Latest news with #WonderfulCopenhagen
The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
How to explore Copenhagen for a lower cost with eco-friendly app
CopenPay, then, is a breath of fresh air – a new, innovative initiative that brings joy and real benefits for both locals and visitors; helping you literally clean up Copenhagen as you visit. 'CopenPay is something real that improves our city,' beams marine biologist Izzy Smith, as she guides me, my wife and our two teenage daughters around the Danish capital's spectacular waterways in our battery operated small boat. Izzy works for GoBoat, which offers free rentals if you fish out rubbish on your trip, as part of CopenPay, a scheme whose organisers stress rewards 'conscious actions'. READ MORE: 'Not in our name': Protests start in Aberdeen amidst Donald Trump visit As CopenPay develops, it's growing organic arms and legs. 'This summer, we're recording how much rubbish people pick up and what type,' explains Izzy. 'And then we're collating the data to measure trends and to learn more about the issues facing our city. We're also working with the WWF and other bodies on regeneration and biodiversity programmes.' We ease around the Frederiksholms Kanal and the Christianshavns Kanal, armed with wee fishing nets. I wasn't sure what my teens would make of this, but they buy in instantly, fishing out a crisp packet and a soft drink can as we slip along in the shadow of some of Scandinavia's most impressive architecture. 'Everyone wins as you get to have fun, save money and Copenhagen becomes cleaner. It's been really popular. I've got family in Aberdeen, so maybe you should try something like this in Scotland,' adds Izzy. Trying something like this in Scotland is a brilliant idea. In 30 years of travelling around more than 100 countries I've just not seen anything quite like CopenPay, with almost 70 businesses embracing it. Søren Tegen Pedersen, CEO at Wonderful Copenhagen, believes CopenPay can create wider ripples: 'Our long-term vision is included in our tourism strategy 'Copenhagen, all-inclusive'. Here, we adopt a holistic approach to tourism, which considers both its positive and negative impacts. Our vision is to make tourism in Copenhagen contribute positively, not only locally and nationally, but also globally.' I had worried that despite good intentions CopenPay – in its first full year after a successful pilot last summer – might crumble against the practicalities of the real world, but it couldn't start any better. As we arrive sustainably by train we're rewarded with vouchers at the station that, using the Too Good To Go app, give us a free meal made up of items 7-Eleven would have otherwise thrown out. It's enough for breakfast for us all. Our other three vouchers are similarly rewarding – one place giving us four heaving bags of pastries we passed on to some appreciative locals as 'a gift from Scotland'. One of the things that really impresses about CopenPay is that everyone seems to be embracing it; even our hotels. At the hip boutique 25 Hours Hotel Indre By ( in the city centre, we enjoy free iced coffees when we show on our phones that we've walked 5000 steps. At the swish, towering Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers by IHG ( – another great base, just five minutes by train from the airport, CopenPay gives us the option of a free yoga session, though I opt to peer instead over the sea to Sweden from our 23rd-floor room. You don't go to any Scandinavian city for a budget break, but CopenPay helps take the edge off. And while you're saving money you're travelling more sustainably. The Copenhagen Museum just ask us to show we've arrived using public transport to grab a free coffee. At the Danish Architecture Centre, you can get a free guide to go with your veggie lunch. Their Recycle! temporary exhibition (until September 10) chimes well with CopenPay. And over lunch at the excellent Bryggeriet Apollo at the landmark Tivoli Garden – where we'd planned to go anyway – we all get a free CopenPay drink, with beer an option. I enjoy delicious Skarsgard prawns washed down with a free fresh lemonade. Handily we also had a Copenhagen Card, which offers free use of public transport – including to and from the airport – and entry to a whole host of attractions. This award-winning app proves seriously easy to use and dovetails well with CopenPay – it allows us easy access to places, where we then enjoy the CopenPay rewards for our sustainable actions. Sustainability is a serious multi-faceted issue facing travel today and it's reassuring to see a city taking a stand and doing something about it in a practical way. As we handed those rubbish picking nets back at the end of our boat trip, my youngest Emma smiled: 'I didn't know going out picking up rubbish could be such fun. Maybe it's something we should try back home'. Well done Copenhagen and well done CopenPay, an innovative scheme that will hopefully inspire other cities. Further information at It's best to book CopenPay activities in advance as some are on specific dates and others have limited spaces.
