How to Stay Connected with Loved Ones from Denmark

Published on January 27, 2026 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Moving to or traveling in Denmark doesn’t mean cutting ties with family and friends. On the contrary: the country is highly connected, there are numerous mobile plans available, and Danes heavily use social media and video calling tools to stay in touch. Between local SIM cards, eSIMs, Wi-Fi, calling apps, and gift packages, there’s no shortage of options… provided you know which ones to choose, how to use them, and how to avoid nasty surprises (expensive bills, customs issues, poorly managed time differences, etc.).

A Highly-Connected Country: Your Best Ally for Staying Connected

The first advantage is the digital infrastructure. Out of approximately 6 million inhabitants, more than 5.95 million use the internet, an internet connection rate of about 99%. The number of active mobile connections even far exceeds the population, with more than 9 million active lines, corresponding to a penetration rate of about 152%. In short, practically everyone is reachable, on 4G or 5G.

To get an idea of the popularity of the main platforms, the key numbers can be summarized as follows:

This solid digital foundation is the ideal base for staying connected with your loved ones, wherever they are.

Choosing Between a Local SIM, eSIM, Roaming, or Pocket WiFi

To communicate from Denmark without blowing your budget, it all starts with choosing your connection method. Three main options stand out: a local SIM card (physical or eSIM), a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, and the international roaming offered by your home carrier.

Danish Prepaid SIM Card: The Simple and Economical Solution

Buying a local SIM card is often the best way to have mobile internet, calls, and SMS at a reasonable price. A Danish SIM allows you to:

– access high-speed mobile internet (4G/5G),

– make local calls,

– send SMS,

– and often benefit from EU-included roaming (“roam like at home”).

The price of a prepaid SIM usually ranges between 30 and 200 DKK, with basic plans around 49 DKK and more comprehensive packs up to 199 DKK. This roughly corresponds to a range of 4 to 31 US dollars.

The main players aren’t always the major “legacy” operators (TDC/YouSee, Telenor, Telia, 3) but rather their prepaid brands or MVNOs like Lebara or Lycamobile, very popular with travelers.

A comparative overview of some typical plans helps sort things out:

For a short stay, a prepaid pack like “30 to 60 GB” around 59–79 DKK is more than enough for VoIP calls, WhatsApp, video, etc.

Where to buy a SIM in Denmark

Once you’re there, getting a SIM card is very simple. You can find them:

For in-store purchase, you will generally be asked for: your ID, a valid payment method, and possibly proof of address.

– a valid passport or visa,

– sometimes a local address (hotel, friend, Airbnb),

– a registration form to fill out,

– a payment method (credit card or cash).

Your phone must also be unlocked and compatible with local frequencies (GSM 900/1800, UMTS 2100, LTE 800/1800/2100/2600).

eSIM: Stay Reachable on Your Number While Enjoying Local Internet

eSIMs are virtual SIM cards integrated into your smartphone. They avoid having to remove your original card, which is ideal for continuing to receive SMS from your bank or carrier while using a Danish data plan.

Many providers offer data plans for Denmark, for example:

Activation is simple: after purchasing online, you receive a QR code by email, to scan in your smartphone’s “Cellular Data” settings. No need to visit a store or provide as many documents as with a physical SIM.

Roaming from Your Home Carrier: Use with Caution

The temptation is great to leave your original SIM active and rely on roaming. Problem: depending on the carrier, each day of use abroad can cost between $4 and $16, or even more. On a two-week stay, the bill adds up quickly.

For staying in touch intensively (video calls, photo sharing, social media), this option is rarely worthwhile. It may suit a very short trip with minimal data usage, but in most cases, a local SIM or eSIM will be much more cost-effective.

Pocket WiFi: A Router in Your Pocket for Several Devices

Portable Wi-Fi hotspot devices (Pocket WiFi) allow sharing a 4G/5G connection between several devices: phone, tablet, computer. It’s practical for a group or family, but often more expensive than a simple prepaid SIM and less flexible than an eSIM.

The main advantage: centralizing the connection, especially if some phones are not unlocked or do not support eSIM.

Making the Most of Networks and Apps for Calls and Video

Once connected, the heart of communication today is through video calling apps. They offer live video, with no geographical limits, often for free as long as you use Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Choosing the Right App Based on Your Loved Ones

The best tool remains the one your loved ones already use. But depending on needs, some prove more suitable than others.

WhatsApp has become a global standard, with end-to-end encrypted voice and video calls, groups, very simple use, and no specific charges as long as you have data or Wi-Fi. Group video calls are limited to 8 participants, which is enough for a small family circle.

FaceTime is the natural choice if the whole family uses Apple devices. Integrated by default on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, it allows very stable video conversations, in groups of up to 32 people, over Wi‑Fi or data. For calling a grandmother with an iPad, it’s often the most intuitive.

