Are night trains sustainable?

Since night trains are seen as an alternative to air travel, they can definitely be considered sustainable. Of course, railways also impact nature, but compared to cars and air travel, trains are the more environmentally friendly solution.

• For instance, according to the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), traveling by train from Zurich to Hamburg saves about 170 kg of CO2 per person compared to flying.
• According to its own figures, the European Sleeper is 12.5 times more climate-friendly than flying and 8 times better than driving on the route from Amsterdam to Berlin.
• Austria’s ÖBB night train (Nightjet) runs on 100 percent green electricity.
• The high comfort of new night trains (such as the new ÖBB Nightjets) with more space (= fewer passengers) and private bathrooms with showers is not necessarily an ecological plus, but it helps to make night trains attractive.
• Unlike cars and buses, trains do not emit microplastics into the air through tire abrasion. (There is not enough research on how harmful microplastics actually are, but it is clear that tire abrasion is the largest source of microplastic emissions).
• Night trains do not play a role in discussions and measures regarding noise pollution and noise emissions, as they are very quiet compared to freight traffic.

Night trains are growing in popularity

According to Tagesschau, in 2020 there were only 90 night train connections in Europe. In 2023, more than 200 connections. ÖBB recently announced that a further 24 Nightjets will be added by mid-2026.

The ÖBB Nightjet’s new night trains

At the end of 2023, the new ÖBB Nightjet trains started operating, offering even more comfort than the old ones and, above all, additional capacity! For us as passengers, this means more routes, more flexibility and more attractiveness. Reason enough for us to take a look at the facts:    

• The passenger cars for the 24 new trains will be developed by Siemens Mobility and delivered by mid-2026. They will be built in Vienna.
• The new trains are not intended to replace old trains, but to complement and expand new routes.
• New standards for smoothness, accessibility and bike transport.
• Another new feature are sleeping pods in the couchette cars, offering more privacy.
• Instead of 6 beds, there are only 4 beds per compartment in the couchette car.
• Each compartment in the sleeping car has its own bathroom with toilet and shower, which reduces the capacity considerably. Only 20 beds fit in a sleeping car.
• The new Nightjet trains are certified for a speed of 230 km/h. (This is slightly less than the speed of ICE high-speed trains, which travel at up to 300 km/h).

Why are night trains rightly becoming popular?

According to a survey conducted in 2024 by the German automobile club ADAC, 42 percent of Germans can imagine starting their vacation on a night train. The main reason: “Travel more relaxed and arrive refreshed.”

I’m a fan of night trains myself, and luckily I can sleep well anywhere. Personally, a night train has a touch of adventure to it and yes, I’m a big fan of “Tintin” (Les aventures de Tintin) where trains are often an important part of the adventure 🙂.

Another reason, of course, is sustainability, currently cited as one of the main reasons for the newfound popularity. This means that many travelers (like you?) prefer an environmentally friendly alternative to air travel. However, it is important to note that this is also supported by politicians. According to the Handelsblatt, ÖBB is profitable in Austria, but this was only made possible by subsidies from the Austrian government. The business is not considered “easy”. Deutsche Bahn, for example, discontinued its sleeping cars in 2016, and the French Thello night train followed suit in 2021. ÖBB is now filling the gap.

On the other hand, subsidies are also a problem when it comes to flying: while domestic and short-haul flights remain dirt cheap (due to factors such as a lack of taxation, etc.), a night train journey for the same route can quickly become very expensive.

New option: European Sleeper

In addition to the Nightjet, there is also the new European Sleeper. The initiative is organized as a cooperative and was launched in 2021 to great acclaim: the initial start-up capital of €500,000 was raised in just 15 minutes. There are now over 4,000 investors who have collectively invested more than €5 million. The European Sleeper already connects cities such as Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Prague—and more routes are in the pipeline.

In the next section, we take a closer look at what it’s like to travel through Europe in a sleeper car – with exciting night train routes and suitable sustainable accommodation.

“Traveling on our night train not only reduces your carbon footprint, but also gives you the opportunity to travel more slowly, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and connect with other travelers.” – European Sleeper

Across Europe by sleeping car – Four night train journeys + sustainable accommodation.

#1 By night train to Vienna (8 connections)

Vienna, the city of coffeehouses, parks and museums-a wonderful place for culture and surrounded by the most beautiful nature as well. Vienna is doing a lot when it comes to sustainability. The city aims to be carbon neutral by 2040 and is committed to zero waste, green mobility and sustainable construction. Due to its many parks, Vienna is also considered one of the “greenest cities in the world”.

Night train connections to Vienna

… on the Austrian Nightjet:

• Amsterdam – Münster – Nuremberg – Vienna
• Berlin – Dresden – Vienna
• Brussels – Cologne – Passau – Vienna
• Hamburg – Würzburg – Vienna
• Paris – Strasbourg – Passau – Vienna
• La Spezia – Milan – Vienna

… with the Polish PKP:

• Munich – Vienna – Warsaw

… or with Hungarian Railways MAV:

• Stuttgart – Vienna – Budapest

Sustainable accommodation near Vienna: Gut Guntrams 

Gut Guntrams is not in Vienna, but 60 kilometers away on the edge of the Bucklige Welt. However, the unusual floating accommodation is well worth a visit. Gut Guntrams is its own organic retreat with a small nature museum, crystal garden, farm shop and a farm specializing in the preservation of old fruit varieties. If you’re looking to relax in nature after a day of culture in Vienna, this is the place to be

To find out how to reach Gut Guntrams from the Vienna train station (continue to Pitten station), click here.

#2 Awake in Munich (10 connections)

The Bavarian capital of Munich offers a combination of big city and nature. The Isar River flows right through the city and there is the famous English Garden. The historic old town, Marienplatz, Frauenkirche and Nymphenburg Palace are all must-sees. Unfortunately, Munich plans to wait until 2050 to become carbon neutral. But at least there are climate-friendly projects underway.

Night train connections to Munich with

… the Austrian Nightjet:

• Amsterdam – Munich – Innsbruck
• Brussels – Aachen – Munich
• Hamburg – Würzburg – Munich
• Milan – Padua – Salzburg – Munich
• Paris – Munich – Salzburg – Vienna
• Rome – Munich 
• Venice – Munich – Stuttgart

… the Hungarian Railway MAV:

• Budapest – Munich – Stuttgart

… the Croatian Railways HZ:

• Zagreb – Ljubljana – Salzburg – Munich – Stuttgart

… or the Polish PKP:

• Warsaw – Krakow – Vienna – Munich

Eco-friendly accommodation near Munich: Gut Sonnenhausen

Munich is home to the Ecological Education Center, but if you want to see the ideas put into practice, head to Gut Sonnenhausen (about 30 kilometers southeast of Munich). Here, eco-pioneer and art collector Georg Schweisfurth has transformed a 120-year-old stud farm into a unique hotel surrounded by nature. Gut Sonnenhausen runs its own organic farm according to permaculture principles and uses only organic produce in the kitchen. However, the estate is difficult to reach by public transportation, so you will probably need to rent a car in Munich. You can choose to drive an electric car, as there are two charging stations on the property’s parking lot.

#3 Sleeping car to Milan (2 connections)

From the two cities mentioned above – Vienna and Munich – you can sleep throught to Milan. Italy’s fashion capital also has many famous addresses for sustainable vintage lovers. There is the Bosco Vertikale (Vertical Forest) – a green skyscraper in the middle of the city that stands for modern urban greening and biodiversity.

Nightjet connections to Milan:

• Munich – Padua – Milan

European Sleeper connection to Milan:

• In planning

Sustainable accommodation in Milan: Hotel Milano Scala

The Hotel Milano Scala is located in the center of Milan (within walking distance of the famous La Scala Opera House and other attractions). It is the first zero-emissions hotel in Milan and powered by green energy from its own geothermal probes. The roof terrace is particularly beautiful, where you can enjoy a wonderful end to an eventful day.

By night train to Paris (2 connections)

The French capital has once again used the 2024 Summer Olympics as an opportunity to showcase its green initiatives – even cleaning up the water in the Seine, with new bathing-corners in 2025. You can now enjoy a relaxed (!) bike ride in Paris, with a 10-kilometer running route along the banks of the Seine. For an alternative Paris, Barbara Tascijevic-Porwoll, owner of Green Spirit Hotels, recommends a visit to the REcyclerie. A café, repair shop, gardening project and cultural center all in one.

The Berlin-Paris route is one of the brand new Nightjet routes launched in December 2023. Since then, you can wake up in France’s capital three times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays). You board the train at 6:55 p.m. at Berlin Ostbahnhof or 7:08 p.m. at Berlin Hauptbahnhof and arrive at Paris Gare de l’Est at 9:38 a.m.

Nightjet connections to Paris:

• Berlin – Frankfurt – Paris
• Vienna – Mannheim – Paris
• Paris – Munich – Salzburg – Vienna
• Paris – Strasbourg – Passau – Vienna

Eco accommodation in Paris: Green Spirit Hotels

There are two Green PearlsⓇ accommodations in the lively 7th arrondissement: Hotel Le Pavillon and Hotel Amélie. These small boutique hotels are not only centrally located (the Seine, Eiffel Tower, etc. are within walking distance), but they are also ecological and individual. You can nevertheless enjoy your breakfast in the quiet inner courtyard.

