My New Zealand work exchange was volunteering on an orchid farm. It was easily one of the most rewarding travel experiences I’ve ever had. 

Not only did I get to explore and experience the beautiful New Zealand countryside, but I also gained new friendships, incredible stories, and memories that I’ll treasure for a lifetime.

Let’s talk more about what you should know about Workaway in New Zealand.

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Top Tips For Workaway New Zealand

I have learned many important lessons during my time as a volunteer that can help make your own Workaway experiences successful.

Here are 9 tips for making the most out of your own Workaway New Zealand adventure.

Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links that will cost you nothing extra but offer me a little commission for any purchases made. These commissions help me continue to offer helpful tips. Thank you so much for your support.

1. Your New Zealand Work Exchange Hours Can Be Different Than You Expect

When embarking on a work exchange in New Zealand, it’s important to keep in mind that the hours you work may be different than what you initially expected. 

When my husband and I started our Workaway in New Zealand, the expectation in our mind was that we’d work from 9 am – 1 pm and then we’d have the rest of the day to go off and explore.

However, the hours that our host needed us to work ended up being from around 11 am – 3 pm.

This simply meant that we needed to adjust some of our plans and rearrange a few of our longer day trips for the weekend when we got a day off.

It’s best to prepare yourself mentally and physically for varied hours so sometimes your activity for the day needs to be shortened or adjusted.

That way, when things get busy and your workday is a bit longer than you initially anticipated, you’ll have the energy and motivation needed to see your tasks through.

2. Make New Friends On Your Workaway In New Zealand

One thing about Workaways is that you’ll make new friends. My husband and I volunteered for two weeks at an orchid farm with a wonderful New Zealand work exchange host.

She had just recently started her flower farm and was busy planting the seeds of her new business.

Two weeks is quite a long time to spend with a stranger, and initially, there was some hesitation on our end about committing to a volunteer program for so long.

What if we don’t get along? What if we have a hard time keeping up a conversation?

But if you go into the Workaway experience with the expectation that you are ready to help, and are kind and friendly, you’ll make new friends along the way.

Learn how to get awesome work exchanges 🤝 
8 steps to finding the best Workaway hosts.

We loved our host. Over the two weeks, we met both of her parents.

In fact, her parents ended up inviting us over for dinner, introducing us to New Zealand rugby, and taking us out for a day trip to see the beauty of the region.

3. Workaway New Zealand Might Be Working or Staying With Animals

When we signed up and created a Workaway profile, we had mentally prepared to get our hands dirty digging in the garden.

One of the unexpected joys was that our host owned a pet cat. We love animals, so having a four-legged friend around the house was a treat.

However, if you are allergic or if you aren’t fond of animals, you may want to contact the host ahead of time and ask if they have pets or animals around the house.

Our host also had sheep, and her dad brought his dog by daily to visit. It was so fun getting to meet all of the animals and we had a blast playing with them.

If you are uncomfortable around animals, that could make for an uncomfortable stay. We learned that it is best to ask these questions ahead of time before committing to a Workaway.

4. Workaways In New Zealand Can Change Depending on the Season

When my husband and I did our Workaway New Zealand gig during our crazy trip around the world, we weren’t quite sure what to expect.

We both love flowers and were excited to learn about how to raise and grow orchids from seeds.

However, when we arrived on the farm, it was just turning to early fall in New Zealand, meaning that the orchid season was coming to a close.

We spent some time cleaning up greenhouses and prepping them for the upcoming season, but a lot of our main tasks turned into yard work around the property. We were completely fine with that.

Though it made me realize that the needs of Workaway hosts change can change according to the season, and to not be disappointed if the type of work you originally signed up for changes.

5. Go Into Your New Zealand Work Exchange With An Open Mind

When doing Workaway New Zealand, it’s important to keep an open mind. You are entering someone else’s space, and the way you live may not always match the way that person lives.

Since we were living in a shared space with our host, we wanted to make sure that we weren’t ever overstepping our bounds, and that we were respectful of her home and her rules.

10 tips for being a good Workawayer ⭐️

It can be easy to get caught up in our own expectations for how things should go.

When we approach situations with an open mindset, we allow ourselves to learn new things and have more meaningful experiences.

Even when our work changed from working with orchids to weeding, removing dead branches, or reorganizing the woodshed, we decided to keep an open mind with our new tasks.

