Sustainable travel

Sustainable travel is about more than simply reducing CO₂ emissions. It also includes protecting nature, animal welfare, waste, water use and whether your spending benefits people at your destination. That is why a trip does not have to be perfectly sustainable to still make a clear difference.

A few choices with a big impact usually matter more than lots of small symbolic changes. Think about your transport, accommodation and how you behave at your destination. With this practical approach, more sustainable travel becomes achievable for almost any holiday or round trip.

Where your trip has the greatest impact

If you want to travel more sustainably, start by looking at the parts that have the biggest impact. These are usually the transport to and from your destination, the type of accommodation you choose, the activities you do and what you buy or use along the way. These choices often offer much more potential than small individual habits.

Sustainability in tourism is not only about the climate. Pressure on popular places, the treatment of animals, the use of water and energy and whether money stays in the local community also matter. So start with the major choices: less polluting transport, more conscious accommodation and activities that do not exhaust a destination.

Choose transport that really makes a difference

Transport often accounts for the largest part of a trip's climate impact. For distances that can easily be covered overland, trains and buses are therefore strong alternatives to flying. Not only because they produce fewer emissions, but also because your journey is often more relaxed and requires fewer separate transfers.

It also helps to plan more simply while you are travelling. Exploring one region properly is usually more sustainable than ticking off many places in a short time with extra journeys, transfers or domestic flights. At your destination, walking, cycling, public transport and shared transport often make more of a difference than you might think.

If you go on holiday by car, you can still make conscious choices. Carpooling, travelling with a full car instead of driving half-empty and using an electric or hybrid car where possible are logical improvements. This does not automatically make every car journey sustainable, but it often makes it less harmful than necessary.

Calculating and offsetting CO2: useful, but not the first step

A CO2 calculator can help make the emissions of a flight or complete trip more concrete. This is useful if you want to compare different options, such as travelling by train or plane, or taking a direct route versus one with extra transfers. Once you can see the impact, making more sustainable choices often feels less abstract.

Offsetting can then be an additional step, but not the main solution. It does not undo the CO₂ you have emitted. Instead, it supports climate projects designed to reduce impact elsewhere. The best order is therefore: first avoid emissions where possible, then reduce them, and only then consider offsetting what remains.

If you do have to fly, direct flights are usually a better option than routes with extra stopovers. Fewer take-offs, landings and detours often mean less impact in practice.

Choose accommodation and activities that give back locally

A sustainable holiday is not only about how you travel, but also where you stay. When choosing accommodation, look for signs such as local ownership, a small-scale approach and clear attention to energy and water use. Think about efficient air conditioning, using laundry wisely, refillable dispensers instead of disposable packaging and measures to reduce waste.

Your activities can also make a big difference. Local guides, small-scale excursions and nature or cultural experiences are more likely to keep income in the destination. You also tend to get to know a place better than with standard tourist trips that focus mainly on speed and volume.

Be especially critical of animal attractions. When touching, feeding, rides, shows or entertainment are central, this is often a warning sign. Better choices are activities where animals are observed from a distance in their natural habitat, with clear rules that put their welfare first.

The great thing is that more sustainable accommodation and activities are often not only less harmful, but also create a richer travel experience. You have more contact with locals, a stronger connection with the place and often less of a feeling that you are being rushed from one highlight to the next.

Eat locally, shop consciously and avoid peak periods

What you eat and buy while travelling may seem insignificant, but it quickly adds up. Local food often requires less transport and packaging, and a larger share of your spending goes to businesses at your destination. It does not have to be complicated: choose local restaurants, markets and seasonal products more often instead of the same international chains everywhere.

The same applies to souvenirs and everyday purchases. A locally made product or piece of handicraft usually benefits the region more than an imported mass-produced item that you see on every tourist street corner. Conscious travel also means taking a moment to consider where something comes from and who earns money from it.

Travelling outside the high season also helps reduce pressure on popular destinations. Fewer peak crowds often mean less crowded streets, less pressure on nature and local facilities and a more enjoyable experience for you. Tourism income is also spread more evenly throughout the year.

Finally, it pays to stay in one place for longer. Travelling less often usually means fewer emissions, less rushing and more time to really get to know a destination. Your holiday often feels richer as a result, even if you visit fewer locations.

Pack light and choose items that last

• Take reusable basics with you, such as a refillable water bottle and toiletries in packaging that reduces the need for disposable plastic; these tips for packing compactly with only hand luggage also help you leave unnecessary items at home.
• Pack as lightly as possible: less weight helps limit fuel consumption, especially when flying or driving longer distances. Choose lightweight suitcases where possible.
• Choose sturdy travel items that will last for years instead of cheap replacements that you soon have to buy again; with suitable care products for bags and suitcases, they stay in top condition for longer.
• Consider a reliable cabin suitcase, a strong travel bag (in wet conditions, waterproof travel bags are ideal) and practical packing cubes or a travel wallet that can handle many trips.
• Use digital tickets and travel documents where possible, with an offline backup on your phone in case you have no signal while travelling.

Sustainable travel does not always have to cost more

The idea that more sustainable choices automatically cost more is not always true. Booking early, eating locally, bringing reusable items and planning fewer separate journeys can actually save money. Staying in one place for longer is often also kinder to your budget than a trip full of short stops and extra transport.

What is more, sustainable travel often offers more than a lower impact. You are more likely to have better contact with locals, a calmer itinerary and an experience that feels less rushed. So focus first on the biggest factors: transport, accommodation, activities and items that last, such as travel bags. You do not have to travel perfectly to set off in a more conscious way.

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