By the way, Belgian reporter Tintin and his companion Snowy were also in Paris! So you have a good chance of experiencing an adventure…

This is an update from July 26, 2024.

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#1 Flying is the greatest climate sin, or: Those who fly cannot be sustainable

Aviation is not the primary source of emissions. According to an IEA 2023 report, the main source of carbon emissions is the energy sector, particularly the burning of coal. The report also shows that the use of renewable energy has already brought measurable improvements.

Even in a global comparison of transportation modes, air travel does not come out on top. As Statista calculated on the basis of the IEA report, air traffic is responsible for just under 3 percent of global CO2 emissions, while road traffic is responsible for around 16 percent. The reason is obvious: few people, about 10 or 11 percent of the world’s population, fly at all. According to one study, just 1 percent of this elite group of frequent flyers is responsible for more than 50 percent of aviation emissions.

But these facts do not change the fact that air travel is by far the most polluting mode of transportation. So flying may not be the biggest, but it is still a climate sin. Especially if you fly a lot or fly short distances.

Consideration of social sustainability

But it is wrong to say that air travel is inherently unsustainable. Imagine if people in the richest countries in the world only vacationed in their own backyards – the money would just stay in those countries. Tourism is a major contributor to the distribution of wealth. (In countries like the Maldives, tourism accounts for a significant portion of gross domestic product, according to GIZ figures).

Sustainability not only includes environmental protection, but also the social sustainability pillar. Of course, it is important to be mindful of where and what we spend money on when we are on vacation. After all, if we eat at international franchise restaurants, we can do the same at home. The effect is the same..

#2 The train is always late and useless as a means of transportation

We’ve all had the experience of the train being late – and because we were so upset, it may have overshadowed the times the train arrived on time.

In fact, in 2023, 64% of long-distance trains in Germany arrived “on time” (i.e. with a maximum delay of 6 minutes). Delays of more than 60 minutes or cancellations occurred in 2.4 percent of cases. Of course, there is room for improvement, but we cannot talk about “always”

Train punctuality in Europe – Germany ranks 12th

According to surveys conducted in 2022, Germany ranks 12th in Europe, while Switzerland is the European leader. 96.3% of its trains are on time. In Denmark the figure is 91 percent and in the Netherlands 90.5 percent.

The train is fast and comfortable

Many calculations show that you can travel faster by train than by plane – for example, from downtown Cologne to downtown Paris – the trip to and from the airport, including the entire check-in process, takes significantly more time. In terms of comfort, you can travel more comfortably in a modern train than in a row on an airplane (compare 2nd class and economy tickets).

Tip: Sustainable hotels often assist with train travel and, like the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt, offer complimentary shuttle service, a first-class upgrade, or other amenities. Learn more in this article. Find the best night train routes here.

#3 Long-distance buses and carpools are only for young people

The Federal Environment Agency’s emissions comparison (2022) shows that long-distance coach travel is at least as environmentally friendly as train travel. As we have shown in our blog article on long-distance coach travel, coach travel is also very affordable and particularly suitable for city trips, such as to the zero-emissions Hotel Milano Scala in Milan (a great hotel with a roof terrace right in the city center) or to the Green Spirit Hotels in Paris (Hotel Malar, Hotel Le Pavillon, Hotel Amelié – all individual, sustainable boutique hotels in the central 7th arrondissement).

Carpooling also makes a significant contribution to reducing per capita emissions. And it is simply not true that if you are over 40, you can no longer travel by bus or carpool. In Germany, Flixbus has made long-distance bus travel attractive to the masses, and in other countries (I know this from Brazil, for example), long-distance bus travel is a perfectly normal way to travel for all age groups.

#4 Sustainable hotels are not stylish

This is not hard to prove. Just look at the Green Pearls® page! Many Green PearlsⓇ accommodations have won design awards. Recent examples include:

• The CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt received the German Design Award 2023. The Swiss hotel on the Matterhorn combines a cosmopolitan, natural style with a recurring nomadic element.
• The OLM Nature Escape in Sand in Taufers in South Tyrol is the winner of the IONIC Architecture Award 2024. The circular architecture of the eco-apartment hotel blends perfectly into the landscape and is also completely energy self-sufficient.
• The garden view rooms at STURM in Mellrichstadt have been awarded the Best Architects Award 24. They were designed by German architect Professor Matthias Loebermann, with whom the hotel has already collaborated on the design of the main building façade and some of the interiors. The hotel in Mellrichstadt features a natural swimming pond, a large snack garden, and you can enjoy a vacation close to nature near the Rhön Biosphere Reserve.

#5 Sustainable travel is expensive

Not true. Some aspects may be more expensive – organic meat, for example, costs significantly more than commercially produced meat. But the difference in quality is also clearly noticeable here, reports Manfred Rinner, junior chef and chef de cuisine at the APIPURA hotel rinner.

The APIPIRA hotel rinner on the Ritten is BIO FAIR South Tyrol certified, and although only organic food is used, an overnight stay in this sustainable hotel costs less than 100 Euros! This is made possible by the fact that the hotel works and calculates in a very optimized way and is run by the Rinner family as a personal heart project.

For more tips on how to travel sustainably on a budget, check out this article on low-budget travel.

#6 Sustainable hotels do not offer comfort and luxury

A spa area with a heated outdoor pool and sauna landscape naturally requires a lot of energy. But at a sustainable wellness hotel like Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Tyrol, that energy is 100% green electricity and heat.

The family-run wellness hotel uses an ultra-modern wood-chip heating system on the old monastery walls (currently provided by the town of Seefeld, but the hotel is planning its own system using wood from its own forest). In addition, the 5-star hotel receives energy from several photovoltaic systems and from green electricity suppliers that do not use fossil fuels.

At Hotel Klosterbräu, you will find a 3,500-square-foot spa area with a heated outdoor pool, a panoramic rooftop pool, seven saunas, nine dining areas, and all the luxurious bells and whistles, while always ensuring that materials, ingredients, and energy are renewable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.

And, of course, this is just one of many examples.

#7 Sustainable gastronomy doesn’t use exquisite ingredients

We relegate another such statement to the realm of myth. According to the Oxford Dictionary, “exquisite” comes from Latin and means “selected. When it comes to ingredients and dishes, the word indicates that something is “excellent” and “of exquisite quality. It does not mean that something has been imported from 14,000 kilometers away.

Sebastian Obendorfer of Restaurant Eisvogel at Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort has two Michelin stars. Known for his reinterpretation of German cuisine, he and his family run the Bavarian 5-star hotel and 2-star restaurant with a focus on sustainability.

Or how about trying vegan fine dining? The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel on the Seiser Alm in the Dolomites in South Tyrol recently opened OMNIA, a modern restaurant serving high-quality vegetarian cuisine. It is run by renowned chef Aggeliki Charami.

#8 There is no air conditioning in eco-hotels.

It would be nice. After all, as Our World In Data reports, air conditioning consumes 7 percent of the world’s electricity and causes 2.7 percent of global CO2 emissions. That makes it just as bad as flying!

As we reported in our blog article on hotels that cool without air conditioning, sustainable hotels and resorts such as the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA primarily use modern construction and insulation techniques to ensure that the rooms have natural heat and cold regulation. Modern does not necessarily mean technical hybrid fibers. The ADLER Spa Resort Sicily, for example, has many rooms with clay walls, using a local building material to regulate temperature and humidity in a natural way. However, all rooms are equipped with air conditioning. The OCEANO Health Spa Hotel in Tenerife, on the other hand, does not use air conditioning at all and “cools” itself with the Atlantic Ocean right outside the door.

#9 Truly sustainable accommodations are hard to find

Well, we are happy to refer you once again to the Green PearlsⓇ website. Here you will find only sustainable accommodations and each hotel, cottage, chalet or aparthotel has a transparent list of green initiatives. Why not take a look? Transparent certifications are also very helpful.

#10 Sustainability is just a fad

The world’s population is exploding, global warming is scientifically proven, habitats are disappearing and animals and plants are dying out. Mountains of garbage are growing, resources are scarce… These are just some of the current problems facing our planet. The prognosis: the problems are increasing, not decreasing.

Therefore, it is impossible to stop thinking about our future and the future of our planet. We must take this into account in all areas of our lives, including travel.

The word “sustainability” may go out of fashion and be replaced by something else. But the issue will remain and become even more important.

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Support, not undermine, the efforts of sustainable hotels and accommodation

When it comes to the do’s and don’ts of travel, this article looks at it from a sustainability perspective. In other articles of this kind, for example, one of the first rules is often: “Don’t dress like a tourist!” Trekking sandals and necklaces (as you probably know) are not considered fashionable – but from an ecological point of view, we don’t see a problem here! However, too much revealing clothing on vacation can offend the religious and cultural sensitivities of local people, as Indonesian Lucienne Anhar explains in our Bali blog post.

On this blog, we feature privately and individually owned hotels and vacation rentals that demonstrate sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in all areas. You will often see small signs reminding you that you can do without fresh towels every day (a simple measure that contributes significantly to the conservation of energy, fresh water, and detergents in the tourism industry). But sometimes, as guests, we may not even be aware that our behavior is undermining the resort’s sustainability efforts in one way or another. So it’s time to ask our hotelier partners what we might want to avoid doing.

