 5:36 am

Nice article, I´ve always had a great time having fun with my “nieces and nephews” in Denmark. Being from Iceland I really enjoyed seeing my country at number four in the list, as it is definitely a good place to experience for foreigners not quite used to what we have to offer.

If you´ve never been there Tim I´d be happy to give you a few pointers in the right directions. Maybe even in the directions of a translator so we can see your book in Icelandic, you´ve yet to crack open our (small) market. I think there are a lot of people here to benefit from your stories and we have a few surprises for your benefit as well.
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WordPress Modder — April 15th, 2008, 5:58 am

I read your book on my honeymoon about a year ago, and I’ve been implementing your techniques and suggestions ever since. I have come farther toward my goals n the last year than the last 15 combined, and I will start taking mini-retirements soon.

Denmark sounds like a great option for a first run;)
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Frederic — April 15th, 2008, 6:20 am

It’s funny when these studies come out and proclaim that such and such country has the “best standard of living in the world” or in that case, the “happiest people.”

I personally think that people say whatever makes them feel better in surveys.

For example, the city where I grew up in in Quebec was recently elected the “happiest city in Quebec.” To be honest I have no personal factual evidence to support that!

And what about Switzerland? It also has the highest suicide rate in the world. So maybe they’re just happy in a creepy, “brave new world” kind of way?

Anyway I enjoyed your story as I’ve always wanted to visit Denmark and Iceland. Thanks
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akthe47 — April 15th, 2008, 6:33 am

Tim, if you haven’t already and you’re fascinated by this topic of ‘happiest places on Earth,’ I’d invite you to read Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner. He’s a fellow national best seller, and although his list is slightly outdated (in his book he mentions the same Leicester list as somewhat different), he does touch upon Iceland, Switzerland, and Bhutan as being his top picks.

Not only that, but he goes into detail for each country (and also the countries that do NOT have environments conducive to happiness, such as Qatar). Maybe you’ve read it already, but if not, definitely check it out. It’s one of my favorite books.
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Tom — April 15th, 2008, 7:00 am

What is the currency conversion to US for 100 DKK
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Marcie — April 15th, 2008, 7:12 am

Tim – I haven’t found any studies on sunlight and happiness specifically, but I certainly think getting enough sunlight is *one* of the components of happiness. Here is a good article on the subject which states “The opioid system triggers pleasure. Sugar, which recalls the sweetness of mother’s milk, can set it off. Caressing, sex, fatty foods, sunlight on the skin—all these can do it, too.” (http://harvardmagazine.com/2007/01/the-science-of-happiness.html) It seems also that people living at higher altitudes (less sun exposure) are at a much greater risk of all kinds of diseases, to include auto-immune and even cancer…http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/80/6/1678S – which of course, can be depressing What is interesting to me is that, for a lot of people, other people’s happiness can cause deeper depression. Hmmmmm…
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Clifford — April 15th, 2008, 7:35 am

My advice to anyone traveling to a foreign country: you can really learn a lot about a culture by having dinner with the locals. This has become my favorite travel experiences and one I have taken advantage of often.

Thanks for the “Dine with the Danes” link. I’ll definitely store that.
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Christian — April 15th, 2008, 7:51 am

Awesome category! I am German and have family in Austria, and yes, we do know how to have fun…do I have some serious memories!
Also, I wanted to thank you for the 4 hour work week, it has gotten my butt into gear and I am on my way to automation!

If you need some cool places to visit in Austria – Salzburg area, give me a ring!
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Maneesh Sethi — April 15th, 2008, 8:20 am

Awesome Tim, I took your advice and I’m heading to Denmark next weekend (RyanAir has a cheap flight from Florence, where I’m studying). I land 1km from legoland, woohoo!

-Maneesh
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Anders Michael — April 15th, 2008, 8:54 am

I’m into design, after reading your article and this (link below) I have to go !!

—–

Copenhagen, a city that exists primarily to inspire a deep regret among those cursed to live elsewhere. The Danes make the rest of us look like apes, and I’m not just talking about national health care or paternity leaves with full pay. This is a place where Wallpaper magazine is sold at the 7-Eleven, and where the clerks at 7-Eleven speak better English than most Americans. This is a town so reverent of aesthetics that a city ordinance bans cheap plastic café furniture—instead, sidewalks are lined with stainless-steel chairs and tables straight out of a design museum. Nobody steals them; everyone has much nicer ones at home. It’s a city where even the airport has hardwood floors; a city where you may find yourself envious of a kindergartner’s shockingly stylish shoes.

from http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/designed-for-living
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Tom VanAntwerp — April 15th, 2008, 10:18 am

I’ll be going to school in Copenhagen this coming fall, and I can’t wait. I’ll definitely check out some of the things you mentioned.
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iShaz — April 15th, 2008, 10:20 am

As a Canadian living in the Great White North for over 30 years now, I totally agree that Canada should be among the top 10. I’ve travelled a little to Europe, many times to US and a little in Asia and I think we definately have the best mix of life/culture/taxes and freedom anywhere in the world. We get shorter days in Winter too around the great lakes cities but we manage well. Everyone should visit Canada from Coast to Coast (like travelling across Europe) and see how happy our multicultural society is…I’m a visible minority myself. Quebec City, Halifax, Vancouver and Niagara Falls are all a must see for any travel. Our national parks can swallow many countries and our natural diversity is one of the blessings of this country…come for a visit! Peace.
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Frances — April 15th, 2008, 10:47 am

How remarkable. This post has lit a fire in my belly.

I’d have been expecting this reaction from more ‘inspiring’ blog posts. But it never came.

My passion must lie in travel and I’ve never truely realised till now.

Thank you.
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Anna Sabino — April 15th, 2008, 12:03 pm

@ Jennifer
Well I happen to be born in Poland although Have been in NY for like 10 years already. Thanks for mentioning that Polish girls are beautiful but an attitude?
Everyone has an attitude.
Good, bad, positive, negative…

All the best,

Anna
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Jesper — April 15th, 2008, 12:27 pm

I am a Dane and I do not agree. Most Danes are miserable except for when the sun is out , which is very rare.
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Jennifer Bingham-Heart — April 15th, 2008, 12:42 pm

@Anna,
I hope no offense was taken. I sometimes have foot n mouth disease! LOL Or don’t explain myself well. My friend Konrad was born and grew up in Poland and told me of such women with ‘tude! He told me some stories that were interesting but of his own opinion. I was passing along the information from another male perspective. I think if a person has an “idea” about a group of women from say LA or Poland or NY, they will get to the destination and will find those women. Your brain will focus on what you expect, so I always expect people will be lovely to me when I meet new people. I rarely meet people with ‘tude, Polish or otherwise. I have many a lovely Polish girlfriends and they are cool and gorgeous. As I am sure you are Anna.

Hugs,
Jen
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Josh — April 15th, 2008, 1:00 pm

@ Save the Male

Is Henry Makow

a) The most ignorant man ever to be awarded a PhD?
b) Recently jilted
c) Not getting any
d) All of the above

Enquiring minds want to know.
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Hugo — April 15th, 2008, 1:50 pm

It’s been quite a while since I’ve been to Denmark, but I remember it was really nice. I would like to go back sometime soon. It’s not far at all from the Netherlands where I live. I think the nicest way of going there (although not the fastest) is by boat.
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Juniper — April 15th, 2008, 2:04 pm

I am part Danish and my mother believes that our ample behinds are courtesy of the Danish heritage. Go Danes!
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Nate — April 15th, 2008, 2:07 pm

I lived in Switzerland for a summer and do have to agree that it is a fantastic place. In fact the happiest summer of my life thus far. I would have to say that Basel, Luzern & Lugano have a much happier well-being that say Zurich. The people seem very proud of being Swiss. One drawback, Swiss are a bit xenophobic toward foreign immigrants, but that is a separate widespread political issue entirely.

I have never been to Scandinavia, but from what I remember of Holland, seems they have much in common: Great functional design, excellent taste in food, beautiful people impeccable English and of course bicycles.

Keep the world exploration reports coming!
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J.P. Hamilton — April 15th, 2008, 2:20 pm

I have never been to Denmark, but I have been to Norway many, many times, and have spent much time with Danes as well as Norwegians. The thing I like most about that part of the world is that I have never met so many rational, logical people in one place. The constant feeling I have of being surrounded by idiocy disappears when I am over there. These are societies, unlike ours in the U.S., that place the welfare of the people first. I could go on and on, but space is limited
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Shannon — April 15th, 2008, 2:22 pm

I just wanted to say, I know that “home at last” feeling you mentioned. I just got back from a trip to Ireland, it’s the first time I’ve traveled internationally to somewhere I wasn’t the palest, freckliest person in a 50 mile radius.

Among my people, freckles and red hair are pretty normal. Where I grew up and travel to, not so much.
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Jens P. Berget — April 15th, 2008, 2:32 pm

It’s great to see Denmark on the top of this list. Even though I am Norwegian, I simply adore Denmark. If you have kids, you just have to visit Denmark every single summer, there are really no country to compare it to (at least when you are living in Norway).

The people are great, they are really friendly, and they have so many attractions to see.