Zoom and Google Meet have become established for more “organized” family gatherings: remote birthdays, parties, meetings of cousins scattered across continents. Zoom allows up to 100 participants in the free version, with a 40-minute limit for group calls, while Google Meet allows free 60-minute meetings with 100 people. For very large families, Telegram (up to 1,000 viewers in group video) or Line (up to 200 participants) can also be considered.

Other apps are tailored for more specific uses:

A summary table helps visualize the limits of free offers:

In practice, the key is to choose 1 or 2 “pivot” apps that everyone knows how to use, rather than scattering the family across 10 different tools.

Call Quality: Leveraging Denmark’s Excellent Networks

Danish networks support 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G technologies, with generally excellent coverage across the country. This translates to smooth high-definition video calls, especially with apps that adapt image quality to connection stability.

Most modern platforms integrate: collaboration tools, content management, data analysis, and mobile applications.

– HD video for a sharp image,

– noise reduction to eliminate background noise,

– dynamic bitrate adaptation to avoid dropouts.

To make the most of these capabilities, a few habits are useful: connect to Wi‑Fi when possible, avoid calling from an area with uncertain coverage (basement, very remote countryside), and if needed, reduce video quality in the app’s settings for more stability.

Managing the Time Difference: Turning a Constraint into a Routine

When you live in Denmark and your family is spread across North America, Africa, or Asia, finding the right time to call quickly becomes a puzzle. Research conducted on 14 families across 9 different time zones shows just how much the time difference complicates communication: work schedules that don’t overlap well, evenings falling in the middle of the night for the other, messages read with a 12-hour delay…

Yet, a constant emerges: most families still prefer synchronous exchanges (phone, video call) over asynchronous messages, because live conversation strengthens the feeling of presence and emotional closeness.

Establishing “Flexible Routines” Rather Than Rigid Appointments

Rather than scheduling every call like a work meeting, many families operate with implicit time slots: for example, “Sunday afternoon for me, Sunday morning for them”. These are windows of time where everyone knows, without having formally noted it, that it’s possible to call.

These windows are often:

– weekends, when work constraints are lower,

– morning for one / evening for the other in the case of a 10–12 hour difference (a combination often considered “comfortable”),

– harder to find when the difference is around 7–8 hours (one side is at work when the other is sleeping).

Being aware of each other’s schedules is crucial. This knowledge can come from past shared life, but can also be built over the weeks: “I know my mother goes shopping Saturday morning, so I avoid it,” “my brother finishes work around 6 p.m., so I call him more like 6:30 p.m.”.

School holidays and public holidays in Denmark also play a role: in summer, many people leave for several weeks (especially between weeks 28 and 31); at Christmas or Easter, schedules completely change.

Tools to Tame Time Zones

To make this more concrete, conversion and time visualization tools are valuable. Sites like Time and Date or World Time Buddy, or services like dateful.com, allow you to see at a glance the possible overlapping schedules between, for example, Copenhagen, Montreal, and Nairobi.

Discussing everyone’s preferences openly (call length, preferred days, tolerance for late-night messages, etc.) helps avoid frustration: some don’t like being called spontaneously, others hate overly formal calls. A short informal “family communication charter” can clarify the rules.

Finally, it’s essential to integrate the psychological dimension: accepting that a message goes unanswered for several hours is not a lack of love, but often just a reflection of the time difference and everyone’s daily life.

Don’t Forget Less-Connected Loved Ones or Those Without Internet

Not everyone has access to fiber or is comfortable with apps. Then there remain three main levers: traditional international calls, the postal service, and gifts sent by package.

Calling Any Phone, Without the Other Person Needing Internet

Services like mytello, BOSS Revolution, Yolla, KeepCalling, or Talk360 were designed precisely for this: you call from your smartphone (via an app or an access number), and the other person answers on their landline or mobile phone without needing to be connected.

The advantages are clear:

– no need for the person on the other end to install an app,

– ability to call landlines in poorly or unconnected regions,

– often very competitive rates compared to traditional carriers.

Example rates give an idea: KeepCalling charges, for example, per minute to Denmark around 1.1 US cents in some packs, BOSS Revolution announces about 1.6 cents per minute to Danish landlines and 5 cents to mobiles, mytello charges a few øre (cents) to countries like Poland (0.09 DKK / min) or Angola (0.51 DKK / min) and more to more difficult destinations like Cuba or Papua New Guinea.

