Copenhagen rewards travellers for eco deeds - and other cities are taking note

"There is something special about arriving anywhere by train, but it's especially wonderful in Copenhagen. As you step out of your ride and gaze up at the vaulted wooden beams of the Danish capital's Central Station, you're already just minutes from the historic centre, and connected to an extensive web of public transportation. On top of that easy access, train travel is estimated to produce about 90 per cent fewer CO2 emissions than travel by air,"

"Copenpay was first launched in July 2024 as a way for the city to encourage visitors to participate in hands-on activities, like picking up litter from parks or taking a kayak to help clean the city's waterways (already some of the cleanest in Europe, and dotted with swimmers in the warmer months). For their efforts, travellers were rewarded with free cultural experiences like museum entries, guided tours, and bike rentals."

"Copenhagen is turning that satisfying feeling of having done one's part to preserve the planet into material rewards through a popular city-wide program called Copenpay. This year, the summer-long initiative entered its second year, offering tangible benefits to travellers who choose to arrive by rail or engage in other eco-conscious behaviours during their visit. After seeing great success in 2025, Copenpay's organisers are hoping to continue the program next year and inspire other European cities to follow the model."

Copenhagen promotes rail travel and eco-friendly visitor actions through Copenpay, a city-wide rewards program. The initiative offers tangible benefits to travellers who arrive by train or engage in activities like litter pickup and kayak-based waterway cleanup. Rewards include free museum entries, guided tours, bike rentals, and occasional complimentary items from local businesses. The program operates on an honour code with no registration or app required. Copenpay launched in July 2024, ran again in summer 2025 with strong uptake, and organisers hope to continue the program and encourage other European cities to adopt similar models.

Read at CN Traveller