8 ideas of city trip zero carbon to be made in Europe

Why not travel differently by making a zero-carbon city trip in Europe? Here are some green ideas, good for you... and the planet.

You probably know the proverb "who wants to travel far cleanses his frame". We will add "who wants to travel for a long time cleanses his environment". Tourism is responsible for approximately 8% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, solutions exist and tend to develop in order to significantly reduce the environmental impact of passengers.

Soft mobility, decarbonized activities, responsible accommodation, destinations... All, including in cities. Wanderlix offers some ideas of city trip zero carbon in Europe. Make your choice and enjoy an unforgettable green stay.

1. Amsterdam

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, has been an eco-friendly city model in Europe for many years already. This is the perfect place to make a zero-carbon city trip in Europe. The "North Venice" is easily accessible by train or by bus from the train station of Lille-Europe or Paris-Gare du Nord. Once on site, many shops offer bicycle rental to move easily. This picturesque metropolis has more bikes than inhabitants!

To admire it through its 75 kilometers of canals, you can also opt for an electric boat without a permit. Even more virtuous, Plastic Whale offers plastic fishing cruises. Armed with an exhaustion, the participants pick up the floating debris that will serve as raw materials for the construction of office furniture or... of boats, which will be used in their turn to make the canals discover.

Eco-friendly activities are legion in this green city. After a visit to museums ( Van Gogh , Rijksmuseum, NEMO or Rembrandt), we recommend a bucolic walk to the Vondelpark. It is the largest urban park in the city, the 45 hectares of which are home to several lively scenic areas from May to September. Its hippie atmosphere makes it a must-have place to attend a free outdoor concert or show.

More to the east, 10 minutes by bike, is the district of Plantage and its Hortus Botanicus. Created in 1638, it is one of the oldest botanical gardens in Europe. In terms of accommodation, the hotel offering is full of eco-friendly facilities. The local channel Conscious Hotels, for example, is fully engaged in an ecological approach, from housing management to locavore food. Miam!

2. Ljubljana

“Lou-bia-na” is the name of the Slovenian capital, designated “Green Capital of Europe 2016”. And for cause: this one, surrounded by protected parks and natural spaces, is a model on the Old continent. The largest green area in the city, Tivoli, leads to the wooded hills of Rožnik and Šišenski, a paradise for hikers. In fact, everything is on foot: the picturesque historic centre of the city has been closed to motor traffic since 2008.

If you want to get there by train, the ideal is to leave Paris-Gare-de-Lyon and then take a correspondence at the Central Station Zurich . Once on site, it is easy to take advantage of the BicikelJ service to move. Using these self-service urban bikes is the best way to explore the city... in addition, it costs almost nothing!

During this zero-carbon citytrip in Europe, don't miss going to the Central Market of the city between the Vodnik and Pogačarjev places. There are many gourmet food shops and local farm products. In the village district of Krakovo, the inhabitants themselves maintain splendid urban gardens that are worth a look. Visitors will then be able to learn at the stand-up paddle on the Ljubljanica, the river crossing the capital.

Then, to take the height and enjoy the panorama, take the funicular to the castle of Ljubljana. In both cases, it is excellent ways to discover the city otherwise! The Celica, a former military prison converted to a hotel, or the BELIB Hotel Ljubljana Park, is recommended on the accommodation side. Both institutions have obtained numerous international environmental labels for their efforts in sustainable accommodation.

3. Bern

Bern is the capital of Switzerland, a country renowned for its cleanliness, that the mountainous nature is particularly concerned with the adverse effects of global warming. Bern is proud of its old town with the medieval architecture that has been listed since 1983 on the UNESCO World Heritage of Humanity. We naturally offer you your next zero-carbon city trip in Europe. To do this, use the line TGV Lyria Paris-Zurich that connects Paris-Gare-de-Lyon to Bern in 4 small hours.

Once on site, this sustainable human-sized capital is gladly on foot. By making the SDG-Walk (mark of sustainable development goals, in French) for example, this four-kilometre route, with audioguide, winds up in the picturesque streets of the old centre. It offers visitors the opportunity to discover the committed local initiatives for reducing CO2 emissions.

Bern is characterized by its sweetness of living inspired for decades by the precepts of slow tourism. The relaxed atmosphere of the Swiss capital is particularly appreciated in the chip markets that are regularly organized. Could you find a little atypical memory in their aisles? Or enjoy your presence in the greenest city of Europe in 2022 to spoil your loved ones with... chocolate. Produced locally by Tschirren confectionery, opened since 1919 on Kramgasse, of course: it is clearly the best. Miam!

With regard to housing solutions, good news, it is easy to find an eco-friendly establishment on site. We recommend the Swissotel Kursaal or the prestigious Schweizerhof Bern & Spa, both of which focus on green tourism.

4. Copenhagen

The Danish capital, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025, is particularly committed to sustainable development. This is the perfect place to start making a zero-carbon city trip in Europe. By train, preferably: located between the city centre and the old working quarter of Vesterbro, the central station of Copenhagen is served by a large number of European lines. Once on site, of course, you will not fail to put on a bike.

It is that the little queen is a real institution in the town of the Little Mermaid! Even the Tour de France 2022 begins in Copenhagen, that is to say... Professional athletes are obviously not alone to enjoy it. For the common mortals, Copenhagen is equipped with 350 kilometers of secure bike paths with impeccable coating. Ideal for exploring the Amager beach or the Jægersborg deer park.

