DIS Blog
10 ways I met people in Copenhagen
Joan (she/her, Smith College) knew she wanted to meet locals while living and studying in Copenhagen.
After a semester of making a concerted effort to get to know people in Denmark outside of DIS, she compiled a list of tips for making friends and building community.
While abroad in a completely new country, especially if it’s Denmark, making friends outside of your school can be challenging.
I have heard many people agree with this, and I want people to know that if you feel like you don’t have enough friends, you’re not alone. *Not to say that the more friends you have, the better.
So in this blog, I would like to share 10 ways I met people in Denmark outside of DIS!
The whole reason why I decided to write this was because Danish people are known to be reserved and not so open to the idea of making new friends because they already have the close group of friends they grew up with. Which is very valid. Honestly, there were moments when I felt that during the first month here. However, I have tried numerous ways to meet people (both Danish and international) outside of DIS and it has taught me that many people are willing to get to know you – it’s just a little hard to get those opportunities.
About the blogger
Hello! I’m Joan Kobayashi and I attend Smith College. My Core Courses at DIS were Graphic Design Foundations for fall 2024 and Interior Architecture Foundations for spring 2025.
My blog features a lot of food, heartwarming host family experiences, and honest writing about the emotions that come with living abroad. Curious? Read more at Joan’s view of the world.
I do believe that becoming good friends with someone isn’t something that’s forced – it usually happens naturally. Nevertheless, I hope this list is inspiring, especially for someone who feels like searching for more opportunities to encounter new people.
Roughly organized in the approachability
(more doable → maybe takes more effort)
1. Friends’ friends
2. Through residential networks
3. Volunteer at Studenterhuset
4. Language buddies with RDAM students
5. KU events (Japanese Cafe)
6. Sport clubs
7. ESN network
8. Dating apps
9. Knocking on people’s doors
10. Randomly talking to people
*A bit about my personality for reference: I consider myself both extroverted and introverted. I can talk more in a 1-1 setting but not so much in a big group. I do love meeting new people and learning about them. Regardless of whether you feel similarly or not, I hope this list can help in some kind of way. Now, let’s go into some details.
1. Friends’ friends
Friends have friends. And oftentimes, they are open to connecting you to somebody they know. Also, they would likely be down to chat with you or meet you since they know someone in common and thus trust you. Before coming to Denmark, I always asked everyone if they knew anybody in Denmark. This allowed me to get in touch with some students studying in Copenhagen and a family friend who kindly had coffee with me. They then become your friend’s friend to a friend.
2. Through residential networks
Especially in apartments like a Kollegium, where DIS students have Danish student housemates, it is easier to meet students from different backgrounds.
For a homestay, my family invited me to numerous family gatherings and they all have been such a nice cozy atmosphere. Also, I met not only the family members and friends of my host family, but also other homestay students’ hosts. I got to know a host sister of a good homestay student living really close to me, and when they held a party, I interacted with many Danish people my age and had a good hygge time.
3. Volunteer at Studenterhuset
I heard about the Studenterhuset before arrival and knew that I wanted to volunteer there.
It is a cafe for and by students, and you don’t get paid, but you get to learn how to make coffee/drinks, have discounts on top of the already cheap prices, attend events for free, and meet people from all over the world.
I had four shifts so far (three shifts per month required) and I met many interesting people while learning how to make a latte art. For one shift, I cooked for a community kitchen with five others and it was memorable cooking together as well as serving people. Such a nice event.
You can get tickets for 30 DKK! I believe they collect volunteers at the beginning of each semester and you have to attend an info session (it might have a waiting list depending on the popularity) but I highly recommend it.
4. Language buddies with RDAM students
DIS offers an opportunity to pair up with someone from the Royal Danish Academy of Music and be English buddies. There was a launch event at their campus, which was a rare opportunity to see their beautiful campus! I got paired with a Master’s student playing piano and we met for the first time last weekend at a park. A great way to meet someone in a totally different environment.
5. KU events (Japanese Cafe)
My friend told me about a weekly event at KU (University of Copenhagen) called Japanese Café (日本語カフェ) where students who are Japanese, learning Japanese, and interested in Japanese culture gather and mingle.
I visited the south campus and it was INCREDIBLE. The architecture was so interesting. The event was cool too, I got to chat with people in Japanese, English, and Danish! I’m sure more events at KU are open to any students.
6. Sport clubs
There are numerous sports clubs in Copenhagen. I know that a lot of DIS students (especially athletes) belong to teams and have found friends there.
I have only been to CPH Hucks, an ultimate frisbee club, once, where I met international players of different age groups and skills. Most clubs require a fee (which could be pretty expensive,) so you do have to commit.
7. ESN network
ESN (Erasmus Student Network) is one of the biggest non-profit international student organizations and they have networks all over the world. If you pay 129 DKK, you can attend their events for free or with a discount for the whole year.
They are usually also in Copenhagen for a short period so they are eager to meet people. In addition to general friend-making events, they also host long trips, hikes, trampoline park visits, and chill board game nights. On one board game night, I brought a banana bread and the people enjoyed it 🙂
8. Dating apps
I know, this might be controversial. However, I put it on here because it is one legitimate option.
I met a German student to go to the deer park and a Danish person on another occasion to visit a museum, and it was actually really nice. It might be scary for some, but if you have the courage, I would say go ahead and make an account. Alternatively, on apps like Bumble, there are “BFF” settings where you can match with people who also just want to make new friends without the intention of dating.
9. Knocking on people’s doors
Sounds unreal, but it actually worked. One day, I was walking around with a bunch of bread from the food loss app Too Good To Go (I got this much bread for 39 DKK which is only $5.8 or ¥830! Everyone should download this amazing app!)
I came home and decided to share some bread with the neighbors (partially because it didn’t fit in the freezer, but also because I wanted to have an excuse to say hello.) I knocked next door and a sweet couple welcomed me. We ended up talking for 30 minutes and they showed me their renovated apartment. They gave me two fresh corn in return, which warmed my heart.
10. Randomly talking to people
Okay, this might be the most intimidating option, but I want to let people know that it could work sometimes!
It was the same day – when I had so much bread. I sat at a park and ate one cinnamon snail. A young woman came to lay on the grass near me. I somehow felt this energy to go offer some bread, and she said sure, took a chocolate scone, and we started chatting. (I offered it to a man nearby as well but he declined, so it certainly depends on the person.)
We ended up exchanging contact information. In the end, she invited me to a friend’s gathering in October where she will bring a plus one that nobody else knows (what a great idea??). The whole interaction made me smile nonstop for the rest of the day. Maybe I’ll walk around with bread from now on.
