Europe
Green Travel
Guide
Europe: An Overview
Let us inspire you to visit Europe with this Europe green travel guide. Although Europe is the second-smallest continent in the world, natural processes have peppered it with stunning landscapes. In the Northern Highlands, for example, glaciers have carved beautiful treasures. For example, you can enjoy spectacular lakes, impressive fjords and pristine marshlands.
Meanwhile, in Central Europe, you can lose yourself in lush, green forests. As you move South, the landscape changes into dramatic, snow-capped alpine mountains. Undoubtedly, this is the best area to chase some powder.
Europe offers some fantastic opportunities for the green traveller. For example, the region has roughly 460 national parks. As you can imagine, when it comes to nature-based tourism, you are spoilt for choice. For instance, you can wander to your heart’s content in more than 2,390 km walking trails in Snowdonia National Park. The trails take you through beaming coastal beaches, striking jagged mountains, vast forests and deep, emerald lakes.
Moreover, you can catch a glimpse of some of the region’s unique fauna in the Bavarian Forest of Germany or the Pyrénées in France. Alternatively, you can visit Norway’s Jotunheimen Park. Here you can take in incredible views, enjoy free wild camping or challenge yourself to some amazing hikes.
So, we invite you to keep reading our Europe green travel guide for more inspiration and tips to help you plan your trip to this amazing part of the world.
LETS GET LOST
When to visit Europe
Undoubtedly, Europe is abounding with options for green travel. Therefore, including everything the region has to offer in this Europe green travel guide would be quite challenging. Nevertheless, we’ve included some general information to help you plan your trip.
The first thing to remember is that each country has different temperatures. Further, weather patterns also depend on geographic location, topographical features and proximity to bodies of water. Bear in mind that countries within each of the different European regions will also have varying weather patterns.
So, I suggest getting up-to-date weather forecasts for the specific countries and cities you will be visiting. Generally, July is the hottest month for Eastern European countries. Places like Hungary, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Poland offer good travel weather from April to September.
Southern Europe, on the contrary, has a lovely Mediterranean climate. So, you can expect warm summers, frequent sunny skies and less annual rainfall. Meanwhile, Western Europe features fresh winters and summers with overcast skies through autumn, winter and early spring.
Finally, Northern Europe features colder subarctic or Arctic climate. As a result, you may want to stay clear of these northern latitude countries during winter if you struggle with colder temperatures. In general, though, tourists flock Europe in the summer months. Therefore, I suggest visiting Europe during the shoulder season, which is usually autumn, except for a few countries.
Also, be mindful that days are shorter during autumn and winter, so plan to make the most out of your limited daylight hours.
What to expect when visiting Europe
Depending on how you look at it, Europe consists of approximately 46 countries. However, this Europe green travel guide also features Greenland.
I also divided the green travel guide into the different regions in Europe to give you more specific information. For each one, I included the highlights that captured my attention.
Keep reading our Europe green travel guide for a dose of inspiration on how to take advantage of nature while in Europe while also travelling more sustainably.
EASTERN EUROPE
As its name suggests, Eastern Europe is the eastern part of the European continent.
Specifically, the region includes the following countries: Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
The map below shows drop pins of each country so that you can see their location relative to each other.
Undeniably, Eastern Europe abounds with stunning natural landmarks. For example, you can visit Göreme Austria, which offers mysterious caves (Dripstone Cave). Poland, on the other hand, features some twisted (literally!) trees in its Crooked Forest reserve. Meanwhile, Russia has a lake that looks like something out of a fairy-tale (Lake Baikal).
There is something here for everyone!
SOUTHERN EUROPE
Southern Europe refers to the countries occupying the southern region of the European continent.
Specifically, they include Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, Portugal, The Republic of Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, and Slovenia.
I have pinned these countries in the map below to help you see their location relative to each other.
Altogether, these countries shine when it comes to nature-based tourism. For example, they have waterfalls with turquoise-blue lagoons, glacial lakes, stunning national parks, rocky cliffs, snorkelling, and cycling through beautiful countryside.
WESTERN EUROPE
Western Europe encompasses the countries located in the western part of the European continent. They include Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, and Switzerland. Below is a map showing where these countries are located.
Altogether, these countries offer a wide array of nature-based activities that will surely entice the green traveller in you. For example, you can feast your eyes on century-old glaciers or explore the largest ice caves in the world.
In the same way, other national parks offer the ideal landscape for hiking mountains and paddle-boarding in crystal clear lakes.
NORTHERN EUROPE
Finally, Northern Europe comprises the countries in the northern part of Europe. Specifically, this region encompasses England, Estonia, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway (including the Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands), Scotland, Sweden, and Wales.
The map below shows the location of these countries relative to each other.
These countries are particularly ideal for watching the Northern lights. Other nature-based activities include hiking, skiing, mountain biking, trekking, and camping. Oh, and make sure you tailor your trip depending to the time of the year.
10 green travel experiences in Europe
For this Europe green travel guide, I’ve included some tips on what I consider to be the best experiences for the sustainable traveller on a visit to Europe.
✦ Land-based activities
1. Go cycling in Belavezhskaya Pushcha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest wildlife refuge in Europe.
