Denmark’s Tourism Boom, X Factor & Bike Rules: LWID S6E3

Tourism, bike rules & international talent: Kalpita and Julia discuss Denmark’s record tourism numbers, the debate over shared e-bikes in Copenhagen, the growing international diversity of X Factor winners, and whether public-facing professionals can still expect private lives, with plenty of relevance for internationals navigating Danish culture and everyday life. 

Topics

(00:58) Denmark’s Tourism Boom

(04:56) E-Bikes & Bike Rules

(12:21) International X Factor Winners

(17:06) Privacy & Public Professions

Our team:

• Cohosts: Kalpita - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalpitabhosale/ and Julia - https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuliia-d-22311648/
• Podcast Operational Manager: Bence - www.linkedin.com/in/bence-bodogan-b3830b5b
• Audio Editor: Marleen - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marleen-vogel/
• Graphic Designer: Sariah - www.linkedin.com/in/sariah-romero
• YouTube: Ahmet - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmet-akkoc/ 
• Transcript Editors: Melissa - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissalarson1/

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Transcript

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Kalpita: Hello, everybody. Welcome to Last Week in Denmark podcast. This is season six, episode three. Tourists, e-bikes, X Factor winners, and a topless priest; Denmark is giving us plenty to talk about this week. Tourism is booming, Copenhagen's bike lanes are getting crowded, and young people with international roots are taking center stage. But how private can your private life really be when a profession puts you in the public eye? From tourists on two wheels, to boundaries beyond the workplace, let's get into this week's stories. I'm Kalpita, you've heard me before, and I have a new co-host, Julia. Welcome, Julia. How are you?

Julia: Hey there! I'm excited to be here today with you, and I think that's a bunch of interesting topics for today.

Kalpita: Oh, absolutely. Let's begin with the top story of tourism. Denmark has recorded its best ever first half of the year for tourism. Around 26 million overnight stays were registered between January and June 2026, two percent more than last year. Almost all the growth came from international visitors. Tourists accounted for 505,000 of the 565,000 additional overnight stays. Germany remains, by far, Denmark's tourism market, with Norway, Sweden, and Netherlands among the major sources of visitors. Hotels did particularly well, recording almost half a million additional nights, that's plus five percent, while holiday centers grew by nine percent. Have you been a tourist in Denmark, Julia?

Julia: Yes, I think first time was in 2019 when I first landed in Copenhagen. But afterwards, almost straight after, I ended up on a small kind of island, Nykøbing Mors, which is a very rural part of Denmark. And I am really happy that happened that way because it gave me the chance to meet real Denmark first. 

Kalpita: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, absolutely. I mean, the real charm of Denmark is in its countryside. I mean, the picturesque is... it's amazing. But did you stay in a hotel, or how was your experience in Nykøbing?

Julia: No, actually I visited my ex-boyfriend back then, so I just stayed at his place. Yeah.

Kalpita: Oh, so you did Denmark as a local, local.

Julia: Yeah, kind of. [Laughs]

Kalpita: [Laughs] That must have been an amazing experience. Well, I was in the countryside this holiday season, and I saw many German camper vans as well. So I'm not surprised that there are so many tourists that come from Germany. And, of course, they're close to Denmark, so it makes sense that we have more German tourists. And also Sweden and Norway makes sense as well. Netherlands was an interesting country to be listed in there. I know now is the season where most Asian tourists come to visit Denmark. They enjoy the cool weather. Also, autumn is when the weather is just so, so delightful.

Julia: I didn't know that, but I do want to share some places that I find interesting because I didn't know about them before. Have you heard about something called skattejagten or treasure hunt?

Kalpita: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Julia: Have you tried it?

Kalpita: Not in Denmark, but I've tried treasure hunting many times before.

Julia: Mm-hmm. So I found out recently that it's kind of promoted from kommune or municipality. When you go, for example, to the webpage of Kystlandet, it's the coastal parts of the country, you can find an opportunity to do this kind of a quiz, and it's free. And then you discover different places in Denmark by boat, by hiking, and then, in the end, you receive a small prize. So I think it's very exciting experience to try, and I would really love to do that.

Kalpita: Oh, that's amazing. I didn't know that. What was the website again?

Julia: It's called Destination Kystlandet, like Destination Coastline. It's for Horsens, Odder, og Hedensted, I think, municipalities.