It was best to make the most of being outside in such a beautiful country. Would we have liked to have worked more with the orchids? Sure. But, we didn’t let our change of work ruin the experience for us.

By going into a Workaway in New Zealand with an open mind, you can better appreciate your host’s culture and lifestyle while still enjoying yourself.

6. Many New Zealand Workaways Are Remote

My husband and I got an affordable car rental for our work exchange in New Zealand. In fact, we needed one because our host lived in the countryside in a beautiful part of the country.

If we didn’t have a car, we would have been stranded on the farm for the entire time we volunteered. Fortunately, our car gave us the freedom to explore after our workday was over.

Many New Zealand work exchanges are located out in the countryside far from the main city.

New Zealand’s public transit system in the countryside is very limited, so taking the bus or train was not an option for us.

Are you covered for volunteering in New Zealand? ➡️ I always reccommend trip protection, especially for work exchanges. My favorite is SafetyWing Insurance. 

7. Order Fish and Chips

This is not a joke. If you are planning on doing a Workaway New Zealand gig, your experience won’t be complete without some fresh fish and chips from a nearby beach town.

Nearly every coastal town in New Zealand has a fish and chips joint, and they are the best fish and chips I have had in my life.

The fish was fresh and the food was incredible. They are also the cheapest food you can find around.

8. It’s Okay to Say No

When you are on your Workaway in New Zealand, you may feel indebted to the host for having them open your house to you.

Sometimes, they may have a task for you that makes you feel uncomfortable, or that you simply aren’t able to help them with.

The best practice is to be honest and say no if you can’t help them with a particular task. Now, as a good guest, you’ve agreed to help them out before you’ve arrived.

Make sure to keep an open mind and be willing to help out where you can. If you have an injury, are feeling ill, or otherwise have a gut feeling that something is wrong, it’s okay to say no.

Come to a compromise on another task you can work on for them.

9. Be Willing to Help in Anyway

One of the most beautiful things about Workaways is that someone is opening up their home to you.

This is not a hotel or a vacation rental. They are inviting you in and it’s respectful to go above and beyond.

This can be as simple as preparing a meal for your Workaway host and not expecting them to cook your meals every day.

You can run to the grocery store, pick up around the house, keep your room tidy, sweep the floor, or do the dishes.

Just be ready to help out where needed and view yourself as a guest in their home. One of my favorite parts of travel is exchanging culture through food.

Taking the time to prepare a meal for your Workaway host and show them something that you typically eat can be a really fun icebreaker and really enhance your experience.

We found a good rule of thumb is that if your host cooks, offer to do dishes that night. And if you cook, still offer to do dishes.

Workaway New Zealand Visa Advice

Since we are from the United States, we did not need to apply for a traditional visa to visit New Zealand.

Instead, we had to get an ETA, which is an Electronic Travel Authorization. This allowed us to stay in New Zealand for up to 90 days. 

You must get the ETA before boarding your flight. You can apply for it on the official New Zealand website.

Which work exchange platform is best? 💡
Workaway VS Worldpackers - Full Comparison

If you’re from another country, you can check visa requirements here. 

For those of you who are looking to do paid work in New Zealand, then you will need to apply for the Working Holiday Visa.

Please note that this blog post is only for information purposes and should not be regarded as a substitute for immigration or legal advice.

Final Thoughts On Workaway In New Zealand

If you’re thinking about doing Workaway New Zealand, hopefully, this article helps you get an idea of what your experience may be like.

While each New Zealand work exchange is different, they all share a few things in common.

You will make new friends, meet interesting people, and you’ll need to be ready to roll your sleeves up and get to work.

Workaway can be a great way to experience a new country. It lets you slow down, share cultures, and really gain a new perspective on a country.

I’d definitely recommend doing a Workaway in New Zealand if you get the chance.

Submitted by Jenoa at The Travel Folk

More Workaway Guides:

• Complete Guide To Workaway France
• Complete Guide To Workaway UK
• Complete Guide To Workaway Ireland
• Complete Guide To Workaway Italy

After living abroad in Albania for a year now, I wanted to write about Albanian hospitality as a sort of tribute, since it is a huge part of why I’m still obsessed with this Balkan country, even after all this time.

