The European city that gives you free food, bike rentals and access to museums if you do a good deed
A major European city is offering tourists free food, bike rentals and access to museums in exchange for gestures that support the local community — and other destinations could follow suit, writes the Daily Mail.
Copenhagen rewards good deeds/PHOTO: Archive
Copenhagen has launched a program where visitors can receive free or discounted cultural experiences if they adopt “conscious” behaviors that benefit the city. The new system, called CopenPay, rewards tourists for small positive actions, such as picking up waste from canals, choosing transport by bicycle or eating plant-based menus.
The initiative, initially introduced in 2024 as a pilot project, aims to encourage a more responsible form of tourism, in a context where the number of international visitors could reach 1.8 billion by 2030. The program encourages travelers to interact with Copenhagen in a more involved way, not just as simple consumers.
Tourists arriving by train or those spending more than four days in Denmark also benefit from additional benefits. And according to a Booking.com survey, seven out of ten travelers want to leave the places they visit in better condition than they found them — a sign of growing interest in such initiatives.
Over 30,000 visitors have used CopenPay
Since the launch of the pilot project, more than 30,000 visitors have used CopenPay. Bike rentals increased by nearly 60%, and 98% of participants would recommend the program. The interest is not limited to Denmark: more than 100 destinations around the world have requested information to implement a similar model, and some are already in the planning stages.
This year, the program has been significantly expanded, including dozens of local partners and more cities. Participants can exchange positive actions for coffee, ice cream, lunches, glasses of wine or vegetarian menus. They can also benefit from free admission to museums, guided tours, art workshops, yoga sessions, as well as free kayak and bike rentals.
To receive the rewards, tourists only need to present a public transport ticket or a photo proving their involvement in activities such as waste collection or volunteering at urban farms.
“We've noticed how many visitors are looking for different and more meaningful experiences”said Søren Tegen Petersen, CEO of Wonderful Copenhagen. “Tourists don't just want to see a city, they want to be a part of it. CopenPay has given them that possibility.”
The Danish model has already inspired others. Berlin will launch its own program this summer, BerlinPay, modeled after CopenPay. “The concept shows that positive change works best when people can experience it firsthand,” said Sabine Wendt, CEO in Berlin. “We are working together with several local partners to develop a variant adapted to our city.”