Kalpita: Yeah. Okay. Horsens is easy to remember, and then it's basically “destination kyst,” so coastline destination. Amazing. I think I'm going to take that test after this, and if any one of our listeners take that test, you should please drop your results in the comments. That also brings me to our next topic, which is about e-bikes in Denmark and how it's becoming a thing with tourists. Well, Denmark loves tourists while the rest of Europe is having a debate about it. Copenhagen wants to rein in tourists on shared e-bikes. With around 13,000 shared e-bikes currently on the streets, politicians and cycling and tourism organisations have agreed that action is needed before next summer. Proposals include fewer shared bikes and better information about Danish cycling rules. Earlier this week, Lord Mayor Sisse Marie Welling even floated the idea of a short cycling license for tourists before renting a bike. For now, these are proposals rather than new rules. The debate follows growing frustration with inexperienced visitors on Copenhagen's busy cycling lanes. Now, I'm not a cyclist, so it's hard for me to share their frustration, but I do understand. How about you?

Julia: I am cycling, not from so long ago, but I think as I live in Aarhus, Aarhus and Copenhagen are quite different because in Copenhagen it's, like, scary [laughs] both to cycle and to be a tourist [laughs] on bike lane.

Kalpita: Oh, absolutely.

Julia: Yeah, but regarding this new rules or new proposals about making a license or test; from one side I can agree that it is necessary for safety and for everyday life because people still need to get to work by bikes. But from the other side, if I think of me going to vacation, let's say to Amsterdam, and then trying to rent a bike and finding out I need to do some test or exam, maybe it wouldn't be so fun because people on holiday, they usually want to just chill, relax, and no tests, no exams, you know?

Kalpita: Oh yeah, absolutely. I mean that would actually be good for our public transport, so people would actually use our buses and trains. We will not get into DSB and their fiasco right now. But I mean, I totally agree. Being a tourist, you just want to have a good time, and if that means that you have to give an exam or also apply for a license or something like that, that's a bit in the way of having a good time, and it's not also very guest-friendly.

Julia: Yeah.

Kalpita: But I do understand the frustration of Copenhageners especially, because the bike lanes here are very busy. Even if there are tourists, people are trying to get to work, and the tourists are trying to enjoy the busy lanes within work hours. And that's not fun for anyone who's just trying to get through their already frustrating day.

Julia: Exactly.

Kalpita: Yeah. Having said that though, I do see the need for some kind of rules and boundaries. There are tourist agents that you see out in the streets, if you've been to Copenhagen during tourist season, summer especially. They are trying to teach everybody who's interested in riding a bike at least the basic traffic rules. At the same time, actions that people need to take to make sure that they're not in the way of people. 

Julia: Are they volunteers or…?

Kalpita: No, the agents are volunteers, but this is tourists getting a proper… not proper, but they're getting a casual training of what the rules are if you want to stop, if you want to turn, and stuff like that.

Julia: Yeah.

Kalpita: What do you think about biking?

Julia: Yeah, actually, I think that it's so different in Copenhagen. It seems like they have an unwritten code, and it's almost a system. And if you break that code, you can immediately tell that from the reaction of the person behind you.

Kalpita: Yeah, yeah. You will never see a Copenhagener being rude other than if you've broken bike rules, for sure.

Julia: Yeah, you don't even need words; just one very Danish look.

Kalpita: [Laughs] Yeah. Or you'll get a flying flag from them.

Julia: Yeah, or the Danish death stare.

Kalpita: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure.

Julia: Yeah, but I think it's fair enough with this proposal. For me, it's just signals about the fact that government takes care of people and tries to structure everything. Because, for example, in Ukraine, it's a bit different. In Ukraine, cars are still dominating, which does not modulate-

Kalpita: Yeah.

Julia: -people at all to use bikes. And here in Denmark, I think it's really good that they care, and that they have this separate lines for cyclists.

Kalpita: Well I mean, where I come from in India, we don't have any bike rules either. We don't use bicycles. Of course, people ride bicycles, but it's a very four-wheeler and two-wheeler kind of country. And I think it's especially also why people visit Denmark, because it's a biking country. And bike rules need to be followed if you want to stay safe on the streets. We have more bikes on the streets than cars or any other vehicle. So I think it's an appeal to everyone who visits Copenhagen, and Aarhus, and other bigger cities in Denmark that you know biking rules and you just abreast yourself with what's right and wrong and stay in your lane, basically, because you want to have a good time and having local being angry at you and upset with you is not a good time either. You want to be able to enjoy it and then you don't want a dampener on your day.

Julia: Yeah. Exactly.

Kalpita: Yeah.

Julia: So where do you think should the responsibility lie? With tourists, with the companies renting out the bikes, or with the city?

