Tourists in Copenhagen can soon pay for the benefit by going on bike rides, showing train tickets and participating in other climate-friendly activities at some of the Danish capital’s coolest attractions.
The exchange system is part of a new initiative called Copenpay, which the city is piloting this summer from July 15 to August 11, Wonderful Copenhagen (the city’s tourism organization) shared with TPG. As part of the project, tourists can trade sustainable actions for free benefits at dozens of attractions across the city, including complimentary ice cream at the National Museum of Denmark, free coffee at museums in Copenhagen and more.
Mikael Aro-Hansen, CEO of Wonderful Copenhagen, said, “Making travel sustainable is a key task for us. And we will only succeed when we bridge the large gap between visitors’ desire for sustainability and their actual behavior.” In a statement shared with TPG. “We want visitors to make conscious, green choices and hopefully have better experiences when they visit.”
The pilot project aims to showcase Copenhagen’s wider sustainability efforts (Denmark was TPG’s most sustainable destination in 2022) and allow tourists to use green action as currency.
Getting to Copenhagen is easier than ever thanks to new nonstop flights launched last month on both American Airlines, which will fly to the city from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), and Scandinavian Airlines. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
Here’s what travelers need to know to take advantage of the CopenPay program.
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What green actions count as currency?
Travelers and residents are eligible to redeem rewards when they take public transport, walk or bike to an attraction. Other worthwhile activities include volunteering at an urban garden, picking up trash, and helping with beach cleanups. Different attractions require different actions.
How do you show proof of green action?
Tourists can show proof of a train ticket or a photo of themselves riding a bike or participating in a cleanup effort, but Wonderful Copenhagen said mostly “Copenhagen is built on trust.”
What can travelers score?
Tourists can avail a variety of free perks that vary by attraction. A complete list is available Online. Some highlights include:
- Free vegetarian meals by volunteering at One’s Have Urban Gardens
- Free glass of rosé and free rental of pétanque balls when arriving on foot or by bike at the Skurets Winsalg wine store at Llangelyniskuret, the city’s historic former customs house
- Free kayak rental while collecting trash on the water with Greenkayak
- Free admission to the Karen Blixen Museum while helping to tend the historic garden
- A free cup of coffee with the purchase of an entry ticket to Copenhagen’s museums when arriving on foot, by bike or by metro
- Free ice cream with the purchase of an admission ticket to the National Museum of Denmark when arriving by bike or by metro
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Editorial Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are those of the author alone, not of any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.