Malay Mail
02-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Trash for treats: Copenhagen's CopenPay rewards tourists with free boat rides, concert tickets, and coffee for cleaning canals
COPENHAGEN, July 2 — Mexican tourist Rocio Gomez spent an hour boating on Copenhagen's canals free of charge in exchange for picking up trash in the water, part of a city programme for rewarding eco-friendly tourists. During her tour on an electric motorboat, which normally costs around US$95 an hour, Rocio collected trash in the Copenhagen port. 'You're doing something helpful and you're also having a good time,' she told AFP. The 34-year-old who works in sustainable development said she planned to take advantage of other similar deals offered in Copenhagen during her visit. From mid-June until late August, the CopenPay initiative offers around 100 activities in exchange for free or reduced prices on a selection of experiences. For example, participants can get a coffee, pastry or concert ticket in exchange for an hour of picking up trash; a rebate on a restaurant dinner if they do some gardening; or a free guided tour for those who stay in the city longer than three days. 'We saw that four out of five people actually want to do good, but only one does it. So we wanted to see how we could bridge that gap and inspire more people to do good,' said Rikke Holm Petersen, head of communications at the Wonderful Copenhagen tourism board. The initiative was tested on a smaller scale last year, when 75,000 people took part. This year, Wonderful Copenhagen expects at least twice as many. The number of companies and institutions taking part, and getting no financial gain in return, has increased four-fold. The campaign targets tourists but applies to anyone who wants to participate. At the motorboat rental company GoBoat, as at many other places, the offer is limited. 'Around 60 people can come every Tuesday and Thursday morning' after signing up on a CopenPay website, said GoBoat's Isabel Smith. A marine biologist, Smith is in charge of analysing the trash hauled by CopenPay users, averaging two kilos (4.4 pounds) per boat, most of which is plastic. 'I measure the plastic by width and length, then identify the type of plastic,' she said. 'This will contribute to our current understanding of the role of the harbour and plastic pollution.' Spread abroad? The programme has proven popular with tourists. 'When you are travelling to different places, you want to experience different things. And I found that this is pretty amazing,' Gomez said. 'At the beginning, it was pretty clean — extremely clean — but then we found certain corners that were pretty dirty.' 'And then we started to pick up all the trash from the corners with bamboo nets.' Also in her boat was Marta Reschiglian, an Italian student visiting Copenhagen with a group of friends on an Erasmus university exchange programme. 'Since we are students and we are sometimes on a really tight budget, it's so nice to be able to do these things, to combine a bit of a sustainable, friendly behaviour and also a way to get things for free,' Reschiglian said. 'Lots of cities should start to adopt these kinds of initiatives,' she added. 'We are seeing all over the world that there are so many problems with mass tourism.' The project could spread to other cities outside Denmark. 'We've been sharing insights with 100 destinations all over the world,' said Petersen at Wonderful Copenhagen. In the Danish capital, the initiative could become permanent in the future, with a winter programme as well. Around four million tourists visit Copenhagen each year, the majority in summer. — AFP
National Geographic
23-06-2025
- Business
- National Geographic
In Copenhagen, travelers can score free perks—just for being responsible
Imagine a city that rewards you for making sustainable choices—ride a bike instead of driving to receive free admission to a museum, walk 5,000 steps to get a free cup of coffee, or collect trash from the harbor to earn a free kayak ride. That's what Copenhagen is doing through its new CopenPay initiative. CopenPay encourages visitors to make environmentally friendly choices in exchange for free or discounted local experiences, admission to Copenhagen's top attractions, or a complimentary cup of coffee or beer. It offers travelers a meaningful way to leave a lighter footprint and engage with Copenhagen's local culture. (Unique ways to experience Copenhagen, Denmark's eco-friendly capital.) What is CopenPay? Last summer, Wonderful Copenhagen, the city's official tourism organization, launched a four-week pilot CopenPay program to reward visitors for making eco-conscious decisions during their stay. The program offered a simple proposition, 'Do something good for the city, and you will be rewarded in return.' Visitors are encouraged to ditch the car and explore Copenhagen on foot or by bike, volunteer at an urban farm, help pick up trash in the canals, or opt for a plant-based meal. In return, if they can demonstrate proof of their contributions through photographs or receipts, they could earn complimentary or discounted perks including a 70-minute free electric-powered canal tour with Stromma Denmark, free entry to a concert at Urban 13, or a free beer-tasting while discovering how the Husbryggeriet Jacobsen brand turns surplus food into craft brews at Carlsberg Brewery. Øens Have is an urban organic farm in Copenhagen and just one of 90 partners participating in the CopenPay program. Photograph Courtesy of Øens Have The program's rewards are selected to embody the values at the core of Danish life and culture. In addition to its efficient public transit system, Copenhagen's bike infrastructure makes it easy to get around on two wheels—one of the city's most common forms of transportation. Swarms of suited cyclists gliding down designated bike lanes during rush hour are a regular sight. Recycling is widely practiced with waste-sorting bins found at cafes and public spaces. And restaurants like La Banchina—deeply committed to using only local and seasonal ingredients—are not just trendy, they're mainstays of the city's dining scene. With mass tourism increasingly becoming a problem, this initiative was designed to encourage visitors to make more sustainable choices. And it worked. According to Wonderful Copenhagen, in 2024 there was a 29 percent increase in bike rentals attributed to the CopenPay program compared to the previous year. 