DR reported on September 23 that listeners on Bornholm named coffee, lactose-free products and dental visits as the best reasons to shop in Sweden, beyond cheap fuel.
The tips came from an open question put to listeners of P4 Morgen on Bornholm. The program asked what they would travel to Sweden for if not to fill the tank. DR collected the responses into three main recommendations.
Coffee was mentioned most often. Consumer economist Ann Lehmann Erichsen, an ambassador for financial literacy in Denmark, told DR there is a clear reason. Sweden cut value added tax on food from 12 percent to 6 percent, a rate that applies until the end of 2027.
The Swedish government has also published its own figures on the measure. In a press release dated September 1, 2026, the Government Offices of Sweden stated that food prices fell by 5.5 percent after the food VAT was halved. The reduced rate took effect on April 1, 2026, and runs through December 31, 2027.
The second tip was lactose-free food and drink. DR noted that between 3 and 6 percent of the Danish population reacts badly to dairy products. According to Erichsen, the lower food VAT applies here too, and the Swedish selection of lactose-free goods is considerably wider.
Dental treatment named as third tip
The third recommendation was harder to carry home. Both Erichsen and the Bornholm listeners pointed to booking an appointment with a Swedish dentist. As stated by Erichsen, Swedish dental prices have been lower than Danish ones for years.
She added one caveat. Patients who are treated in Sweden cannot bring a complaint to the Danish complaints authorities. DR also asked the Danish Patient Safety Authority, Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed, for guidance.
In a written reply, the authority said patients should examine their rights before traveling abroad for health treatment. It advised checking both the conditions around the treatment and the options for complaining if something goes wrong. The authority noted that the rules can differ from Danish rules, including in other EU countries.
DR also reported that cross-border shopping does not pay off for everyone. Erichsen said driving to Sweden is not free for residents of Copenhagen. Travel costs can easily reduce or consume the entire saving, she told the broadcaster.
Her point was that the trip needs planning to be worthwhile. If a journey is already scheduled, she said, fuel, a dental appointment and grocery shopping can be combined into one crossing.
