Denmark has surprisingly affordable mobile data for a country that's expensive in almost every other way. The catch is that buying a local SIM card as a tourist is more complicated than it should be.
There are no tourist SIM counters at the airport, activation you mostly have to figure out yourself, and very few stores actually stocked for visitors. After going through all of it, I keep coming back to eSIMs for shorter trips where I'd rather spend my first hour in Copenhagen doing something other than hunting for a 7-Eleven.
The best SIM card for Denmark is TDC, voted Denmark's best mobile network for the 10th year in a row, and the most reliable option if you're heading outside major cities. Local SIMs across all three carriers are significantly cheaper than international eSIMs, but require in-person activation.
Quick verdict: If you're traveling to Denmark and expect to use heavy data for maps, social media, and video calls, TDC is your safest bet for coverage, especially outside Copenhagen. For budget travelers who'll mostly be in the city, Telenor's 30GB plan at 169 DKK (~$23/month) is solid value with free calls included.
| Provider | Price (from) | Data | Validity | Network coverage | Where to buy | Best for |
| TDC | ~$15 | 10GB | 30 days | Best nationwide, 99% 5G coverage | TDC stores, 7-Eleven, online | Most travelers, rural areas |
| Telenor | ~$23 | 30GB | 31 days | Strong nationwide, 70+ country roaming | Telenor stores, online | City travelers, good value |
| Telia | ~$18 | 16GB | 31 days | Strong in cities, reliable EU roaming | Telia stores, online | Short stays, EU travelers |
One thing worth knowing upfront: buying a prepaid SIM card in Denmark is more complicated than most people expect, you can only buy tourist SIM cards in convenience stores or supermarkets, and you'll need to activate them yourself.
None of the major carriers have tourist SIM counters at Copenhagen Airport the way you'd find in France or Spain.
While you're prepping for the trip, it's worth checking what plug types are used in Denmark as most non-European visitors need an adapter.
These are the three main carriers worth considering as a tourist. TDC leads on coverage and network quality, Telenor wins on data value and EU roaming, and Telia is a reliable option for shorter stays or EU travel.
Exact plan pricing changes regularly, so always confirm current offerings in-store or on each carrier's official site before buying.
TDC is Denmark's oldest and most established mobile operator, and the numbers back it up. The Danish Technological Institute concluded it's the best in Denmark for the 10th year in a row, with 99% 5G population coverage (the only telco in Denmark to achieve a fully-fledged 5G network at that scale).
For tourists, that means a reliable signal whether you're in Copenhagen's city center, driving through Jutland, or cycling between villages.I picked up a TDC SIM on my last trip and used it from Copenhagen all the way to Aarhus, and it didn't drop to 3G once.
| Duration | Data | Price (USD) | Notes |
| 30 days | 10GB | ~$15 | Data-only, no calls |
| 30 days | 20GB | ~$20 | Data-only |
| 30 days | Unlimited | ~$39 | Full 5G speeds |
Quick verdict: TDC is the safest all-around choice for tourists in Denmark, especially if you're leaving Copenhagen. The 10GB plan works fine for a week-long trip, and the unlimited plan is worth it for longer stays or heavy data users.
Telenor is Denmark's second-largest carrier and offers some of the best data-to-price ratios in the country. Their 30GB plan at 169 DKK (~$23/month) includes free calls, SMS, and roaming in 70+ countries, which is genuinely useful if Denmark is part of a bigger Scandinavian trip.
Coverage is strong nationwide and Telenor's network covers 99% of Danes' most-visited travel destinations, so you won't run into many dead zones.
| Duration | Data | Price (DKK) | Notes |
| 31 days | 30GB | 169 DKK (~$23) | + free calls/SMS, 30GB in 70+ countries |
| 31 days | 80GB | 209 DKK (~$29) | + free calls/SMS, 45GB in 70+ countries |
| 31 days | Unlimited | 289 DKK (~$40) | + free calls/SMS, 65GB in 70+ countries |
Quick verdict: Telenor is the best value SIM in Denmark if you want data plus calls and don't want to think about topping up. The 30GB plan at ~$23 is hard to beat for a week or two in Copenhagen. Buy directly from Telenor stores in major cities or online.