Don’ts for a sustainable vacation at a hotel

#1 Use your own shampoo

At The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm (just named one of the 22 “Absolute Best Hotels in Asia” by Fodor’s Travel), guests are not encouraged to use their own shampoo and shower gel. The simple reason is that the Nepalese resort is run according to ecological criteria and is surrounded by organic farmland. The water cycles of the farm, the kitchen, and the resort are all connected. Chemicals, pollutants, and microplastics, which are often found in many conventional shower products, can harm the farm, the hotel team explains.

“We encourage our guests to use the bathroom products we provide because they are all natural and chemical free.” – The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm

#2 Balloons at hotel parties

Have you ever considered that balloons are not environmentally friendly decorations or gifts? For this reason, they are not allowed on Gut Sonnenhausen in Glonn (near Munich).

“We do a lot of weddings and one thing we don’t do is balloons. Since we are in the middle of a nature reserve, too many balloons and strings end up in the trees or on the ground, where they are nibbled by animals. But this is well accepted by our guests.” – Gut Sonnenhausen

#3 Bringing snacks and food to the resort

Don’t bring your own snacks, drinks, and take-out food to the resort – you might think, sure, they want to make money. But as Farmhouse Smiling Gecko in Cambodia tells us, they are particularly concerned about the packaging waste. The food that is brought in is usually wrapped in plastic, which ends up as garbage at the resort.

And by the way, it’s not a bad thing to support the farmhouse and its Smiling Gecko project. It runs an organic farm, a school, and training centers for employees (or their children) and the local population on its premises.

#4 Take bread from the breakfast buffet – yes or no?

Should you take bread from the breakfast buffet to make a sandwich for lunch? Our Green PearlsⓇ partners have very different answers to this question, depending on the region in which the hotel is located. At the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu in Balderschwang, for example, the breakfast buffet offers extra “Jausesackerl”, which you can take with you for a snack on the mountain.

At the Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol, however, this is not welcomed. The hiking hotel is located in the middle of the Hohe Tauern Alpine National Park and believes it is important to support the local huts. For them, this is an aspect of economic and social sustainability.

“We want our guests to stop and eat at the huts. That’s why we only offer a snack in the afternoon and don’t make snack packs to give away for hikes or anything like that.” – Naturhotel Outside

#5 Smoking in Paris

In Paris, people smoke a lot more than in other European cities. Every year, the city disposes of about 350 tons (!) of cigarette butts! The Green Spirit Hotels (Hotel Le Pavilions, Amelie and Malar, all in the lively 7th arrondissement, within walking distance of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower) are not happy about this. The small, independent hotels use special air filters to ensure fresh air, and smoking is only allowed in the green courtyard. Sometimes guests stub out their cigarettes in the flower pots! “Even though there are plenty of ashtrays outside!”

In case you didn’t know, a cigarette butt is made of plastic and toxins, and especially when watering your plants, the toxins get into the plants, which is why you really shouldn’t do it! Neither in the garden nor outside (because the same thing happens there, only on a larger scale)! The correct place to dispose of them is the garbage.

#6 Stealing hotel equipment as a “souvenir” – Please do not do this on vacation

Do we really have to say that? Unfortunately, yes. Just on my last vacation (in a nature wagon in the Eifel) we asked the operator if we could have cutlery. “There is cutlery,” he was sure. But apparently, the previous tenants had taken it home…

In 2023, the hotel portal Wellness Heaven conducted a survey of around 1,400 European hoteliers, which showed that towels and bathrobes are the most frequently taken items, especially in 5-star hotels.

The AC Hotels by Marriott chain reported that approximately 1,250 towels per hotel (!) are stolen each year in a total of 64 hotels.

Our partner, the aparthotel OLM Nature Escape in South Tyrol, only opened a year ago and is currently considering how to deal with this problem.

“We place more trust in our valued guests than usual; we use valuable items and amenities. For example, a high quality sauna towel in the ApartSuite, high quality kitchen utensils, glasses, porcelain… Some guests take advantage of this and steal from us. They do not appreciate the generosity.” – OLM Nature Escape

As you can see, the many little “oh, it won’t be noticed” actions of individual guests add up to a lot of damage, and are therefore clearly antisocial, unsustainable behavior, and things you shouldn’t do on vacation. (And you’re not legally allowed to do them either.)

#7 Wasting energy

At home, people conserve electricity because it costs money, and in hotels – it’s free. People who think like that don’t think very deeply. You would think that people who book sustainable hotels would have a certain sensitivity when it comes to conserving resources. Unfortunately, that is not necessarily the case.

The Naturresort Gerbehof on Lake Constance is surprised by guests who “take showers several times a day, want their towels changed daily, or use a large number of towels in the sauna”. Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt in Switzerland also had guests who wanted their sheets changed “every day. Also sad is when guests “take too much food and then leave everything on the table”.

Here are a few more tips for saving energy – at the hotel, too:

• Turn off or lower the heat or air conditioning when you leave the room or open the windows
• Turn off lights when not in use
• Do not waste unnecessary amounts of water when showering, washing, etc
• Do not use fresh towels or even bed linens every day
• You can also cancel the daily room cleaning service at some hotels (often a small amount is donated to charity)
• Separate trash (if offered)

#8 Trash

“Waste is a big problem in general,” says Marco Spiess of Summit Lodges in Pfunds. Guests at the vacation homes in Pfunds, Tyrol, cook for themselves and bring their own food. The host notes: “In some cases, huge amounts of unopened food are thrown away, even though it is still fresh. He tries to point this out to his guests, but it often falls on “deaf ears”.

The luxurious Keemala Resort in Thailand has a zero-waste policy and there are no plastic bottles, straws, or the like throughout the resort. Therefore, it is annoying when people bring plastic products from outside. It would also be desirable for guests to recycle their waste properly.

There are signs of improvement

The Lifestylehotel SAND in Timmendorfer Strand on the Baltic Sea has a positive story to tell about “guest education”. They started early to communicate their “sustainable lifestyle” both internally and to their guests.

“It is important not to formulate prohibitions, but to ask for help.” – Marion Muller, Lifestlyhotel SAND

She considers it a success that the demand for to-go cups, for example, has become an “exception”.

The Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol is also proud to report that it is very satisfied with the ecological awareness of its guests:

„Most of our guests are very conscious of sustainability and live sustainably.“ – Biohotel Grafenast

In general, you should continue to do the sustainable things you do at home while you are on vacation. Even though some sustainable practices may not be as common in the country where you are vacationing. “Going wild” on vacation is not trendy at the moment. And it never really has been.

Do you have other experiences, examples, or tips for vacation dos and don’ts? Write them down in the comments!

Der Beitrag 8 things you should NOT do on vacation erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

Extra tip: Book directly with the hotel and get help with your arrival

First, a general tip for green and fair travel: Book your accommodations directly through the hotel’s website. It’s no secret that travel sites like Booking.com take a commission from hotels when you book through them. So while you pay the same room rate, the hotels get less of it.

The sustainable accommodations featured in this article are all personally and individually managed and you can contact them directly – you will find links to their websites on the Green PearlsⓇ microsites that we link to here.

Our tip for traveling by train: Contact the hotel or vacation rental before you book (by email or phone). Tell them you are booking directly with them, that you are coming by train, and ask if there is anything they can do to help you travel green. Often there are special offers, such as a day of free e-bike use, or you can “beat” a free shuttle ☺️ Especially if you are staying longer, a sustainable accommodation will often meet you halfway.

How sustainable accommodations reward and support you when you travel by train

Upgrade to first class for the train ride to Zermatt

Car-free Zermatt in Switzerland is the perfect destination for a vacation close to nature by train. The Visp-Zermatt line is considered to be a particularly picturesque route through the Swiss picture-book countryside ( like a route of these routes that you can watch on YouTube to relax).

• For stays of three nights or more, the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt will pay for your upgrade from 2nd to 1st class on the Visp – Zermatt route.

The boutique hotel, with a small spa and views of the Matterhorn, is run by the Anthamatten family and is committed to sustainability in all areas (e.g. zero waste principles and regional organic products).

Free public transportation pass or guest card

Another great offer from eco-friendly hotels are free local transportation passes – so you can get around in a climate-friendly way during your stay.

Eco-friendly accommodation and transportation in Freiburg

The Green City Hotel Vauban in the beautiful German city of Freiburg im Breisgau is an example of this. The modern city hotel with its green facade is easily accessible by train. Take the train to Freiburg’s main station and from there the number 3 tram to Paula-Modersohn-Platz – the stop is right in front of the hotel.

• Upon arrival, the hotel will provide you with a free regional ticket for the entire RVF area for the duration of your stay. (This includes buses, trams and all Deutsche Bahn 2nd class trains)

Green PearlsⓇ hotels on the Ritten in South Tyrol offer you the RittenCard

The Ritten Plateau in South Tyrol is a popular destination for an active vacation in the Italian Alps. You won’t need a car here, as the entire region is exemplary in its commitment to environmentally friendly transportation. The RittenCard gives you free use of all local transport, including the historic mountain railway and the cable car to Bolzano, as well as free entry to some 90 museums, exhibitions and attractions.

• The family-friendly Hotel Weihrerhof* at Wolfsgrubensee on the Ritten will send you the RittenCard in digital form prior to your arrival. They will also provide free luggage transport from your home to the hotel and back.

