The Greenest Countries on Earth Are Also Absolutely Stunning

As my mom and I made our way along Via Del Corso in Rome last July, our faces beet red and heat stroke starting to set in, we had to stop and hydrate. Summer 2023 was declared the hottest on record, and as climate change continues, Europe is officially the fastest warming continent on the planet due to the impacts of climate change.

It goes without saying that anytime you board a plane or cruise ship, the opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint—whether by flying direct, engaging in slow travel, or choosing to stay in an eco-friendly hotel—has never been more important.

“Traveling sustainably is all about making smart, thoughtful choices to lessen your environmental impact,” says Chris Imbsen, vice president of sustainability & research of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). “Think about heading to less crowded spots and taking longer trips to cut down on frequent travel emissions. Picking accommodation with sustainability certifications is another great way to make sure your stay is eco-friendly.”

You can also offset your carbon footprint by investing in emission reduction projects and making a point to respect local cultures and traditions, Imbsen says. “Visiting national parks and protected areas helps with conservation efforts, and choosing eco-friendly tour operators supports broader sustainability initiatives.”

According to a 2024 study by Booking.com, 74% of American travelers want to travel more sustainably in the next year, and nearly half of travelers (49%) find it appealing to book accommodations that are labeled as sustainable.

“Conscious travel continues to grow in 2024 as travelers become more and more educated and aware of the negative impacts of overtourism, carbon and plastic pollution, nature depletion, the mistreatment of animals in entertainment, and more,” Jessica Blotter, CEO and co-founder of Kind Traveler, says. “As travelers become more aware of the negative impacts associated with travel, they are actively seeking ways to minimize or eliminate them and optimize their holiday's positive impact potential.”

As the travel industry continues to narrow the gap between intent and action by creating more sustainable options for travelers, at the end of the day, the power lies with us to make smarter choices. Here are 10 of the destinations—along with the hotels and tour operators—that are walking the walk when it comes to a greener, more sustainable future. And not only that, they’re downright gorgeous destinations in their own right.

Denmark—and more specifically, its capital city Copenhagen—is a relative north star when it comes to sustainability. In 2012, Copenhagen adopted an ambitious climate plan to be completely carbon neutral by 2025. While they’re actively working to meet their goals, the city has now adopted a new all-hands-on-deck climate plan to achieve climate positivity by 2035.

While in Copenhagen, get yourself a Copenhagen Card, which gives you access to public transport and serves as a ticket for 90 attractions across the city, from Tivoli Gardens to electric boat canal tours. In the summertime, do as the locals do and go for a swim in the harbor or dip into one of the city’s many designated swim zones. A ride with Green Bike Tours is a wonderful way to experience the city, as is Green Kayak, which allows you free access to kayak across the harbors—all you have to do is pick up a piece of garbage when you see it. For a truly unique experience you’re unlikely to forget, CopenHot offers floating hot tubs and a brand-new urban garden called Little Siberia. A visit to CopenHill, a former power plant turned ski slope and hiking trail, is one of many ways the city has turned a net negative into a net positive—and the views from the top aren’t bad, either.

Of course you can’t come to Copenhagen without indulging in the city’s spectacular new Nordic cuisine, from a wonderful meal on Denmark’s first rooftop farm restaurant Gro Spiseri, to vegan casual fine dining at Ark, to a holy and totally holistic 50-course dinner adventure at chef Rasmus Munk’s two Michelin-starred Alchemist.

As far as places to stay, there’s no shortage of eco-certified hotels to choose from, starting with NH Collection Copenhagen, which opened in a historic building along the harbor in 2021. With a green sedum roof, seawater cooling system, upcycled building materials, and the fact it runs on renewable energy, you can feel good about this stylish and sustainable stay. Another eco-retreat awaits at Manon Les Suites, where organic toiletries and snacks await in a jungle-chic tropical oasis.

When it comes to promoting green travel, Slovenia has been making some serious moves in recent years. One of the first projects in Europe to promote sustainability in tourism, the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism is a great resource for travelers looking to spend their tourism dollars as wisely and sustainably as possible.

