If you've ever questioned how to leave a lighter footprint while still seeing the world, you're in the right place. The good news, sustainable travel shouldn't be about perfection, it’s about making better choices that actually fit your lifestyle (and your budget). In this guide, we’ll break down the essentials of eco-conscious travel, without sacrificing on any fun.
SUPPORTING LOCAL ECONOMIES
Family-run restaurants, hole-in-the-wall diners, and interesting-looking street food stalls? Always a yes. These are the places where your trip becomes unforgettable, the smells, the flavours, the random conversations with the owner who insists you try the house special “because you look hungry.” (They’re not wrong.) A big bonus being it’s always usually cheaper. Need help finding these hidden food gems?, check out our Europe Eats Guide .
In 2025, the travel industry raked in a wild $988.52 billion . So where’s your share going? When you stay at big hotel chains, that money often flies straight out of the community. But when you book a hostel that pays fair wages and keeps it ethical? You’re literally fuelling the local economy, and probably staying somewhere with more character than a marble lobby could ever offer. Check out destinations, offering hostels in the biggest cities over Europe.
Choose to buy local and fuel the cycle.
SLOW TRAVEL INCENTIVES
Think of slow travel as travelling the world’s chill older cousin, the one who knows all the hidden spots, takes the scenic route, and always finds the best local food for under €10. Staying in one country does not limit the adventures you can experience, trains emit 85% fewer carbon emissions than flights. So when you swap a quick hop for a scenic ride, you're not just helping the planet, you’re getting way more stories (and photos) along the way. Sticking to one country doesn’t mean you're stuck. It means you get to uncover hidden gems that never make it into favourite influencers' posts, think sleepy beach towns, forest cabins, and weirdly amazing roadside museums. In need of inspiration? Check out our guide to 101 hidden gems around Europe.
Worried about the budget? Don’t be. Deciding to slow travel is heavily promoted by many travel businesses, offering discounts for longer stays. Check out our offers page to stay longer and save more for your trip. So when you plan your next adventure, ask yourself: What if I stayed longer, gradually explored, and took the time to slow down?
Because slow travel isn’t about doing less, it’s about experiencing more.
TRAVEL OFF-PEAK
Let’s face it, nothing kills the vibe like elbowing your way through a crowd just to get a photo of something you can’t even see. The not so secret. Secret of every savvy eco-conscious traveller, off-peak travel. Skipping the chaos does indeed help save the planet. When you travel outside the busy tourist seasons, you’re doing more than just avoiding queues at the museum; you're helping reduce the pressure on local ecosystems, small communities, and fragile destinations that get totally overwhelmed during peak season.
The benefits of travelling off-peak are endless, from contributing to a local's consistent income to seeing the sunsets and not selfie sticks. More importantly for travellers, a usually significantly cheaper trip. Click here to check out our hostels across Europe. Plus, travelling off-peak supports a healthier local economy by spreading the love (and the money) all year round, not just during the summer rush. That’s sustainability and solidarity, in return memories that don't come with a queue.
BUCKET-LIST EUROPEAN CITIES THAT HAVE EMBRACED SUSTAINABILITY
Europe has a multitude of sustainable objectives that flow through city to city. These are our top picks on the cities where sustainability is already ingrained into everyday life, so you can focus on everything else.
Vienna
One of if not the most eco-friendly city in the world, maintains this title through the use of green mobility. With 74% of transit being powered sustainably and well thought out cycling routes, Vienna is the perfect city for travellers to explore greener and quicker. A bonus that is definitely one of our favourites is that 86% of public transport is accessible, meaning Vienna is limitless for everyone. Check out St Christopher's Inn Vienna.
Barcelona
A vibrant city which has been singled out by the Sustainable EU Tourism Project for implementing strategic approaches to maintain the city's beauty. Although Barcelona is working on cutting down tourists, spin the narrative. Now you will be able to experience and explore Barcelona's beauty better than ever before. See our guide to Barcelona and fully immerse yourself one step at a time, and maybe take on board our slow travel tactic the locals will certainly appreciate it. Discover the award-winning, St Christopher's Inn Barcelona .
Amsterdam
The city of smart sustainability projects. Amsterdam captures sustainability cooler by favouring the use of recycling for a lot of its green strategies. With over 400km of cycling paths, ours being along the canal, there is no better way to explore the city's wonders. Check out our hostels in Am ster dam including two of the famous, Flying Pigs hostels!
Berlin
Promoting sustainability through public participation and futuristic thinking , in our words stopping overconsumption. Overconsumption can be a huge issue when travelling, it's okay we get it, buying food or clothes that we don't need becomes a need on holiday. Berlin is making it easier for tourists, with efforts to stop overconsumption being almost in our faces. Not to forget that the city has amazing green spaces which shadow away from the burning sun in summer, making it a perfect cooler destination. Check out our two Berlin hostels .