Why are they so happy in Denmark? It might be because they are very relaxed, and they are allowed to drink alcohol everywhere

Anyway, I agree with the six reasons to visit Denmark, but you can probably add another 100.
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Martha Retallick — April 15th, 2008, 3:58 pm

If you have an unusual last name in this country, it’s fun to go back and visit where “your people” came from. I did this when I was in college. Visited County Cornwall and was delighted to find that everyone knew how to pronounce “Retallick.”
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Sheamus — April 15th, 2008, 4:35 pm

Of course, none of this would be complete without mentioning Alphabeat’s poptastic “Fasination”.

Last.fm

If you haven’t heard this yet, Tim, check it out – it will totally make your (and everybody else’s) day.
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Guillermo — April 15th, 2008, 5:08 pm

the definition of happiness must vary from person to person. Would a buddhist monk from Bhutan be happy in Helsinki or in the Australian outback? You’d have to wonder what happiness meant to a that buddhist monk in the first place. I am satisfied and content but often stressed by living here. The following is an attempt to counter what researchers in England have surmised, I’ll assert, as opposed to have proven.

The guy writing that article – though not those who reported the “research” – based his analysis on a trip to Copenhagen. Tim, what’s his blog, the 4 hour work week – oh yah, does that include working on his joint rolling technique in Christiania? Hey he’s obviously got something right though: be positive, travel, write it down, sell it. But as for his visit to Copenhagen, well, that’s like basing my view of El Salvador upon my experience surfing Punta Mango! A great wave like Mango carries more weight for me than Copenhagen or Christiania – a dilapidated hippie hang out/ commune that is losing support because it is being invaded by disrespectful hoodlum-type shaved headed quasi “gangster” youths. Also, he talks about pairing wine with food but forgets to mention costs at a nice restaurant…or even a mere pizza joint. ($12 for a really crappy one person pizza at the “grill bar” near our house. Note, “grill-bars” are neither and have neither grill or bar. They are typically run by enterprising immigrants who have found a niche for themselves in this poorly regulated often “in the black” “under the table” industry. They are typically untalented at pizza making, their shawarma lackluster and their ingredients are typically the most downmarket and most dire of quality imaginable in DK. Yet, this is what many Danes get when they eat out- outside of the city in particular. Dude, there are no pupusa joints or taqueirias with fresh salsa and little lime wedges here, nor is there any equivalent. There are no sweet ladies making mixing up a fresh curtido and smiling when you come in. There are no liquados with fresh fruit that don’t cost less than $10! Its a fucking joke. The point is, is that even bad food is expensive and good food is beyond the means or geography of most people. And fresh food? It ain’t California or anything like France, Croatia or anywhere in southern Europe. Although there are some fantastic fish if you buy direct from the fishermen. The irony is that that fish never makes it to the supermarkets, it gets sent to France ASAP! So, when you buy fish at the market, it is packaged filets that have been shipped across the country and then back again. Luckily, we buy from the harbor and the fishermen hook us up.

*Do you have any idea what 25 perecnt VAT does to commerce? (After you’ve already paid your taxes once! Think about it, you need a guy to replace a window or repair your car. The bill comes, 200 bucks. Add 50. 1000 becomes 1250 and so on)
*Do you know that it costs almost 9 bucks for a gallon of gas and 50 dollars each way across a bridge that I need to take to go surfing on the west coast…which is 5 hours away!
*To get to Sweden – nearest pointbreak – it costs 60 bucks on the ferry and takes nearly 2 hours each direction. (note: the waves are a complete washout/ mess/ storm/ disaster here where we live 90 percent of the time. There are 3/4 ok days a year nearby)

You know, if there were good waves here, within striking distance that I didn’t have to sacrifice seeing my children and Camilla to go surf, I’d do it, I’d stay. But that is NOT the case. Everything about being a surfer here is stress:
* don’t know if there will be waves until 8 hours before,
* call in sick from work,
*take the car,
*wife can’t get to kindergarten with Benji w/o car,
*wife with the boys all day w/o my help,
*costs about 80 bucks if I go alone (YES, PER SURF!),
*hide emotions and truth at work when you are in a great mood after surfing for the first time in 5 weeks.

But what about the Happiest People? Yes, there is health care. It is good for everyone – despite long waits for specialist visits and non- life threatening surgeries , great for a few. And in America, health care is certainly a huge problem for many many Americans. Yes, the minimalist style is elegant and their knowledge of and use of light is remarkable. Yes, there is waaaaaaaay less pollution than many other places on earth and a great deal of the country’s energy (20 PERCENT!) comes from wind mills. And the same crazy taxes that make things ill affordable, also ensures that cars with smaller engines and a greater number of more fuel efficient diesel ones are sold and driven. Or, you can pay 250 bucks a month for an ‘all zones’ train pass. Thats what I paid when I worked in the city to get there from where I live. That’s what, 3000 bucks a year – to get to work!? Yes, there is a tax credit for that, but not that much.

Anyways, the expenses are not the point. The lack of warmth from many people towards newcomers (not visitors!) is not the point. The lack of diversity in cheese. (that guy was SPACING OUT when he said the best cheese comes from DK – dude, has this guy never been to France or Spain? (or Italy, Croatia… Maybe he should visit Carrefour one day!) The point is…THERE ARE NO FUCKING WAVES, MOUNTAINS or vast tracts of nature to lose yourself in around here (unless one drive out to the west coast or gets on a sail boat, or head sover to Sweden). it is FUCKING freezing in the winter and the water is like 2-3 degrees for 4 months a year. There are nasty jellyfish and intermittent episodes of toxic algae in the sea come August when it gets nice and toasty and that’s the truth dude.

So , yah, Danes are happy. We have 6 weeks vacation – paid, we can fly off to Morocco or Spain and use the fuel and carbon emissions on jets instead of in our cars. We can sit in a candle lit room on a glum day and watch raindrops whilst listening to cool music and checking out the “PH” lamps and warm candle light reflecting off some hot but lazy barmaids face(all very fun and cozy things) But, you want to be outside? Ride a mountainbike with your shirt off feeling the sun on your back ? – Forget about it! You want to surf a decent wave? Forget about it! You want to see wildlife? Forget about it? No es para mi hombre. I’d rather bust my ass and take a chance in my life than be complacent, secure and sport a half-grin. Quiero energia! I want VIBRANCY! I’d rather have a cultural mish mash than a culture that cannot mesh with anything new.

Vibrancy, that’s why we’re moving. And my parents are getting older. And did I mention 6 foot swells at 18 second periods, seaweed forests and last minute trips to Baja? Or last minute ski trips? Or meeting people without making plans 2 months in advance? Do I sound frustrated? No….RESOLUTE!

But, it is a great place to visit and all. Its even a great place to spend a few years. But to consider this life….forever. No way! We will show you the very best of it! Sorry if I rant a bit too much, its just that I am so fucking sick of hearing about this happiest country in the world BS. There are happy places, happy homes, happy people and happy children…but happy countries? People here – in this fair, if almost to a fault – country, are not super stressed when unchallenged – and it is EASY to be unchallenged here. If that qualifies as happiness, I’d say, yep they must be the happiest but, is that a life worth living? My challenges revolve around nature. Not to conquer but simply to enjoy the small challenges of making a deep barrel or swimming to the bottom of a giant kelp to pick up a huge crab. I could get all Danish psycho and switch to marathons and entrepreneurship to seek my challenges but that ain’t me brother. I am straight up Californian to the core.
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Stefanie — April 15th, 2008, 6:19 pm

The question of why a happy country could have more suicides than an “unhappy nation” would definitely be interesting to study in greater depth. It doesn’t seem mathematically impossible, but you have to wonder why people are doing themselves in if everything is so great in their country.

I like the sunlight idea, but I also wonder if part of it could be related to relative happiness levels. If everyone is around 50 in “happiness” and you find yourself at 40, that’s not going to be nearly as depressing as if everyone else is at 90 and you’re at 40. It might make your 40 start to seem like 30, or 20, etc. – especially in countries where people frequently have an expectation of happiness.

It would also be interesting to see if cultural differences play into the way suicides are reported. Maybe countries with a greater social stigma around suicide are more likely to declare questionable deaths accidental.

And on a lighter note – Am I the only one who looked at the larger version of the happiness map and felt bad that the Great Lakes were so bummed out?
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Gizmo — April 15th, 2008, 8:23 pm

I’ve been to Copenhagen and was very impressed. I had a friend, when I lived in Ireland years ago, who was born in Denmark.
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Seduction Chronicles — April 15th, 2008, 10:37 pm

@Tim:

That’s also a factor I was considering. I know if it hadn’t been for snowboarding here in Utah, I’d have gone crazy by now. The season has ended, but yet… still a few leftover snow storms… those damn resorts!
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Ground you should stay Denmark, the world’s happiest land | Travel, trip, jaunt — April 16th, 2008, 12:22 am

[...] to wealthy person some Danish blood pumping through his upbeat veins, and he’s laid down six added reasons to stay Denmark (inwards containerful is beingness the happiest curst position on the follower isn’t [...]
Erlingur — April 16th, 2008, 1:20 am

Giving a shout out for Iceland (a former Danish holding) that beats out Denmark once you factor in environmental sustainability factors (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/07/16/cnhappy116.xml)

Worth a visit surely Tim All it lacks are world class ethnic food restaurants and cheaper flights to the rest of the world.
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Christian — April 16th, 2008, 2:16 am

Glad my country (Austria) is #3. If anybody wants to visit holler at me for some tips on what to see and experience.
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Steven Lohrenz — April 16th, 2008, 2:40 am

Off to check out the air fares on RyanAir to Denmark!

