Buying a Prepaid SIM Card in Denmark Guide

Denmark is one of the smaller nations in Scandinavia, which makes it also one of the coziest. Denmark has been named the happiest nation for many years (in a row), which makes it an interesting destination to visit – what makes the Danes so happy?

The big Danish cities have a lot to offer. You can find the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen (it is tiny – do not say I did not warn you), Den Gamle By (the old town) museum in Aarhus, the H.C. Andersen Museum in Odense, the Budolfi Church in Aalborg, and, of course, Legoland in Billund.

Do not forget about the smaller towns in Denmark, such as Roskilde, which is known for its annual festival called Roskilde Festival, Helsingør, a port city north of Copenhagen, Møn for its cliffs and fossils, and Bornholm, an island Southwest of Sweden. As you can see, there are plenty of things to do in Denmark.

What may not be fun is getting a high bill from your operator because you decided to roam with your provider. Roaming can be expensive in many cases, which is why many travelers prefer to buy a local SIM card in Denmark.

In this article, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Denmark. Let's have a look, shall we?

Telecom Providers in Denmark

Denmark has 4 telecom providers: TDC, Telenor Denmark, Telia Denmark, and 3 (Tre) Denmark. All operators, except for 3 Denmark, have 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE networks. 3 Denmark does not have a 2G network, but it has a national roaming agreement with TDC on its 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE networks where 3 Denmark has no coverage.

Telia Denmark and Telenor Denmark share their networks in a partnership called TT-Netværket (the Telia and Telenor Network). Although the core networks of both operators are separate, you will get close to the same coverage and speeds with both Telia Denmark and Telenor Denmark.

The telecom situation in Denmark is unique. The main operators do not offer prepaid services anymore. As a result, travelers are forced to use a Danish Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO). Denmark has many MVNOs. However, most of them are not available to foreigners.

You need a Danish Personal Number (CPR – Centrale Personsregister) to activate most Danish SIM cards, which you will not get unless you plan on living in Denmark for at least three months. Therefore, the following 3 MVNOs are available to travelers: Lebara Denmark, Lycamobile Denmark, and OiSTER.

Lebara Denmark uses the Telenor network, which is shared with Telia. Lycamobile Denmark uses the Telia network, which is shared with Telenor. OiSTER uses the 3 Denmark network. You can get Lebara Denmark and Lycamobile Denmark SIM cards in various stores, but you can also order them online and get them delivered for free to a Danish address. OiSTER SIM cards are supposedly sold in various stores as well, but it is quite a challenge to find them. You are better off ordering those online too.

It is recommended to ask your ho(s)tel or Airbnb if they can keep your SIM card safe for you in case you wish to order them online. Else, they may be wondering why they received a random SIM card.

Like some countries in Europe, you do not have to register your passport when buying a Danish SIM card.

Denmark is part of the European Union (EU). As of June 2017, a new regulation has been enforced, which is known as roam at like home, meaning that those with a European Union (or EEA) SIM card should be allowed to use (some) of their data allowance in other EU/EEA countries without a surcharge.

All providers offer an EU roaming allowance. OiSTER used not to allow its packages to be used outside of Denmark. However, that seems to have changed recently. With Lebara Denmark, you need to purchase a pack through their website to get an EU allowance. Lycamobile Denmark does not have this requirement, but it can be a challenge for EU roaming to work, based on personal experience.

Lebara Denmark’s offline packs, which are plans purchased in stores or by SMS, also have an EU allowance, but you need to do an online transaction first before you can roam in the EU. An online transaction could be ordering your SIM card online, topping up online, creating a MyLebara profile, or purchasing a pack online.

Remember, do not buy any Danish SIM card other than Lebara Denmark, Lycamobile Denmark, or OiSTER. Although you can buy OK Mobil, Coop Mobil, and Nettalk SIM cards in certain stores (OK gas stations, Coop stores, or Netto stores), you need a CPR-number to activate those SIM cards.

