Tourists heading to Copenhagen often ask—can you pay with euro in Denmark? Or can you use euros in Denmark? The answer is, on one level, very simple; on another—as so often—the devil is in the details.
The Simple Answer
No.
In Denmark, you generally can’t pay in euros if we’re talking about everyday cash payments. Denmark’s official currency is the Danish krone; prices are posted in kroner, and that’s what’s accepted everywhere.
So if you come to Denmark, you’ll pay in Danish kroner here, not in euros.
How Can You Still Pay With Euro in Denmark?
As I said, the devil is in the details.
First, if your bank card is euro-based, of course it will be accepted just like any other bank card. You’ll see prices in kroner and the charge at payment time will also be in kroner, but technically you’re paying in euros.
Tip: If you pay a larger sum in Euro or other currency (e.g. USD, GBP), the POS terminal offer you instant conversion. Unarguably every situation is different, but in general it is not recommended to accept this. Your own bank's conversion rate is almost always better than what the shop is offering. You should opt for DKK (Danish kroner) in these situations.
Second, there are indeed places that take euros. The more touristy the area, and the more tourist-oriented the shop or restaurant, the higher the chance you can even pay cash in euros. But expect a custom exchange rate that will certainly be worse than the official one. That’s why I say: even then, use your bank card—Denmark is a nearly cashless country anyway.
Why Do Many People Think You Can Pay With Euro in Denmark?
Denmark is an EU member state and highly developed economically, so it seems logical to assume you can pay in euros here. But not every EU country has the euro as its official currency, and Denmark alone received a full opt-out from adopting it—so it’s an open question whether the common currency will ever become legal tender here.
Beyond that, unfortunately the internet is full of—how shall I put it—not entirely well-founded information on this topic, too. Some websites unfortunately still argue that you can pay with Euro in Denmark.
So let’s make it crystal clear again at the end. No. The euro is not Denmark’s official currency, which is why in the vast majority of cases you can’t pay with it.
