With climate change melting icebergs and sad, isolated polar bears all over the TV, a lot of us are thinking about the impact we’re making on Mother Earth. This is even more important to consider when we think about how to travel sustainably.

Tons of celebrities today are put on blast for using their private jets for small trips — and rightly so — but what does your carbon footprint look like? Are you doing everything you can to preserve the world we live in?

It’s okay if you’re not, and it’s okay if you don’t know where to start. In this article, we will show you everything you need to know about minimizing harm to the planet and traveling sustainably wherever you want to go.

But first…

What is a Carbon Footprint? The Key to Travel Sustainably

With an environmental and energy engineer as a partner, the impact I’ve made on the world has come into focus for me. I didn’t understand how little choices I make can snowball into major problems, and I’d like to believe that this is the case with most people. I believe that most people don’t purposefully pollute. Most of us would like to travel sustainably. We just don’t know where to begin.

Well, what exactly is a carbon footprint? It’s a popular buzzword on the news today, but what does it mean? One’s carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and methane, generated by the things we do. I decided to calculate my partner’s and my carbon footprint just for fun. (Feel free to do the same at this website here.)

Now, sometimes there are things that are out of our control. For example, one thing they recommend to do to lower your emissions is to replace your appliances with greener ones. But because we rent from a landlord, we don’t really have the ability to do that. However, we can wash our clothes with cold water, monitor our thermostat, and start getting serious about recycling. Together, our current total is 17,680 CO2 emissions. That sounds really high, right?

Well, the U.S. average emissions are 33,261. The average per person is 16 tons! The average around the world is about 4 tons, so Americans emit 4 times as much as people around the world! Isn’t that crazy? But again, this doesn’t have to be something deterring. If anything, it should be something motivating.

There are many ways you can lower your carbon emissions, and both of the links above have resources on how to do so. But let’s look at how all of this information can help us travel sustainably.

Local Travel, AirBnBs, and Sustainable Policies (Oh, My!)

During COVID, many people had to figure out some things about themselves, like “What can be a substitute for toilet paper?” or “Am I really into Downton Abbey, or am I just bored?” and “What will I do once these bans are lifted?”. If vacations and travel were on your mind while in quarantine, know you weren’t alone! One benefit of being stuck at home was that people figured out how to adapt to the new ways of life. For example, local travel is an incredible way to save on travel costs.

There are many ways to travel sustainably, even at a basic level like moving around in a town or city. Local travel can be anything from a walk down the street to a new boutique that just opened or driving a few minutes to see a waterfall you didn’t realize was so close to you. This is a way to donate your time to promoting local tourism within your own community. Plus, you don’t have to break the bank to do it.

Let’s Take a Look at AirBnB

Now for AirBnBs. AirBnb released a study stating that since its founding in 2008, they had 90% of hosts in North America who promoted sustainable and green practices like using bikes or having solar panels.

It is true that staying in an AirBnb versus a hotel is definitely more eco-friendly. Here’s why:

• On an hourly basis, hotels use so much energy and water to run all their services. This includes that giant swimming pool, bedsheet washing, gym use, the check-in desk, that restaurant with the expensive food, and much much more. AirBnbs don’t have these added costs to consider.
• When a property is shared with the homeowners on AirBnb, energy consumption and waste production are decreased. For instance, the plastic toiletry bottles found in many hotels account for a lot of waste. You rarely see these sorts of things in the world of home sharing.
• Food waste is less than in a hotel because most properties don’t have a separate restaurant or meal-type services like hotels and B&Bs do. And when food is provided, it is usually locally-sourced, i.e. gardens or food markets.

What About Other Forms of Sustainable Accommodation?

If you can’t afford to find an AirBnb, whether it’s short notice or you really just don’t want to sleep next to Aunt Sally’s bedroom with her fifteen cats, then you can still go to a hotel. The best way to do this, though, is to check the hotel for any environmental certificates. This, along with a sustainability policy, can ease your mind about your ecological impact and help you travel sustainably.

There are tons of standards for hotels that are officially recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

Now, the GSTC does not certify the hotels directly. Rather, they confirm that certain standards awarded to hotels are in fact reputable as far as their sustainable policy criteria. Each set of standards must align with the GSTC’s own criteria of environment, social, cultural, and management principles prior to being officially recognized. GSTC-recognized standards include but are not limited to:

• Austrian Ecolabel for Tourism (the first national eco-label for tourism worldwide)
• Bioscore Standard (they request proof of sustainable procedures)
• Biosphere Standard for Hotels (created by the Responsible Tourism Institute)
• Ecostars (specifically a sustainable program for hotels)
• Green Globe Standard (has 44 core criteria with over 380 compliance subcriteria)
• Green Hospitality (Irish-based 3rd party certifier of environmental and sustainable programs)
• Green Key Eco-Rating (has specific sustainable programs designed for hotels)
• Green Tourism Active Standard (has certification programs that focus on conservation and socio-economic compliance)

Under the umbrellas of these standards, you will find the following sustainable hotels:

• Best Western Hotels
• Hyatt Regency Hotels
• Hilton Hotels
• Sheraton Hotels

Here you may have already stayed at some of these hotels and not even realized they were sustainably-certified. But when you think about it, how many of those hotels had a sign to have housekeeping skip your room for a day? This is a green practice!

