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Agence France-Presse

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.
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.

Are you visiting Copenhagen this summer? Consider #CopenPay https://t.co/2rPXGjBlfV
— @bettina_dk (@bettina_dk) May 12, 2025

Ninety sites are taking part in the campaign, including the National Museum of Denmark and CopenHill, a synthetic ski slope.
The campaign, which opens on June 17 and lasts until late August, will be advertised on billboards around the city and social media.
GoBoat, a hire service for electric motorboats powered by solar panels, said taking part in the initiative in 2024 helped show its commitment to climate solutions.

Copenhagen has been rewarding tourists for climate-friendly actions with free stuff!
Here's how the #copenpay pilot program works: pic.twitter.com/SBe15zGZhd
— Pattrn (@pattrn) August 13, 2024

“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,” company representative Mads Pilegaard Sander said.
In 2024, 75,000 tourists took part in the city’s one-month trial.
Bike rentals increased by 29 per cent during the period, tonnes of rubbish were collected, and 98 per cent of participants said they would recommend the initiative, the tourism board said.


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Tourism

Copenhagen to offer free bike rental and museum discounts to eco-friendly tourists

Picking up rubbish could earn tourists to Copenhagen perks at 90 sites around the city. Photo: Shutterstock

Those arriving in Copenhagen by train and staying more than four days will be offered free bike rental as part of the Danish city’s CopenPay scheme to encourage responsible travel. Photo: AFP

In rural Japan, railway stations and empty properties repurposed to serve tourists

Inn My Life, a hotel at an unstaffed train station in Shizuoka, Japan. Photo: Instagram/cholibura_96

Satologue, a restaurant and sauna housed in a 130-year-old building in Okutama, Tokyo, is one of many rural Japanese renovations aimed at drawing tourists. Photo: Instagram/morijunjunmori

Two young guests at Inn My Life, a lodging in a disused part of unstaffed Futamata-Hommachi Station in Shizuoka prefecture, wave at a passing train. Photo: Instagram/inn_my_life

Inn My Life, a one-room hotel in an unused part of the unstaffed Futamata-Honmachi Station in Shizuoka, central Japan. Photo: Instagram/cholibura_96

The bedroom of Inn My Life, a hotel built inside Futamata-Hommachi Station in Shizuoka, Japan. Photo: Instagram/relux_design

Satologue restaurant and sauna is the first project of the Marugoto Hotel, which is renovating abandoned houses and unstaffed train stations between Ome and Okutama in rural western Tokyo to boost tourism. Photo: Instagram/morijunjunmori

Dishes at Satologue. Photo: Instagram/satologue

The 130-year-old building that houses Satologue used to be used for fish farming. Photo: Instagram/yujiokada0714

A guest at Satologue enjoys a meal with a view. Photo: Instagram/yujiokada0714

Bustay, where guests can stay the night on board a decommissioned bus, and the adjacent Ugusu information centre, which has also been converted into an accommodation space. Photo: Instagram/com_nishiizu 

The decommissioned bus at Bustay has been furnished with three beds and a table. Photo: Instagram/visititoproject

Bustay lit up at night. Photo: Instagram/visititoproject

Airbnb adds new services such as in-home massages, chefs and more as platform expands

Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky describes the addition of services to the platform as “giving you the best of both worlds”. Photo: AFP

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky speaks about Airbnb Experiences and the launch of Airbnb Services in Los Angeles on May 13. Airbnb has begun letting users book in-home services such as massages, chefs and personal trainers. Photo: AFP

Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky described the addition of services to the platform as “giving you the best of both worlds – amazing homes with services that make them even more special”. Photo: AFP

What to see and do in Basel, 2025 Eurovision Song Contest host in Switzerland

A barge sailing on tht River Rhine with the towers housing the headquarters of Swiss pharma giant Roche and the cathedral (right) in Basel. Photo: AFP

Swiss city Basel (above) is hosting the 2025 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and is expecting tens of thousands of visitors. There’s a lot to see and do in a city long associated with industry. Photo: Shutterstock 

A barge nears Basel cathedral (right) with the towers housing the headquarters of pharmaceutical company Roche to the left. The Rhine is clean enough to swim in these days. Photo: AFP

The St Jakobshalle arena, an example of Brutalist architecture, will host the 2025 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest from May 10 to 17, 2025. Photo: AFP

The Roche Towers, two skyscrapers built between 2012 and 2022, house the offices of the pharmaceutical group Roche. Photo: Shutterstock

The Museum Tinguely, near the Roche Towers, is filled with giant sculptures. Photo: Shutterstock

Basel Cathedral (Basler Münster) with the Rhine River in the background. Photo: Shutterstock 

Shenzhen travel guide: how to get a visa on arrival, which apps to download and cashless payment in the Chinese city

To get to places in Shenzhen like Dongmen Pedestrian Street (above), Hong Kong residents without the right visa can apply for one on arrival. That’s not all you need to know - we break down the essentials for your trip from Hong Kong. Photo: Shutterstock

WeChat is useful for electronic payments and for its mini-programs – apps within the app. Photo: Shutterstock

The simplest option within Hong Kong to reach Shenzhen is to take the MTR East Rail Line to Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau stations. Photo: Erika Na

Shenzhen taxis can be ordered via Didi Chuxing, the Chinese equivalent of Uber. Photo: Shutterstock

Alipay accepts foreign-issued credit cards and can be used to make e-payments in Shenzhen. Photo: Shutterstock

Baidu Maps is more accurate than Google Maps in Shenzhen. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle

Travel & Leisure

Free vegetarian meals and perks at a ski slope and other tourist sites await visitors who cycle, collect litter in Danish capital’s scheme


Free vegetarian meals and perks at a ski slope and other tourist sites await visitors who cycle, collect litter in Danish capital’s scheme.


Responsible travel

Denmark