Copenhagen Expands CopenPay to 90 Free Attractions After 75K Tourists Triggered 29% Bike Rental Spike

Copenhagen is taking a fresh approach to encourage environmentally conscious tourism. The city’s CopenPay program, which gives visitors free activities for making green choices, is coming back bigger this summer after its successful trial run last year.

Running from June 17 to August 17, the expanded program now includes 90 attractions – more than triple the number from last year’s pilot. Visitors can earn free experiences like bike rentals, yoga sessions, and museum visits by choosing eco-friendly options during their stay.

“By integrating more responsible actions into the visitor experience, CopenPay is redefining how we in Copenhagen approach tourism,” says Søren Tegen Pedersen, head of Wonderful Copenhagen. He emphasizes that the goal isn’t to attract more tourists, but to encourage visitors to travel more sustainably.

The program’s expansion comes after strong results from last summer’s four-week trial. About 75,000 tourists participated, leading to a 29% increase in bike rentals. Participants also helped clean up the city, collecting significant amounts of litter. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with 98% saying they would recommend the program to others.

This year’s program puts special focus on train travel and longer stays. Visitors who arrive by train can get free bike rentals, guided tours, and discounted entry to major attractions like the National Museum and Kronborg Castle. The program encourages longer stays to reduce travel-related emissions.

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Tourists can earn rewards through various activities:

• Using bikes or public transport to explore the city
• Joining city cleanup efforts
• Volunteering in urban gardens
• Choosing plant-based meals
• Participating in recycling initiatives

One participating business, Goboat, which offers solar-powered boat rentals, saw high demand during last year’s trial. “Last year, 500 people jumped at our offer of one hour of free boating in exchange for picking up trash in the waters of the port. We weren’t even able to satisfy demand,” says company representative Mads Pilegaard Sander.

The program addresses a notable gap between intentions and actions in sustainable tourism. While 82% of tourists say they want to travel sustainably, only 22% consistently follow through with sustainable choices.

The nine-week program will be promoted through city billboards and social media. Participating attractions include popular spots like The National Gallery of Denmark, CopenHill (a synthetic ski slope), and The Urban Garden.

The initiative operates largely on trust, with simple proof requirements like train tickets or activity photos. This approach makes it easy for visitors to participate while encouraging responsible tourism practices that benefit both the environment and local community.