Are credit cards prevalent in Denmark?

Are credit cards prevalent in Denmark? - Person Holding Debit Card

In the next days I'll spend a working period (few weeks) in Denmark (Aalborg).

I would like to know if credit cards are frequently used in Denmark, are them more or less accepted everywhere in Aalborg? Or instead, do I need local currency (cash) to buy in some places?



Best Answer

I live in Denmark (Copenhagen), and I can go weeks without using cash these days. What I have is a 'Dankort' (national debit card system), so the experience doesn't necessarily transfer directly to foreign cards -- but the vast majority of places that accept it also take at least Visa and MasterCard.

You'd need cash for bus tickets if you buy from the driver, but that's the only thing that comes to mind offhand.




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Are credit cards widely used in Denmark?

In Copenhagen major credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, stores, cafes and restaurants. It is a good idea always to ask beforehand though. Some places might charge a fee when accepting foreign credit cards as payment. Be sure to bring your PIN code and a picture ID when using a credit card in Denmark.

Which country uses credit cards the most?

Percent people with credit cards - Country rankings The average for 2017 based on 142 countries was 19.28 percent. The highest value was in Canada: 82.58 percent and the lowest value was in Turkmenistan: 0 percent. The indicator is available from 2011 to 2017.

Which country uses the most credit and debit cards?

In 2017, there were nearly 6.7 billion credit and debit cards in circulation, according to a research by GlobalData. The research predicts that China will overtake the US as the largest bank card market in the world in 2019.

Are credit cards popular in Europe?

In Europe, there are two main credit card providers. Between Visa and Mastercard they make up over 90 percent. In total, there are over 810 million payment cards across the continent.



Denmark 101 - NemID and Using Credit Cards in Denmark - Ep. 30




More answers regarding are credit cards prevalent in Denmark?

Answer 2

One very important thing to note about credit card use in Denmark is that it no longer is common to have your card's magnetic strip read and then sign a receipt.

All (at least almost all) terminals in stores and hotels and hand held terminals in restaurants and even taxis expect that the card has a chip and that you know your pin code.

As for public transportation you can buy tickets at train stations with a credit card, but not in buses. Though the bus driver has some change, don't expect the driver to be able to give change back for 100 kroner notes. If you plan on travelling by bus, get hold of some 20 kroner coins.

Bus tickets in Denmark are area and time limited, so you can't buy a return ticket. Only when travelling longer distances can you buy return tickets for trains (you have to travel across regional boundaries).

Answer 3

I spent a week in Copenhagen this year, and I didn't use any cash at all. I bought transport tickets from vending machines, and paid everything with my Canadian credit card.

Answer 4

We spent 3 weeks in Denmark and barely used any cash. It would be easily possible not to use any at all, given that most hotels, restaurants and shops accept credit cards.

Sure, there will be a few that take cash only but nothing you cannot avoid during your stay. We pretty much only used cash for street food and some parking.

Answer 5

I live in Aalborg and from my personal experience: I honestly can't remember when I last used cash.
Most stores, shops, and even hot dog stands accepts most kinds of credit cards.
Most commonly accepted cards are Visa, MasterCard, and DanCard, on rare occasions you will find a shop that doesn't accept MasterCard. (note that since I only have experience with MasterCard I can't say if same happens with the other cards)
If however, you find a place that doesn't accept the card you use, there would most likely be a bank nearby or an ATM machine that would accept your card.

Answer 6

I'm from Norway where cash is about to become obsolete. Even the strawberry seller in a booth in the field accepts credit card or mobile payments where I live. I travel frequently to Denmark and never use cash, only visa/MC.

One thing that used to be common in Scandinavia is the use of debit-cards, this was due to "social" laws and regulations that said that no one living in these countries should ever need to buy food on credit. This has changed over the past years and credit cards and mobile payments is widely used. However American Express and Diners are not widely accepted same way over here as over there..

Answer 7

From the other answers, things have apparently changed, but here is my experience:

10 years ago in Ã…lborg, most grocery stores would not accept my card (MasterCard), because it was not a "Dankort". I had to withdraw cash regularly.

Answer 8

I have lived for a year in Aalborg and the only places in which I had to pay with cash were buses and certain bars (bars usually only accept Danish credit cards).

I could use my Visa in all supermarkets and stores, no matter the amount.

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