A little hollow? Some of Denmark's best sustainable restaurants are within easy reach. Particularly focused on vegetism and the use of local resources, Danish cuisine is fresh and tasty. Pladsen and its gourmet desserts or the One Bowl, a non-profit community establishment, will convince you! Try to go to the Reffen Copenhagen Street Food, 400 of which offer street food.

To sleep, easy: more than 70% of the hotels in the city have an ecological label. You can also try to find a pied-à-terre for rent on the side of Ørestad, the old island to fishermen. This eco-designed futuristic residential area is a real urban challenge, to be seen absolutely!

5. Barcelona

Barcelona, a Catalan metropolis by the sea, is certified as "Biosphere", a label rewarding responsible tourist destinations. To get there, nothing better than the TGV: at the start of Marseille or Montpellier , just a few hours separate you from "Barna". Moreover, the city encourages the use of clean mobility within it.

Self-service bicycles, electric vehicles, clean public transport... are at the full disposal of tourists. Enjoy it to visit the local green lungs that are Montjuïc Park or Collserola Park when you arrive. These wonderful natural spaces make the happiness of lovers of beautiful outdoor walks.

Local food is to taste the inevitable -and succulent- tapas. The best are in the lively Boqueria aisles, a picturesque market close to Rambla. Open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., it’s the perfect place to eat, bring a gourmet speciality to your loved ones or make some shopping for your stay. For activities, take advantage of the sailboat to discover the Costa Barcelona.

Cruises during the day are organized by skippers from the marina of the Catalan capital. Finally, to stay responsibly throughout your stay, take advantage of the sustainable labeled hotels. The Eco Boutique Hostal Grau and the Radisson Blu 1882 make part of the references.

6. Lisbon

A zero-carbon city trip in Europe in the sun, by the sea and for cheap? It is possible in Lisbon! The capital of Portugal enjoys an exceptional geographical location, between hills and shores of the Atlantic Ocean. If you don’t want to fly, polluting transport, the country’s dense and high-quality grid will allow you to go there by night train for example.

Once on site, everything can be on foot or by electric bike. In addition, the city offers a tourist, ecological and unusual tram service. For sustainable activities, we propose you to start with Lisbon Oceanarium , the second largest aquarium in Europe. It houses more than 15,000 animals and plants of more than 450 different species. A temple of biodiversity in Portuguese!

In this regard, don’t miss visiting dolphins in the middle of the sea during a catamaran trip from Lisbon. The activity allows them to approach as close as possible and to offer a good dose of iodine air in the sun. We love it! As soon as you return to the “European Green Capital 2020” you will discover its emblematic areas where it is a good stroll: the Alfama, the Bairro Alto and the incontournable Parque das Nações .

Finally, to accommodate you, only one address to remember: the Neya Lisboa Hotel. This modern four-star hotel offers a virtuous hotel offering. And for expensive in addition, in this city both ecological and economic. So when do you book?

7. Turin

Turin, capital of Piedmont, is located southeast of the Alps. The metropolis also hosted the 20th Olympic Winter Games in 2006. Concerned by the melting of glaciers, the city is the spearhead of ecotourism in Italy. The municipality is implementing numerous incentives to reduce the environmental impact of its residents and visitors.

Accessible in TGV from France, count about 5 hours from Paris-Gare-de-Lyon or 4 hours from Lyon-Saint-Exupéry. If buses, trams and metros allow you to cross the metropolis in no time, opt for its 180 kilometers of bike paths. The ToBike service will allow you to enjoy the joys of the little queen for your trips.

Hop! Direction the streets of the hypercentre to discover the Castello square and its historical monuments. The museum of cinema, the Egyptian museum and the dome of Mole Antonelliana await you, just like the Palazzo Madama and its artistic collections of the Renaissance. Enjoy your getaway to buy gianduiotti , these chocolates pralined melting, or graysini , local emblematic specialties of Turin.

These are your loved ones in France who will be happy! Finally, don't miss a tour in the avenues of the Porta Palazzo market on the piazza Palazzo di Città . It is, with its local product stalls, surely the best place to make greedy shopping.

8. London

Accessible in two hours since Paris Thanks to the Eurostar, London is the ideal place to achieve an unforgettable zero-carbon city trip in Europe. Despite its size (this is one of the largest cities in the world), the British capital is fully engaged in an ecological approach. For the anecdote, London wants all the buses, including its famous red two-storey buses, to be electric by 2034.

A responsible move to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that affect people as much as local biodiversity... In this regard, the city houses eight royal parks that form real green lungs that are very pleasant in all seasons. Hyde Park, Kensington Garden and the well-known Green Park are must-sees and real urban biotopes.

To stay there while keeping good conscience, choose a hotel labeled "Green Key" (Green Key). It certifies standards of excellence in sustainable tourism. The meridian Piccadilly, in the dynamic area of Picadilly Circus, or Heathrow’s Sheraton Skyline are the best known among them. If you are lucky to travel in love, we recommend a romantic cruise on the Thames.

Romantic... and electric: although your lightning stroke cannot recharge them, Go Boat boats do not reject a single gram of CO2 thanks to their 100% clean engines. A great idea for a clean and virtuous getaway to share with your half, what do you think?