“Thanks to our Green Mobility service, the car is a distant memory,” reports the ADLER Lodge RITTEN*. Here you also receive a RittenCard, as well as the possibility to rent e-bikes and hire experienced guides to accompany you on hikes or e-bike tours.

Arrival: From the Bolzano train station it is a 5 minute walk to the Renon cable car. The cable car leaves every 4 minutes and takes you to Soprabolzano in 12 minutes. Once there, a shuttle from ADLER Lodge RITTEN will be waiting for you.

• Learn more about ADLER Lodge RITTEN’s Green Mobility concept.
  

The RittenCard is also included in the room price at the APIPURA hotel rinner and will be sent to you before you arrive. You can also reach the hotel from Bolzano with the Ritten cable car and from Oberbozen with the Ritten train – the “Rinner” stop is right in front of the hotel! If you are a bee lover, you will love the APIPURA hotel rinner: the hotel has its own organic apiary, there is a bee nature trail and organic honey is served daily at the breakfast buffet.

• Special: If you arrive by train, you will receive a 50% discount on the in-house e-bike rental at the APIPURA hotel rinner.

Eco-friendly hiking vacation in the Hohe Tauern National Park with a guest card

East Tyrol also has a guest card that allows you to use public transportation and offers free or a discount at many attractions. You receive one as a guest at the family-run Naturhotel Outside in Matrei. The hotel is an official hiking hotel with a hiking concierge and also offers a free shuttle from Lienz train station (there and back). A shuttle from Kitzbühel train station is available for a fee.

Complimentary e-Shuttle service powered by green electricity

If you travel by train, you are already traveling in a pretty environmentally friendly way. Now imagine being picked up at the station by an e-shuttle powered by the hotel’s green electricity – pretty green and convenient, isn’t it?

This is possible at the Hotel Das Rübezahl in Füssen (the train station is also located here). And once you are there, the best way to explore the picturesque Allgäu region with its panoramic view of Neuschwanstein Castle is on foot. Hiking concierge Bergbaschdi will be happy to assist you.

The Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort Hotel in the Upper Palatinate Lake District will pick you up at Schwandorf train station with its own electric shuttle. The hotel includes a large spa area with several saunas and pools, as well as the 2-star restaurant Obendorfers Eisvogel – you’ll find it hard to find a reason to leave the premises 🙂

At the Hotel Klosterbräu in Tyrol, you can order the hotel’s “Green Shuttle” (an electric Viano bus) for free throughout the Seefeld area. The Seefeld ICE train station is only 200 meters from the hotel, so you can easily walk there. However, the shuttle is worthwhile if you have heavy or bulky luggage, such as ski equipment or the like. The sustainable hotel complex within the old monastery walls offers a wide range of services, including wellness, its own brewery, yoga classes, a petting zoo and child care.

“The electric vehicle is a highlight for our guests,” reports the CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt. As mentioned above, the village of Zermatt is car-free, and apart from the electric vehicles, only horse-drawn carriages are allowed. The CERVO consists of several wooden chalets and has an award-winning design style.

Rail and Hotel: More eco-friendly hotels with shuttle services in Europe

To stay within the scope of this article, we will give you a brief overview of even more sustainable European hotels with shuttle services:

Germany

• The STURM in Mellrichstadt is a 5-minute drive from Mellrichstadt train station and offers a free shuttle service. The hotel has a natural swimming pond, a snack garden and a sauna area.
• The HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio in Balderschwang offers guests a shuttle service from the Fischen train station or the Hittisau bus station (for Swiss guests arriving by train from Bregenz).
• The Lifestylehotel Zum Kurfürsten – a wellness hotel with Feng Shui and TMC therapy – offers a shuttle from Wittlich train station. There is a fee for this service.
• Bayerisch Gmain train station is only 2 kilometers from the Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa and will gladly arrange a taxi for you to the hotel. The hotel also has an E-Smart car rental service to help you get around.
• Gut Sonnenhausen is also surrounded by nature. The closest train station is Grafing, which can be reached by S-Bahn or regional train from Munich. The rest of the way is by taxi (at your own expense).

Austria

• The Biohotel Grafenast, high above the Tyrolean Inn Valley, will order a taxi for you from the nearest train stations in Jenbach and Schwaz. For stays of 3 nights or more, the Biohotel will also pay half of the taxi costs.

Italy

• “Traveling by train is becoming increasingly popular,” reports My Arbor*. The extraordinary tree hotel is located about 15 to 20 minutes by car from Brixen train station. Brixen can be reached by direct train from cities such as Milan, Verona, Innsbruck, or Munich. There is a pick-up service for guests from the station. (free for stays of 7 nights or more, otherwise a taxi will be arranged at a cost of 30 euros).
• The Relais del Maro* in Liguria is located in the small town of Borgomaro. Tucked away in the hinterland, there is, unfortunately, no good public transportation network here. But the hotel will help you reach the family-run Albergo Diffuso from Imperia train station with a partner taxi company. Once at the Relais del Maro, you can rent an e-bike for further exploration.

Eco-hotels in Paris and Milan

Of course, city hotels in European metropolises are ideal for combining train and eco-hotel. “Paris has 6 train stations, and depending on which direction guests are coming from, they arrive at the appropriate station. From Germany, it is Gare de L’Est and Gare du Nord,” says Barbara Tascijevic-Porwoll of the Green Spirit Hotels. The Amelie, Malar and Le Pavilion hotels are all in the 7th arrondissement, within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower.

By the way, Paris has done a lot to become more bike-friendly and has created many new bike paths! Of course, there is also the famous metro, which is an environmentally friendly way to get from A to B.

The marbled Milan Central Station is also accessible from all over Europe with direct lines. Here, in the heart of the city, lies the Hotel Milano Scala, Italy’s first zero-emissions hotel. All electricity is generated by geothermal probes.

From the train station to the hotel by bus, bike, or on foot

For our more rural partners, traveling by train is not quite as easy – but no less appealing for it.

“We recommend that you take your bike with you when you arrive by train. And then cycle the rest of the way from Eystrup or Nienburg station to us,” explain the host sisters at Hotel Okelmann’s in Warpe. The train stations are about 20 kilometers away and can be reached from Bremen or Hannover. There is also a lot to discover in the area by bike. The Okelmanns’ father is an enthusiastic cyclist himself and has entered several routes in komoot.

The Gut Guntrams in Austria can be reached from Vienna’s Pitten train station. From there, it is a 25-minute walk along a forest nature trail to Guntramsburg. The hotel’s website offers a beautifully designed map of the trail, complete with photos and arrows.

First by train, then by bus

The Pfunds in Tirol bus stop is just one minute from the Summit Lodges Pfunds, so you can catch the bus right outside your vacation home. The spacious log cabin has its own sauna and fireplace! During the winter there is also a ski bus to the ski area. The nearest train station is Landeck-Zams.

To get to the Naturresort Gerbehof by train, you must first get to the train station in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. The station is 5 kilometers from the resort and there are buses to Ailingen every 15 minutes. The walk from Ailingen bus station to Gerbehof is 1.2 kilometers.

A little exercise in nature never hurts anyone, as they say! Alternatively, you can always take a taxi from the station to your accommodation. Either way, you are traveling in a climate-friendly way and keeping your carbon footprint small. Both by traveling and by choosing your accommodation. You may even find that you enjoy traveling by public transportation or bicycle and use them more at home.

*CIN-Codes: IT021011A1AE4737IT (My Arbor), IT008010A1NIWKHTTF (Relais del Maro), IT021072A1L46PNBHX (Hotel Weihrerhof), IT021072A1UOWUIDH4 (APIPURA hotel rinner), IT021072A1QCJQTLUQ (ADLER Lodge RITTEN)

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In the beginning: “We are a package deal”

When a relationship is new, couples often do everything together while on vacation. Many think that’s the way it has to be. Or they’re so in love that it doesn’t even occur to them to do anything separately.

The romantic hotel Das Rübezahl in Füssen in the Allgäu can confirm this. “We specialize in couples,” the host family tells us, adding: “As a rule, all couples do everything together.” On our last visit, we learned that a marriage proposal happens almost every week! It’s no wonder that most of the couples there are practically inseparable.

Traveling with different preferences

This changes over time. At least for some couples I know (and I have been married for 16 years now). You get to know each other better, accept different preferences and views, trust each other more, and maybe are just a little bit more honest. You may have started out watching the Olympics together, but four years later you admit that you’re not really interested in that and would rather do something else. It can be the same with vacations. The important thing is that you don’t see it as a problem, but as an opportunity for each part of the relationship to maintain its own character.

A partnership is about giving and receiving 

In a partnership, there is time to spend together, time when one person does something just for the other, and time for oneself. Children, work, and other people come into the relationship, and successful couples come to terms and find their way. In everyday life and on vacation. (Not that I’m always that successful, but I’m just saying that in general 😉 )

These Green PearlsⓇ accommodations frequently host pairs with different interests

#1 Hotel Weihrerhof, South Tyrol – He can go hiking, she takes a sunbath on the lake

“We often have couples with different interests at the hotel,” says Klaus Pichler of Hotel Weihrerhof in South Tyrol. The family-run boutique hotel is located 1,200 meters above sea level on the shores of Lake Wolfsgruben, amidst the mountain panorama of the Ritten.

