Ten tips for a climate-friendly and environmentally conscious holiday.
Enjoy individual discoveries instead of standing in line with other tourists. Find out more here on germany.travel or at the local tourist offices, and discover romantic villages, unspoilt landscapes and quirky boutiques to suit your taste.
A long journey can be exhausting. If you're traveling long distances, why not plan a longer holiday instead of taking multiple short trips, and treat yourself to some local relaxation. Within Europe, it is best to travel by train: this way you get to know the country and its locals as soon as you arrive.
When choosing your holiday provider, it's good to distinguish between "greenwashing", and a genuine commitment to sustainability. The recognised certifications will provide you with the real thing. You can find a selection of certified accommodation in Germany on our interactive "Green Travel Guide.
Fill your water bottle for free and without hesitation from the tap or from the more than 6,000 public water refill stations around Germany, instead of buying bottled drinking water. You can also get your "coffee to go" in your own reusable cup in many places, and sometimes even get a discount. Fruit and vegetables are available plastic-free, super fresh, and inexpensive at the many farmers' markets, and also in some supermarkets. This way, you can protect the environment and save money in the process.
Travelling on foot, by bike or in a canoe allows you to experience cities and natural landscapes more intensely and affordably than travelling by car. Public transport can also be used free of charge with TouristCards in many regions of Germany. If you can't go without a car, why not rent an electric car using the car-sharing app?
Enjoy sustainable menus from local restaurants and their seasonal creations. This way, you will try new flavours, and the environment will be spared by the short transport routes and careful production methods. Luckily there is now also a large selection of vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Germany.
The encounters with local people are what make every holiday a special experience. So don't be afraid to approach people and join in the festivities and events of your holiday destination. This will give you the best insight into local traditions and lifestyles.
Unique souvenirs are best found in the local craft shops, flea markets or upcycling boutiques of your holiday destination. Buy originals instead of cheap imitations - this way you will support local crafts, as well as delight people at home.
No matter how you travel, heavy luggage increases fuel consumption and is really inconvenient. So carefully decide what you really need on holiday, and leave the rest at home. The Deutsche Bahn luggage service, which will conveniently bring your luggage to your hotel, makes transfers even easier.
Every journey involves carbon emissions. By choosing climate-friendly transport options such as the bus and train, you minimise your CO2 footprint. If flights or car journeys cannot be avoided, use our CO2 calculator to see the CO2 emissions of your trip. By supporting worldwide offsetting programmes, you can make your holiday carbon-neutral.
Use the myclimate CO2 calculator to determine the CO2 emissions of your journey by air or car and offset them by supporting certified carbon offset programmes worldwide.
Make your journey carbon neutral - for a relaxed and environmentally friendly holiday!
This selection is based specifically on the publication "Anforderungen an Unternehmenszertifizierungen für nachhaltigen Tourismus in Deutschland", 2017, Die VERBRAUCHER INITIATIVE e. V. ("Requirements for company certifications for sustainable tourism in Germany", 2017, The CONSUMER INITIATIVE e.V.)