Berlin is known for many things, including its energy and creativity – but cleanliness? Not so much. Overflowing bins, littered parks and polluted waterways have long been part of daily life for many residents.
From Thursday, the city is testing a new approach to waste collection. BerlinPay – a month‑long pilot project running until June 14th – aims to reward people for acting responsibly on and around Berlin’s waterways.
Or, as Sabine Wendt, CEO of visitBerlin, put it at the launch, BerlinPay is intended to be "an invitation to try new experiences" which is fun, uncomplicated and benefits local businesses as well as the city.
In total, participants can pick from roughly 5,000 activities, many focused on the Spree and Berlin’s popular lakes, where tourism is booming but also leaving a visible impact on the environment.
What you can get
Anyone keen to participate – and earn treats – can browse activities online, register where needed, take part and provide basic proof (for example by arriving by bike or joining a clean‑up) before receiving their reward either on the spot or via a voucher.
For the initial, month-long pilot project, 40 partner organisations with a connection to water are taking part, offering everything from small perks to memorable experiences in exchange for environmentally responsible behaviour.
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Free drinks and small treats
Some of the easiest ways to get involved come with instant rewards. Holzmarkt, for example, is swapping handmade seed bombs – brought along or planted on site – for a complimentary drink.
Berliner Forsten is offering drinks at the end of guided Havel walks, while lakeside venues such as Strandbad Tegelsee and Strandbad Plötzensee are rewarding clean‑up help with free entry, refreshments or equipment hire.
Activities on and in the water
Arguably, this is where BerlinPay really stands out.
GreenKayak is offering free kayak rentals on the condition that you collect litter while paddling, while GoBoat is combining a clean‑up cruise with a drink on a solar‑powered boat.
There are also discounted sailing courses, canoe tours and sightseeing cruises – plus one‑off experiences such as dragon‑boat races for people arriving in Berlin sustainably.
And it’s not just tourists being targeted. Hotel Oderberger is offering invitations to exclusive late‑night swimming sessions in its historic pool to participants in visitBerlin’s “Close to the Water” tours – a clear nod to local residents as well as visitors.
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Learn something new
Cultural and educational offers round out the programme.
The Humboldt Forum is offering guided tours and exhibition‑related extras, Urban Artists is running waterside art workshops for sustainable visitors, and Hosek Contemporary is hosting free concerts for those who arrive in climate‑friendly ways. Â
The Berlin Digital Water Atlas
Alongside BerlinPay, visitBerlin has launched a Digital Water Atlas – which could arguably end up being just as useful for residents.
The interactive map already lists more than 200 bathing spots, waterside cafés and tourism locations, with plans to expand to around 800 sites in total over time.
Practically speaking, it’s intended to be a one‑stop tool for discovering where to swim, eat, hire a boat or simply spend time by the water. It also highlights sensitive natural areas, helping visitors understand where extra care is needed.Â
Can the initiative really clean up Berlin?
City officials acknowledge that BerlinPay is not a silver bullet. Instead the aim is to gently encourage people – whether tourists or locals – to engage with the city in a more environmentally way. Â
The project is inspired by CopenPay. Launched in 2024, visitors and residents in Copenhagen have been rewarded for actions such as arriving by train, cycling instead of driving or helping to clean up public spaces.
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Around 30,000 people took part over the first two summers, with strong feedback from both visitors and residents.
If the Berlin pilot proves popular, officials have already suggested it may return as an annual event, potentially expanding beyond water‑based activities.
For now, though, BerlinPay is something simpler: a low‑effort way to explore the city differently, try something new and leave Berlin just a little cleaner than you found it.
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