So, you have where to stay and how to get there. But where exactly are we going? Let’s see the top 5 places that allow you to travel sustainably and promote green tourism.

The Global Destination Travel Sustainability Index

The GDS-Index is a program that assesses the progress of a destination’s sustainable strategies. Through third-party evaluation of environmental, social, supplier, and destination management performance, they can rank destinations around the world based on how sustainable they are. Their top five destinations are:

1. Gothenburg, Sweden
2. Oslo, Norway
3. Copenhagen, Denmark
4. Helsinki, Finland
5. Bergen, Norway

Now, let’s look at the top five things to add to your bucket list for each of those places.

Side note: If you’re interested in checking this place out for yourself, the ALLMYNE app can help you get there. With a local guide showing you the way and the AI Recommender feature that allows you to add the spots you want to see directly into your itinerary, no longer will you have to fret about getting the most out of your limited vacation time. You can download the ALLMYNE app using the links at the bottom of the article!

Gothenburg, Sweden

If you want to travel sustainably, Gothenburg, Sweden is a great place to start.

It is incredible that Sweden’s second-largest city leads the way in the world of sustainable tourism. There are dozens of things to do in Gothenburg, but here are the ones we recommend you look into the most!

1. Gothenburg Botanical Garden: Calling all plant lovers! The Gothenburg Botanical Garden has over 16,000 plant species along with themed gardens and beautifully extravagant greenhouses. This is a peaceful place to walk along the many paths and admire the beauties of nature.
2. Liseberg: If you’re like me, you love amusement parks, especially roller coasters. Look no further. Liseberg is here to save the day. This is one of Europe’s largest and most popular amusement parks. It’s a great attraction for families and thrill-seekers alike.
3. Universeum: If a zoo, aquarium, and science museum had a baby, it would be Universeum. This place has been open since 2001 and is extremely popular for people of all ages. The interactive exhibitions, guided tours, and dome shows are all worth seeing, so be sure to check their website for frequent event updates!
4. Gothenburg Museum of Art: No must-see list is complete without a museum—or two! The Gothenburg Museum of Art has pieces by Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, and Rembrandt among many Nordic painters.
5. Skansen Kronan: This fortress is from the 1690s and is nestled in the charming neighborhood of Haga. The view from the hill is a superb location for picnicking. Once you’ve finished up there, check out Haga for some fika, or the Swedish tradition of enjoying coffee and a treat with your friends.

Oslo, Norway

Similarly to Gothenburg, it is astonishing that Norway’s giant capital is as sustainable as it is.

You can see fjords for days while you’re here, but we also recommend you check out the following places to travel sustainably, too.

1. The Holmenkollen Zipline: Once your entrance fee is paid, you can access the world-famous Holmenkollen Ski Jump from the Ski Museum. The Kollensvevet zipline is 361 meters (over 1000 feet!) long and gives you a breathtaking view of Oslo as you come down the ski jump. It’s open in the spring, summer, and fall.
2. SNØ: This attraction is an indoor skiing facility. Beginners to experts can enjoy the downhill slopes in this ski park where it’s winter every day. They also have a delightful lighting system to project things over your head, including Aurora Borealis!
3. The Viking Planet: Unlike anything we’ve ever mentioned before, this is truly an experience. With VR-technology, this digital museum takes people on a journey through the Viking times. You can interact with screens, holograms, and 270-degree films. Those of us who are easily motion sick might have to sit this one out, but I might just have to stock up on DramamineⓇ for this once-in-a-lifetime journey.
4. The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet: For those looking for something a bit more theatrical, romantic, and classy, check out this place. This building is home to the Norwegian National Ballet, the Opera Orchestra, and the Ballet School. You can tour it for a fee and/or book tickets for an event during your visit.
5. Nobel Peace Center: Ever wanted to know about the people who have won Nobel Peace Prizes? Then, you’re in luck. This museum details everything one would want to know about Alfred Nobel and the Peace Prize through exhibitions and digital experiences.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Denmark in general is what most people would describe as “cozy.”

The canals and gardens are truly magical, but they aren’t all Copenhagen has to offer you!