“ The man is usually the more active and goes hiking, biking, etc. The wife enjoys the stay at the Weihrerhof with short walks along the lake, on the sunbathing lawn or in the SeaSpa with unique treatments.” – Hotel Weihrerhof

#2 My Arbor near Bressanone/Brixen in South Tyrol – Individual time management

„From wellness and outdoor adventures to sports and relaxation, we offer a wide range of options to meet a variety of needs.“ – My Arbor

 My Arbor is a luxurious adults-only hotel nestled in the treetops with fantastic views of the Dolomites. Each week there is a varied program of guided hikes (skiing in winter), spa treatments, forest bathing, etc. to choose from. To see what such a program might look like, click here.

#3 Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt – Couples have a lot to talk about in the evening

Hotel Bella Vista is “definitely ideal” for couples with different preferences, says host Fabienne Anthamatten. Her family’s hotel in car-free Zermatt has a beautiful terrace with a fantastic view of the Swiss icon, the Matterhorn. Couples sit here in the evenings (or in the cozy lobby by the fire in winter) and talk about their day. One of them has usually been on an outdoor adventure which starts right outside the front door, while the other has been relaxing in the adults-only spa or exploring Zermatt.

#4 CERVO Moutain Resort Zermatt – A resort with a lot of possibilities

Also in Zermatt is the CERVO Mountain Resort, which consists of several wooden buildings. There are three restaurants, a spa area, a gym, a climbing wall… and the Alps, glaciers and Zermatt village shops are just outside the door.

„One person can ski during the day and the other can spend a day at the spa. In the evening, you can have dinner or après-ski together.“ – CERVO Mountain Resort 

#5 Summit Lodges Pfunds, Tyrol – One goes skiing, the other goes snowshoeing

Interestingly, at the Summit Lodges Pfunds vacation houses, it is also very common for couples to plan their excursion program separately, says owner Marco Spiss. Pfunds is a quiet and traditional community in Tyrol, perfect for a nature vacation with all the freedom you need.

“ It is often the case that one partner is on the slopes (Serfaus, Ischgl, Nauders) and the other prefers snowshoeing or simply walking on the many hiking trails in the area (especially the Tschey in Pfunds)” – Marco Spiss, Summit Lodges Pfunds

But the sustainable accommodation also offers plenty of opportunities for togetherness, such as a private sauna and an open fireplace that is stocked with firewood when you arrive.

#6 Hotel Klosterbräu, Tirol – Two activity guides to choose from

If you prefer to stay in a hotel in Tyrol, the Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld is a good choice in the region.

“[Holidays with different interests] are definitely possible with us, as our two activity guides Clemens and Thomas plan on different levels. This means that if the woman (or man) wants to climb a via ferrata and the man (or woman) prefers a morning walk, there is something for everyone.” – Hotel Klosterbräu

The hotel is also ideal if you want to take your children with you. There is the hotel’s own petting zoo “Siggis Sauhaufen” and child care nearby. There is also a large spa area – something for everyone.

#7 Biohotel Grafenast, Tyrol – Nature vacation – also with children

The Biohotel Grafenast in Pill is another hotel where you can enjoy a great vacation together as a couple or with your children and where there are different options for everyone. It is located high above the Tyrolean Inn Valley and has a fantastic view of the valley. Some of the 23 rooms are equipped as family rooms and depending on the season there is a special program for the children.

„We are a great place to combine different interests“ – Biohotel Grafenast

#8 Naturhotel Outside, East Tyrol – Combined vacation in the Alpine National Park

Our Green Pearls® partner, the Naturhotel Outside in the Hohe Tauern National Park in East Tyrol, suggests several possible “combos” for you:

1. Outdoor sports and wellness (a new nature SPA with heated outdoor pool and a Deferegger healing water pool will open at the end of December 2024)
2. Hohe Tauern National Park and gourmet vacation (the hotel’s restaurant has 3 Falstaff forks)
3. Relaxation and shopping in Lienz

#9 Hotel Luise, Erlangen – Sustainable city vacation in Bavaria

For a sustainable vacation in Germany, there are also some sustainable hotels where you are in good hands as joint individual travelers. For example, the Hotel Luise in Erlangen:

“ Erlangen is ideally located for travelers with a variety of interests. You can take a city vacation or head out into nature – no matter which adventure you choose, you can relax in our spa after an exciting day.” – Hotel Luise

City vacation: The hotel is centrally located in Erlangen and Nuremberg, Fürth, Bamberg, Lauf a. d. Pegnitz are nearby and easily accessible by train.

Culture: Erlangen has a lot to offer culture lovers. The ComicSalon Erlangen takes place every two years and the Poet*innen Fest takes place every year. Nuremberg offers the Imperial Castle, the German Museum and other cultural highlights.

Nature: If you prefer to be outdoors, explore Franconian Switzerland (where you can climb, swim, hike, bike, explore caves, and more) – you can even bike right from the hotel to the Tennenloher Forest Nature Reserve. There are wild horses, goats, sand dunes, moors and more to discover.

Find out more about how to spend your time in Erlangen in our blog article: “Insider tips for a sustainable weekend in Erlangen” 

#10 Birkenhof***** Spa & Wellness, Upper Palatinate – Enjoy sustainable luxury

Looking for something more luxurious? Then there is a truly exceptional gourmet hotel for sports, wellness and culinary enthusiasts on a hill in the Opferpfälzer Seenland. The 5-star Hotel Birkenhof is committed to renewable energy and e-mobility at the highest level. Speaking of high standards: It is also home to the 2-star restaurant Obendorfers Eisvogel”.

“We are very good at catering to different interests. We have a wellness and relaxation offer and we are a hotel in the middle of nature with hiking possibilities, water skiing in the lake area, golf and cycling.” – Lukas Obendorfer, Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort

#11 Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa, Berchtesgadener Land – For couples who not only want different activities, but also different menus

At Hotel Klosterhof – Alpine Hideway & Spa, couples often order different meals, according to the host family. A popular variation is when one person is vegan and the other is not. In this case, there is an all vegetable “Kraut und Rüben” menu every evening.

There are often babymoon guests at the health hotel. Here the pregnant woman can participate in a special program while the father-to-be can do other things. In the evening you can enjoy the famous Barbarossa Mocktails together – each to your own taste.

#12 Naturresort Gerbehof, Lake Constance Region – Sporty nature vacation

Naturresort Gerbehof is the perfect place for you if you want to be surrounded by a natural, organic atmosphere. The sustainable hotel is located amidst the famous orchards of the Lake Constance region and is especially beautiful during the blossoming and apple harvest season.

“ We have opportunities for wellness, hiking, biking, sailing and surfing.” – Naturresort Gerbehof

#13 Lifestylehotel SAND – Vacation at the Baltic Sea

“ We are currently experiencing a huge increase in demand for offers for couples,” says Marion Muller, hostess of the Lifestylehotel SAND in Timmendorfer Strand. We described what such a weekend for two could look like in our blog article Baltic Sea for two.

The Adults Only Hotel offers several specials for couples. It is not necessary to do everything together with your partner. In this case, the hostess recommends the combination of the two offers “SANDromance” and “SANDstarnight”. This means ” Feel Good” for one and ” Outdoor Experience ” for the other.

#14 STURM in Mellrichstadt – Adventure and relaxation

At the sustainable Hotel STURM in Mellrichstadt in the Biosphere Reserve Rhön, most couples with different interests combine “adventure” and “relaxation”. Each partner can plan their day as they wish – one can go on an adventure tour and explore the surrounding forests, moors and caves, while the other relaxes with sauna sessions and massages.

„Perfect balance: each partner organizes the day according to his or her own wishes. End the day together with a delicious organic menu in the restaurant, followed by a drink in the lounge or in front of the fireplace.“ – STURM

Holidays for couples with different interests in Thailand, Italy, France and Nepal

#15 Keemala Villas Wonderland on Phuket – Everyone is allowed dream

Our Green PearlsⓇ partner, Keemala, on the Thai island of Phuket, has just been named “Best Resort in Thailand” and “One of the Best Hotels in the World” by the One Step 4Ward blog – after travel blogger Johnny Ward spent 18 years traveling the world.

He was there with his wife and they did everything together (yes, he just got married in 2021 – so it’s still fresh :-)). They even had their booked spa treatments moved to the same room. But you can also experience something on your own as a couple.

“Keemala caters to the needs of couples with different interests with our wellness and outdoor adventure themes.” – Keemala

Wellness: Spa treatments, yoga, wellness classes and mediation sessions

Culinary delights: Indulge in nutritious and wellness-oriented cuisine

Outdoor Adventure: Explore the rainforest and local wildlife on guided eco-tours. There are trails for all levels.

Water activities: Kayaking and Snorkeling

#16 Holidays at the Albergo Diffuso Relais del Maro in Liguria

How about the idyllic setting of a Ligurian village for your vacation? Borgomaro, in the hinterland of the coastal city of Imperia, is home to the Relais del Maro – an Albergo Diffuso spread over several houses in the village.

In the morning one person goes to the pool while the other sleeps in – later one person walks through the olive groves and tastes the famous Taggiasca olives while the other hires an e-bike from the reception to cycle along the coast. In the evening you will meet again for dinner and end your day with good food and good conversation.

