Our Earth is an incredible place filled with impressive natural scenery, biodiversity and ecological systems that have been millennia in the making. These days, we are learning more and more about the importance of protecting our planet. Every year on 22 April, we celebrate Earth Day. This is an annual event and a day of action to promote and protect the future of our natural world. More than one billion people across the globe take part in Earth Day celebrations; from local clean-ups to global mobilisations. The theme for Earth Day 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastics” to promote awareness on the harmful effects of plastics on our health and the planet’s health. 

Being environmentally friendly is not a one-day thing! We can all be kinder to the earth in smalls ways whether it’s daily life or during our travels. To celebrate Earth Day 2024, Expat Explore has put together a list of 7 eco-friendly “green cities” in Europe along with some tips on how to be more environmentally conscious while you travel. Take a look! 

Here are seven of the most eco-friendly cities in Europe that you can visit:

1. Copenhagen, Denmark

If you’re looking for a “green city” to visit, the capital of Denmark is an excellent option! Copenhagen is an eco-friendly city with sustainability at the heart of its urban planning and many of its policies. It aims to become carbon-neutral by 2025 and is home to Copenhill – a waste-to-power energy plant topped with a ski slope! Visit Copenhagen and explore by bicycle (it is one super bike-friendly city!), catch an electric bus, swim in the natural pools and snack on some delicious, local-grown organic goods. 

Related: Travel from Copenhagen to Helsinki on this 13-day tour!

2. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon was named Europe’s Green Capital in 2020. The capital city of Portugal has embarked on a journey towards sustainability and economic growth, making it a role model for other cities looking to do the same. Lisbon is looking to become carbon-neutral by 2050 and is emphasising eco-friendly thinking across the city with initiatives such as bike-sharing and e-bikes (remember: Lisbon is a hilly city so it is great to get some help while pedalling!). Lisbon kicked off their year of being the Green capital when 4,500 locals planted 20,000 trees in one day in early January 2020.

Related: Take a trip to Portugal and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Lisbon.

3. Stockholm, Sweden

Many Scandinavian cities emphasise the importance of eco-friendly living and Stockholm, Sweden is one of them! Sweden’s capital has a super “green outlook”. It was one of the first cities to win the European Green Capital awards. Nearly half of the city consists of green spaces so you will never be short of fresh air – despite it being a popular, fast-growing metropolis! Stockholm’s citizens recycle all household waste. The city also aims to run completely on renewable energy by 2040! Visit Stockholm and enjoy the incredible outdoor spaces, tuck into eco-friendly food and make use of efficient public transport. And don’t forget to recycle!

Related: See the captivating highlights of Stockholm when you travel through Scandinavia.

4. Ljubljana, Slovenia

This historic city in Slovenia is steeped in stories and topped by an impressive castle. It is also an environmentally friendly city and was Europe’s Green Capital in 2016. The city is made up of 75% of green spaces and has a whopping 230km worth of cycling routes! Visit Ljubljana where you can stroll around the car-free city centre and get to spots across the capital using one of the Kavalirs (electric-powered vehicles which you can use for free). Meander under trees and along the riverbanks. Or even relax in one of the city’s green spaces with a picnic filled with local produce! 

Related: Read our list of the top things to do in Ljubljana, one of the greenest cities in Europe.

5. Oslo, Norway 

Another Scandinavian capital with eco-friendliness at its heart! Oslo was the 2019 European Green Capital. It is filled with car-free districts as well as eco-friendly transport, accommodation and activities! Norway’s capital city is home to Vulkan – an environmentally friendly neighbourhood that is completely run by solar power and geothermal wells. From new developments to tourism, Oslo seeks to be as eco-conscious as possible! Visit Oslo and explore the city by bike or on foot. Head into the nearby forests for a hiking adventure or even go for a (sometimes icy!) morning swim at Tjuvholmen in the city centre!

Related: Discover some more great reasons to visit Oslo! 

6. Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn, Estonia’s enchanting capital city, was crowned the European Green Capital of 2023 and with its many green initiatives, it’s easy to see why! Well-known for being one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tallinn also boasts diverse natural landscapes which act as habitats to rare species. Over fifty butterfly species and twenty bumble bee species live in Tallinn! The 13km Pollinator Highway passes through six districts and acts as a green corridor for bees and butterflies to travel through and pollinate safely. Discover some of the city’s many green spaces and parks or cycle along the coastline.  Head to Paljassaare Peninsula for some bird watching or swimming. Or, visit the Tallinn Botanical Gardens and admire the diverse and plentiful flora. The choice is yours!

Related: Visit Tallinn and discover the Best of Scandinavia & the Baltics!

7. Valencia, Spain

The latest edition to our list of Europe’s greenest cities is the vibrant Spanish city of Valencia. With its glorious beaches, delicious cuisine (it’s the birthplace of Paella after all!) and historic architecture, Valenica is certainly one of the most popular spots for a holiday in Spain. Adding to the list of reasons to visit Valencia is its recent title of European Green Capital 2024. The city is home to almost 5 million square metres of green areas! It is also home to two national parks, 200km of bike lanes and 94km2 of pedestrian areas, making getting around sustainably a breeze. There are also plenty of green initiatives around the city with the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. On a trip to Valencia, be sure to visit one of its many peaceful parks, sample fresh local produce (which come from surrounding local farms) at the Central Market and get back to nature without ever leaving the city!

Related: Travel from Barcelona to Valenica on our Taste of Spain tour!

Small ways to travel more sustainably

Being kinder to the planet and restoring our earth should be a task we take on throughout the year. One of the ways we can do this is by being environmentally friendly when we travel. Here are a few small ways to make your trip more eco-friendly:

• Recycle: No matter where you travel, recycling as much as you can is a great way to be more environmentally friendly.
• Carry a reusable water bottle: This is a simple way to reduce plastic waste. Some cities like Paris, Rome and Ljubljana have drinking fountains where you can refill your water bottles for free. 
• Take a reusable shopping bag to local markets: Another easy way to reduce single-plastic use, whether you are shopping for produce or a few locally-produced souvenirs.
• Treat your hotel as your home: This may sound like an odd one but it is a great way to travel more eco-consciously. Turn off the lights, airconditioning and TV when leaving your hotel room. Shorter showers also help reduce water use. 

Earth Day reminds us of the beauty and wonder of our planet, as well as the importance of protecting it for future generations. We can all help in our own small ways from recycling more to choosing eco-friendly destinations to visit.

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Expat Explore travels to all of these gorgeously green destinations. Start thinking green and book your next trip to one of the destinations above, today!