Sounds like an absolutely wonderful place.
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akthe47 — April 16th, 2008, 5:19 am

Stefanie: Maybe I’m the only one here who has read it, but ‘The Geography of Bliss’ by Eric Weiner that I mentioned talks exactly about sunlight, suicide, and social stigma play into happiness. And no, I’m not Eric Weiner, but his book hits upon this very subject exactly and in great depth.
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Thor Maarup — April 16th, 2008, 6:44 am

I’m Danish. Your description of Denmark was eerily spot on for a person who only visited for a couple of days. I was surprised to see your book “4-timers arbejdsuge” on the shelves a few days ago in Copenhagen. I’m sure it will do well.

I hope you would consider holding a lecture at Copenhagen Business School or the University of Copenhagen next time around.
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Nino — April 16th, 2008, 7:27 am

I live in Denmark for the last 15 years of my life. I cant see this picture in front of me. Danes are not happy ( yeah only when they are drunk) but sober they hate them self, their familiy and the goverment.

My experience is that Danes are very fals people, and when they smile to you dont expect it to be real. They will rather lie to you insted of being honest and tell you face to face that hey dont like you, because you are diffrent then them.

They have also some unwriten rules they grow up by.
You can read them if you want

http://www.bearcy.com/janteloven.html

Honestly often I wonder why turists come to Denmark, here are nothing special.

Yeah Christania is my favorit place in this country, and it is because iI have been there almost every day through out the last 4-5 years and smooked my brain out in weed and hashish.

I have friends from countries all over the world, EU, Sout America, Africa and Asia. All of them are more open minded then danes.

I just have moved to Sweeden, because it is cheaper and people will accept you for the one you are. I these 2 monthes I have said HEY to more neightboors then during my whole life in Denmark.
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Patrick — April 16th, 2008, 2:01 pm

Tivoli didn’t make your top six Tim?
That place is great, the original theme park.
Copenhagen is the nicest European Capitol to visit in a few days or less.
Beautiful architecture, easy to navigate and almost everything is in walking distance. Christiana is a great place to hang out, not sure what it is like less pusher street. Copenhagen is a must see for anyone travelling through Western Europe. Getting there from Hamburg is fun by itself.
Oh, and to those bashing the taxes in Denmark, I didn’t see anyone sleeping on the street, it is Socialism at work…cradle to grave.
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The Liar - Chapter 5. I become determined to take on the Norwegian language — April 16th, 2008, 4:26 pm

[...] Furthermore, I figure if I can learn Norwegian, it would set me up pretty nicely to learn Danish and Swedish in the future, should I so choose. As I’ve heard these three languages are pretty mutually intelligible, to varying degrees, depending on who you ask. So, looking ahead, I could argue that learning Norwegian would a good investment on my part. And I mean, everyone loves the Swedes; and Danish have probably the best beer in the world.1 [...]
Rens — April 16th, 2008, 5:04 pm

Great post ! I’ll visit Denmark soon !

I have a theory about the happiness measured in Denmark , Switzerland.

I live in Switzerland.

I think that , when someone asks you to take a survey, you start rationalizing POSITIVE STUFF. You start thinking that you ARE LIVING IN GOOD STANDARDS. You have clean water, good wages, good bars, good nature, mountains here.. Blabla.. You rationalize all this PLUS maybe incounsciously you compare yourself to other countries ( e.g. poor people in central-Africa. ) PLUS maybe you just want to make yourself feel happy by reponding a questionary happiness with the fact that you are happy. Cuz after all, who WANTS TO BE LIVE AS AN UNHAPPY PERSON?

On the other side you have emotions. A LOT OF PEOPLE have problems controlling their emotions. It’s normal. Natural. We are animals born to survive. Evolution. And Sometimes, in a super good rich country, we lose that SWING. We don’t have that instinct to fight for our lives. We think, what’s the meaning of our lives..? We feel empty, we feel sad. We start to let our emotions take control. Negative emotion inside. They can pile up. ( and that’s a whole other theory ). ( I believe spirituality can help you in a big way to deal with your emotions. ) You feel sad, meaningless, and get depressed. More depressed. ….. Can finish terribly.

Emotional swings.
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John Baronian — April 16th, 2008, 8:02 pm

But the real number one reason to visit Denmark is Bon Bon Land. This video explains it all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZl0Cc9SOcg What is better than a Dog Fart roller coaster. My wife, daughter and I went last summer and couldn’t have had a better time!
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Mark — April 17th, 2008, 9:45 am

Switzerland was where I took my first semi-retirement after automating my workflow at home, a’ la 4 Hour Workweek. I must say it’s very happy!

I spent almost a week there about $1000 bucks, including Travel and Lodging (couchsurfing.com)

I made a happy slideshow: http://www.sixpeeps.com

Thanks for the inspiration!
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Eolake — April 19th, 2008, 4:16 pm

Wow, read all the comments and you get confused!

I guess things and countries are complex. And that you see things around you strongly colored by your emotional and educational makeup.

I’m Danish, and love the place, but not currently living there due to the fact that I would be paying around 70% in taxes.
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toddc — April 19th, 2008, 8:38 pm

you are a strange person.

###

100% agreed

Tim
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Andrós — April 20th, 2008, 5:44 am

Quite surprising for me as a Dutch citizen that The Netherlands is marked as “Happy” on the map! I expected an “Average” or below…
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DD — April 20th, 2008, 7:04 am

Kaere Tim,

You didn’t mention the beautiful Kattegat Sea in summertime, ochre-colored thatch roofed houses and rose-hip lined pathways along the craggy beach shore of Kikhavn, visiting with fishermen in Hundested as you wait for them to wrap up your little piece of freshly caught monkfish, that the are home to Novo Nordisk, the biotech giant who leads the world in the fight against diabetes…. and you didn’t mention the incredibly funny dry wit of the Danes!

Seriously, I enjoyed your article! Tak!

KR,
Jennifer Dale
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Sean — April 20th, 2008, 10:47 am

Those are some interesting points about Copenhagen. I spent some time in Copenhagen, and a lot of my friends that came in for the weekend really enjoyed themselves. However, it’s a lot better for a weekend than anything longer.

I think Guillermo made some good points, and if you stay long, things start to add up. 100 DKK = $21.20.. so when we went out and the cheapest beers were 50 DKK, we were hurting.

Also, there are tons of good-looking women, but Danes, and Scandinavians in general are very private. In most other European cities I’ve been too, locals like showing people around, or will invite you out that very night. I was a bit surprised by how reserved Danes were. They don’t smile, say hi, or talk to people in lines, etc.

I did enjoy the small size of the city and tidy public transport. The trains are 24 hours on Thursday, Friday, Saturday to accommodate late-nighters.
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- Malene — November 16th, 2012, 6:09 pm
  
  We don’t like to interrupt, but we like to talk with people, that doesn’t mean we’re reserved, it means that we care about what others think about us, we don’t want to annoy them
  Reply
Sam Rogers — April 20th, 2008, 12:49 pm

Of all the places I’ve traveled, I’ve always said that Denmark was the country that I enjoyed most, but I never could put my finger on just why. I’ve had more exciting times in more exciting places, but things just made more sense in to me in Denmark. Thanks for the post, Tim, and to everyone else for the comments!
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Jeroen Valcke — April 20th, 2008, 4:03 pm

Hi Tim,

Are you still in Denmark or did you leave the country? I thought I say you today in Stockholm, Sweden. It was either you or a look-alike.

regs,
-Jeroen-
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April — April 21st, 2008, 7:59 am

My niece is off to Denmark for a year exchange so it will be interesting to hear her take on if they are happy. I agree that SAD is a force that is much underrated, I think everyone suffers with it to a degree, just some more than others and many sadly take action on it’s effects. There has to be a connection when we see the suicide attempts and such skyrocket in the short days of winter here in Canada, which is rated as in the top 10 happy.