1. Rosenborg Castle: Can we first just say that Rosenborg Castle is house goals? This castle was the summer home of Christian IV, the Scandinavian king in the early 1600s. There are coronation thrones, Venetian glass collections, and royal portraits all awaiting history and architecture lovers.
2. CopenHill: It makes sense that due to the nature of this article we would recommend you visit a waste-to-energy plant. However, if you’ve seen photos of this spectacular building, you will know that this sight is unlike any other. Along with its unique design, CopenHill has a ski slope, climbing wall, and cafe.
3. Cisternerne: Cisternerne is an underground cave museum. Once a reservoir for millions of liters of water, this museum now has cultural events and art exhibitions. It is also an extension of the Frederiksberg Museums, so it’s like a two-for-one.
4. Tivoli Gardens: This attraction is an obvious addition to the list. More than 4 million people visit this amusement park every year, and it was even a huge inspiration for Walt Disney—if that tells you anything! They also have special events during holidays like Christmas and Halloween. As if that wasn’t enough, Tivoli Gardens has been certified as a “Green Attraction” by Green Key!
5. Amalienborg Palace: This palace is where Copenhagen’s Queen resides. There is a museum in one of the four separate palaces that shows you 400 years’ worth of royal history. You can also witness the custom of the changing of the guard every day at noon.

Helsinki, Finland

The land of famous Nordic cuisine, Finland’s capital, Helsinki, is a must-visit in one’s lifetime. The landscape and architecture alone are enough to take one’s breath away, but let’s see what else you should check out.

1. Candlelight Concerts: Pictures of these concerts make my heart catch in my throat. Beautiful music is played amidst—you guessed it—candles. They have music ranging from Vivaldi, Debussy, and Beethoven to Queen, ABBA, and Hans Zimmer.
2. Suomenlinna Fortress: A UNESCO World Heritage Site for a reason, the Suomenlinna, or the Castle of Finland, is on an island off the coast. You can stroll along the beach or visit one of the six nearby museums while visiting this beautiful place.
3. Helsinki Cathedral: Built in tribute to Czar Nicholas I, Grand Duke of Finland, this cathedral is one of the most recognizable pieces along the Finnish skyline. You must take time to visit on Wednesday at 5pm for one of their free, short organ recitals. Sustainable travel never sounded this good!
4. Kotiharjun Sauna: Saunas originated from Finland, so it’s only fitting that you take a dip when you visit. This sauna is just one of many in Helsinki, but all are easily accessible, not too costly, and incredibly relaxing.
5. Seurasaari Island: This island is actually an open-air museum. Made up of traditional Finnish buildings, tours are offered throughout the summer. Fun fact: the buildings you’ll see there are not replicas. They are real buildings that were transported to this area in order to be preserved.

Bergen, Norway

Last but not least is this small city along the southwestern coast of Norway. Bergen is famous for its quaint and colorful houses along the wharf. These adorable houses are actually a World Heritage Site! But that’s not all Bergen is known for.      Mountain Hiking: Did you know that there are seven mountains around Bergen? You can take a cable car to the top of the mountains, like Mt. Fløyen or Mt. Ulriken, and get incredible views of Bergen. You can also take part in bike rides or ziplining, too. 

1. Akvariet: The Bergen Aquarium is child-friendly, but also fun for adults. You can watch animals get fed at close range, eat Norwegian cuisine at Spiseriet Akvariet, and witness the beauty of dozens upon dozens of fish in the aquarium.
2. Kode: This museum boasts of four art museums and three composer homes. You can see Norwegian art history and the world’s third-largest Edvard Munch collection at the Rasmus Meyer, or visit Troldhaugen, the home of Edvard Grieg, Norway’s greatest composer. The possibilities are endless as to all the things you can learn while visiting these sites.
3. Fjord Cruises: Cruises to see the fjords are extremely popular in Norway. You can book your own fjord excursion and travel sustainably with one of our local guides on the ALLMYNE app!
4. The Fish Market: It might seem odd to have a fish market rounding out the list of stops in Bergen, but this market is truly iconic. The diverse selection of fresh seafood and fish along with waterfront dining is the perfect combination for a midday relaxation after tons of hiking!

Dan Rutherford, the Senior Director of Research at The International Council on Clean Transportation, encourages us all to travel like “A NERD,” especially when it comes to flying:

1. Avoid unnecessary trips
2. Fly on New aircrafts
3. In Economy class
4. On a Regular-sized plane
5. Preferably on a Direct flight

Keep Your Travels Sustainable with ALLMYNE

We hope this article has made you think about how you can minimize your carbon footprint the next time you travel. Any tips you think we missed? Let us know in the comments!

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