7 Best Eco Destinations in Europe

Escape, connection, tranquility. These are three of many values that more and more travelers are seeking and longing for while browsing a map of the world and picking their next holiday destination. Eco travel has been experiencing impressive growth in countries where tourism thrives, but also where local businesses are trying to establish a new model of sustainable tourism.

Get inspired by the seven best eco destinations in Europe, and find pristine and well-protected nature and places where it’s easy and welcoming to immerse in the local culture.

Best eco destinations in Europe

FINLAND

It might be its distance from central Europe or the higher travel cost associated with traveling to Finland, but a country with over 187,000 lakes, forests, and very few inhabited areas shouldn’t be omitted from the list of top eco destinations in Europe.

Striking silence in clean forests, well-maintained hiking trails and the Finnish sauna culture are only a few of the highlights we remember from our trip to Finland last summer. Needless to say, this is the place where you come to watch one of the wonders of Earth: The Northern Lights! See more of Finland’s beauty here.

Interesting fact: Finland encourages locals and visitors to travel around the country at a slow pace and thanks to their brilliant “Everyman Right,” Finland allows you to pass through a private area, pick some berries, mushrooms, swim, and if you need, camp on private land. All under one condition: you cannot disturb the privacy of the owners or damage the land around you.

UKRAINE

Do not limit yourself to Kyiv and Lviv cities. Go local and explore remote areas of the Carpathian Mountains, which is possible to do with a local guide if you feel you are not confident enough to do it by yourself.

Apart from some mystical misty mornings and outstanding views while running up and down the hills with feet wet from morning dew, you can look forward to being hosted by a local family and visiting farmers and craftsmen who produce goods only for their neighbors and their own use.

That said, if you want to see some of the untouched green parts of this world, visit Ukraine.

Interesting fact: In Ukraine, you can find the oldest virgin steppe in the world. The reserve is called Askania-Nova and is located in Kherson region (southern Ukraine.) The area stretches for 33,000 ha (81,000 acres) and you can find herds of free-roaming mammals from Africa, Central Asia, and the Americas. It also became one of the winners of the nationwide campaign “7 Natural Wonders of Ukraine” contest.

ITALY

Let’s break some stereotypes here. Italy has been one of the most popular and visited countries in Europe thanks to its spectacular historical monuments and of course its world famous cuisine. Some active travellers visit the Italian Alps in wintertime, but there are only a few foreigners who go further south and enjoy the wild Mediterranean nature.

If you’re an avid hiker, you shouldn’t miss out hiking in Matera (Basilicata region) along the coast with its beautiful beaches near Otranto or if your fitness level is good enough, try hiking from Matera to Otranto for 10 days. Italy, (the south in particular) will surprise you with some stunning and pristine beaches, white walled towns, and unique trulli that you’ll find only in Puglia region.

Interesting facts: There are 50 UNESCO World Heritage sites listed in Italy, which is the most of any country in the world. On the flip side, Italy has been struggling with environmental issues for a few decades (air pollution, water pollution, and over-hunting) and unfortunately only a tiny part of the country has been officially protected.)

Check out this comprehensive post on where to stay in Puglia.

Check more articles about Italy:

• Things to do in Matera, Italy: Tips on Outdoors, Food and Culture
• Things To Do In Milan: Awesome Tips From A Local
• Where To Stay in Milan, Italy: The Best Hotels and Neighborhoods
• The Best Day Trips from Florence, Italy
• Where to Stay in Rome, Italy: the Best Hotels and Neighborhoods

SLOVENIA

This is definitely one of the top destinations for outdoor activities in Europe. Slovenia is literally nested between the Alps to the north and hilly terrain to the south, and a short stretch of Adriatic Sea borders to the southwest. A big advantage of traveling to Slovenia is its size: you can travel across the country in a short time. It stretches 248 km (154 mi) from the east to the west and 163 km (101 mi) from the north to the south.

The landscape in Slovenia varies a lot: you can explore deep valleys, fly over Triglav while paragliding, bike along lakes and rivers, or try via ferrata, all within one region. Although the majority of visitors head to Lake Bled close to Ljubljana, we highly recommend traveling to Lake Bohinj, and Logarska and Jezersko valleys, where you’ll witness the pure beauty of Mother Nature.

Interesting facts: In Slovenia, they plant more than 1,200,000 trees every year, which increases a number of forests rapidly. Slovenia has over 7,000 kilometres of mountain hiking trails, which is quite a high number if you consider the size of the country.

SLOVAKIA

Similarly to its “twin” (lots of people confuse it with Slovenia, although these two countries are not even neighbors), Slovakia is known mostly for its capital city, Bratislava. Sadly, only a few travelers make it to the central part of the country, and even less to the east, where there’s so much to admire, especially if you are a hiker or seeking out some unique UNESCO sites.

Starting from the White Carpathians in the west, Malá Fatra (Little Fatra or Lesser Fatra) in central Slovakia and National park in Nízke Tatry (Low Tatras) gorgeous Slovak Paradise (yes, there is a place called like this in Slovakia) you won’t be disappointed by ending your travels across the country in the East Carpathians (Východné Karpaty) and the National park Poloniny that borders Ukraine. Here, make sure to visit some of the wooden churches in eastern Slovakia, which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

To make you feel even more special while wandering around Slovakia, remind yourself that you’re in the heart of Europe (technically it’s the village Kremnické Bane in the Banská Bystrica Region of central Slovakia.)

Interesting facts: Slovakia has the highest number of castles (180) and chateaux (425!) per capita in the world, and there are over 6,000 caves, however only slightly more than one-third can be visited by the public. Make sure to visit Demänovká Cave of Liberty, Belianska Cave, Dobšinská Ice Cave and Zlá Diera Cave.

GERMANY

Germany has notable hypes that travelers rave about. You can hear “You have to visit Berlin!” and “October Fest is a must!” from the majority of people who have already visited Germany.

Some of the top eco destinations in Germany are the Black Forest and the beautiful Rhine Valley, where you’ll also find fantastic bike paths. The region is famous for its wine production and abundance of castles near the Rhine River. There are some cheap flights to Frankfurt, no matter if you fly from Europe, Asia, or the States. Here you find a comprehensive list of the best hotels in Frankfurt and tips on things to do in Frankfurt to get you inspired to spend there more than a few hours.

Interesting facts: Germany is a true leader of ecology. Not only was the word “ecology” used for the first time by a German biologist Ernst Haeckel in 1866, but Germany is one of a few countries where a ‘green’ party is part of a government coalition, which reflects in daily lives profoundly: massive responsible recycling, well-marked trekking paths, eco-products, you name it.

GREECE

Rich Greek history and beach life have been some of the top reasons why people book their tickets here. Greece however, has much more to offer to active travellers. Once you leave vibrant Athens and head north, you’ll discover a very diverse world of the majestic Pindus mountain range, ancient stone bridges, deep gorges, and 2,000 km of hiking trails!

If history is your thing, don’t miss out on the mysterious Meteora, composed of a complex of Orthodox monasteries built on rock pillars. You’ll find some hiking paths around the complex and through small villages with breathtaking views of the landscape.

Interesting facts: 80% of Greece is covered by mountains and 50% by forests and it has nearly 3,000 islands which makes it a great country if you prefer to spend your vacation in nature.

Get inspired: 

• The Best Islands To Visit In Greece
• Where to Stay in Athens, Greece
• The Best Beaches to Visit in Greece

Note: This article was brought to you in partnership with Expedia, all opinions and suggestions are genuinely ours.