Hey what happened to the Forum? Was going to go back and find some information there but it’s link takes me back to the Resource page.
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Antonio Fisher II — April 21st, 2008, 12:38 pm

Never thought of going to this country..but a little happy has never hurt anybody!!! So once I have my automated and delegated life set up I will hit it up.
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alejandro — April 21st, 2008, 6:38 pm

Ive been in Denmark, Copenhagen a few times now. I love it, LOVE IT! No other place in the world makes me feel better. You are always surrounded by intelligent people, who smiles, drinks a beer and enjoying their life in this magnificent city! Nino: The Danes are only reserved when you dont confront them with a hi or ‘wanna have a beer with me?’. Its their city, so why should they come to you? Theyre just living their normal day life, your the one who visits! If you socialize with danes, making a deeper conversation, you will get a whole different view of them. Ive been almost all around the world, and Copenhagen is by far the place i learned and experienced valuable things, id taken home with me. You get that real european feeling here. My advise: go to the city, have a glass of wine or beer, and find a dane who can guide you around the city, as THEY live it themselves. (its a bit different than the “turist spots” and the little murmaid. The danes laugh and cant understand why that little sculpture is so popular. Go soul search the city, and you will get blown away. If you like an open mind, free spirit and a few hippies, go to Copenhagen. whether you like food, music, theater, art, design – whatever, this is the place! (dont forget Christiania) a unique place on planet earth. Delightful article Tim.

(excuse my half bad english)

SKÅL.
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Mikkel deMib Svendsen — April 22nd, 2008, 1:07 pm

Tim, you got most things about Denmark right. Most

> Most Danes agree that Christiania’s days are numbered.

I think you missed the historical perspective here. Most of the people that think so have always thought so. Among the large group of Christiania supporters that’s been around for along time I don’t see much of a change – a lot of us still defend Christiania as we have always done, but off course, the majority of average Danes do not. It’s just not anything new …

One of the main reasons Danes come out as being the happiest was very well put in the 60 minutes program on the issue: It’s because we have such low expectations. As a Dane its OK to be second – you don’t have to win everything. Being a small nation we are used to not being number on in everything. We don’t expect gold and wild things in life, so we are happy for what we get. And the fact is, that mfar the majority of people – more than most other places, get what it takes to live a relatively good life.

I don’t think the number of suicides is particular high in Denmark. In certain areas of Greenland it is very, very high, so this – being part of Denmark, may skew the numbers. Or they may be reported differently in different countries. In any case, if you ask the average Dane he she will say like I do, that we really don’t see many suicides. Most people don’t know any – even remotely, that have committed suicide.

On a final note … Tim, you may have fallen in love with Denmark. I love it too – but I was born here. But really, I don’t think you would like to live here from what I know about you reading you book. Off course I could be totally wrong – after all, we never met, but I think you would have a hard time with the commitment to the community that living here requires – e.g. by paying such a high tax as we do and living with the many behavioral laws we have (most legal issues between people here are governed by law – not by contracts. We have far less freedom to make individual agreements than you have in the US. We think it’s easier but I think you would find it “communistic” in its nature).

I am not saying this to disappoint you or scare you away from Denmark. I love that you love it here. Truly! It’s just that sometimes “paradise” may just be paradise as long as you can return home from it after a vacation …

- Mikkel deMib Svendsen
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Dale — April 22nd, 2008, 3:05 pm

Danish folks have been some of the friendliest I’ve met in my travels, random meetings on trains, at hostels and whatnot, but I have never been to Denmark. I hope the travel budgets get so I can adventure there soon.
Thanks for the great article,
–
Dale
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Stan — April 22nd, 2008, 9:19 pm

Thanks for the Happy List. I have visited Stockholm and agree, that this is a city that is vibrant and full of energy. I will work on visiting Denmark in May.
Tim, I find your book to be intoxicating delicious.
It has really increased my zen for exploring the world on my own terms.
Thanks and keeping on sending us daily” food for thought”.

Stan
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Stan — April 22nd, 2008, 9:22 pm

Thanks for the Happy List. I have visited Stockholm and agree, that this is a city that is vibrant and full of energy. I will work on visiting Denmark in May.
Tim, I find your book to be intoxicating delicious.
It has really increased my zen for exploring the world on my own terms.
Thanks and keep on sending us daily” food for thought”.

Stan
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iMARKETING — April 24th, 2008, 12:03 am

Hi Tim
I saw you in danish television on prime time yesterday.

It was a great broadcast with many good points from your book.

Thank you for being so nice to us ;o)

Mainly, I agree with your thoughts. We could have met to Tango at Tingluti or Taba, but I was out dancing Salsa in stead (http://www.danseguiden.dk )

I have red your book in english and have taken LOT of notes – and now it is translated to danish – GREAT – I will buy it ;o)

To be frank, your book have boosted my thoughts about working less. I have now everything set up, so it doesn’t matter where in the world I am, I can give my customers the same support no matter where I stay.

I am also a lot in to building automatic systems, that delivers a steady income no matter if I work or not ;o)

THANK YOU, Tim

Best regards,

Christian Garrelts

Denmark
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thomas aagren — April 24th, 2008, 1:07 am

The grand old sociologist Durkheim looked into the mechanisms of suicide, basically dismissing climate factors and instead pointed to social aspects (surprise, surprise…) like the effect of religion, family status etc:

http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/o26f99.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_(book)

I heard a danish professor, who had looked into a number of the studies that have us pegged as “the happy nation”, explain the surprising outcome this way:

We don´t set our expectation that high – so that when our lifes turn out allright (and the general standards of living are pretty good) our evaluation of life/happiness is that much more positive…

Ever gone to see a movie everyone thinks is the best ever – ever been disappointed???

And Tim – your book is so much more than your book, since a book has it´s limits – it´s the mindset and overall approach that makes it a much needed and incredibly powerful paradigmshift…

Thank you!

I see it “only” as a pointing finger… but oh what things to discover when looking in the right direction

Regards – Thomas
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Svend — April 24th, 2008, 4:42 am

Living in the World’s most happy country is okay I think, even if I am not sure how the list actually was created and how its creators secured objectivity. However, do visit Denmark if you frop by. Even if we may tend to look more happy inside than outside most of us are nice people. We may complain about our tax world record, but still we’re quite happy. Some blame Danes to be happy because we expect so little, that we’re happy with whatever comes around, but that isn’t true to all of us.

BR Svend
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Niklas — April 24th, 2008, 10:21 am

Thanks for the post.
If anyone is going to Denmark, be sure to visit Skagen!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skagen
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Rare — April 24th, 2008, 11:45 am

I don’t know what you talking about!

I have been living in DK for 8 years (and not allowed to leave until 9 years!) and its been my worst years of my life!

Danish are rated as the happiest JUST because of their low expectation (see the 60 min report). Danish very funny only cause they consider themselves as the best in the world no matter how much miserable they are!! Who doesn’t know that Copenhagen CPH is the 3rd most expensive city in EU, and 8th in the world? Prices of cars are 3 times or 4 times the prices in German and Sweden, why?? I don’t know!

Why do you need a waiting list of 20 year to get apartment in CPH or live sharing your room like a dog! Why do you have to pay 39% of your money for the TAX and 25% moms for every thing you buy, even the milk and the electricity!!

Come on, I can go on and on about this… but rating yourself as the happiest, just because you have nothing better to do is just FANTASTIC!

You are blond and this is probably why you could feel no difference than them… but be a black or brown and you will be f*ed up even before you leave the CPH airport

Coming as a tourist is a good idea, but get stuck here (like I am), cause you only will balm yourself, hee hee
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DennisD — April 25th, 2008, 9:18 pm

Having just spent last summer in Copenhagen, Sweden and Finland I have to agree – all three deserve to be on that list.

Copenhagen, put simply, is wonderful – it is very easy to fall in love with it within the first few hours. People are just.. enjoying life! The center of the city is surrounded by water, and the restaurants and cafes make for a nice downtown entertainment (albeit a bit pricey).

This is the exact spot we dined at – notice the color schemes

http://www.metropolismag.com/images/images_0802/ped/copenhagen03.jpg

Hotel rooms were laughably small for an expensive price – imagine a closet with 2 beds for $170 a night. But who travels across the ocean to sleep anyway? I loved Copenhagen and will definitely visit again.

Tim – did you enjoy the the main street with all the street vendors.. I forget the name now.
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Morris A — April 26th, 2008, 3:51 pm

If Nana or anyone else wants to try some great Danish food in a Danish owned restaurant you need only go to the Lighthouse Diner (really a restaurant). Everything is great with many Danish specialties.
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Morris A — April 26th, 2008, 3:56 pm

If Nana or anyone else wants to try some great Danish food they need only go to the Lighthouse Diner (really a fine restaurant) In San Rafael, California. It is own and operated by a Danish family. Eveything is great and they have many danish specialties.
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Pia Jacobsen — April 27th, 2008, 4:19 pm

August is a superb month to visit Denmark: The Danes are most relaxed, the cities full of outdoor life, the sea is warm enough for other than viking swim, many many Danish islands with uniq culture are worth visiting – the warm sea water makes evenings warmer – and Copenhagen is full of satisfied Danes just returned from vacation. See u!
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Pelle Braendgaard — April 28th, 2008, 12:28 pm

I’m Danish as well as mostly agree with the article. I do have a slight problem with the happiness studies. Dane’s will self report happiness but I don’t think it’s quite as simple as that.

The high suicide rates are not just because of dark winters. There are different kinds of social strains here than in the US thats for sure but it is not by far the happiest in the world.