The Best SIM Card in Denmark

If you want to buy a SIM card in Denmark, I would recommend going with either Lebara or Lycamobile because both operators give a lot of data for relatively low prices. Moreover, they have good coverage throughout Denmark too.

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Denmark Prepaid SIM Cards

Below, I will guide you through Lebara Denmark, Lycamobile Denmark, and OiSTER, and go through:

• Background information about the operators
• How to get a SIM card from each operator
• How to recharge your SIM card
• What type of data-featured packages are offered by the operators

What that being said, let's see what the Danish operators have to offer to us.

Lebara Denmark

Lebara Denmark, just Lebara, is one of the MVNOs available to travelers in Denmark. Lebara is active in numerous countries, making them a well-known brand. Lebara uses the Telenor Denmark network (which also allows you to use the Danish Telia network because of the Telia-Telenor partnership). As a result, you can expect good coverage and speeds throughout the country.

Lebara SIM cards are sold in many stores like supermarkets, gas stations, and 7-Elevens for 49 DKK ($7.10) and come with 10 DKK in credit. You can get a Lebara SIM card for free if you order it online and get it delivered to a Danish address or to go a Lebara outlet, although they will most likely force you to top-up on the spot before they give you a SIM card.

Recharge cards are sold in various stores, and you can top-up online with a credit card. You can check your balance by texting Balance to 5010.

Lebara has SIM-only deals, data bundles, and packages that you can activate through SMS or buy in stores (recharge vouchers). SIM-only deals and some “offline” packages come with an EU allowance. The data bundles can only be used in Denmark.

The following online monthly Lebara SIM-only deals are available, which have to be purchased on the Lebara website:

• 49 DKK: 4 GB, 2 GB EU, 4 hours to Danish numbers and to 50 other countries
• 99 DKK: 100 GB, 5 GB EU, 100 hours to Danish numbers and to 50 other countries
• 149 DKK: 200 GB, 7 GB EU, 200 hours to Danish numbers and to 50 other countries
• 199 DKK: 300 GB, 10 GB EU, 300 hours to Danish numbers and to 50 other countries

The offline monthly Lebara SIM-only deals are:

• 99 DKK: 60 GB and 10 hours to Danish numbers and to 50 other countries. Activation: text GETALL to 5010 or with recharge voucher
• 149 DKK: 100 GB and 15 hours to Danish numbers and to 50 other countries. Activation: text GETON to 5010 or with recharge voucher
• 199 DKK: 200 GB and 20 hours to Danish numbers and to 50 other countries. Activation: text GETBIG to 5010 or with recharge voucher

The 50 other countries Lebara customers can call to are:

The following online monthly Lebara data bundles are available. They do not come with minutes for calls or data for EU roaming, and have to be purchased on the Lebara website:

• 49 DKK: 4 GB
• 99 DKK: 100 GB
• 199 DKK: 300 GB
• 299 DKK: 500 GB

The offline monthly Lebara data packages are:

• 49 DKK: 3 GB. Activation: text DATAM to 5010 or with recharge voucher
• 99 DKK: 60 GB. Activation: text DATAXL to 5010 or with recharge voucher
• 199 DKK: 200 GB. Activation: text DATA2XL to 5010 or with recharge voucher
• 299 DKK: 300 GB. Activation: text DATA3XL to 5010 or with recharge voucher

When you order a package online, you get the option to let it either auto-renew or not on the Lebara website. Offline packages will also auto-renew if you have enough credit. To stop auto-recharge, text the activation code with *stop to 5010. For example, if you want to cancel the 199 DKK 200 GB off data package, you would text DATA2XL*stop to 5010.

RELATED: You should check out my Lebara review where I go even more in-depth about Lebara, and tell you whether you should get a Lebara SIM card or not.

Lycamobile Denmark

Lycamobile Denmark, just Lycamobile, is another MVNO accessible to travelers. Just like Lebara, Lycamobile is active in various countries. It uses the Telia network (which allows you to use the Telenor network too because of the Telia-Telenor partnership). Therefore, coverage and speeds will be good with Lycamobile.