If the stunning natural beauty of Albania doesn’t make you fall in love, the hospitality sure will.

I normally hate bringing up the number of countries I’ve visited because many travelers use their number as a way to brag.

If you know about me and my site Maptrekking, you know I’m all about promoting slow travel, but for the sake of my point, I need to bring it up.

I’ve now visited 28 countries. Out of all of these, Albania has been my all-around favorite. A large part of that is due to Albanian hospitality!

Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links that will cost you nothing extra but offer me a little commission for any purchases made. These help me continue to offer helpful tips and information. Thank you so much for your support.

1. No Ulterior Motives

One of the main things I noticed on my first trip to Albania in 2019, was that the hospitality was genuine, even pure.

What I mean by this is that there is a general feeling that something isn’t expected in return – which I find really beautiful.

Albanian hospitality is more than hospitality, it’s this level of trust. You can expect that 99% of the time a person does not wish you harm.

They don’t have an ulterior motive. Someone is doing something simply because it’s nice/the right thing.

Though I had traveled to a lot of places, even ones known for their hospitality, Albania had this raw, authentic attitude that I hadn’t encountered before.

2. Time Doesn’t Matter

Albanian hospitality isn’t something that takes years to cultivate either. I’m always impressed with how fast it works.

You could have just met an Albanian and it feels like you have gotten a friend for life.

Compared with other places I’ve lived, it can take years to develop a friendship. You might not ever be invited to someone’s house – or it can take years.

Sometimes relationships in the western world can feel almost transactional, whereas that’s not the case at all in Albania.

3. Albanian Hospitality Comes In Many Forms

Albanian hospitality could be many things, like when a taxi driver offered to hotspot me so I could use Whatsapp to text my friend who was meeting me, and no he didn’t expect anything in return.

I have asked people on the bus if they know if I’m going to the right place/getting off at the right stop, and they have literally gotten off and walked with me to make sure I get to the right place.

My Albanian friends never let me pay, even though I insist! If I go to their house, I won’t ever leave hungry.

They never make fun of me if I say an Albanian word wrong. They are always so patient to help me learn correctly – many times people will make you feel bad/laugh if you say something wrong in their language.

There is no hesitation on my part to message them if I need help.

Whether I need to find an apartment or help translating something, I know I can count on them. 

4. Always Feeling Welcome

Generally, I have always felt so welcome in Albania – in other countries, both living and traveling, not so much.

They are eager to share their way of life with me. They are proud of their traditions, and rightly so.

I have never been made to feel like I’m not allowed in Albanian culture. In fact, I’ve been named an honorary Albanian a few times now!

Being American, we don’t always have strong traditions that have been preserved for my generation since it’s a country of immigrants.

Plus, I come from an abusive family that I don’t have much contact with. This means I have never had this strong sense of pride that Albanians do.

And I also don’t have family support, which is at the center of Albanian culture. These two things, along with many others, draw me to Albania.

5. Albania’s Hospitality Promotes A Sense Of Trust

Seeing how generous and relaxed Albanians are has made me want to embody that more in my own life.

It’s to the point where I let my guard down and trust people – something that can be difficult in the western world.

Through all the places I’ve traveled, I have never let my guard down like this.

The only issue is that I get used to it, then I need to remind myself when I travel abroad to put it back up since many people do not have your best intentions at heart.

6. TikTok To National TV To Being Adopted By An Albanian Family

Most of what I’ve written here are my opinions from having lived in Albania for the past year, but I wanted to share a specific story of an evening that really touched my heart.

It all started with some of my videos about Albania on TikTok going somewhat viral. If you aren’t following me, you should!

I make travel videos showing the beauty of Albania and also jokes about living in Albania. My username is @maptrekking. 

Anyway, a journalist from Top Channel saw my videos and contacted me about doing a live interview with them on national television.

I used to be a very shy person – I’m getting better now, but there’s no way I could say no to such a cool opportunity.

The interview went well, you can watch it here.

Afterward, the journalist, Lorena, checked back in with me and told me to let her know if I’m ever in Tirana so we could meet. I thought that was sweet since she doesn’t even know me well.

A few weeks later, I come up to Tirana because I had a flight in a few days. I let her know and we set up a time to meet.

I thought we might get a coffee and chat for an hour or two so I was a little surprised at what unfolded. 