#17 Couple vacation at the Green Spirit Hotels in Paris

If you are looking for an eco-friendly and personalized place to stay in Paris, we recommend Green Spirit Hotels: Le Pavillon, Hotel Malar and Hotel Amélie – all located in the lively 7th arrondissement and within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower, the Seine and other major attractions.

Because the Green Spirit eco-hotels are very small, you can’t do many things separately in the hotels themselves, says host Barbara Tascijevic with a laugh. But in the city of Paris, this is a matter of course!

#18 The Pavilions Himalaya – The Farm, Nepal – Safari and Yoga

Last but not least, The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm Hotel also told us that couples with different interests are very welcome. The sustainable resort in the foothills of the Himalayas runs its own organic farm, helps farmers convert to certified organic farming, and donates a full 70 percent of its income to the local Right4Children project.

There are eco-tours to explore Nepal’s stunning nature, cultural temples and festivals, and safari tours. Alternatively, one of you could lounge by the pool at the resort or practice yoga with the local yoga guru.

As you can see, there are many ways to combine different vacation desires in one place. That way, you can both get your money’s worth and still spend your vacation together. Of course, going separately is also an option, but our interests at home aren’t that far apart, at least 🙂

What are your experiences? Would you like to do something on your own on vacation? Or have you maybe already been doing it for a long time? We look forward to your comments.

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What are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?

UNESCO, or the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, is a sub-organization of the United Nations (UN) and, since 1978, has maintained a list of World Heritage Sites of special universal value to humanity as a whole, to be preserved for and by humanity. This includes tangible heritage such as natural landscapes, works of art and monuments, as well as intangible heritage such as crafts and customs. Over 1154 cultural and natural heritage sites from 167 countries are currently listed, and new sites are being added all the time. But some are disappearing as well…

How to get certified as a World Heritage Site?

To be included, a site must meet certain criteria. (For example, it must be a “masterpiece of human creativity,” a “natural phenomenon of superlatives,” or an area “of outstanding natural beauty and aesthetic significance”.

Once a site has been designated as a World Heritage Site, UNESCO promotes protection measures (although the responsibility lies within the state) and monitors the condition of the World Heritage Sites.

Loss of World Heritage status

Some World Heritage Sites also lose their status. This happened in Oman in 2007 when the Arabian Oryx Wildlife Sanctuary was reduced in size.

Experience a UNESCO World Heritage Site up close – our tips for you

Of the more than 1000 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, here are 10 that are definitely worth a visit. And we wouldn’t be us if we hadn’t deliberately chosen the sites with sustainable Green PearlsⓇ accommodations nearby. After all, UNESCO is all about preservation for future generations – and we, and probably you too, don’t want to undermine that by traveling in a way that’s harmful to the environment.

Things to keep in mind when you are visiting a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

As you will learn from reading the list of individual sites, many of them are in danger of falling into disrepair, and some can only be visited under strict conditions. For example, Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper” can only be viewed by a maximum of 25 people in a guided group, and Machu Picchu has even been closed to visitors at times. So wherever you go, follow the rules, be respectful of the site, the environment and the people, and don’t leave any litter. Your footprint should be as small as possible.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy

Let’s start with Italy, one of the most culturally rich countries in Europe. After all, it was the center of the Roman Empire, and all the great painters and sculptors of the Renaissance made pilgrimages here. There are currently 59 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy (as of 2023), of which 53 are World Heritage Sites and 6 are World Natural Heritage Sites.

For culture lovers: Milan

If you are in the mood for culture, Lombardy is the region with the most UNESCO sites – there are no less than 10 World Heritage Sites to visit!

The most famous of these is located in the heart of Milan, the capital of Lombardy. The painting “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci. It is located in the Renaissance church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Info: If you want to see the world-famous painting, you should book tickets in advance. A guided tour (about 45 minutes) costs about 45 euros and is only available on certain days of the week and for a maximum of 25 people. The goal is to preserve the 500-year-old masterpiece. Since dust stirred up by visitors accelerates the deterioration of the artwork, elaborate ventilation systems have also been installed to further protect the painting.

Brief facts about the UNESCO World Heritage Site The Last Supper

• Country: Italy
• UNESCO World Heritage since: 1980
• Area: Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano
• Special feature: Painting is considered “one of the highest forms of expression in art”.

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Lombardy that we can recommend is the Rhaetian Railway. This environmentally friendly transportation connects Italy with Switzerland. The small station of Tirano is located in Lombardy, from where you can travel to Switzerland. A highlight of the train is its panoramic roof.

Brief facts about the UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Railway

• Country: Italy
• UNESCO World Heritage Site since: 2008
• Area: 122 kilometers of railway network with a red train
• Special feature: Winding its way up the mountains, the train is considered a rare example of a man-made structure that blends perfectly with the environment.

A carbon-neutral stay at the Hotel Milano Scala in Milan

Hotel Milano Scala is an eco-friendly option for your overnight stay in Lombardy. It is the first zero-emissions hotel in Milan and is self-sufficient thanks to geothermal energy. It’s also centrally located, right next to La Scala, one of the most famous opera houses in the world (even if opera isn’t your thing, be sure to plan a tour of the building). In addition, there is a great roof terrace with an herb garden.

For nature lovers: The Dolomites of South Tyrol

If you are looking for nature and relaxation during your vacation, we have another recommendation for you: in 2009, nine mountain groups in the Dolomites were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List for their beauty and for their geological and geomorphological importance (study of landforms 🙂 ), as anyone who has ever seen the Dolomites can vouch for.

Brief facts about the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Country: Italy
• UNESCO World Heritage Site since: 2009
• Area: 142,000 hectares (spread over several areas)
• Special features: The mountain range is made up of dolomite (hence the name) and the rocks form special rock formations.

Vacation in the Dolomites

The Dolomites are a snow-sure area for winter sports as well as a wonderful place for hiking and mountain biking. In addition to active vacationers, the region also attracts people in search of (inner) peace and tranquility.

Paradiso Pure.Living is located on the famous Alpe di Siusi (in winter directly on the slopes) and the first purely vegetarian-vegan hotel in the Dolomites. Here you will find regular yoga offers and changing art exhibitions.

 “Words can’t describe the beauty and the splendor of the Dolomites. You can only feel its majesty at the first sight being there.” – Paradiso Pure.Living

Active and enjoyable in the Cilento National Park

There is another unique natural landscape in the south of Italy. The Cliento National Park is a mountainous area that stretches from the Mediterranean coast (Tyrrhenian Sea) through the Vallo di Diano to the Apennines.

Brief facts about the UNESCO World Heritage Site Cliento National Park

• Country: Italy
• UNESCO World Heritage Site since: 1998
• Area: 181 hectares
• Special features: In addition to the natural beauty of the National Park, there are charming mountain and fishing villages with colorful house facades perched on the sea cliffs.

A vacation in Cilento is suitable for all types of travelers: Whether you prefer beach vacations or active ones, cultural or hiking excursions. Even lovers of Italian cuisine will feel like they’re in heaven in this corner of southern Italy! Keyword: Neapolitan Pizza!

Brief facts about the UNESCO Intangible World Heritage of the art of the pizza maker

• Country: Italy
• UNESCO World Heritage Site since: 2017
• Location: Naples
• Special feature: Neapolitan pizza isn’t fast food, it’s a cultural treasure! It’s not just about craftsmanship and dough twirling, but also about the songs, stories and lifestyles that have developed around Neapolitan pizza.

Sustainable vacation rentals in the Cliento region

The A’ Crápa Mangia apartments are located directly on the coast in a renovated old country house in the heart of Cliento. Each apartment has a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the German-speaking owners take great care of their guests. For example, you can help prepare pasta in a mini cooking course (LINK) and get lots of valuable ideas for excursions. There is a lot to see in the area: There’s Pompei and Herculaneum, Paestum, the Amalfi Coast and Naples. The old town of Naples is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Brief facts about the UNESCO World Heritage Site historic center of Naples.

• Country: Italy
• UNESCO World Heritage Site since: 1995
• Area: 1700 hectares.
• Special features: A wide variety of cultures and civilizations have left their mark here. From the ancient Greeks to the Romans, the Byzantines, the Normans, the Spanish and the French. Naples was even once a kingdom in its own right. As a visitor, you will wander through the narrow streets, marvel at the various squares, palaces and monuments.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France

France has a total of 52 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 44 of them are World Heritage Sites, 7 are World Natural Heritage Sites and 1 is a mixture of culture and nature.

There are several World Heritage sites in and around the capital city of Paris. These include Notre Dame Cathedral (not only for its architecture, but also for its European historical significance in terms of the relationship between state and church), the Palace of Versailles, the former abbey church and current diocesan cathedral of Saint-Denis, and Hangar Y, the oldest airship hangar in the world. But did you know that the banks of the Seine are also a World Heritage Site?

Brief facts about the UNESCO World Heritage Site Seine Riverbank

• Country: France
• U UNESCO World Heritage Site since: 1991
• Area: 365 hectares
• Special features: The historic section between the Pont de Sully and the Pont d’léna (including the Seine islands of Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis) was important in Celtic times. The city center of Paris, built around the river, influenced urban planning worldwide and is considered a symbol of the relationship between the people and the river. There are magnificent views and many Gothic buildings to admire.