[Music Begins]

Fionn: Did you know that the Last Week in Denmark newsletter is available in eight languages? Hey there, this is Fionn from the Last Week in Denmark podcast, and every week you guys are tuning in to hear me and my fellow cohosts talk about the top news of the week in English. But let's be real. We're all internationals, so not only are you speaking English every day, you're probably also speaking a bit of Danish. But you've probably also got your own native language as well, like the multilingual master you are. So why not treat yourself to the luxury of being able to read Danish news each week in your own native language? So head on over to lastweekdk.substack.com. That's lastweekdk.substack.com, and sign up for our newsletter delivered to you every single Sunday.

[Music Ends]

Kalpita: I think with tourists for sure. I mean, you have to be a responsible tourist, right? But at the same time, I think travel agents, and companies, and people who are hosting internationals can also do a bit of charity by sharing rules and informing their guests and friends of what goes and what doesn't go in Copenhagen bike lanes, and the rest of Denmark for that matter.

Julia: Yeah.

Kalpita: But you do not need to know the rules if you enjoy X Factor because X Factor is increasingly having international faces. This year the winner is 16-year-old Hugo Almeida from Sønderborg, comes from an Indian family and moved to Denmark as a child. He follows 2025 winner, Leslie Nguyen. I'm sorry if I'm saying that name incorrectly, but she's from Esbjerg, whose parents come to Denmark from Vietnam, and 2024 winner, Helene Frank, who grew up in a Danish minority in Germany. They aren't the first. In 2016, sisters, Anilde and Azilda Kaputu, who came to Denmark as child refugees from Angola, won the competition as the duo, Embrace. Denmark's biggest talent show has quite literally been reflecting an increasing diverse in Denmark. I'm very, very sorry if I have said those names incorrectly. Please forgive me. Are you into X Factor or any kind of live TV?

Julia: No, to be honest, but I really think that it's interesting that if you look at the winners over the years, you can almost see a little picture of how Danish society itself is changing.

Kalpita: Oh yeah, absolutely. You hit the nail on its head that the society is changing, and we're seeing more and more international faces, right from entertainment, to live TV like X Factor, and also in business, which is incredible. Even when we talk in the big picture where we say Danes do not welcome internationals, and internationals are having a great time, which is true in its own respect. At the same time, this encouragement for international talent and internationals in all walks of life coming up in Denmark and making a mark is incredible to see because it gives hope for people who are struggling now, and it also creates a space to believe that it is possible to be successful, and to do what one likes, and find a space in Denmark. It's just a matter of making your space. 

Julia: And maybe even represent Denmark as these guys did.

Kalpita: Oh yeah, absolutely. And I mean competition, right? And even in sport, we are seeing that and in other competitive events across Denmark as well. And especially in innovation, science, and nature as well. We see a lot of internationals contributing to Denmark and its economy, which is booming by the way, which is also one of the talks of the week. If you're not following the news, we are supposed to be one of the largest growing economies in Europe, which is incredible. One might even think that, you know, what does X Factor have to do with it? It's just the face of how international Denmark is and is continuing to become. And I think it's really nice to be in the middle of the year and see this sort of progress, not just in economy, but also in, in international fronts where international faces from Denmark are being represented.

Julia: Yeah. And is X Factor also popular in your country?

Kalpita: Oh, yeah! Oh my God, absolutely. People are crazy about it. And it makes sense that an Indian has ultimately won this because, yay India! We're so many, and we are so talented. There are so many competitive live shows that are popular back in India, and X Factor is one of it, and we are very big on music, and, and drama, and films, entertainment. But we're also equally intelligent. We're known for our math skills and science skills as well. So I'm very delighted and a little proud that India was also in some small, indirect way represented through this win. But having said that, I think I'm just simply a cheerleader for any international who's, you know, getting that space, and is able to prove themselves, and make this big door open and, and prove that, you know, there is a glass ceiling, but the glass ceiling only exists if you make it happen.

Julia: Yeah, interesting because now I'm… you convinced me to watch, to actually watch an episode because, because of these people, because they are internationals, and I think it would be useful for me, and also in terms of learning Danish, because I think it's a good way to understand Danish culture and in a real situations like this.

Kalpita: Oh yeah, absolutely. I mean, anything that helps you understand the language and the culture really. You know, like people say you should watch Matador or something like that, but why not watch shows that might actually entertain you?

Julia: Yeah.

Kalpita: So, yeah. 

Julia: Exactly.

Kalpita: Which brings us to the last topic of this conversation, and what an interesting one we have.