Lycamobile SIM cards can be ordered online for free to be sent to a Danish address, or you can buy it in several stores like supermarkets or gas stations for 29 DKK, but you will get 10 DKK in credit as well. Recharging can be done online with credit cards.

Lycamobile has All-in-One bundles, data bundles, and national bundles. Data bundles come with only data, while All-in-One and national bundles come with data, SMS, and minutes.

The following monthly Lycamobile All-in-One bundles can be purchased:

• 99 DKK: 60 GB, 6.5 GB EU, 10 hours to Danish numbers and to 50 other countries, unlimited local SMS, and unlimited calls and SMS to Lycamobile numbers. Activation: text 4599 to 3535, dial *139*4599#, or purchase online.
• 149 DKK: 100 GB, 7.25 GB EU, 15 hours to Danish numbers and to 50 other countries, unlimited local SMS, and unlimited calls and SMS to Lycamobile numbers. Activation: text 45129 to 3535, dial *139*45129#, or purchase online
• 199 DKK: 60 GB, 9.75 EU, 10 hours to Danish numbers and to 69 other countries, unlimited local SMS, and unlimited calls and SMS to Lycamobile numbers. Activation: text 4599 to 3535, dial *139*199#, or purchase online
• 199 DKK: 200 GB, 9.75 GB EU, unlimited calls to Danish numbers and to 50 other countries, unlimited local SMS, 300 minutes to Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Turkey, and unlimited calls and SMS to Lycamobile numbers. Activation: text 45199 to 3535, dial *139*45199#, or purchase online

These are the other 50/69 countries Lycamobile customers with an All-in-One plan can call to:

* Only available to the 199 DKK 60 GB plan
1 landline phones only

If you are only interested in data, then the following monthly Lycamobile data plans are available to you:

• 25 DKK: 1 GB and 1 GB EU. Activation: text 4510 to 3535, dial *139*4510#, or purchase online
• 35 DKK: 2 GB and 1.75 GB EU. Activation: text 4520 to 3535, dial *139*4520#, or purchase online
• 49 DKK: 5 GB and 2.5 GB EU. Activation: text 4530 to 3535, dial *139*4530#, or purchase online
• 69 DKK: 7 GB and 3.5 GB EU. Activation: text 4535 to 3535, dial *139*4535#, or purchase online
• 99 DKK: 80 GB and 5 GB EU. Activation: text 4540 to 3535, dial *139*4540#, or purchase online

Lastly, the monthly Lycamobile national plans can only be purchased online on the Lycamobile website:

• 49 DKK: 5 GB, 3.5 GB EU, 500 local minutes and SMS, and 500 minutes and SMS to other Lycamobile numbers.
• 99 DKK: 110 GB, 6.5 GB EU, unlimited local calls and SMS, and unlimited calls and SMS to other Lycamobile numbers.
• 149 DKK: 250 GB, 9.5 GB EU, unlimited local calls and SMS, and unlimited calls and SMS to other Lycamobile numbers.

All plans auto-renew if purchased online or through your phone. You get the option to disable auto-renewal when buying a bundle on the Lycamobile website. Plans bought through USSD code or SMS will only auto-renew when there is enough credit.

RELATED: You should check out my Lycamobile Review where I go even more in-depth about Lycamobile, and tell you whether you should get a Lycamobile SIM card or not.

OiSTER

OiSTER is an MVNO that uses the 3 Denmark network. Because of that, their coverage and speeds will be decent. OiSTER can roam on the TDC network if 3 Denmark has no coverage in that area.

I used to be a 3 Denmark subscriber for 2.5 years when I studied in Denmark. I have to say, unless you are stationary, your coverage will be awful, even in Copenhagen. I expected speeds to be awful when on the train because it was moving so fast, but I barely had any coverage (using the WIFI of the train was better, only if it worked).

Once I moved to TDC (subscription), I realized that coverage and speeds do not have to suck, even in Copenhagen – keep that in mind when getting an OiSTER SIM card.

Do note that my 3 Denmark experience was before 3 Denmark struck a deal with TDC – they may have improved their service by now.