While it is expensive it is definitely worth a visit. If you are visiting Denmark and staying for a week or longer you might like my guide for living cheaply in Denmark.

http://stakeventures.com/articles/2008/04/15/living-it-up-on-the-cheap-in-denmark
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Mark — April 28th, 2008, 1:23 pm

Hi Tim,
I saw your interview from when you visited Denmark and it brought up an old struggle of mine that I can’t get my head around.
I have been wanting to outsource some of my tasks to take advantage of geographical abitrage, but being that must of the tasks I want done must be done in Danish e.g. having someone checking my email. This does provide me with a problem, especially taking into account the prices for outsourcing in Denmark.
Have any of your other readers encountered this problem?

I look forward to your answer,
BR
Mark

###

Hi Mark,

Thank you for the comment. The answer here is what you might call “socio-arbitrage” — finding someone, whether a college student or well-educated housewife, who will charge 50-75% of your current hourly rate. Given that you can then focus on revenue-generating activities, this would be an excellent investment.

Best of luck!

Tim
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Jack — April 29th, 2008, 12:04 pm

Guillermo made some very good points on this one – you’ve got your head screwed on man.
These happiness surveys are more the stuff of tabloid newspapers, than scientific treatises.
They are based on the idea that there are universal laws of happiness – but in reality, happiness is an individual matter. And changes as people explore the world and open to new places and ideas.

If your definition of happiness is getting drunk on the weekends, and living an insular and private life during the week, with a reasonably good salary that you can put towards your deferred life plan (of retiring to southern spain when you’re sixty five and living in a camper van), then denmark is ideal.

Just go to any campsites in southern spain and portugal during the winter, and you’ll find the places chocko-blocko with danish and dutch reg plates.

The order, comfort and predictability will suit some people at some times. But if you’re a guy like Guillermo who has enjoyed the intoxication of living in surfing paradise, where you can exit your house in January in a t-shirt rather than in 5 layers of clothes, and where life is affordable and accessible to people, you’ll be frustrated and disappointed in Denmark.

If you’ve known the spontaneous excitement and connection that you have with people in Rio or Bangkok, you’re going to be bored to the point of depression in Denmark – more beer I hear them say – let’s get drunk (and get ripped off getting drunk)! Got bored with that one when I was around 19 though – when I discovered that there’s no Valhalla at the bottom of a pint glass (but you’ll probably find hell at the bottom of 10 of them!)

I’l take the beaches of Australia, the sunshine of southern california, the hedonism of Phuket any day. And the last time I was in Thailand, seems like a lot of Danish are doing the same – cause, outside of Copenhagen, I’ve never seen so many Danish restaurants or pubs anywhere in my life.
See you in Baja Guillermo!
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Attila Danku — May 6th, 2008, 4:56 pm

I would suggest BUDAPEST and Hungary as well.

One of the most beautiful capitals in the world, with outstanding sights, and food..

And of course the women there..

Check http://www.budapest.com

Definitely worth to pay a visit
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Bill — May 9th, 2008, 3:06 pm

I spent a few days in Copenhagen a few years ago. I loved it, but I definitely had to develop a taste for herring. First thing in the morning on the first day, stumble out of my hotel room, go down for breakfast, and… herring. Cheese, bread, and… herring.

Fortunately, I like herring, but you’ve got to be ready for it!
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Jesper — May 10th, 2008, 8:47 am

As a citizen of Copenhagen, my favorite thing about the city is the bicycle culture. You can get anywhere around the city in 15 minutes, door-to-door and get some fresh air and a little excercise on the way. When I have lived in other countries, I really missed that option (I used a bike when living in Leeds, UK, but that was often a bit too suicidal for me).

Driving a car is (for me) a nuisance – clogged traffic, parking problems (and high fees), gasoline at 2$ pr. liter (prices are like this in most of Europe)… Public transport is fine, but can take forever, compared to a bicycle trip.

I don’t understand why other countries around the world are not making more efforts to help and promote bicycling (apart from the very hilly or very hot areas).

Of course it is annoying if it starts raining or the wind is really strong, but that’s about the only downside to it.
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yogaroads — May 12th, 2008, 2:10 pm

Speaking of the happiest places. Have you read this book yet?

the geography of bliss by eric weiner

http://www.ericweinerbooks.com/content/index.asp
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Marty — May 13th, 2008, 10:11 am

Many thanks for the article. And now, finally, I can sleep tonight knowing why it is virtually impossible for me to find hats that fit! It’s my Danish cranium!

As if I needed yet another reason to visit my Bestefa’s homeland, your article reminded me of the steadfast, good-hearted people of Danmark. My grandmother still speaks of the first time Bestefa came back to visit with his American wife and how she was treated like a celebrity…hugs, kisses and flowers.

There is also something to be said about a people whose king (Christian X) wore a yellow star of David to show solidarity with his country’s Jews during WWII.

Now, I can only hope to get a hotel room in Copenhagen after your kind words! Your rock, Tim. Keep up the great work!
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The World’s Happiest Country - Denmark | Driftnik — May 13th, 2008, 6:00 pm

[...] at least one more reason to visit Denmark. Tim Ferriss of the 4 Hour Workweek gives us six more reasons to visit [...]
Ann McLaughlin — May 15th, 2008, 7:22 pm

Tim,
Bravo for a life well lived!
At NGOabroad, we believe service is the ultimate adventure; that the most intimate and often hilarious views of another culture come through service.

NGOabroad is a unique service that provides customized international volunteer options and helps people enter international humanitarian work.

“Ann’s Guide helped me land an IT job in Micronesia. …Ann has demonstrated an uncanny ability to get to the (spiritual?) heart of the question: “What is it YOU want to DO?” and then relate the answer to an impressive list of real and practical opportunities. What more does one need?!” Sid Merritt, UK
Reply
Birgitte — June 12th, 2008, 1:40 am

To Nana who asked for a Danish restaurant in California. Try checking out Solvang – you should be able to find something there.
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Happiest country in the world? Denmark - Page 4 — June 12th, 2008, 1:43 am

[...] author of The Four Hour Work Week and a proponent of capitalism, has an interesting blog about Denmark. Apparently the US ranks 23rd on the First Published Map of World Happiness. How can the Danes be [...]
thomas aagren — June 13th, 2008, 6:01 am

Now I have the explanation for the happiest country in the world – yesterday it was brought up in the danish news that 400.000 (out of 5 million population) used anti-depressives in 2007………………………………
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kasper — June 14th, 2008, 6:48 pm

hi.
as a dane living in england, i cant wait to move back, its a more relaxed life style in denmark then england. i come from a small town on the west coast (Ringkobing) its nothing like copenhagen its more like the real Denmark. most people i know are happy with life. not worried about money or work. just getting on with life with their family and friends. if anyone is to visit denmark go to jytland or fyn. its where the real danes live. and try the nice local beers there is more just carlsberg and tuborg.

ps. there is just one rule. dont think you are better then us, we dont think we are better then you.
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Tinna — June 27th, 2008, 9:53 am

That food you call typical Danish food, is disgusting and not something I would describe as typical Danish.
If you want to serve something that is typical Danish, it has to be meatballs with potatoes and brown sauce or fried pork with parsleysauce.

/Tinna – a dane.
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Ragnar — July 8th, 2008, 5:20 pm

It is just incredible how much talk a survey like this can generate. Remember, there is no accurate science behind the listing but of course it give clues. As I come from Iceland I must say that I am satisfied with the results but I would like to congratulate the Danish people – the rank is probably due to the “ligeglad” element.

Ragnar.
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Fonzie — July 13th, 2008, 6:58 am

Here are another three very good reasons to visit Denmark, the World’s happiest country:
1/ Carlsberg
2/ Tuborg
3/ Faxe
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Dana — July 23rd, 2008, 6:27 am

The heavy amount of suicides are due to elderly people living long lives and the lack of social stigma due to Denmark being rather non-religious.

Most suicide notes found with the elderly are about the end of physical suffering; nothing to do with social relationships or whatnot. I am curious how many are due to euthanasia, as it isn’t illegal in Denmark and many countries with high suicide rates .

http://www.a1b2c3.com/suilodge/facovr1a.htm
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April — August 7th, 2008, 2:41 am

Some thoughts and facts from a Dane:

Said: People in Denmark are the happiest in the world, because they don’t have high expectations. Answer: in that respect I don’t think we are different from everybody else. If we really are the happiest people in the world, I believe that the two main reasons must be that we generally feel safe and that we trust in each other and the system.
SAFE: we know that we will never have to starve, that we always will have a place to live, that our children can have whatever education they want for free, that we can be treated if we are sick for free, and that we have the freedom of speech. Some of the listed countries don’t have all those wonderful privileges; in worst case none of them.
TRUST: until recently I didn’t even bother to lock my doors no matter if I was away or at home. That has driven my English boyfriend crazy lots and lots of times, quote: “when we get back, a bunch of xxxxxx will have moved in, and your B&O will be gone, all your furniture and the spoons, knives and forks too!”. Due to gangs of organized thieves travelling to Denmark with no other purpose than stealing, I do lock my doors now. But many, especially in smaller towns, still don’t. We all have our neighbours, and it is very normal to keep an eye on each others houses. Also on the countryside you can find small unmanned stalls along the roads, where you can buy fresh vegetables and fruits, and a box where you pay for what you take. That’s trust.