We go for a drink and immediately she is so friendly and open with me, and this is when she tells me I’m her first foreign friend – I felt so special.

And she also tells me she’d love to take me to her house after to meet her family.

Now I know some people in the western world might find this weird or unsafe, but it’s not that unusual for me since I used to live in more rural areas of the US where this isn’t weird.

And of course, I’m pretty used to Albanian culture so I know this isn’t out of the ordinary either.

As we’re walking to her place, she mentions that her family has never had any foreigners in their home.

She told me that her parents were super excited to meet me and her mom had prepared a bunch of food.

It was 10 PM so I wasn’t expecting that at all, but I didn’t have dinner that day so it worked out well.

I felt so special to be invited into their home, especially as the first foreigner and because her mom had made such an effort to welcome me – food is their love language!

As we’re getting close, Lorena mentions that since it is already late, her brother can drive me home or I can always sleep at their house.

I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want to be rude, but I had been thinking, “wow, it is already so late, will I need to walk home alone after this?”.

I’m not that familiar with Tirana either, so these thoughts had crossed my mind.

But of course, when you are with Albanian friends, they always take such good care of you – I should’ve known!

We get to her family’s apartment and her parents come to meet me at the door. Immediately, I felt so welcome.

As I turn the corner to the living room, I see how much food her mom has set out and it is essentially a feast.

I tell Lorena that she didn’t need to go to all this trouble for me, and she said that this is the bare minimum in Albania. This made me inwardly chuckle a little bit.

So we sit and chat, while her mom keeps telling me how hungry I look and that I need to eat more.

And of course, whenever I look away to speak with someone, her mom sneaks more food onto my plate and more juice in my glass.

You might be wondering what Lorena’s dad was doing during this…

Well, he took on the role of always trying to refill my glass with their homemade raki or wine, plus making sure I tried their honey as well.

Everything was so delicious – I wouldn’t expect anything else though. Albanian food is amazing.

We talked about many things. They had plenty of questions for me, especially her parents.

They wanted to know why I like Albania, where I had visited, how it compares with the US, and even if I had heard traditional Albanian music and learned the traditional dancing called valle.

He played some videos for me, and I jokingly told him he should sing some of the songs. Low and behold, he starts and the whole family joins in.

It was at that moment I felt so happy – to be immersed in Albanian culture, something they were so obviously proud of.

It was also witnessing such a beautiful family coming together to sing and see the joy it brought them. It felt nice to be a part of this intimate moment.

Plus, it wasn’t just normal singing, you could tell it’s something they do all the time together because it sounded great and all the voices worked in harmony.

Maybe it is very normal for them, but for me, seeing a family be like that together is very special.

Also, it reminded me of indigenous singing in North America called throat singing. I thought that was cool to see similarities.

Time passed so quickly and before I knew it, it was 2 AM!

I had been there for 4 hours. They insisted that I should stay the night but I had a flight the next day so I knew it would be best to go back home.

As we were driving to my place, I had this wonderful feeling of happiness (maybe it was all the raki) and also sadness because I had to leave the next day even though I had just met such a wonderful family. 

All of this happened the night before leaving Albania for three months to reset my visa.

It was the perfect ending to my first year of living in Albania. Thinking about it now as I write this still leaves a smile on my face.

7. There’s No Such Thing As Perfection

Of course, Albanian hospitality doesn’t erase other issues that Albania has.

Nor does it mean that every interaction will be life-changing. Like any place, there are still bad people.

Yes, sometimes I have gotten overcharged for things because I’m a foreigner. It isn’t always perfect.

But the majority of people are very nice and will help you if you think you might be getting overcharged on rent or something like that.

Albania is all about connections – as long as you know people you can always ask for their advice or help.

Final Thoughts

Experiencing Albanian hospitality has not only made my time in Albania amazing but it’s also taught me to be a better person.

I find myself shedding more of my ‘western’ tendencies and adopting a more relaxed, generous attitude.

I hope this has given you a good peek into Albanian hospitality, at least from my point of view!

Let me know in the comments if you’ve visited Albania before.

Check out Explore Albania By Slow Traveling (7 Great Reasons Why It Just Makes Sense)!