Writing and Sending Packages: Understanding the Danish Postal Service and Customs

Even in the age of high-definition video, a handwritten letter or a surprise package remain powerful gestures to maintain emotional bonds. In Denmark, however, the postal landscape is changing rapidly: PostNord Danmark, the historic operator founded in 1624, has seen its mail volume drop from 1.4 billion letters in 2000 to about 110 million in 2024. The average is now about one paper letter received per person per month. The country even abolished its universal postal service obligation in 2024, and PostNord has announced the gradual cessation of letter delivery, to focus on packages. Another company, DAO, is expected to take over for mail.

Postage rates give an idea of the cost:

– about 33 DKK for a domestic letter,

– 50 DKK for an international letter.

– a precise description of the items,

– their actual value,

– the mention “gift” as the reason for export.

For packages coming from outside the EU to Denmark, there is a threshold of 360 DKK: below this, customs duties and VAT (25%) do not apply; above, they are in principle due, also taking into account shipping costs. Specific exceptions and duties apply for alcohol, tobacco, perfumes.

In practice, it is usually the carrier who calculates and advances duties and taxes, then potentially bills the recipient with administrative fees. It is therefore preferable to warn your loved ones if you have a package sent to them from a non-EU country, to avoid them being unpleasantly surprised by having to pay to receive their gift.

For packages, specialized companies like MBE Denmark (Mail Boxes Etc.), GiftBasketsOverseas, or Walwater Gifts simplify the task: they handle packaging, transport, customs formalities, and final delivery to the Danish recipient, generally for an extra cost on the order of 15 to 25% compared to a “homemade” shipment. The advantage is more reliable logistics and shorter delivery times (often 1 to 3 business days).

Sometimes Preferring Local or Digital Solutions

To avoid customs hurdles, two alternatives are particularly practical:

– gift cards, physical or digital, sent by email or directly from a Danish website. They arrive instantly, with no risk of being held at the border;

– purchases from local businesses (online) delivered directly to your loved ones’ address in Denmark. In this case, no customs formalities or import surcharges for the recipient.

These options don’t have the charm of a handmade package, but they guarantee the gesture arrives at its destination.

Enjoying Danish Holiday Culture to Strengthen Bonds

Danes place great importance on family celebrations and moments of conviviality: Christmas (Jul), Easter, Sankt Hans Aften (Saint John’s Eve with bonfires on June 23), Mortens Aften in November, not to mention Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc. These dates are as many opportunities to connect via video call, send a video message, a package, or a card.

Organizing a video call for the Danish Christmas Eve (celebrated mainly on the evening of the 24th) or for New Year’s (with the traditional televised monarch’s speech at 6 p.m.) allows the family abroad to share these key moments. Just schedule the time considering the time difference and holiday meals.

Social Media: Maintaining the Thread Day-to-Day

With one of the highest social media usage rates in the European Union (about 84% of the population, compared to 58% on average in the EU), Denmark is ideal ground for maintaining bonds day by day.

Facebook remains a pivot for many families, with over 3.4 million users in the country, even if its user base has started to slightly decline since 2021. Sharing photos, commenting on each other’s news, using private family groups: all small touches that maintain closeness.

An interesting point: the gender distribution is fairly balanced on most platforms (Facebook, YouTube, Messenger), but some draw a more female audience (Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram), which can translate to higher adoption among mothers, aunts, sisters, or cousins.

The key here is to choose the platforms already used by your family and to be active there regularly: a message from time to time, a few photos, a reaction to others’ posts. These micro-interactions, even very brief, have a real effect on the feeling of closeness.

Living Well with Distance: Some Principles for Making Tools Truly Serve Relationships

All these technical means – SIMs, eSIMs, video calling apps, social media, packages – only make sense if they serve an intention: to stay present in others’ lives, despite the distance. Research on long-distance family relationships shows that:

But we shouldn’t turn communication into a constraint. A realistic but maintained rhythm is better (e.g., one video call per week, a few written messages in between) than a promise of daily contact impossible to keep.

In Denmark, the relationship with time is strongly marked by work-life balance. Many companies close or slow down during certain holiday periods, and Danes value their free time. Integrating this culture can help establish communication moments that respect everyone’s rhythms, rather than trying to fit calls into overly tight schedules.

In Summary: Building Your “Connection Ecosystem” from Denmark

Staying in touch with loved ones from Denmark starts with a solid technical foundation: a local SIM or eSIM to avoid expensive roaming, one or two video calling apps that everyone knows how to use, and possibly an international calling service for those without a smartphone or internet.

Around this foundation, the next steps are:

With this in place, the geographical distance lessens: whether in Copenhagen, Aarhus, or a small Jutland village, it becomes possible to see a child’s first steps via video, celebrate a birthday online, or simply share a morning coffee with a parent hundreds or thousands of kilometers away.

Denmark, thanks to its very high connectivity, offers all the conditions for these bonds to not only be maintained, but sometimes even strengthened.

Cyril Jarnias

Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.

On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.

Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.

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