Suicide. Last available figures from 2006: 643 persons committed suicide. Up to age 59 there were 281 persons, from age 60 to 74 there were 124 persons, and from age 75+ there were 238. Average for the past 5 years, 642, 8 people have committed suicide. Especially elderly men seems to be vulnerable, if they have been diagnosed with dementia or if they are widowed.

How to start a conversation: Danes are NOT reserved. If you want to start a conversation, you could ask about the Danish school system, health system, tourist attractions or whatever subject you consider being of general knowledge, but don’t be surprised if you have a bucket of questions in return, as many people will be curious to hear how life is in YOUR home country.

And yes, we love our beers, and yes, we love to party Fridays and Saturdays. Can’t argue against that, and frankly I don’t feel any need to….

Denmark is a nice country, but so is numerous and numerous of other countries in this world. Every country has its strong sides and not so strong sides; we are different from each other and that’s a very good reason for travelling!

April
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Gnawer — October 14th, 2008, 5:09 am

Well, I’m from Denmark and it’s pretty amusing to read some of these comments. The “happy list” isn’t a contest that really matters. lol So of course it’s not “rigged” in any way.

I think it’s true. We have lower expectations than Americans for example. We don’t have lower hopes and ambitions though. We aspire to get as good as we can but we just don’t start out with the “I will be number 1!” attitude so we don’t get that disappointed if we don’t make it to number 1.
You can see the same kind of attitude from a lot of the Europeans posting here. People are happy to be in the top 10 etc. while I suspect a lot of Americans would focus more on the disappointment of NOT being number 1.
The American dream is a great way of thinking as long as you remember to keep it realistic. Otherwise you’re going to get disappointed.

I saw some linking to the Danish “Jantelov” and that’s true. Some people have that mentality but I don’t really see it as a bad thing. All it really says is “You’re no better than anyone else.” and I see that as a healthy mentality. Why should anyone see themselves as superior to others? Some people try to argue that “Janteloven” is all about keeping others down but that’s simply not true because it applies to EVERYONE. Myself included. I’m not better than you and you’re not better than me.

I think that the Scandinavian countries are ranked high on the list because we don’t have to worry about a lot of things because of our socialist way of running things.
When you don’t have to worry about saving for college for your 3 kids, don’t have to worry about a corrupt health insurance etc. you get more time to focus on the things that you personally like. And that’s an important part of the Danish happiness, I think.

Our taxes are high but I think most Danes see it as a price they’re willing to pay for the security that it provides the population. Of course some of the new-rich people will cry for tax cuts but oddly enough (sarcasm) they didn’t cry about it during their free education.

Danish people don’t run around being all happy and whatnot in the streets. Hehe And we do tend to complain a lot. Mainly the whining is about our government but it’s actually ridiculously small problems we’re whining about. It’s not that I see us as bigger whiners than others but we just don’t have all the big issues… And people will never stop complaining about something no matter how good their life is. Hehe

Danes may seem a bit reserved but don’t let that stop you from talking to us. I actually think we have a “I won’t bother others and they won’t bother me..” kinda attitude sometimes but if someone asks us something, the vast majority will answer politely. If you’re in a bar or something, you can probably expect a longer conversation. A lot of people like to bash Bush these days (like everywhere else. lol) so you can always talk about him.
We’re not anti-American though. Not in general anyway. Of course we have some fools here but who doesn’t?
Some Americans I’ve talked to online seem to think that Europeans hate Americans because we make fun of Bush but that’s not the case at all. I don’t know anyone who hates USA but I know a lot of people who dislike Bush.

Someone mentioned the beer being expensive and that’s true. Denmark is not a cheap country to live in. Copenhagen is a lot more expensive than the rest of the country though. A small local bar would never charge 50 DKK for a beer for example. I actually live next to a small bar and a beer is like 15 DKK there so that’s quite a big difference.

About the good looking thing.. I guess it’s all relative. You have to remember that we’re used to people looking like this so we don’t go “WOW! OMG! WOW!” every time we walk down the street. Haha It’s just how we look here. If Americans like that, that’s great. lol But Danes would probably find some other nationality more attractive just because it’s “new and exciting” to us.
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Links and Thinks » April archive — October 16th, 2008, 11:16 am

[...] Six Reasons to Visit Denmark, the World’s Happiest Country No, I’m not getting paid by their tourism bureau — but hey, if any of you folks in Denmark want to throw some money my way, that would be great, Danes! [...]
Garry — January 20th, 2009, 7:21 pm

How about giving some tips on how to learn Danish. I’ve read this post,

http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/01/20/learning-language/

but seeing as you are a Dane it would be nice to have some help

København is a city that feels like home to me. I think it might be time for a move. Any help would be appreciated.
Reply
- Tim Ferriss — January 21st, 2009, 1:22 am
  
  @Garry,
  
  I’m afraid I don’t speak Danish! It’s easier for them to speak to me in near-flawless English than suffer though my Tarzan attempts at their language. Ah, well.
  
  Good luck!
  
  Tim
  Reply
Gnawer — February 11th, 2009, 1:04 pm

@Garry

If you really want to move to Denmark, I would suggest to just go for it and learn the language once you’re here.
Like Tim said, the vast majority of Danes speak English and it shouldn’t be hard getting by in Copenhagen using the English language.
The advantage of learning the Danish language in Denmark is the ability to practice it on a daily basis and listening to how people pronounce the different words. That’s a lot harder when learning from a book or using some online language website.
A lot of people claim that Danish is a hard language to learn and I think that’s mainly because of the lack of “rules” to remember. We have some of them but nothing like German etc. where they have easier ways for remembering when to use “Der, Die or Das” for example. Sometimes the Danish “rules” just seem to be “That’s just the way it is!”.
Another hard part could be that a lot of our words have one than one meaning.. Kinda like how the word for a female dog in English also has another meaning.
We also has some “silent letters” or whatever they’re called in English. I’m sure that doesn’t help either. Here’s an example:

A heart = Et hjerte. (We don’t pronounce the H)

An example of the “That’s just the way it is!” (if it really existed) rule could be:

A man = En mand. (We don’t pronounce the D)

Monday = Mandag. (We do pronounce the D)

Why is it like that? I’ve got no idea.. And I’m Danish. Hehe That’s why I think it’s a lot easier learning the language once you’re in Denmark. You can just ask people if you’re pronouncing the words correctly and listen to them pronouncing the words.
Of course some people may find your accent funny but don’t let that bother you. Most people just aren’t used to an American accent in the Danish language.. Just like people from New York or whatever might find the Danish accent funny.
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Garry — February 12th, 2009, 5:19 pm

thanks for those tips @gnawer. re: Most people just aren’t used to an American accent in the Danish language. I’m Scottish, so I’m pretty much used to people not understanding what i say
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Gnawer — February 13th, 2009, 5:40 am

@Garry

Oh, you’re Scottish. Hehe Well, I that shouldn’t be a problem either. People will probably just ask you, if they don’t understand what you’re saying. No big deal.

I used to play a game with a Scottish guy living in Aarhus (2nd largest city in Denmark) and he didn’t seem to have any problems even though he didn’t know more than a few Danish words.
And a lot of Danes actually find the Scottish and Irish accents amazingly cool. lol Myself included.
Scottish (and Irish) pubs are also popular in Denmark and a lot of them seem to hire English speakers as staff. Hehe “Highlander”, “Tartan Pub” etc. are pretty common names in that business.

It doesn’t really matter where people are from, I think. My advice would still be to move here and THEN learn the language. Well, having some English skills would probably be required. Or German might do in the southern part of Denmark.
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Garry — February 13th, 2009, 5:45 am

hahaha that scottish pub next to the square in copenhagen – what a laugh! They have a moose head on the wall. A moose! Last time i saw one of them in scotland was before the last ice age. Thanks for all your nice words of encouragement! Garry
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Marcus — March 19th, 2009, 10:05 am

If you’re looking for beauty in Denmark, I would recommend travelling to mid-Jutland (The “nose on Jutland It’s called Mols), northern Sjaelland or Lolland.
And for christs sake, do it in the summer. Our winters can go to hell! :[
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TonyW — June 1st, 2009, 11:10 am

I’m writing this message from Malmö, Sweden, after spending the last two days in Copenhagen and Roskilde. Indeed, Copenhagen is a very nice place, especially on a day like today when the temperature was just right and the sky is light for 18 hours. But hardly anyone has talked about the COST of being in Copenhagen or the other Scandinavian countries. At 5.2 DKK to the $US, a Coke Zero cost DKK 20.50 (with deposit) in a grocery store — that’s about $4 for a 0.5 liter bottle, smaller than the 20 oz bottles that cost $1.50 or so in the US. Standard bus fare, without a discounted pass, is the same price. It’s hard to find a men’s shirt for less than DKK 200, and the typical price is closer to DKK 500. I’ve never paid $100 for a shirt in my entire life. So the happy life in Denmark comes at a price. The good news for Danish residents is that their Danish taxes includes outstanding FREE health care that gives them a long life expectancy (the US is 42nd in recent studies of life expectancy). So maybe it’s worth it!
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Christiern Albertson — June 3rd, 2009, 2:43 pm

Thank you for promoting my hometown. Well, sort of, because I am a half and half, the other part being Icelandic. I grew up and lived in both places (Reykjavík and København) and while I never became wild about the former, I love the latter.

