Travelling by any means other than by foot or by bike is generally not great for the environment.
But there are ways to limit how much of a negative effect your travel plans have on the planet. It just involves making some smarter choices.
Autumn and winter are perfect for city breaks. Whether youre after a final blast of sunshine or getting festive with Christmas markets, now is the perfect time to book some cheap flights to a fun, European city.
And if sustainability is high on your list of priorities, the travel experts at lastminute.com have released data on the top eco-tourism spots to make your city break as eco as possible.
The data reveals that Copenhagen is the best city to visit for an environmentally friendly trip, with cycle-friendly zones and eco-friendly hotels.
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Rome and Barcelona also scored highly because of their extensive range of walking and bike tours.
The study looked at the most environmentally friendly cities based on activities, green spaces, transport options that reduce the damage caused to the environment compared to mass tourism.
Stay active with eco-friendly tours
One way to reduce your environmental impact while abroad is to choose your activities wisely.
Instead of jumping on a tour bus, try a bike or walking tour instead. Every city offers unique experiences for tourists looking to try something more adventurous, without the expense of polluting or harming the environment.
Rome offers the best variety of walking tours with 1434 options, including taking you through Ancient Rome and Colosseum or the Vatican Museums, followed by Sistine Chapel and St Peters Basilica.
If you travel to the nearby island, Sardinia, you will also have the opportunity to give back to the ecology in the area by volunteering at a dolphin conservation project.
If youd prefer to explore a beautiful city by bike, head to Barcelona for a broad selection of bicycle tours with 123 on offer.
Many are based in the Gothic Quarter, with knowledgeable tour guides who can inform you about Barcelonas history and current culture.
For extra eco points, set some time aside to visit the surrounding hills of Catalonia where you can volunteer at a farm rescue.
Improve the environment during your visit
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An important part of eco-tourism is leaving the environment better than when you arrived. Its not enough to not add to the pollution, you can actually improve it if you put the effort in.
Amsterdam offers a free canal tour and breakfast to those willing to help by clearing rubbish from the waterway, while in Reykjavik you can take part in a hike and forest reseeding program to combat the damage caused by mass tourism.
There are also options for animal lovers, in Barcelona, you can volunteer at a farm rescue centre or, in London, visit the woodland animal conservation Gunnersbury Triangle to help care for the rescued creatures.
Getting between locations can be eco-friendly too.
Copenhagen ranked the most cycle-friendly followed by Amsterdam and Paris, but car-free sections can be found in all top six of the most eco-friendly tourist destinations.
If you need to drive, rent an electric car, these are the most popular choice in Amsterdam, followed by Reykjavik, and Stockholm.
The top eco-friendly travel locations
- Copenhagen
- Amsterdam
- Stockholm
- Prague
- Vienna
- Barcelona
- Reykjavic
- Lisbon
- Rome
- Paris
- Berlin
- London
- Athens
Lastminute.com