My Trip Recommendations

• Rent a car in Tirana – It’s the best way to see Albania, especially if you’re short on time
• Compare hotels and apartment prices all in one place on Trivago – the most convenient way to get a good deal
• Prefer hostels? Find the best ones on Hostelworld – especially with the new Linkups
• Find discounted flight deals with Skyscanner if you’re flying to Albania
• Get a quote for affordable & flexible insurance travel insurance coverage 
• Budget option – free accommodation through volunteering with Worldpackers – get $10 off

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Do you want to volunteer in Budapest? If so, I don’t blame you. It’s an amazing city with so much to offer.

You could easily spend a few weeks there, getting to see beautiful architecture, learning about the history, experiencing the nightlife and so much more.

Many Budapest volunteering opportunities will be helping out in hostels, though you could always check on housesitting opportunities too.

Here are 7 things I learned from volunteering in Budapest!

Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links that will cost you nothing extra but offer me a little commission for any purchases made. I was also compensated by Worldpackers to do this work exchange, but these are 100% my own honest opinions expressed here. These help me continue to offer helpful tips and information. Thank you so much for your support.

1. Try To Not Get Food Poisoning

It’s not great to get sick at any point, but especially when you travel somewhere to do a help exchange.

Unfortunately, not even 24 hours after I arrived in Budapest, I came down with a very bad case of food poisoning.

I’m not sure what it is about Budapest, but both times I have gone (2019 & 2022), I have gotten food poisoning.

Both times, I didn’t get it in Budapest, but right before leaving and then had to deal with it while I was there. Maybe I’ll have better luck next time I go, that’s all I can hope for at least!

Thankfully, the hostel I was helping out at was very understanding that I was sick, but I did feel so bad that I couldn’t help out. 

2. Bigger Isn’t Always Better

This is not supposed to be sexual but it sounds like it! I’m talking about the size of the place you decided to do a work exchange.

In my case, I was at a hostel, so it is already the type of atmosphere where you have a lot of people around you constantly.

The place I was helping at was a pretty big hostel, so that means there are quite a few staff and volunteers, plus lots of guests that are always passing through.

When I arrived in Budapest, it was in the evening so I started my work the next morning. Later that day I started to get food poisoning and ended up being out for the next two days.

Well, it turned out that the hostel had been completely booked out for the upcoming weekend, so there weren’t even enough beds for the staff and volunteers.

So we went to a ‘sister’ hostel to stay for the weekend there. This place was a smaller more intimate place, and honestly, I immediately liked the vibe there.

It felt homey and the staff was so friendly. It’s the type of place where everyone gets a super personalized check-in, and it’s small enough that you can remember everyone’s names.

Both of these hostels had the same owner, so it was pretty easy to just ask to switch to the other hostel for the rest of my stay. It ended up working out well.

3. Hostels Take A Lot Of Energy

I already touched on this a bit, but I want to emphasize how tiring it can be! Some people thrive from interaction, but it’s the opposite for others.

I’m kind of in the middle, I do like it but I also need alone time and privacy to recharge my social batteries.

It can be super tempting to look at the Worldpackers’ opportunities and think, “wow I could totally go help out at a hostel for a few weeks or even months”.

In reality, hostel life can be exhausting so you need to be self-aware to make the right decision.

Something to remember, even if you have stayed at a lot of hostels before, it is very different to be part of the staff as you help out!

Being a guest means you get to be carefree, whereas volunteering is a whole other ball game.

Check Hungary volunteer opportunities on Worldpackers!

4. It’s Best To Be Fully Present

This was my first work exchange at a hostel so I wasn’t sure how much free time I would have. Not only did I want to explore Budapest, but I also had online work obligations that I needed to complete.

What I found was that I ended up not having that much time to myself. I would do about two hours of work a day (in the late morning to early afternoon).

As a volunteer in Budapest, I was also expected to hang out in the evenings and go on the nightlife events.

Of course, I wasn’t made to go every night, but you are expected to participate, especially on busier nights.

Now, this didn’t feel like work most of the time since you are hanging out with people and having a nice time. The only thing was that my energy would get burnt out a little.

Also, something to note is that since you go out at night, oftentimes you sleep later and wake up in time for the morning work (around 11 am).

From my experience, you will have the best time if you let yourself be fully immersed.

Especially because volunteering in Budapest isn’t just about what you get (free food and a bed), if you want to know more, read my article about why you should volunteer for the right reasons.