OiSTER Go! SIM cards are sold in various stores, but you may be better off ordering them online because I had no luck finding OiSTER SIM cards. OiSTER Go! SIM cards come in two variants: OiSTER Go! Startpakke (29 DKK) and OiSTER Go! Mobilt Bredbånd startpakke (39 DKK):

• 29 DKK: 50 DKK credit and can be used for calls, SMS, and data
• 39 DKK: 300 MB preloaded and can only be used for data

The following data packs can be purchased, which all come with unlimited local SMS and MMS:

• 49 DKK: 2 GB, 2 GB EU, and 2 hours for calls
• 89 DKK: 25 GB, 6 GB EU, and 5 hours for calls
• 99 DKK: 40 GB, 7 GB EU, and 10 hours for calls
• 109 DKK: 60 GB, 7 GB EU, and unlimited calls
• 149 DKK: unlimited data (unknown Fair-use Policy), 10 GB EU, and unlimited calls

All packages can only be bought online on the OiSTER website. The site is, unfortunately, in Danish only. You can use Google Translate to navigate through the menu, or you can contact me, and I can help you out with activating a package.

You can also get an OiSTER data-only SIM card called OiSTER Mobilt Bredbånd Tank Selv for 99 DKK. You can get the SIM card bundles with a 3G modem for 499 DKK if you are interested. For this data-only SIM card, you can get time-based vouchers that give you 50 GB per day. The following vouchers are available:

• 29 DKK: 1 day
• 79 DKK: 7 days
• 199 DKK: 30 days
• 499 DKK: 90 days

These packages can be bought online through this link. To activate an OiSTER data-only package, you have to follow the following steps:

1. Go to this page
2. On the second column (the one in the middle), select the time-based package you want
3. Enter your phone number next to Mobilnummer (to get the activation code via SMS) and enter your email next to Email (to get your activation code via email)
4. Press Bekræft (confirm)
5. Press on Gå til betaling (proceed to payment)
6. Enter your credit card information
7. Copy your activation code, Aktiveringskode, you received by email or phone
8. Go back to this page (the same site you initiated this process)
9. On the left column, you will see Aktiver OiSTER Mobilt Bredbånd, enter your phone number or customer number next to Mobilnr./Kundenr. Twice (igen means again)
10. Enter your activation code next to Aktiveringskode
11. Wait about 10 minutes, and your package has successfully been activated!

Which Danish SIM Card in the Best?

Now that you know everything you need to know about telecom providers in Denmark, you may be wondering which SIM card is the best for you. I made a Danish SIM Card comparison article where I go through Lycamobile, Lebara, and OiSTER more in-depth, comparing their packages, speeds, and coverage.

It is a good read where I take certain scenarios into account that may apply to you (such as spending a certain amount on data packages like 50 DKK, 100 DKK, and 200 DKK, wanting to roam within the EU, and speeds).

Be sure sure to check out the Best Danish SIM Card comparison post.

The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Denmark

Getting a SIM card from either Lebara or Lycamobile would do you well when considering a Danish SIM card. Be sure to explore the roaming options your provider offers you, as they may offer free or cheap roaming bundles.

You could also consider getting an international SIM card or using a portable hotspot. International SIM cards are attractive for those visiting multiple destinations at once or within a year. Portable hotspots will be useful when traveling with multiple people so that not each individual has to get a SIM card but can use the hotspot.

Visiting other countries in Scandinavia or the Nordic Countries? Check out my Scandinavia and Nordics SIM card buying guide covering the other Scandinavian and Nordic destinations, such as the Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

What about other places in Europe? My Europe SIM card buying guide covers all destinations in Europe, including those not part of the European Union/EEA, such as Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

Going to other places around the world? Then you should also check out my sim card buying guides for other destinations around the world.

Next Steps to Enhance Your Travel Experiences

Looking for the next steps to enhance your phone travel experiences? Here is what to do:

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You can buy local prepaid SIM cards, international SIM cards, mobile hotspots, or roam internationally. Each of these options has its pros and cons. Learn more about them, and find the best option for you.

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