The third most forested country in Europe, thanks to the country’s abundance of waterways (including around 300 waterfalls, lakes and streams), Slovenia is an outdoor adventure enthusiast’s paradise. According to Earth.Org, one of the driving forces behind Slovenia’s sustainability mindset is the fact that locals are nature lovers who value the place where they live.

Promoting sustainable tourism has been at the core of the country’s outreach through environmental and sustainability projects and educational policies, which means there are lots of eco-friendly activities on offer. Think biking among vineyards, kayaking on crystal-clear lakes, hiking with an expert Alpinist to feed salt to the native Jezersko–Solčava sheep, and outdoor gastronomic experiences like picnicking or visiting a rural homestead. There’s no shortage of ways to go green in this gorgeous country.

“Pura Vida” is not just an expression in Costa Rica, it’s a lifestyle. Arguably one of the most eco-friendly destinations on Earth, Costa Rica is the land of plenty when it comes to sustainably built eco-lodges. It also has 30 national parks, 58 wildlife refuges, and 32 protected zones; it’s no wonder that Costa Rica received the UN’s 2019 Champions of the Earth award in recognition of its conservation efforts.

Home to more than 6% of the world’s biodiversity, Costa Rica has long striven to strengthen the conservation of wildlife, forests, and volcanoes. Located within the country’s mountains, rainforests, beaches, and national parks, eco-lodges like Origins and newly opened Silvestre Nosara are just two examples of eco-friendly lodgings that offer travelers the opportunity to experience the best this beguiling country has to offer.

Despite its name, Iceland is actually one of the greenest countries on earth. Set on two active tectonic plates, the country uses renewable and geothermal energy to heat more than 90% of homes across the country. As it continues to shift from fossil fuels to a more sustainable future, the country as a whole aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2040 and be free from fossil fuels by 2050.

Travelers interested in exploring the lesser-visited regions of Iceland’s Westfjords and tranquil East Coast while supporting the country’s sustainability efforts can do so on an expedition with Natural Habitat Adventures. A leader in responsible travel, the company offers a brand new 11-day journey with activities from private glacier walks in Skaftafell National Park and Zodiac tours of Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon, to whale watching and bird spotting in the Westfjords and on Vigur Island. Travelers can also partake in cultural experiences like guided walking tours of historic fishing villages, visits to organic farms, and encounters with Iceland's unique art installations, such as the Eggs of Merry Bay in Djupivogur.

You can feel good about staying in hotels here, too, with an abundance of eco-friendly inns and luxury retreats scattered throughout the country. The tourist-favorite Blue Lagoon is 100% powered by renewable electrical and thermal energy from the nearby Svartsengi Geothermal Resource Park, and the Retreat at Blue Lagoon and sister property Silica Hotel also benefit from the geothermal energy here.

Austrians love their nature, but even the cities there are green. Vienna in particular is lauded as one of the most sustainably minded cities on earth. That’s thanks in part to a robust public transportation system and more than 990 public parks and green spaces spread across the city. You can find a variety of green restaurants and vacation rentals in and around town. Grab a Vienna City Card to get access to public transportation and a 20% discount on your overnight stay in an eco-certified hotel.

Beyond the city, the Austrian Alps are not only an idyllic getaway, but a leader of sustainable skiing with lifts powered by 100% renewable energy and a fiercely protected “leave no trace” philosophy. Non-skiers can enjoy hut-to-hut hikes, as there’s no shortage of high-altitude Alpine experiences to be had here.

Chile is home to 41 national parks and more than 10 million acres of protected land spread across Chilean Patagonia. As a result, the country has emerged as a global leader in conservation and green initiatives. Its dedication to protecting and preserving these regions—which account for more than 20% of the country’s landmass—is setting a new gold standard for how national parks can and should operate. In fact, two of Chile’s national parks have been added to the IUCN Green List, one of the highest achievements in international conservation and tourism.

As part of the Santiago 2024 Reimagine Tourism event, Las Torres Reserve in Patagonia confirmed its signature of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action and Tourism and committed to a number of responsibilities, including cutting emissions in half by 2030 and reaching net zero as soon as possible.