'CopenPay is important because it makes sustainable and local initiatives more visible and accessible, not just to residents, but also to visitors who want to experience the city in a more meaningful way,' says Livia Haaland, co-founder and gardener at Øens Have, an organic farm and restaurant in Refshaleøen. 'It connects people with places that reflect Copenhagen's values around climate responsibility, community, and innovation.' At Øens Have, visitors who lend a hand with weeding and harvesting flower heads in the garden can earn a complimentary cup of coffee or tea. At Øens Have, visitors can weed and harvest flower heads in the garden to receive a free cup of coffee or tea. Photograph courtesy of Øens Have Øens Have uses ingredients from their on-site garden to provide guests with a unique farm-to-table dining experience. Photograph courtesy of Øens Have (The ulitmate hotel guide for Copenhagen.) How it works Ninety participating partners, including The National Museum, The National Gallery of Denmark, GoBoat, Copenhill, The Urban Garden, and Donkey Republic, offer rewards for eco-conscious behavior. The full list of partners includes a mix of cultural institutions and local attractions, making CopenPay a fun and immersive way for travelers to experience Copenhagen and make a positive impact. Maddy Novich, a visitor from New York City, participated in the CopenPay program, completing activities such as riding a bike to a museum in exchange for a cup of coffee and picking up trash in exchange for a small meal. 'I think it's a fantastic way to incentivize tourists to engage in responsible and eco-friendly behavior,' says Novich. 'I especially love that it encourages people to visit less well-known places—like picking up trash at a beer garden—which might otherwise be missed. It definitely made me more mindful of how I move through urban spaces as a guest.' Visitors can redeem perks for their responsible travel etiquette by showing proof of participation to the local partner, which can include photos of themselves engaging in the activity (e.g. bike riding, walking, etc.), train tickets, or any other form of verification. Like many things in Copenhagen, CopenPay operates on an honor system, reflecting Denmark's culture of trust and integrity. Volunteers pick up litter in the waterways of Copenhagen with Green Kayak, an environmental NGO that engages volunteers in the fight against environmental pollution. Photograph courtesy of GreenKayak A few CopenPay perks include a one-hour complimentary boat or kayak ride with GoBoat or Green Kayak in exchange for collecting trash while cruising. 'We've seen people arrive thinking the water in Copenhagen was completely clean—only to end up collecting around three kilos of trash in just two hours,' says Tobias Weber-Andersen, founder of GreenKayak. 'It's a real eye-opener that leaves a lasting impression, inspiring you to live a more sustainable and less harmful life on planet Earth.' Other rewards include cycling to Elsinore—the town that served as the backdrop for Shakespeare's Hamlet—to receive free entry to Kronborg Castle by planting seeds, a complimentary yoga class at the Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers, or a one-hour sauna or cold tub session courtesy of CopenHot. CopenPay also encourages people to travel by train instead of by plane because transportation remains one of the biggest contributors to travel-related carbon emissions. 'Since trains generally have significantly lower CO₂ emissions compared to airplanes, this year we are rewarding travelers who arrive by train,' says Rikke Holm Petersen, director of marketing at Wonderful Copenhagen. Travelers who visit Copenhagen from Deutsche Bahn or Snälltåget can earn a 45-minute complimentary bike rental through Donkey Republic, a bike rental app. If a train is not available in the region, visitors can alternatively show proof of purchasing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). (A culinary guide to the Danish captial's new Nordic cuisine.) The future of tourism Sustainability is deeply embedded in Danish culture. Denmark consistently ranks among the world's most sustainable countries , and CopenPay supports Copenhagen's ambitious goals of becoming one of the world's first carbon-neutral capitals. The program's success thus far has been recognized internationally and serves as a model for other destinations striving towards more sustainable tourism practices. Copenhagen isn't the first destination to launch a program that urges travelers to be more mindful. In 2020, Hawai'i launched Mālama Hawai'i, an ongoing campaign that invites travelers to mālama, or give back to the community and respect the islands. The program partnered with over 30 community organizations and volunteer groups that offer activities such as beach cleanups, tree plantings, or Hawaiian quilting sessions in exchange for a special discount to local attractions or a complimentary hotel night. For example, picking up trash on any Maui beach could earn a complimentary fourth night and daily breakfast for two at Hana-Maui Resort. 'Travelers are both curious and eager to experience entirely different travel experiences than usual, and many wish to give back to the destinations they visit,' says Petersen. 'However, it must be easy, simple, fun, and tailored to the local city and culture.' Copenhagen will share its learnings from the CopenPay program with other countries in the hopes of transforming mass tourism into a motivating force for good. Leila Najafi is a travel journalist who covers culture, wellness, and food. Follow her adventures on Instagram.
