Berlin is set to launch a new initiative called BerlinPay this summer, which will reward tourists for engaging in sustainable behaviour. Under the scheme, visitors who collect litter, help spruce up neighbourhoods, or support social projects could receive free or discounted entry to attractions and meal vouchers.
Berlin's Sustainable Tourism Push
The German capital, recently ranked the fourth most sustainable metropolis globally in the 2025 Global Destination Sustainability Index, aims to promote eco-conscious tourism through this programme. BerlinPay is modelled on Copenhagen's successful CopenPay scheme, which began in 2024 and expanded significantly in 2025. CopenPay rewards tourists in Copenhagen with free drinks, meals, and activities for climate-friendly actions such as litter collection or using eco-conscious transport.
Berlin's initiative seeks to encourage visitors to actively participate in maintaining the city's cleanliness and sustainability. By offering tangible rewards, the city hopes to foster a culture of environmental responsibility among tourists while enhancing their travel experience.
The programme is expected to launch in the summer of 2026, with specific details on participating attractions and reward structures to be announced closer to the date. Berlin's move follows a growing trend among European cities to incentivise sustainable tourism, blending environmental stewardship with visitor engagement.