What does this all mean for visitors? Mostly that Chile’s national parks are worth the trip. During your visit, you can have a climate-friendly meal, too. Located in a natural and cultural reserve in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park, Hotel Las Torres is home to Pionero Bar, the first sustainable bar in Chile, as well as the region's largest regenerative kitchen gardens. Coirón Restaurant uses fresh produce that goes literally from the garden to guests’ plates.

New Zealand has long been committed to a greener future. In 2019, the country’s parliament passed legislation to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Coupled with the fact that the country has one of the most sustainable farming systems in the world, eco-tourism is a serious business for Kiwis.

You can feel good about paying the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) to support environmental development and conservation every time you travel to New Zealand. On the South Island, a new Zero Carbon itinerary includes visits to sustainable wineries, canyoning trips, shopping, and supporting local eco-friendly businesses and nonprofits.

In partnership with Regenerative Travel, Auckland’s swoonworthy five-star green Hotel Britomart recently launched a Nourishing Nature experience that helps guests offset their trip when they visit New Zealand by visiting a native forest farm, foraging for traditional herbs and plants, and tasting the fresh ingredients in a spectacular open-air glasshouse in the woods. For another green stay, visitors can journey along the dramatic coastline of the Wairarapa wine-growing region in Featherston on Palliser Bay to Wharekauhau Lodge & Country Estate, a 5,500 acre working sheep and cattle farm. The lodge’s Travel Deeper plan helps travelers take a moment to slow down and look beneath the surface to understand at a much how the property fits within its ecosystem and its community.

In the land of all things chocolate, cheese, and the mighty Matterhorn mountain, Switzerland’s idea of sustainability is more than just an important ideal; it’s a way of life. In September 2016, Switzerland made history when it became the first country to vote for implementing a green economy with the goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2050.

In addition to boasting one of the highest rates in waste recycling and composting in the world, train travel is one of the best and most efficient ways to get around the country. Explore scenic routes ranging from the snow-covered mountains on the Bernina Express to the famous glass-topped Glacier Express traveling through idyllic alpine villages and past winding rivers and waterfalls. Once you’ve reached your destination, you can post up in a Whitepod Eco-Luxury pod, visit an urban farm, or stay in a sustainable lifestyle hotel in the heart of Zurich.

Guided tour company Trafalgar and Switzerland Tourism partnered to create the first-ever 'Swisstainable' travel itinerary, Contrasts of Switzerland, which takes travelers from Zürich and Zermatt to Geneva and and Lucerne, all while offering eco-friendly accommodations, experiences, meals, and transportation aboard the Glacier Express and Golden Pass Train Line.

Scandinavia has long been ahead of the climate curve and Sweden tops the list as the most sustainable country in the world when it comes to renewable energy rates and lowered emissions. By 2045, the country aims to have reduced its emissions by investing in electric buses, smart roads, and urban farming. Eco-tourism has also been at the forefront in Sweden, with places like the Arctic Bath, a literal floating eco-retreat in the Swedish Lapland, Treehotel, and a collection of sustainability-driven Nordic Choice Hotels scattered across the country.

Right next door, Finland’s capital of Helsinki aims to be completely carbon-neutral by 2035 and cut greenhouse emissions by 60% by 2030. In 2023, the Global Destination Sustainability Index ranked Helsinki as the fourth most sustainable tourist destination in the world. Roughly 70% of the country is covered by forest and the majority of that land is protected to prevent deforestation and disruption of wildlife.

It’s no coincidence that the city’s sustainably minded hospitality scene is lightyears ahead of the curve. Grab a Helsinki Card which covers transportation and access to all museums in the Greater Helsinki area. From the 20th anniversary of Helsinki’s famous zero carbon Flow Festival to foraging for lingonberries and cloudberries in the forest with a local chef, there’s plenty to do here. But don’t skip a chance to gorge on delicious food at Nolla or its sister Restaurant Elm in the heart of Kaivopuisto Park, both of which are known for their zero-waste philosophy.

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