2. Check out some butterflies and go bird watching in Strandja National Park.
3. Explore the underground tunnels and caves of the Mladeč Caves.
4. Go horseback riding in Hungary and explore the country’s natural landscapes.
5. Chase some waterfalls at the Rugova Valley or discover the Mirusha Falls.
6. Explore Białowieża Forest, an ancient forest in Poland where wild European bison still roam.
7. Visit the beautiful Cheile Bicazului – Hășmaș National Park.
8. Partake in a winter photo safari in Ukraine.
9. Go skiing in Andorra.
10. Hike the picturesque Sutjeska National Park.
11. Be amazed by Croatia’s stunning lakes and waterfalls that snake between untouched forests.
12. Go rock climbing in Meteora, Greece.
13. Spend a day hiking in Italy’s Dolomites.
14. Explore Triglav National Park in Slovenia, “Europe’s green heart”.
15. Visit Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park in Spain.
16. Explore Eisriesenwelt Werfen, the largest ice caves in the world
17. Go hiking in Berchtesgaden National Park.
18. Trek the picturesque trails of the Swiss Alps.
19. Soak in nature in all its glory at the Faroe Islands.
20. Explore the hiking trails of Lahemaa National Park.
21. Watch the Northern Lights in Finland.
22. Learn about the impacts of climate change while snowshoeing in Greenland.
23. Go on a photography tour in Iceland.
24. Catch the midnight sun in Sweden.
✦ Water-based activities
25. Go ice diving in Baikal Lake in Russia.
26. Check out the turquoise lagoons of The Blue Eye of Theth.
27. Snorkel in Malta’s Dragonara Hole.
28. Kayak the Adriatic coastline in Kotor, Montenegro.
29. Paddle-board in France’s Vergon Gorge with its aquamarine waters.
DISCOVER
Europe green travel guide:
9 eco-friendly accommodation options
I didn’t want to finish this Europe green travel guide without including some options for eco-friendly accommodations. I haven’t stayed at the below accommodations but I consider them some of the most eco-friendly ones, based on my research.
Of course, this list is by no means exhaustive! I’m sure there are other places that could be featured in this Europe green travel guide. So, I invite you to do your own research to find a place that suits your needs.
✦ Slovenia
1. Koren Eco Chalets & Glamping (Kobarid, Slovenia): According to their website, Koren Eco Chalets is the only Slovene Eco Campsite. The campsite has a long tradition in ecotourism. It was one of the first campgrounds in Slovenia to receive the EU Ecolabel award. They offer campsites and 36 eco chalets.
2. Garden Village (Bled, Slovenia): This is a beautiful lodge, where you can surround yourself with nature. The lodge prides itself in using local products for their cooking, including from their garden and local farms. Garden Village is also the gateway to nature-based activities. They include boat rides on the beautiful lake, a hike to the local castle, and several walking trails.
✦ Italy
3. Hotel Ariston (Rome, Italy): The Hotel Ariston is located near the lovely Lake Garda and the beautiful beaches of Malcesine. The hotel has implemented a range of eco-friendly initiatives. They include solar panels, an electric car charger, and installation of LED lights and water filters.
✦ Hungary
4. Kondor EcoLodge (Kerekegyháza, Hungary): The lodge is in a unique location that allows visitors to engage in a wide range of nature activities. For example, the lodge offers wildlife tours, bird watching and wildlife photography. The accommodation itself is rustic but comfortable, and the surrounding natural landscape invites you to kick back and relax.
✦ Bosnia
5. Vukov Konak (Vučja Luka, Bosnia): I included this one because the owners are a local family that promote rewilding and permaculture as a way of life. Further, they are enthusiastic about slow, sustainable and natural living. The family has also incorporated a range of green initiatives to the way they run their cute lodge.
✦ Portugal
6. Portugal Nature Lodge (São Luís, Portugal): Another glamping lodge in the beautiful natural environment of Alentejo, Portugal. The lodge has worked to minimise their impact on the environment by ensuring they use minimal resources. For example, they use water from a well and treat their wastewater. They also have a vegetable garden and use energy-saving light bulbs.
✦ Estonia
7. Project Kodu (Harjumaa, Estonia): Another beautiful lodge tucked in the forests of Lahemaa National Park. They are an off-grid rustic retreat and offer a range of nature-based activities, such as forest walks, swims in the lake and foraging wild berries and mushrooms. Their accommodation consists of little individual tents sheltered in the forest. They also offer yoga and free-hire bicycles.
✦ Finland
8. Ollero Eco Lodge (Rovaniemi, Finland): Ollero Eco Lodge is an eco-friendly lodge equipped with a glass igloo and a river view in Lapland. The lodge ensures that they respect nature, culture and locality. At the same time, the lodge is a great place to do nature-based tourism. For example, they offer snowshoeing, sledging, and chasing the Northern Lights.
✦ Iceland
9. Hótel Húsafell (Húsafell, Iceland): This lodge is part of National Geographic’s Unique Lodge of the World. It’s easy to see why. The hotel has created the perfect merge between quiet luxury and rugged wilderness on the doorstep of Iceland’s iconic natural wonders.