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TOP SUSTAINABLE CITY BREAKS FOR 2022

Sustainability has become a key focus for many travellers around the world. With city breaks also set to be popular in 2022, here is a look at some of the top global destinations with impressive sustainable practises and policies. 

Grenoble, France

Grenoble has recently been named the Green Capital of Europe for 2022. Popular with skiers, the south-east city has a lot to offer all-year-round for city breaks. Métrovélo, the city’s cycle-share scheme, makes getting around easy with 7,000 bikes and 200 miles of cycling routes around the city. It is recommended that visitors cycle through parks along the rivers Drac and Isère.

The Fort Bastille is also a major draw on city breaks, with trails nearby for hikers to explore around the mountaintops. The culinary scene has reportedly embraced sustainability, with some local restaurants using only local produce. Tourists and travellers are also welcomed to sustainable communities located around the city, also known as “ecodistricts”. 

Grenoble has been recently named the Green Capital of Europe for 2022, perfect for sustainable city breaks. (Photo: Archangel12/CC BY 2.0)
Grenoble has been recently named the Green Capital of Europe for 2022, perfect for sustainable city breaks. (Photo: Archangel12/CC BY 2.0)

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague has long been regarded as one of the more eco-friendly cities in Europe. As well as hosting vast parks and open spaces, the city has recently installed city bikes as well as zero-waste supermarkets.

The Břevnov Monastery has been highlighted as a big draw for sustainability-minded city breaks. The monastery was founded in 993, and is located in the natural surroundings of the Břevnov district in Prague. There are a number of sustainable practises and policies, including the use of environmentally-friendly products, waste reduction and ways to save energy. 

Lapland, Finland

Lapland is home to Pyha, one of the world’s “cleanest” ski areas. In 2011 it became the first Scandinavian resort to go carbon neutral, long before other resorts were making similar pledges. Many of the restaurants and services are self-sufficient. The Pyha ski resort is situated in a revered area of Finland, the country’s first National Park was founded here. 

There are 11.4 km of slopes available, and the winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 220 and 500 metres. The mission statement of Pyha is that tourists can still enjoy a rewarding ski experience while using services that reduce climate impact. The ski industry is obviously one industry that will be heavily impacted by climate change, with many ski resorts across Europe adopting sustainable policies. 

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen is regarded as one of the world’s greenest cities. It is one of the most cycle-friendly cities in Europe, with officials always looking to stay ahead with regards to sustainable policies

There are a range of natural open spaces to enjoy on city breaks, such as Tivoli Gardens and Frederiksberg. There is also CopenHill, a recently-opened renewable energy heat and power plant. It may not sound like a tourist site on the surface, but it also features an activity centre with hiking trails and ski and snowboard services, along with one of the highest climbing walls in the world. 

Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow has made sustainability a core part of its identity. It won the Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Award in 2020, and has been considered one of the greenest cities in the United Kingdom.

Surrounded by greenery and open green spaces, Glasgow has many pioneering sustainability policies. It is using more and more renewable energy to power services, with eco-friendly options in the city streets. More and more restaurants are noted as being “farm-to-fork” with local produce, with eco-friendly stores and markets using sustainable policies too. The city recently announced its aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, making ambitious challenges for the decade ahead. There are aims to transform abandoned industrial land into green spaces and affordable housing, as well as urban food production centres. 

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