South China Morning Post
15-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Copenhagen to offer free bike rental and museum discounts to eco-friendly tourists
The city of Copenhagen in Denmark will offer special rebates and freebies to eco-friendly tourists this summer, including free bike rentals to those arriving by train and staying more than four days. Advertisement The CopenPay initiative, which was tested on a smaller scale in 2024, 'is about raising travellers' awareness about travelling more responsibly', Soren Tegen Pedersen, the head of the city 's tourism board Wonderful Copenhagen, said. The emphasis of the initiative is on transport, a highly polluting sector. Those who make climate-friendly and environmental choices, such as using bikes and picking up rubbish, will also be offered rebates at museums and tourist sites, as well as free yoga classes and vegetarian meals. Ninety sites are taking part in the campaign, including the National Museum of Denmark and CopenHill, a synthetic ski slope.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- The Independent
Tourists to be rewarded for arriving in Copenhagen by train – city's green initiative returns three times bigger
Copenhagen is bringing back an initiative allowing tourists to the city to 'pay' for attractions with sustainable actions, this time returning for twice as long, tripling the experiences on offer, and rewarding visitors arriving in the city via train. CopenPay was launched last year, running for a month in the summer as a green economy initiative, allowing visitors to carry out climate-friendly actions in exchange for entry to some of the city's best experiences and attractions. The city has decided to bring back CopenPay for a second year in a row, but has amped up its programme with a chance to win awards for arriving in Copenhagen via train or using other sustainable transport modes. The initiative was created in response to concerns over tourism being a major contributor to CO2 emissions, so Wonderful Copenhagen, the tourism organisation of the capital region of Denmark, has created CopenPay to try to change the mindset of tourists and encourage green choices. After the success of the pilot programme last year, CopenPay has come back triple the size, with 90 participating attractions across Copenhagen and running twice as long – nine weeks, from 17 June to 17 August. Attractions such as the National Museum, Kronborg Castle in Elsinore, the National Gallery of Denmark, GoBoat, Copenhill, the Urban Garden, and Donkey Republic bike rentals are among the participating experiences in CopenPay this year. CopenPay will also offer perks to visitors who arrive by train, including free bike rentals, yoga sessions, guided tours or discounted entry to some of the city's best attractions. Among the rewards for their actions, beer-loving tourists could receive a free guided tour at the Carlsberg brewery or experience the setting that inspired Shakespeare by taking public transport or biking to Elsinore, where Kronborg Castle sits. Free entry into the castle can even be obtained by collecting flower seeds in the city centre and planting them in designated green areas or pots. CopenPay also offers discounts for travellers arriving in an electric car, as well as rewards for travelling by bike or public transport. Visitors will be rewarded for travelling less by staying longer in the city, particularly those who book four or more nights in Copenhagen. Tourists can also carry out green actions, such as taking part in a cleanup, or choose plant-based food, in exchange for perks. CopenPay generally operates on trusting visitors that they are truthful and that they have carried out their sustainable actions, but for some rewards tourists will need to show proof of participation, such as train tickets, photos of biking, or confirmation of participation in a cleanup. Last year's CopenPay run saw bike rentals increase by 29 per cent, tons of litter collected, and 98 per cent of participants saying they would recommend the initiative. Søren Tegen Pedersen, CEO of Wonderful Copenhagen, said: "Tourism must move from being an environmental burden to a force for positive change. 'Luckily, there is a big willingness among tourists to contribute positively to the destinations they visit. 'With CopenPay, we aim to raise travellers' awareness about choices and impact. At the same time, we provide our visitors with an easy and locally based way to contribute to our city. 'And hopefully, they will leave inspired to do more responsible actions back home and on their next travel.'