To sum up my thoughts on this, it is possible to work online (if it is flexible) as you volunteer in a hostel. Since my hostel was big on partying, it made it harder.

I think if it was a chill hostel, I would’ve gotten a lot more of my work done!

5. Different Approach To A City

Something interesting that I noticed while in Budapest was that it was a different experience compared with the first time I visited as a regular traveler.

I think when you are a backpacker staying only for a few nights in a city, you treat your surroundings differently. You notice and perceive your surroundings differently.

Doing the work exchange, it was like the pressure was off. I felt relaxed because I was going to be staying for a while and didn’t have to worry about paying for accommodation for the two weeks while I was there.

So basically, in my eyes, traveling in Budapest and volunteering in Budapest are not the same experiences!

Want to see what a day in the hostel looked like? Check out my TikTok video about it.

6. Like-Minded Humans

Volunteering in a Budapest hostel means you will get to meet a lot of travelers that are passing through, which can be nice but fleeting.

As a volunteer, you’ll get to know the other volunteers and staff. They will probably be a bit different since they are normally more experienced travelers.

If you’re a pretty open person, it’s easy to connect and make lifelong friends. Normally, I am based in Albania, but during the winter it can be a bit quiet.

Budapest is a short flight away, so I thought why not?! It was great to have that social interaction I had been missing.

7. Being Seen As ‘Old’ 

For me, I don’t feel old at all. Sometimes it’s still weird to think that I’m an adult.

I remember back when I first moved away from the US and went to Edinburgh, Scotland to study for a Masters of Science degree.

I was one of the youngest students going for an MSc., so almost everyone was in their late 20s or above.

There is a specific time burned into my memory when my Canadian friend casually mentioned that he was 26 and I immediately thought, “wow that is so old, I’m so glad I’m not 26 yet”. Well here we are, I’m 26, but it feels like that was just yesterday!

When you stay in hostels, you can find people of all ages, though most of the time it will be younger people. Of course, some hostels do have an age limit though.

If you are going to a destination that is known for partying, the hostels will have a different vibe with mostly younger people. This is the case with Budapest, as it’s a massive party spot.

After spending two weeks helping out in a party hostel, I noticed a majority of our guests were 18-21 usually.

I got some interesting reactions if my age ever came up, many were the same as my reaction a few years ago. “You’re 26?! – so old”

I know many people would be offended or start to feel subconscious about it. And to be honest, I’m surprised I wasn’t.

But I think was due to this theory I have – as you age, you learn more about yourself and the world.

You learn how to read people better, how to tell when someone is lying, trying to manipulate you, or just talking complete nonsense.

So these young travelers that would say something about my age – I would ask them questions about their lives, getting to know them a little, as you do as a hostel volunteer.

But the funny thing is, there wasn’t much to know, because they simply haven’t done anything interesting yet. That’s okay, they have so much time ahead of them to grow and progress.

Essentially, I had this realization that yes, I might be 5 or 7 years older, but I’ve had so many amazing (and crazy) things happen to me.

I have incredible stories to share at dinner parties. I did impressive and prestigious internships. I have studied and graduated with two degrees.

I have lived in 5 US states & 4 countries. I’ve matured so much and I’m glad for it.

It made me realize that I don’t want to be 20 again because that would mean going backward!

Not only does this have to do with me though, because as an experienced solo female traveler, I felt like I had a unique position in the hostel to encourage/help other travelers (and oftentimes naive young women).

I think no matter what – it’s hard to not be vulnerable and naive when you’re an 18-year-old woman just starting to travel.

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about volunteering in Budapest, I hope this article helped give you a better picture of what it will be like.

Of course, how it goes will depend on what work exchange platform you use and the hostel job in Budapest. If you are new to travel volunteering, I would suggest using Worldpackers since they have ‘WP insurance’.

This ensures that if things don’t work out, they will help you find another volunteer opportunity or pay for a few nights in a hostel nearby.

You can also use my code ‘MAPTREKKING’ or use my link to get $10 off your Worldpackers membership. Happy volunteering!

Still trying to decide if Worldpackers is for you? Check out this Worldpackers VS Workaway comparison!

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If you’re wondering what’s it like to live in Denmark, well I want to share my experience (as a foreigner) with you.

Now I was only in Denmark for a week, but I was staying with a Danish family and getting to experience what life in Denmark is like for them.