I left both countries over 50 years ago and moved to New York, where the jazz is. Haven’t regretted that move, but I do miss my old country (Denmark) and the food, which was very different and not as healthy back then. Ever had Gamle Ole on a rundstykke? Well, you haven’t lived.
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Gnawer — June 5th, 2009, 9:56 pm

@TonyW

I don’t know where you buy your Coke Zero but the price is insane even by Danish standards. Haha You paid like twice as much as I pay for a .5 L soda.
For $4 / 20 (ish) DKK you can have a 1.5 L soda. You must have bought your Coke Zero in some odd place or maybe they just ripped you off. :/

The price of clothing really depends on your wants and needs. Do you need a nice shirt for visiting restaurants or going clubbing? Or are you looking for a shirt to wear while fishing etc?
If you just need a random one color shirt for going to beach, playing sports or whatever, you can easily find 2 or 3 for 100 DKK ($20 ish) but if you need something nice and special it will obviously cost you more than that. Especially if the brand matters to you.

You’re right about Denmark being expensive though. Just not THAT expensive.
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Gnawer — June 5th, 2009, 10:01 pm

@Gnawer

I should probably add that the soda prices are for the big brands like Pepsi, Coke etc.
There are cheap “no name” brands for less than half of those prices. Just thought I’d clear up any confusion in advance..
Reply
mental_floss Blog » April 16th, 2008 — June 22nd, 2009, 3:09 am

[...] his ordeal, as captured by a security camera, which no one was monitoring. * Six Reasons to Visit Denmark, the World’s Happiest Country. Here’s one more. * The Stupidest Business Decisions in History. [...]
tamisier — August 8th, 2009, 3:02 am

France is the most visited country in the world. It has everything that you could ever want to see on your holidays: a great city like Paris, good beaches, more monuments than any other country, lovely nature, incredible mountain scenery; need I go on? France is also a very pleasant place to stay. It has good food, great wines and people enjoy their lives. And the best thing is, maybe apart from Paris, living in France does not have to be expensive. The North of France consists of the flatlands around the town of Lille and the Channel. The area will remind visitors in many ways of Belgium and the Netherlands. The Grand’ Place in Lille for example is a lot like that of Brussels.Paris, the city of light and its surroundings are one of the most visited areas. Paris is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities on the planet.

West of France is turned towards the Atlantic Coast. In the north Normandy & Brittany have rolling hills, sandy beaches and quiet little harbour towns. Normandy & Brittany have a more rugged coast and many neolithic sites. It has quite a distinct atmosphere from the rest of the country; you can still sense the Celtic origin of the region and its inhabitants.

The eastern part of France consists of the Alsace, Lorraine, Franche Comté and Burgundy regions. The landscape has rolling hills and many beautiful cities, such as Metz, Strasbourg, Nancy and Dijon. This region produces many famous wines, including magnificent pinot noirs and chardonnays valued the world over, as well as the famous “Yellow wine” from the Jura mountain vineyard.

The Center of France is in many ways the most quiet part of France. But the great treasure of this region is the Loire valley , with many great castles and beautiful towns. Chartres with its famous cathedral and Tours rate among the most beautiful French cities.

The Alps are great for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. Albertville, Grenoble and Chamonix have all hosted the Olympic games. But the Alps also have nice towns to visit, such as Chambéry, Annecy or Grenoble .

The South with its lovely nature, good food, roman ruins and of course the Riviera draws a lot of visitors every year. Towns like Orange, and Arles but also big cities like Marseille and Toulon are must sees. The Provence is dotted with pleasant small villages. In the South west of France the Dordogne is one of the most quintessential French regions. The valley is so pretty, the towns are so cute and the food is so good, that it is hard to believe that the people who live here go somewhere else for their holidays. The Languedoc has its own language and culture. In the south of the Languedoc you find the Pyrenees, a great mountain range separating France from Spain, where you can hike and ski. The towns of Toulouse and Montpellier are nice and the medieval town of Carcassone is a top destination.
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Jaio — September 15th, 2009, 12:58 am

Many people said to me that Danemark is also one of the boriest countries in the world but I don’t take care about. I think that, some people can be happy without a lot and others will never be happy even if they will be milionaires and plenty of health. So, what? Danish are happy with one or two sorts of cheese and french and italians are not happy with 100 sorts of cheese:-)
Danish need 5 sorts of wine for a meal to be happy and others can be happy just with water. This is subjective. About girls and women, I suggest amateurs to make a tour in the east countries like in Russia and Poland. The highest rate of beautiful girls are there. About bycicles, north of Belgium and Holland is certainly better than in any other countries. But is that a sign that people are happy? To have a look in the streets and whatching the faces of the inhabitants it would be a good idea but here too, you can say that someone is laughing for nothing and another one if he has a long face he is happy inside:-) Everything is subjective.
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Deep — September 16th, 2009, 7:10 am

I work in the US and I get 5 days off in a year.
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Jonesey — October 14th, 2009, 6:02 pm

Tim I went to Denmark last year and was completely blown away. Their cities are clean, the people are wonderful (and speak perfect English), the food was good and their public transportation was unlike anything in the United States. I’d move there RIGHT now if someone gave me a work visa.

Although they need to get off this krone nonsense and onto the Euro. A coke costs 65 kroner and a sandwich costs 167 kroner? Wtf?
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Gnawer — October 19th, 2009, 6:11 pm

@Jonesey

What are you talking about? Where did you buy that coke and sandwich? :O

A .5 liter Coke is 10-15 kroner and a sandwich is like 20-30 kroner. Well, that’s in all the “normal” shops. It sounds to me like you found the most expensive place in Denmark if you paid that much.

I agree about the Euro thing though. It would be a lot easier if we just got the Euro like most of our fellow European countries.
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Katrine — April 24th, 2010, 3:54 am

This is so funny! I live in Denmark, and just reading all of your comments is really fun. I don’t get how you can tell which country is the happiest, and I don’t feel happier than everyone else. But I must admit, this made me really happy, and I’m proud to be danish
I know we have good health care and free education, which gotta be a part of why we are the happiest country.

If you ever visit Copenhagen, then go to Tivoli, it’s wonderful
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Anna — June 14th, 2010, 7:19 am

Spent 7 years in Scandinavia – 4 in Sweden, 2 in Denmark and 1 in Norway and can honestly say that all countries make a wonderful long weekend or holiday but living there is a completely different ballgame. Not only is the climate awful, there is no value for money in what you pay and what you get, people are arrogant and stuckup (polite to your face but a wall apart) and once you have seen all the main tourist attractions, it’s really damn boring in all countries. Happiest people in the world? Wouldn’t “the most patriotic people in the world” be a better way to describe it? Every single Dane I have ever met anywhere in the world does a major spiel on how wonderful Denmark is …. why don’t most foreigners living there more than 10 years, most of the poor immigrant taxi drivers and most people not lured by “the most beautiful people”(??) agree?? Why does Denmark (and Scandinavia) have one of the highest divorce rates in the world and why do people spend so much money on how they look but then claim they don’t bother about how they look? Who are they trying to fool? I have met some of the world’s most vain people in Scandinavia …the Italians are vain too but at least you can have a laugh with them which is more than I can say for the “humorless” Scandinavians whose personality and character makes other nationalities shine in comparison. It’s a very special part of the world and I think that to love it, you have to have it in your genes! Or just stay for a long weekend!
And Tivoli, if you have already been there 5 times, doesn’t it get just a bit boring??? We’re not talking Central Park or the Pompidou Center here….
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Gnawer — July 1st, 2010, 2:05 pm

@Anna

That’s quite funny. I find patriotism here to be almost non-existent to be honest. I don’t know anyone who LOVES our flag, cries when they hear our national anthem or claims that “We’re number one. We’re number one!”

When the whole Mohammed drawing thing was going on, people from other countries seemed to take the burning of Danish flags much harder than anyone I know. So, they’re burning a piece of cloth.. Whoopeedoo! Big deal.

You’re right about the costs of living in Scandinavia though. It is expensive. But people can afford it.. If you work here, you’re not getting sweat shop salaries. Hehe Pretty much everyone here is part of a union of some sort so their absolute minimum wage is like 110 kroner per hour if you’re 18+ years old. That’s like $18,25 US.. And that’s the absolute minimum. I don’t actually know anyone with a wage that low. Even people working at bad rep places (in the US) like McDonalds are part of unions and get a wage typically better than those 110 kroner per hour.

And taxi drivers aren’t poor in Denmark either by the way. lol That must be an assumption based on your own country or something like that. There’s nothing wrong with being a taxi driver in Denmark. I know quite a few people who drive taxis here and they live in middle class houses just like the garbage men, teachers, Mcdonalds employees, bus drivers etc. etc.

I’m not really trying to defend Denmark as such as I have plenty of complaints about my country as well but it’s not THAT bad, so I just want to clear up a few things that I find misleading.