Julia: Mm-hmm. [Laughs]

Kalpita: How private can your private life really be when you work in a public-facing profession? It's been a dinner table conversation, I'm sure, in many families because a priest from Svendborg sparked a debate after people recognised her while she was sunbathing topless on a beach. The priest says, yeah, she deliberately travelled elsewhere so she could relax without worrying about people meeting her from her congregation, which makes sense, and that's fair. But she ended up being approached by a family that included former confirmation students. She says the encounter was friendly, but it left her asking where the boundary lies between being yourself and always representing your profession. Now, I must admit, I have always been fascinated if I saw my school teacher in the supermarket or I met a… I don't know, a sports trainer at a movie or something like that. So it is fascinating, although I don't know if that fascination is okay to cross private boundaries. What do you think?

Julia: It's interesting question because in Ukraine, where I'm from, it's very much complicated because if you're a teacher, for example, and you are spotted naked on the beach, it's completely… it would be a loud story, and yeah, you probably also, possibly can be fired. It's… I think it’s like that.

Kalpita: Oh my God.

Julia: Yeah, which is not fair at all.

Kalpita: Yeah, I totally get it. I mean, in India this would be scandalous. It would make front page news, and the teacher will not just get fired, but, you know, it, it'll be a huge, huge scandal, and everybody will gossip about it. 

Julia: Yeah, it's like, “oh my God, she's sunbathing topless. How dare she!?”

Kalpita: Yeah. “How could she?!” Yeah, exactly! But then again, we're in the West, and in Denmark that would be pretty normal. And that's what I like about Denmark is that, you know, nothing is too shocking. You can be yourself, and you can live your life in your own terms. But I suppose it doesn't help that you're a priest, and you actually preach in a church, and you… you hope that people follow the Bible. Not that the Bible says you can't bathe topless on a beach away from your parish or your congregation. Having said that, there are times when, you know, it's a personal choice, and people will talk about you, no matter what. Whether you are topless on a beach, or you are casually browsing a supermarket aisle of chips, and all your friends are going to Pilates and you're not. So everyone has some or the other reason to talk about you, and it's just really, really sad that this has to make the news. Because I mean, we live in the 21st century. It's 2026. What is going on?

Julia: Yeah, exactly. I think it's mostly common sense because, for example, yeah, a priest is still a person. A teacher is also still a person. Even a politician is still a person. So for me, personally, I think it's about intention. If you are, for example, a teacher, and you go inappropriately, you wear inappropriate clothes to your classroom, or you deliberately take off your clothes on the street, yeah, that's your intention, and that's not so good, I think. But when you are acting as a normal person, and you deliberately go somewhere far away just to be yourself, let me be, you know, and then something like this happens. Then I think it's just one thing at a time, so…

Kalpita: Yeah.

Julia: Yeah.

Kalpita: Yeah. You know, we are Denmark, in Denmark, we are a country that respects personal boundaries. We are very individualistic as well, and you see that in... I mean, people from outside, big, big names are moving to Denmark because we respect boundaries, and we are private over here. Celebrities have moved. A lot of popular other people from other walks of life have moved to Denmark because Denmark is a place where your personal boundaries are respected, you have privacy, and people let you be. There are so many celebrities who visit Copenhagen on holidays. Like, you'll see Dua Lipa and Callum Turner, who's come to Denmark so many times. They've been photographed and posted online, but nobody tends to bother them. There are other celebrities who come perform in Denmark, also in smaller towns, they come to perform, and they are not bothered. You, you will never hear that somebody was bothered because of the locals, or people approaching, or people being rude or something like that. So just within Denmark, if something like that is becoming a point of conversation, then I think we really need to consider what our values are, because this is not it. But that also brings me back to the point of, you know, tourists visiting Denmark and, you know, these boundaries, not just traffic boundaries, but also other boundaries need to be respected. There are, for example, in, I think this was two to three years ago, there's this Gothic church in Copenhagen called the Grundtvigs Kirke, which is known for its Gothic architecture, and it's become very, very popular and especially popular with Asian tourists. They had to close the church because there are so many tourists, and they do not respect the services going on, so, especially if they're at funerals, and they'll ask people to move so they can take pictures. So that's not what we are about, and I'm very proud of being part of the Danish community because we respect privacy the way we do.

Julia: Yeah. I think that's a very important point.

Kalpita: On that note we will wrap up this episode. Thank you, Julia, for joining us. And if you, our dear listeners, have any feedback, any points you would like to add, especially if you've been a tourist and broken any bike rules or had a strange experience, please do drop your comments and feel free to write to us. Thank you very much for listening to us. We spoke about record high tourists visiting Denmark…

Julia: X Factor winners…

Kalpita: And Copenhagen e-bikes.

Julia: And a topless priest!

Kalpita: [Laughs] Yeah. 

Julia: Quite a journey. [Laughs]

Kalpita: Yeah, absolutely. And next time, we'll come with something more interesting for you to listen to it. Stay tuned. Bye!

Julia: Yeah. Bye!