Travel Insurance for a Denmark Vacation (2024)

Travel insurance is only required for a trip to Denmark if you plan to stay long enough to need a Schengen visa. This is a special visa that allows you to freely move between Schengen countries including Iceland, Switzerland and Croatia among others. You must have a Schengen visa if you plan to stay in Denmark longer than 90 days. Depending on your country of residence, you may also need to apply for a Schengen visa.

Most U.S. travelers are exempt from this requirement, as they are from travel insurance, which isn’t necessary to enter Denmark. However, traveling without insurance could leave you paying out of pocket for unexpected expenses and delays.

Travel insurance plans provide coverage for trip interruptions, cancellations and travel delays. It supplies a useful safety net for international travel. In addition to covering the cost of lost dollars from delays and cancellations, your travel insurance policy will cover medical expenses if you get sick or get hurt while on vacation. This helps if you plan to participate in Denmark adventures like hiking or camping, where risks of injury are higher.

The following sections will explain different types of insurance coverage that may be beneficial to your Denmark trip.

Cancel for Any Reason Coverage

A smart add-on for any travel insurance plan is cancel for any reason coverage. Also called CFAR, it lets you cancel your trip for reasons that would usually not be covered in your cancellation insurance. This gives you much more flexibility in the lead-up to your vacation. It will even permit you to cancel your trip if you have a change of heart.

However, CFAR has some exclusions worth noting. These include:

• You have to accept lower reimbursement rates, such as 50% or 75% of the trip cost.
• The rider has a residential requirement: your home state may make you ineligible.
• You must buy a CFAR rider within a specific time frame, usually within 14-21 days before the departure date.

Gear Theft Protection

Many basic travel insurance policies have provisions to replace stolen or lost belongings. This is known as gear theft protection. Your insurance provider will help replace or repair items you bring with you on vacation. This is especially helpful if you bring expensive equipment: camping gear, a camera, a laptop, etc.

This coverage will have a deductible, the amount you must pay before the policy kicks in. This means that any items with a value below the deductible will have to be replaced with your own funds.

Coverage for your personal belongings can also be as low as $500 in more affordable policies. That may not work if you plan to haul many expensive items. In that case, you may want to pay a higher premium so that your items are protected or consider insuring each item individually.

Also, if you bought any of the items with a credit card, you may already have some consumer protection through the credit card. Check with your card provider before buying insurance for your gear.

Medical Emergency Insurance and Emergency Medical Evacuation

One of the most important parts of a travel insurance plan is medical emergency insurance. Also known as travel medical insurance, it covers your medical expenses while in Denmark.

Health care is not free in Denmark, and medical costs can get expensive. Your travel health insurance will cover expenses like:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Medical transport
• Hospitalization
• Prescriptions

The transport coverage comes into play if you need to be moved to a nearby region like Norway or Sweden for special medical treatment. Then there’s medical repatriation.

Medical repatriation coverage helps with the cost of returning you to your home country for medical help. This can be an unusually high expense. Because of that, experts recommend you have a minimum coverage of $100,000 to cover possible transportation costs.

Rental Car Protection

Some travel insurance policies have the option to include rental car protection. This is usually much cheaper than purchasing protection from a rental vehicle agency.

With a non-EU license, you can drive within Denmark for up to 90 days, provided that you have held a full license for at least a year. If you’re planning to rent a vehicle for your trip, your protection will cover the cost of any damage to the vehicle and can even reimburse you for any items that are damaged or stolen in the vehicle.

Rental car protection has some exclusions. Most are associated with reckless driving or driving under the influence but check the terms of your policy to see the full list.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Your travel insurance will reimburse you for any non-refundable deposits you made for your trip if you cancel it. This will only apply if you cancel for a reason that’s covered in the policy. Covered reasons usually include:

• An unforeseen injury or illness that will prevent you from traveling
• Death of a family member or traveling companion
• Unnamed storms and natural disasters
• Loss of employment
• Jury duty

The above list doesn’t include every covered reason. You can find a more detailed list in the terms and conditions of your insurance policy. You can also find specifics of claim procedures and reimbursement limits.

The cost of travel insurance depends on many factors, including your age, your country of residence and the insurance company. Different companies and policies have varying coverage limits and terms, and not all of them will directly affect policy prices.

We requested quotes from ten travel insurance companies for their most affordable plan for a trip to Denmark. The below quotes are for a 30-year-old traveler from Florida, traveling to Denmark for ten days in September 2024, with a total trip cost of $4,000. Policies include coverage for cancellations, interruptions, delays, medical care and evacuation.

These quotes were collected in April 2024 for a trip in September 2024.

Almost all of the plans offer 100% of the insured trip cost in their cancellation coverage. However, World Nomads offers up to $2500 in cancellation insurance. Likewise, most of the plans include $500 for lost or stolen baggage, but World Nomads and Travel Guard offer $1,000 and $750, respectively.

World Nomads Standard is the most expensive plan but provides the greatest medical and emergency evacuation coverage. Tin Leg Economy is the most affordable plan and has adequate coverage when compared to the rest of the providers.

Before you buy travel insurance, consider what protection is most important for your trip. Then the minimum coverage limits you need. You can search travel insurance company websites online and calculate your insurance quote based on trip details.

Once you find a plan that supplies the best travel insurance for your trip, you can buy it online. If you’re traveling on a budget, some insurance companies provide cheap plans which still include good coverage.

Denmark is one of the safest countries in the world, ranking No. 4 on the 2022 global peace index. Travelers will likely encounter minimal violent crime but should be wary of possible terror incidents in major cities. Petty crimes are rare, and there is almost no risk of natural disasters.

The following tips will help you stay safe during your Danish vacation.

Crime and Safety

Denmark is known for its safety, making it an attractive place for tourists. While petty crimes are uncommon, you should still be wary of pickpockets in busy city centers like Copenhagen.

Always keep your belongings secure and on your body or else leave them in your accommodation. One specific note: photography in the Christiana neighborhood of Copenhagen is prohibited, and in the past tourists have been attacked for taking pictures.

Travel advisories highlight terrorism as a potential risk of traveling to Denmark. Attacks can occur anywhere with no warning and could cause significant interruptions to your trip. While on your vacation, follow local news sources through an app to keep updated on any terror events. Likewise, you can always contact your home country’s consulate in the event of an emergency.

Day Trips, Tours and Excursions 

Denmark is filled with historic buildings and breathtaking architecture, so your vacation is bound to have a few tours and excursions. You can enjoy city tours of Copenhagen and visit Tivoli Gardens, the world’s second-oldest theme park. If Tivoli Gardens piques your interest, why not head to Billund and enjoy the renowned Legoland Resort?

When booking private tours or excursions, only choose companies that have good reviews and clear safety regulations. You can hit all the main sights yourself without booking through a company. Should you find yourself lost or in need of help, the locals are friendly and many speak English.

COVID-19

Because the pandemic is no longer considered a global emergency, the Danish government has removed all entry restrictions regarding COVID-19. However, it recommends you wear a face covering if you have a respiratory infection and self-isolate if you believe yourself to have COVID-19. More information about coronavirus and safety measures can be found on the Danish government website.

Although you may not require travel insurance to enter Denmark, having a comprehensive policy is still a must. Without it, you risk paying out of pocket for any interruptions or expenses that could occur on your trip.

Travel insurance will cover your medical expenses which can be very expensive in Denmark, and it will also reimburse you should your belongings be lost or damaged. Overall, it is a great option if you want to have peace of mind while you explore the pleasures of Denmark.