I haven’t spent much time in Norway or Sweden, so I won’t comment too much on those parts of your message..
People in Denmark can seem quite ‘reserved’ or whatever you want to call it. But most Danes really aren’t reserved at all. They simply don’t want to bother other people. If you go ask them for directions, talk to them in a bar or whatever, you have to be pretty damn unlucky if they mind answering your questions or talk to you. Assuming you’re being polite obviously.
We don’t go around smiling and laughing in the streets for no apparent reason, so if that’s what people are looking for, Denmark is not the place to go to. Rarely do people just start talking to you in the bus or whatever but that’s not arrogance or anything like that. I guess we just sort of assume that strangers want to be left alone.
So Danish (and Scandiavians in general probably) people are more ‘private’ than people in southern Europe for example. We tend to live our lives in a way that’s based around our homes. So if you make some friends in Denmark, you shouldn’t be surprised if you’re invited to their home for dinner or whatever. We do go out as well obviously but not nearly as much as in other parts of Europe. Southern Europeans almost seem to base their entire social life around certain bars, cafés etc.

Denmark (Scandinavia) is boring? Well, that depends on your personal taste I guess so I can’t really say “You’re wrong!” or anything like that.
Obviously there are fewer things going on in a country with 5.5 million people than in the entire US for example. Sometimes I do find Denmark a bit boring as well to be honest.
Boring doesn’t always have to be a bad thing though. ‘Good boring’ could be: No crazy earthquakes, no city destroying weather phenomenons, very few murders etc, general safety at all times (I’m not afraid to take a walk through my town at 3am for example), safe public transportation.. Just to name a few things that could be considered boring but actually are pluses in my opinion.

Denmark wouldn’t make a good setting for a post-apocalyptic action movie but I really don’t want to live in a setting like that. Then I prefer the safety of being bored once in a while.
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Christiern Albertson — July 1st, 2010, 2:25 pm

I like you post, Gnawer. Actually, while patriotism may be less evident in Denmark these days, it was very much there when I was a teenager in postwar Copenhagen. Many of us had a flag pin with CX (Christian den tiende) to show our allegiance. I had spent the war years in Reykjavík and New York, but I came back home in 1945, immediately after the war. Although I have lived in New York for 53 years, 48 of them as a US citizen, Denmark is a country I continue to love. One can be bored in every country, so I can’t take Anna’s contention too seriously. Usually, when people are bored it is their own doing. I had great times in Denmark, and some unusual times, too. Little by little, I am recollecting them on my blog http://stomp-off.blogspot.com

Chris
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Gnawer — July 22nd, 2010, 1:39 pm

@Christiern Albertson

Hehe thanks.

I would imagine Danes being very patriotic after the war.. I mean, who wouldn’t be patriotic after years of German occupation?
I’m not old enough to have lived through those years though (I’m 30) but it seems obvious to me that a lot of people would be (or at least pretend to be) very patriotic after an experience like that.

But these days I don’t really believe that Danes are all that patriotic. I mean, If an American (Just an example. Could be from any country obviously.) comes to Denmark and go around boasting about his ‘greatest nation in the world!’ or whatever, he/she should expect people to react. That’s not patriotism.. It’s just a reaction to an arrogant and nationalistic behavior.
I often see the usual ‘The grass is always greener…’ kinda attitude among Danes today.. Especially the younger generations. “Boohoo, Denmark is so boring!”, “The punk scene is so tiny in Denmark *whine*” or stuff like that. They complain a lot. Hehe Danes generally complain a lot to be honest. We’re really good at it.. Especially when it comes to criticizing our own country, politics, government, traditions, other Danes etc.
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- Malene — November 16th, 2012, 3:43 pm
  
  Hahaaa! That’s so true! Complain, complain, complain, can’t go a day in school without hearing “I’m tired”"I wanna go home” “This is so boring!” or somethng like that 20 times xD But then we’re self-ironic and just ironic – that’s a matter of fact – we love our own country but hate it just as much If a dane says to me “Denmark stinks” I just laugh and agree, when others say it i get a little bit offended..
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vassiu — August 13th, 2010, 12:40 am

hello friends,

I am from India presently, working in UAE as secondary school science teacher,

i just got my Danish Green Card planning to visit in the month of Nov 2010.

i would be glad if someone can throw light about teaching , life, housing,cost, weather in Denmark, i have read Danes are most friendly people, they are ready to help others,
it would be great to go and work there, plz let me know about it
thanks
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- Malene — November 16th, 2012, 3:37 pm
  
  It’s quite expensive I must confess, Our weather goes from about (I think)
  -7 to like 37, the last three winters have been very long and there were SOOO much snow.. but the winters before wasn’t that bad, right now we constantly hit the records n like “Warmest temperature at this date in 107 years” and “Most snow in 57 years” (random numbers) Most are friendly, but caution with new people, most of the danes loves English – like me :I
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Jorgen Uhlig — February 28th, 2011, 3:42 am

And now, Denmark had its third Oscar with Susanne Bier’s “In a Better World”
Original title in Danish: “Hævnen” in English: “The Revenge”.
Stick to Denmark, and thanks for a great website promoting Denmark.
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Stefan — April 18th, 2011, 12:46 pm

All three Scandinavian capitals are wonderful; Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo. They are quite different from each other, but equally nice. Copenhagen and Stockholm is bigger and more metropolitan, while is Oslo has closer to nature. All three are a little pricey, but there are also ways top get around that. Avoid taxis and go by public transport or rent a bike. Stay at apartments are prepare the meals yourself instead of expemsive restaurants.
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hmm — May 30th, 2011, 7:21 am

theres a world in difference between mainland & capital.
-faroes, vejle, århus ect check out some of the castle ruins
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Danetoo — September 14th, 2011, 11:13 am

I am from Denmark, and it is the most racist, petty and boring country in Europe.
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- dorveK — November 8th, 2011, 6:08 pm
  
  Well Danetoo, I deem there are a lot of contenders for those titles in Europe (I am French myself, and would rather have similar “kind words” for my “patrie”), but I have indeed heard such things from foreigners who lived in or visited Denmark… Furthermore, I notice that the “happiest” country in Europe are also amongst the most expensive, except Sweden; elsewhere i am not so sure poor people are so happy, hence perhaps the high suicide rates (combined with depressing cold, dark winters; even Sweden has a high suicide rate, I think).
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- Gnawer — November 30th, 2011, 3:10 pm
  
  Complete and utter BS. You’ve had a racist experience and now the entire country is labeled as a racist nation simply because you say so? Sigh..
  
  I am a left winger, so I have no reason to try to excuse the statements made by the the far right, but your generalization is so far off the mark, that I simply have to speak up.
  Obviously there are racists in Denmark, just like in any other nation on the planet. Calling Denmark “The most racist country..” just shows your own ignorance though. We’re not even close to being able to claim that title. It’s simply based on your own personal opinion/guess.. Nothing else.
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  - Cristian — December 31st, 2011, 9:39 am
    
    I have to confirm that Denmark is a racist country under the appearance of a friendly and jovial place to live. This is not only personal experience, as there are many people who know the truth. Immigrants are discriminated and the Denmark Nation is above all. But yeah, let’s keep the appearance clear and be proud to be “the happiest country in the world”. Give me a break…
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    - Malene — November 16th, 2012, 3:27 pm
      
      I don’t know a single racist in Denmark..
      At least, I’ve never heard that they are..
Roxana — February 22nd, 2012, 11:09 am

Denmark is for sure not a happy country.
They drink and smoke weed alot and this is maybe why the study revealed them as being happy.
You can find nice people, but because they lack curiosity, they don’t evolve by sharing knowledge with other cultures.

I got here for study and I’m dissapointed .
I believe the government ordered this review as Denmark being a happy country in order to get tourists, but the population was not prepared for foreigners.
The education is poor, they just advertise that as well only to get long term tourists.
If we calculate for 10 000 students * a minimum expenses 6 000 dkk / month that gives 8 055 120.12 Euros (10 656 923.71$ US Dollars) per month. And Denmark currently (2012) has aprox. 15 000 foreigner students and aprox. 7000 exchange (1 semester).Also this calculation does not include the university fee and neither the flits home-Dk.
So they make lots of money and the education is not as good as advertised.
Plus the population is not aware of the moves of the government and they tend to have the attitude as we would come here to occupy their country.
They were smart to implement this idea in order to get money from others, but is sad they made us come to study here and live the worst days of our lifes.
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- Malene — November 16th, 2012, 3:25 pm
  
  Well, thank you for making us all look the same,
  Yes, we drink alot but it’s not NEAR to be many who smoke weed..
  I was amazed by how exited he was for our country, to be honest, I don’t think it’s that good either but I love being here..
  We’ve just got the rights to be who we want. I’ve met so many nice people and there’s not a single one at my high school who’s getting bullied, we help each other in our class eventhough we’ve only been together for 3 months, we respect each other..
  So please don’t talk bad about a country and don’t speak about things you don’t know anything about..
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Bib — January 16th, 2014, 6:14 am

Denmark and Canada FTW
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