Telia is Estonia and Scandinavia's leading operator and a strong choice for tourists who want reliable urban coverage with solid EU roaming. Their plans start at €13.20/month for 3GB and go up to unlimited at €45.99/month, more expensive than Telenor but with a reputation for stable network performance.
International benchmarking by Rohde & Schwarz confirms that Telia provides the most stable and reliable mobile network across Estonia, and their Scandinavian network quality is similarly strong.
| Duration | Data | Price (EUR) | Notes |
| 31 days | 3GB | €13.20 | + calls/SMS |
| 31 days | 16GB | €26.42 | + calls/SMS, 16GB EU |
| 31 days | 50GB | €33.53 | + calls/SMS, 42GB EU |
| 31 days | Unlimited | €41.65 | + calls/SMS, 53GB EU |
Quick verdict: Telia makes most sense if you want solid city coverage and strong EU roaming, good if Denmark is one stop on a wider Scandinavian or European trip. Buy in Telia stores in Copenhagen and other major cities.
On my last trip I tried getting a local SIM on arrival at Copenhagen Airport, and unlike most European airports, there's no carrier counter waiting for you after customs. I ended up walking to a 7-Eleven in the city, which worked fine but ate an hour of my first afternoon.
Important: Activation in Denmark is mostly self-service: insert the SIM, follow the setup steps in the provider's app, and confirm your data is working before you leave the store area. Don't assume it's automatic.
Local SIMs in Denmark are good value but the buying process just isn't built for tourists. On my most recent visit I skipped it entirely, used an eSIM, and was online before I'd even left the arrivals hall.
I've used both Holafly and Airalo in Denmark before. Holafly is the easiest option if you don't want to think about data at all, plans start at $19.50 for 5 days with no limits. However, Nomad is the better pick if you want a fixed amount of data at a lower price, with easy top-ups if you run low.
For more options, check out the best eSIM for Denmark, we've compared every major provider so you don't have to.
| Provider | Data | Price (from) | Validity | Best for | |
| Holafly |  | Unlimited | $3.90 | 5–90 days | Heavy users, peace of mind |
| Nomad |  | 1GB–Unlimited | $4.50 | 7–30 days | Reliable fixed data, easy top-ups |
| Airalo |  | 1–50GB | $4.00 | 3–30 days | Budget travelers, fixed data |
Make sure your phone is unlocked and eSIM-compatible before buying. iPhone XR or newer, Samsung Galaxy S20+, and Google Pixel 4+ all work. Install the eSIM before you travel so it's ready to activate the moment you land.
TDC is the best overall, it's been rated Denmark's top mobile network for 10 years in a row and has 99% 5G population coverage. If you're staying in Copenhagen and want more data for less, Telenor's 30GB plan at ~$23/month is tough to beat.
Yes, Denmark has four main carriers: TDC, Telenor, Telia, and Three. The tricky part is that tourist-friendly prepaid SIMs aren't available at dedicated airport counters, you'll mostly find them in convenience stores like 7-Eleven or carrier stores in the city.
Lycamobile is a budget MVNO (virtual operator) that runs on Telia's network in Denmark. It's one of the cheaper options for tourists (around 29 DKK (~$4) for a basic SIM( but EU roaming is very limited, so it only really makes sense if you're staying within Denmark the whole trip.
TDC, Telenor, and Telia all have stores in Copenhagen and major cities - that's the best option for help with setup. For something quicker, 7-Eleven stores across Copenhagen sell prepaid SIMs, and both Telenor and Telia let you order online before you fly.
Prices for SIM cards typically start at around 49 DKK (~$7) for basic packages, with more comprehensive tourist options available for around 199 DKK (~$30) including a decent data allowance.
Lycamobile and Lebara are the cheapest entry points, both available at convenience stores for around 29–49 DKK (~$4–7). The trade-off is limited EU roaming and mostly self-service setup.
Yes, TDC, Telenor, and Telia all offer unlimited plans, starting from around 289 DKK (~$40/month) for Telenor. If you want unlimited data without the store visit, Holafly's eSIM starts at $3.90 for one day and never throttles.
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