It was very nice to be away from the beautiful, but touristy, capital city of Copenhagen and see Danish life in a small town.

Maybe you are wondering why I went to Denmark – especially since my blog is about slow traveling and work exchanges.

First of all, my reason for going was to mainly visit my Danish friend and her family because they were celebrating her graduation and birthday.

This gave me the chance to meet her relatives, and a small peek into how these celebrations are done in Denmark.

Plus, in general, I love seeing the style of clothes in different countries, as well as what people wear to special occasions like this.

At Anna’s party, we played a fun Viking game. I didn’t get a picture of it, so here is one from the internet.

Danish Water

Let me tell you a quick story. My Danish friend, Anna, moved from Denmark to Scotland a few years ago.

She was nervous that her English wouldn’t be good enough and it might be hard to make friends.

Her time living in Edinburgh happened to coincide with my time there and the rest is history.

When she first moved to Scotland, she and her family went out to dinner one night.

When the waiter came to take their order, Anna asked if she could have Danish water.

In Denmark, ‘Danish water’ is the term for sparkling water with lemon. Of course, the waiter was confused and Anna’s mother was laughing at the mistake.

Mutual friends Rebecca and Clare also came from Edinburgh to visit.

Anna told us this story as we were trying some of the ‘Danish water’ (sparkling water).

I loved it and in general, it’s popular all over Europe. If you go to Denmark, you should try it.

If you have tried it, let me know what you think in the comments.

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What’s It Like To Live In Denmark?

We did more than drink water, I promise!

Staying at Anna’s home for a week was great because I got to see how they have decorated, what foods they eat; what you can classify as daily life in Denmark.

Anna lives a 15-minute drive away from the seaside. The Scottish girls and I had to take advantage of this because of the hot weather 28C / 82 F (I was told these temperatures are unusual for Denmark).

Usually, in the UK, it is too cold to swim in the already freezing water. 

Danish Style & Design

The design and decorations of buildings and houses took my attention.

It seems that Danes favor houses with a bright/clean atmosphere and lots of natural light, so they usually have large windows and everything inside painted white.

Normally, I would think the white would be boring, but with the excess of natural light, it works well together.

I stayed with Anna’s family in Helsinge, but we also visited her ‘mormor’ (the danish name for a maternal grandmother) in Roskilde.

Her small, city-center flat was similar in design; such a cute little place. There is something to be said for simple design!

Even larger buildings follow this trend of having bigger windows for natural light.

Denmark seems to be environmentally focused so I’m sure this is encouraged since it saves energy.

There’s More Than Just Copenhagen

It seems that when most people visit Denmark, they don’t leave Copenhagen – at least that’s what Anna said.

We went there for a day; it was a beautiful city with so much to offer.

I think I prefer the low-key atmosphere that is present outside of the big city though.

If you’ve ever wanted to visit Denmark or other similar Nordic countries, but don’t have the budget for it – you should look into house sitting as a way to get free accommodation.

You don’t have to wonder what’s it like to live in Denmark anymore because it can be affordable!

This way, you get to stay in a local neighborhood and see life in Denmark up close, not just touristy spots.

There are a lot of house-sitting websites, but the largest and most reliable is TrustedHousesitters.

You can sign up to be a house sitter or to list your own house sit. They even have a combined membership for you to do both too.

Life In Denmark Usually Means Healthy Food & Lifestyle

Danish people seem to maintain a healthy weight and cycle everywhere, at least that’s one of the things I noticed first.

I understand that staying with one Danish family doesn’t give me the authority to generalize about the whole population though.

From what I did experience, the day-to-day food that is eaten is far healthier compared to common food found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and definitely the US.

Food in Denmark is more likely to be sustainable, organic, and have more sugar-free options.

I think if you are looking to start a life in Denmark and healthy food is a priority, then you will be all set.

Final Thoughts

I hope that my experience has given at least a little bit of an answer to the question – what’s it like to live in Denmark?

I know I wasn’t there for a long time so I can’t give the same perspective as a resident, but for my time I did try to soak up as much as I could.

There’s a lot to discover about life in Denmark, which is why I highly suggest you find a housesitting gig there to fully immerse yourself!

And if you want to know more about slow travel, make sure to sign up below for my freebie!

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