Wander Wisely: A Beginner’s Guide to Sustainable Travel in Europe

Environmentally conscious, sustainable, eco-friendly, and ethical ways to explore the world have never been more important, or prominent. But with so much buzz around these terms, it can be hard to know where to begin. The first step? Understanding what sustainable travel truly means and why it matters.

Sustainable travel means exploring the world in such a way that it respects both the planet and its people. It’s about being cautious of the climate crisis and the fragility of nature, while ensuring that the communities and environments we visit genuinely benefit from our presence, now and in the long term. At its heart, sustainable travel is a balancing act: amplifying the positive impacts of tourism, such as cultural exchange and local economic support, while minimizing or avoiding the harmful ones, like over-tourism, pollution, and resource depletion.

What’s Happening and Why It Matters?

Carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere have soared to over 400 parts per million higher than at any point in the last 800,000 years and they continue to rise. This surge is driving a steady increase in global temperatures. Scientists agree that warming beyond 1.5°C will push us into dangerous territory, and 2024 marked a sobering milestone: the first year to breach that critical threshold. The climate is at a critical point, and its stability now relies on our ability to reduce further warming. The decisions we make in this pivotal decade will determine the future of our planet.

How Is Nature Affected?

Hand in hand with the climate crisis is an equally urgent nature emergency. Across the globe, over a million species of animals and plants are now at risk of extinction, driven by expanding agriculture and forestry, resource extraction, overhunting, invasive species, pollution,  urban encroachment, and the accelerating impacts of climate change. But this isn’t just about vanishing rainforests or melting polar ice caps. The loss of habitats and biodiversity is unfolding much closer to home, across our hedgerows and woodlands, among garden birds, butterflies, and bees, and even beneath the surface of our coastal waters. The decline is vast, and it’s happening all around us, whether we see it or not.

What’s the Most Meaningful Change You Can Make?

If you make just one change to travel more sustainably, let it be this: rethink how you get from A to B. Transport typically accounts for over 70% of a holiday’s total carbon footprint, by far the biggest contributor. The most effective way to cut those emissions is to reduce the distance you travel and choose low- or no-emission modes of transport. That might mean swapping flights for trains, opting for buses over rental cars, or even going the extra (green) mile by walking, cycling, or sailing. Every kilometre travelled without burning fossil fuels is a step toward a more climate-conscious journey.

Air travel is, by far, one of the most carbon-intensive ways to get around. While there are promising developments on the horizon, like electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft, these technologies are still years away from being widely adopted. Even the most hopeful forecasts suggest it will be at least a decade before such solutions become mainstream for most airlines. In the meantime, the carbon footprint of just one long-haul flight can exceed the emissions of an entire year’s worth of driving a petrol car. By contrast, land-based alternatives are significantly cleaner. In the UK, taking the train emits around six times less carbon than flying the same route, and taking the bus is even better, about nine times less. The essential message is simple: if in doubt, go by rail.

If flying is unavoidable, it’s still possible to make smarter, lower-impact choices. Not all flights are created equal, there can be significant differences in carbon emissions depending on the aircraft type, route efficiency, and airline operating practices. Fortunately, many flight search engines now help you navigate these choices. Tools like the ‘Lower CO₂e’ filter highlight flights with emissions that are below average for a given route. It’s a simple step, but using these filters allows you to make a more informed, climate-conscious decision, even when you have to take to the skies.

Sustainable Cities Worth Visiting in Europe

A handful of Europe’s most vibrant cities are also setting the gold standard for sustainable living, making them perfect choices for a green getaway. Cities like Bristol, Angers, Nantes, Zurich, Ljubljana, and Copenhagen aren’t just visually stunning; they’re deeply committed to a greener future. Across the continent, forward-thinking municipalities are reimagining urban life through the principles of the circular economy, investing in low-emission transport, sustainable housing, and tourism policies that tread lightly. For travellers, this means cleaner air, reliable public transit, and a calmer, more rewarding city experience.