Vacation in the heart of Paris’ World Heritage Sites

There are three Green PearlsⓇ partner hotels in Paris, which together form the Green Spirit Hotels group. They are the small 2- to 3-star hotels Hotel Le Pavillon, Hotel Marlar and Hotel Amélie in the 7th arrondissement, all artistically and individually decorated. This sets the mood for exploring the art-loving French metropolis. You can also enjoy a delicious breakfast on the terrace or in the courtyard. And with local (and sometimes organic) produce. The banks of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower are within walking distance.

Vacation in a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany

There are 49 World Heritage Sites and 3 World Natural Heritage Sites in Germany, making a total of 52 sites protected by UNESCO. We would like to introduce two of them here

Hansestadt Lübeck

The North German city of Lübeck was one of the most important Hanseatic cities between 1230 and 1535. If the term Hanseatic League doesn’t ring a bell, the Hanseatic League was a powerful association of merchants and held a monopoly on trade on the Baltic and North Seas and along some inland rivers during this period. Lübeck itself is well preserved to this day and a visit (preferably with a guided tour) will show you where the wealthy merchants lived and where the artisans had their huts.

Short facts about the UNESCO World Heritage Site Lübeck Old Town

• Country: Germany
• UNESCO World Heritage Site since: 1987
• Area: 115 hectares
• Special feature: The outstanding monument to the heritage of the Hanseatic seafaring merchants Lübeck’s Old Town has an unmistakable silhouette with its 7 towers and typical brick architecture).

Sustainable vacation at the Baltic Sea

Just a 25 minute drive from Lübeck lies the Timmendorfer Strand. Here you can relax on a beach by the Baltic Sea at any time of the year. An excellent choice for sustainable accommodation is the Lifestyle Hotel SAND. It emphasizes naturalness, which means eco-friendly materials, local organic products, and relaxation near the beach and on the hotel’s roof terrace – complete with a rooftop sauna and a wicker beach chair for sleeping under the stars.

Völklingen Ironworks Industrial Monument and Bliegau Biosphere Reserve

Saarland is Germany’s smallest state and shaped by three major rivers: the Saar, the Moselle and the Blies. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Bliesgau is located in the southeast of Saarland. A biosphere reserve, as opposed to a cultural heritage site, is a model region for sustainable development with the aim of enabling people and nature to live in harmony.

The region is characterized by a hilly landscape with beech forests, meadow orchards and floodplains. The state itself has been recognized as a ” sustainable travel destination in Germany” by TourCert and is a partner of Green PearlsⓇ.

In addition to its natural beauty, Saarland is also known for its mining past and has preserved several industrial monuments. The most famous of these is the Völklingen Ironworks. It is one of the most important international monuments of the heyday of industrialization and is the only completely preserved ironworks from this period.

Brief facts about the Völklinger Hütte UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Country: Germany
• UNESCO World Heritage Site since: 1994
• Area: 7.46 hectares (the total area of the Völklingen-Saarstahl site is approximately 260 hectares)
• Special feature: Important monument of European industrial history. The Völklingen Ironworks was founded in 1873 and reached its production peak in the post-war period (1950s). The plant was shut down in 1986 and is now open to visitors daily as an industrial monument.

Vacation in Saarland

Saarland offers several sustainable accommodations and camping sites. For tips and addresses, visit the official website.

+ VERLINKUNG zum NL sobald er draußen ist

UNESCO World Heritage Site in Peru

Outside of Europe, we would like to introduce you to two World Heritage Sites from Peru. Peru has 13 World Heritage Sites, of which 9 are Cultural Heritage Sites and 2 are Natural Heritage Sites. 2 sites are mixed. Especially the remains of the Inca culture are world famous.

The Inca Empire

The Inca Empire was the largest empire in the early American continent and rose to power in the 13th century. They considered their capital, Cusco, the “center of the world” and built a civilization with remarkable stone buildings, bridges and roads, the ruins of which are still preserved today. The downfall of the Incas was brought about by the Spanish conquest in the 16th century.

Brief facts about the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cusco

• Country: Peru
• UNESCO World Heritage since: 1983
• Area: 284 hectares
• Special features: The city of Cusco represents some 3,000 years of indigenous and autonomous Andean culture. The influences of Spanish colonial rule are also clearly visible.

Sustainable accommodation in Cusco

Our Green PearlsⓇ partner, Inkaterra, is committed to preserving the cultural heritage and protecting the environment in Peru. An exclusive 5-star boutique hotel in Cusco. The Inkaterra La Casona has only 11 rooms and feels more like a luxurious private villa. The history here has been specially restored and you can even admire frescoes that are over 500 years old!

Cusco is also known as the “gateway to Machu Picchu”.

Brief facts about the UNESCO World Heritage Site Machu Picchu

• Country: Peru
• UNESCO World Heritage since: 1983
• Area: 32,500 hectares
• Special features: The well-preserved Inca city of Machu Picchu is both a cultural and natural heritage site. Located high in the clouds, the mountain city is still a source of scientific interest today.

Beware of mass tourism: Machu Picchu is so impressive and famous that many tourists want to visit it. Too many. The ruins had to be closed in September 2023 due to erosion. The site will be fully reopened in January 2024. However, you can only visit the legendary site with a guided tour, and should follow the guide’s instructions to the letter.

You can read more about this in our article on overtourism, where Machu Picchu and the challenges of its fame are explained in more detail.

Vacation at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

If you want to spend your vacation in the vicinity of this extraordinary World Heritage Site – considered by some to be one of the wonders of the modern world – we recommend another Inkaterra hotel. The Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel accompanies you with trained guides and is committed to clean water and waste prevention in the region. In addition, you will enjoy an authentic and luxurious 81-room hotel complex.

Vacation in a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Conclusion

Thanks to the efforts of UNESCO, many places, buildings and customs have been given more “value”. In the sense of appreciation and preservation. And – let’s face it – tourism is part of the equation! You are supposed to visit these places and increase their value with your purchasing power as a tourist. However, this should not be at the expense of nature or culture and be done in the best possible way.

Save this article for your next travel planning session on pinterest!

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Paris targets carbon neutrality by 2050

According to the United Nations, cities are responsible for about 70 percent of the world’s CO2 emissions. Why? Industry and large concentrations of people require enormous amounts of energy. As a result, cities are critical for solving the global climate challenges. In 2018, Paris adopted the Climate Action Plan containing more than 500 measures. These include:

• Reducing energy consumption
• Transitioning to renewable energy (e.g., by 2030, Paris aims to equip 20 percent of its rooftops with solar panels)
• Promoting environmentally friendly mobility (elimination of parking lots, creating bicycle lanes, etc.)
• Creating new green spaces (within a 7-minute walk, all residents should be able to reach a cool island or a walkway).
• Improving the quality of air
• Improving the quality of the water (By 2025, people should be able to swim in the Seine).

As you can see, Paris has a lot of big goals.. As a sign of your support, you can already be part of the city’s green tourism efforts.

Green Christmas in Paris 2024 – Our tips

#1: Travel in an eco-friendly way

If you’re planning to spend Christmas in Paris this year and travel eco-friendly, we suggest you start by avoiding planes and cars. Logical, isn’t it? You can get to Paris from almost any European city by train or coach. Within Paris, there is a well-developed metro network. This is much less stressful and cheaper than the constant search for a parking space and the sometimes exorbitant parking fees…

#2: Ecological Christmas Markets

Paris has the biggest Christmas market in Europe. It’s in La Défense. But if you’re like us and prefer smaller, alternative markets to food stalls and plastic decorations, pay attention now:

La REcyclerie Christmas Market Paris

83 Bd Ornano, 75018 Paris | Dates (not confirmed yet – last year’s market took place on weekends from late November to late December) | Website

Located in a former train station ticket hall, La REcyclerie is an alternative cultural center with a farm, repair workshop and café. The Christmas market takes place on disused train tracks and, according to insiders, has an almost “festival character”. You’ll find many original and sustainable gifts, such as upcycled products.

Notre-Dame Christmas Market 2024

Square René Viviani – 2 rue du Fouarre | Date: November 29 to December 25, 2024,

The sustainable Green PearlsⓇ Hotel Le Pavillon also recommended the “Marché de Noël de Notre-Dame” Christmas market, describing it as “particularly beautiful”. Here you can buy a lot of sustainable products made by local artisans.

#3 Sustainable holiday gift shopping in Paris

Secondhand

Away from the Christmas markets, look for sustainable gifts at Second Lieu (58 rue du Château d’Eau near the Gare de l’Est). There’s nothing new here, just second-hand! In addition to clothing, you will also find home accessories and toys.

Honey

Honey and other bee products such as honey gingerbread or royal jelly are available at La Famille Mary. This family-run business with its own apiary has been in operation since 1921 and focuses on the health benefit of honey. The staff is very knowledgeable and will be happy to advise you.

Jewelry made from recycled amber

If you are looking for something more elegant, the jewelry from Amber Paris might be of interest to you. What makes it special is that it’s made from recycled amber. Each piece of fossilized tree resin is unique and often contains old stems or air bubbles.

