On a clear day, going out into nature in search of mushrooms can be a lovely activity, provided you have the right equipment and knowledge.

That’s why I’m putting together a little guide about the best mushrooms to search for in and around Copenhagen.

A growing passion for fungi

The explosion of New Nordic cuisine has triggered a rise in foraging and encouraged people to form a greater understanding of the ecosystems in which they live. Knowing what grows around us in the towns, cities and villages where we live not only provides wholesome activities, but can put tasty (free) dishes on our plates and give us a look at how our ancestors would have lived off the land. The vast mycelial networks which connect fungi also give us fascinating insights into this entirely overlooked genus, more closely related to humans that they are to plants.

I’ve included a few of my favourite dishes from foraged mushrooms, but there is no end to the delicious recipes you can cook up. Of course, one has to be careful of what one is foraging for, as seemingly edible funghi in and around our forests, moors and woodlands can be dangerously poisonous and potentially fatal. For this reason I want to give a disclaimer that this guide is by no means a guide to what is safe to eat.

There are around 3000 species of mushrooms in Denmark and it can be hard to determine which one you have in front of you.

I would encourage you to find a funghi expert to accompany you on your first few expeditions, or at least to come equiped with a funghi identificaiton book or app.

Make sure you only ingest mushrooms you are 100% sure of what they are, never eat them raw, and only ingest small amounts at first in case you or friends are allergic.

With that being said, the woodlands and marshes in and around Copenhagen provide excellent chanterelle, King Bolete mushroom, and common mushroom, so let’s take the microscope out and study those in a bit more detail.

Where to find mushrooms in Copenhagen?

You can find edible mushrooms in most wooded areas in Denmark. Unlike its nordic neighbours, Denmark doesn’t have allemannsretten to roam across nature, so its best to use public forest and nature reserves where you can freely wander anywhere, rather than privately owned areas - where you won’t be allowed to leave the path.

What to bring on your mushroom hunt?

• A Mushroom basket - Find a carrier made of organic materials which will allow the mushrooms to breath, avoid them getting damp and help them spread their spores as you continue your walk through the forest.

• Mushroom knife - A small, sharp knife to snip the mushrooms from soil or trees, and remove ‘bad’ parts.

• Mushroom book or identification app - As mentioned above, this is a necessity to know what to look out for, what is safe to eat and what should be avoided.

• A map - to mark down the best mushroom spots (and to help find your way back home!).

When is the best time to look for mushrooms in Denmark?

It is possible to find mushrooms in Denmark throughout the year, but the best time is during the autumn from September to November. Mushrooms love dampness and moisture, so if you’ve had a wet August or early September get out in the woods and start searching - you’re sure to strike gold .

Cleaning and preparing your mushrooms

As I mentioned above, always make sure to properly cook your mushrooms before consuming, quite a few contain potentially harmful substances which are only safe to consume after cooking.
Clean your mushrooms with a damp cloth or brush, and don’t be afraid to give them a quick rinse to remove soil - it’s a misconception that you shouldn’t use water to clean fungi, just don’t drown them by soaking in water.

Now get out there and find some delicious mushrooms. Happy hunting!

Exploring more of Scandinavia

Enjoy this article? Want to add more suggestions of fungi to harvest in Denmark, or recipes you have used? Leave a comment below.

If you want to get more inspiration of what to do and see out in nature, check out my guide to the Klampenborg park north of Copenhagen, a great spot for mushroom foraging.

Or find out some of the best spots for wild swimming in Copenhagen, from purpose-build lidos to world-famous beaches.

Want to escape the cities for a while? Check out my guide to Gilleleje below: