Where are the world's top sustainable cities to travel?

Travelling to destinations in the world promoting 'green' (eco-friendly) or sustainability is a popular idea these days. Cities have dedicated themselves to making more green decisions to sustain the well-being of the people and the surrounding communities. Whether you are going on a short weekend trip or a longer holiday, consider travelling to one of these eco-friendly destinations. Here are our recommendation of 6 of the most sustainable cities in the world worth visiting.

Discover 6 of the greenest destinations in the world

• Singapore
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Zurich, Switzerland
• Bristol, United Kingdom
• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Ljubljana, Slovenia

1. Singapore

• One of the most sustainable city in Asia
  Today, Singapore is an eco-friendly city with nearly 50% green cover and 72 hectares of rooftop gardens and green walls that make life more pleasant for people to live, work and play in. It has been recognised as one of the most sustainable city in Asia and is among the 20 most carbon-efficient countries. Singapore not only showcases the great example that sustainability and economic growth are not mutually exclusive, but also inspires the world in their way to turn constraints into a strategic advantage.

• Dramatic changes of the 'City in a Garden'
  What do people think when they talk about Singapore? Singapore is widely known as the 'City in a Garden' with clean air, lush greenery, and green energy solutions. As a small tropical island vulnerable to extreme weather patterns and rising sea levels, Singapore has been on the green journey and pioneering sustainability for a long time, such as introducing clean energy solutions, deploying a robust water system with a diversified water supply, and creating more green spaces.

🌱 Recommended Eco-Tourism experiences to visit while in Singapore

• Gardens by the Bay
• Pulau Ubin
• Singapore Botanic Gardens

2. Copenhagen, Denmark

• The philosophy of 'Hygge'
  It is no coincidence that Copenhagen is considered to be one of the greenest city in the world as it strives to become a 'green, smart, and carbon-neutral city by 2025' and also since Danish people are keen on the philosophy of 'hygge'. Hygge is a very Danish concept, referring to 'a simple, comfortable, pleasurable lifestyle with a cozy atmosphere and the feeling of warmth'. This Nordic concept always drove Copenhagen to care more about the urban environment and greener lifestyle.

• Organic lifestyle
  In Copenhagen, organic food has become a regular part of the Danish lifestyle, focusing on local and organic ingredients in season. Organic food is the logical option for locals, no matter whether it comes to, cooking at home, or eating out. People have diverse climate-friendly eating options of all prices, from restaurants to street food markets. Moreover, Copenhagen is the first and aims to be the best bike city in the world. According to statistics provided by Eltis, 36% of all trips to work and eductional institutions in Copenhagen are by cycling. By cycling zero-carbon and eating organically, the magic hygge lifestyle brings more joy to people’s lives and at the same time is leading the world with more green impact.

🌱 Recommended Eco-Tourism experiences to visit while in Copenhagen

• Copenhill
• UN City
• Tivoli Gardens

3. Zurich, Switzerland

• Impact-free community
  Zurich is committed to applying good governance practices to ensure that its behavior reinforces the ambition to be recognised as one of the world’s most responsible and impactful cities. The city has an efficient public transport system that makes it easy to move around with less detrimental emissions. Like Copenhagen, cycling and walking are highly promoted to build an impact-free community. Speaking of Zurich, most people would confirm how clean the city is. Switzerland is the pioneer of recycling. According to government statistics, the amount of total waste recycled is about 34%.

• Reusable concrete in construction
  Another cool thing about Zurich is that it has quietly become a frontrunner in advancing environmentally friendly construction. Concrete is a major contributor to climate change in city construction. Facing the increased demand for the city's construction materials, Zurich started to make recycled concrete to be used in the construction of public buildings and became one city in Europe trying to make the concrete jungle a bit greener.

🌱 Recommended Eco-Tourism experiences to visit while in Zurich

• Wildpark Langnau
• Juckerhof Seegräben
• Thurauen Nature Centre And PanEco Foundation

4. Bristol, United Kingdom

• Energy efficiency
  Considered to be the most eco-friendly city and England’s first cycling city with over 300 cycle parking spaces, Bristol also holds the green credentials in many aspects. Bristol City Council was one of the first local authorities to declare a climate emergency in 2018. The city council launched the City Leap project to deliver low carbon energy infrastructure, such as solar PV, heat networks, heat pumps, and energy efficiency measures at scale and become carbon neutral by 2030.

• Nature diversity
  As well as being an efficient city with a growing ecological economy, Bristol is one of the UK’s greenest city with very good air quality. The whole town is covered with green spaces and more than 400 parks and gardens. Meanwhile, Bristol put a lot of effort into doubling the local wildlife by 2030. You will never be too far from someplace with nature vibes to chill in this lovely city.

🌱 Recommended Eco-Tourism experiences to visit while in Bristol

• Windmill Hill City Farm
• Create Centre and Eco Home
• We The Curious

5. Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Green public areas
  Amsterdam is also a city leading the way in sustainability. Other than being well known for its cycling culture with around 10,000 bicycle parking spaces available around Amsterdam Central Station, this Dutch capital has taken many green measures to achieve climate-neutral and emission-free in 2030. The green actions include installing green roofs, rooftop water storage, and solar panels on all public buildings, as well as increasing the amount of greenery in inner courtyards.

• Zero-carbon energy
  In addition, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, aiming to be the world's most sustainable airport, has applied 100% Dutch wind power as the new energy and started to use electric buses to transport passengers. There's a saying that 'God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands'. As the country is largely under the sea level, the Dutch never give up on experimenting and innovating to make the country a better livable place to live.

🌱 Recommended Eco-Tourism experiences to visit while in Amsterdam

• Amsterdamse Bos
• Vondelpark
• Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam

6. Ljubljana, Slovenia

• Best green capital
  There is a city in eastern Europe that has long been recognised for its environmental conscience. This low-key green destination, Ljubljana, was awarded the title for 'Best European Green Capital 2016' by the European Commission. The city's earth-friendly measures refers to green mobility, waste management and sustainable urban planning.

• Green city with clear water
  Ljubljana is one of the few European capitals with very high-quality drinking water. There are over 30 drinking fountains available for free-of-charge. The tap water is completely natural as it is not processed with any prior chemical treatments and is safe to drink. Ljubljana is also a pedestrian and bike-friendly city having approximately 300 km of cycle paths.

🌱 Recommended Eco-Tourism experiences to visit while in Ljubljana

• ROŽNIK HILL
• Ljubljana Castle
• Central Market

Hope reading about these sustainable destinations can provide some inspirations for your next holiday. Compare and check for cheap flight deals to these destinations and book on BudgetAir Australia. Start your next journey in these green lungs of the earth and immerse yourself in the fresh air and eco-friendly vibes!

Go back to top

Want to read more?