#4: Seeing city lights instead of Christmas lights

Christmas lighting – even with LEDs – is unfortunately not very sustainable. It has to be said that the ambitious energy saving measures have not yet been felt here. On the Champs Élysées, at the Cathedral des Invalides or in the district of Montmartre, you will find more than just an abundance of Christmas lights. Moreover, “Lumières en Seine”, launched in 2020, will present its third gigantic light show with huge, illuminated sculptures along 2 kilometers.

Tip: Butte Chaumont is a landscaped garden with a waterfall and suspension bridge located just east of the city center on one of the highest points in Paris. From here you have a wonderful view of the Sacre Coeur and the lights of the city – without the aid of artificial light shows.

Insider tips to discover Paris in a sustainable way – Not just for Christmas

Furthermore, we have a few alternative tips and addresses for a sustainable Paris city trip:

Bicycle routes through Paris

Paris may not yet be as bike-friendly as Amsterdam or other European cities, but the Paris Tourist Office has created four routes for you to discover Paris by bike.

Climate Emergency Exhibition

At the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, you can see an exhibition on the current state of the world’s climate. The three-part tour shows why there is a need for change and where opportunities for ecological justice lie.

La Villette Park

The aforementioned Museum of Science and Industry is located in La Villette Park. It consists of 35 hectares of green space and 300 square meters of ecological gardens. Throughout the year, the park hosts a variety of events, theatrical performances, concerts and fairs. An open-air film festival is held in the summer.

La Caserne: Sustainable clothing and food

La Caserne is a “Sustainable Fashion Hub” and also houses a vegetarian restaurant.

Food market: Marché des Enfants Rouges

The Marché des Enfants Rouges is the oldest food market in Paris and is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Regional products are sold directly from local farmers.

The “eco” district of Clichy-Batignolles

The Clichy-Batignolles neighborhood in the northwest is being rebuilt and will be one of the first neighborhoods in Paris to be completely carbon neutral. You’ll find vintage shops and alternative cafes and cabaret.

Palais de Tokyo – Center for Contemporary Art and Creativity

The Palais de Tokyo is certainly not an insider tip, but it has a young, dynamic flair that you certainly won’t find at the Louvre or the Palace of Versailles. It has been called the “anti-museum” and is a place for contemporary art. The Palais de Tokyo is also home to the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) and has been increasingly committed to sustainability recently.

Going out green in Paris: Bar/Restaurant Comptoir General

The Comptoir General is many things: a café, bar, restaurant, second-hand shop, antiquarian and cultural center (with a special focus on the relationship between France and its former colonies in Africa). The menu features only regional products. According to the owners, they know the fishermen and farmers personally and buy only from sustainable producers.

Flea market de Saint-Ouen (Clignancourt)

Flea markets or “Marché aux Puces” have a long tradition in Paris. On Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, at the Clignancourt metro station, you will find a huge flea market or a whole area with several flea markets side by side, where more than 1700 vendors sell their goods.

Sustainable hotels to spend Christmas in Paris 2024

Naturally, for a green city trip you also need the right accommodation. With the “Green Spirit” hotels, we have three Green PearlsⓇ partners! These small budget hotels are located right in the 7th arrondissement, from where you can reach all the sights mentioned above and of course the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River (sometimes even on foot).

These are the hotels:

Hotel Le Pavillon, 54, rue Saint-Dominique,

the Hotel Marlar, 29, Rue Malar,

and the Hotel Amélie, 5, Rue Amélie

Sleeping well in Paris

Although the hotels are located right in the center, between cafes and shopping streets, the interior is designed for a quiet and good quality of sleep. All rooms are equipped with orthopedic mattresses and there is a small, quiet courtyard at the back of the hotel. In addition, “Weber Bio-Technology” is used in many rooms and areas of the hotel to protect against electro-smog. There are special indoor air filters and vitalized water. For breakfast, you will enjoy fair trade and organic products.

Green Christmas in Paris – our conclusion

The sustainable aspect of a city trip is that you can usually get to the big cities in an environmentally friendly way. Combined with a green accommodation, you can experience the capital of France in an authentic way, away from the mainstream. But you don’t have to miss out on the festive atmosphere.

During the Christmas season, many people want to do good and think more about togetherness, social responsibility, and the next generations. We hope we have given you enough information in this sense and look forward to your feedback in the comments.

No chance of Paris this Christmas? Then save this article for next year!

Der Beitrag Green Christmas in Paris 2024 – Sustainable ideas, tips, and addresses erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

Holidays in Europe without a car

Zermatt – Car-free town in the Swiss Alps

Since Zermatt is car-free anyway, it makes sense to arrive by train. The train route through the Alps is incredibly beautiful. You’ll travel through the Visp valley, past some of the highest mountains in Switzerland, including the Weisshorn, Täschhorn and Dom. From Visp and Brig stations, you’ll transfer to the Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway – a modern, upgraded narrow-gauge railway – and head to Zermatt.

Tip: The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) offers door-to-door or station-to-station luggage delivery, making your trip to Zermatt even easier.

At Zermatt station, you’ll be picked up by an electric taxi from the CERVO Mountain Resort. This sustainable hotel has just won the German Design Award 2023 for its unique interior design. Hiking and biking trails start right outside the front door.

Just outside the village center (but still within walking distance) is the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt. Directly above the family-run wellness hotel is the lift to the valley station. This way you can reach the skiing and hiking area Sunnegga/Rothorn completely car-free. If you want to go to the Gornergrat or the Matterhorn Express, there is a good bus connection. Enjoy an active vacation in the Swiss mountains or relax in the Alpine SPA of Bella Vista.

Rittner Horn – The sunny plateau in South Tyrol, Italy

You can reach the train station of Bolzano in South Tyrol with a direct connection from many major train stations in Europe. From there, it’s only a five-minute walk to the Rittner Horn cable car. The ride in the panoramic cabin up to 950 meters above sea level is a great experience in itself – and it’s free with the RITTEN Card!

With the RITTEN Card, you can use all public transportation on the entire Ritten free of charge – including the cable car and the Ritten narrow-gauge railway. This historic train (also called “Rittner Bahni”) will take you to the APIPURA hotel rinner. This is a very special hotel for bee lovers, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The Rinner family runs their own apiary and offers honey dinners and api-wellness, where you can breathe the air of the beehive.

Another place for a sustainable vacation on the sunny plateau is ADLER Lodge RITTEN. The main house is surrounded by luxurious wooden chalets around a natural swimming pond. There’s also a beautiful infinity pool and nearby forest and mountains. You can reach the hideaway from the Ritten train station with a shuttle organized by the hotel. Or you can walk a few minutes along a forest trail from the nearest Rittner Bahn station.

Tip: The RITTEN Card is available free of charge at our Green PearlsⓇ partners and can also be sent to you in advance. In addition to free transportation, you will enjoy free admission to almost all museums and many discounts on various leisure and sports activities in the region.

Paris – The City of Art and Culture

You can get to Paris cheaply by Flixbus – the most CO2-efficient mode of transportation, according to a study by the German Federal Environment Agency. There are also many very good train connections, including the famous Thalys.

In Paris, we recommend the Green Spirit Hotels: Hôtel Le Pavillon, Hotel Malar and Hotel Amélie. They are all located in the lively 7th arrondissement, which means you’ll find boutiques, cafés and restaurants right on your doorstep. You won’t need a car for sightseeing – or even the metro! The Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, the Invalides, the Seine and other sights are all within walking distance.

Matrei in East Tyrol – Vacation in the Alpine National Park

The Naturhotel Outside is located in the middle of the Hohe Tauern National Park in the Austrian Alps. It is important to this sustainable hotel to fully support its guests when it comes to car-free travel. On the hotel’s website you will find detailed information on how to get to the Naturhotel by train. For example, there is a direct bus from Kitzbühel station, or you can take the Hotles shuttle from Lienz station.

The best way to explore the Alpine National Park is to join one of the (guided) hiking tours that start directly from the hotel, or to ride your e-bike, which you can park and charge here for free. You will also receive a guest card for public transportation. In winter, a ski bus stops in front of the hotel to take you to the slopes and cross-country tracks.

Friuli – Gourmet trip to the Italian-Slovenian border

For lovers of good food, La Subida is the place to be! It is located in Cormons, a small town in the heart of Italy’s Collio wine region, near the Slovenian border. The property, which has a swimming pool, includes a famous Michelin-starred trattoria and an excellent osteria. As a hotel guest, you can be sure of a table every night. The accommodations are set in a mixed forest and are perfect for a couple’s vacation in nature, with large glass fronts and a freestanding bathtub. The landscape presents the Julian Alps and in the distance you can see the Dolomites. On foot or by e-bike you can visit various wineries, cheese dairies and other producers of regional delicacies of La Subida.

Korčula – Bathing on the Croatian Adriatic Sea

ECO-APARTHOTEL THE DREAMERS’ CLUB is located on the Croatian island of Korčula. Many people travel by plane to Split or Dubrovnik – but you can also reach the Croatian cities by train or Flixbus! From Split or Dubrovnik you can take a catamaran to the island – a great way to get in the mood for your vacation. On the island itself it is very easy to get around without a car. THE DREAMERS’ CLUB is happy to lend you bicycles. Buses and taxis are also available if you don’t want to stay at the resort. From your terrace you can look out over the blue Adriatic Sea and spend your days swimming, water sports and sunbathing – who needs a car now ?!

Save this post as inspiration for your next trip!

Der Beitrag Car-free travel in Europe erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.