Travel in city Green

Five destinations in Europe are among the top ten sustainable places to travel to in 2024, according to Lonely Planet.

With over 200km of cycle paths and 300 days of balmy sunshine, Valencia is an ideal biking city that’s entirely flat, spanning a grid system with access to coastal boardwalks, expansive boulevards and cinematic nature parks. 

Spring and summer are set to top temperature charts in 2024, so choosing your city break based on the amount of cooling natural spaces would be a shrewd move. Based on air quality, number of green spaces and pollution, Essential Living’s Green City Index recently rounded up Europe’s greenest cities and gave them a ‘Green Space Score’. Here is a selection of the cities that top the list, with a recommendation of some stylish accommodation, too.

Global campaigner the Conservation Collective is making waves across the Mediterranean, helping visitors protect the region’s increasingly under-pressure ecosystems. Its Sicily Environment Fund supports local hiking company Astrid Natura and Collettivo Rewild Sicily to train more walking guides, who will focus on the benefits of rewilding. Walking tours with qualified naturalist guides can also be booked with federescursionismosicilia.it.

Retirement isn’t cheap, and it’s getting more expensive every year, especially in the United States thanks to inflation and medical costs.

Five destinations in Europe are among the top ten sustainable places to travel to in 2024, according to Lonely Planet.

Why not get the new year off to a great start by visiting Finland, often said to be the happiest country in the world. The country has an endless supply of amazing adventures tailored for every kind of traveler. The enchanting landscapes, teeming with thousands of lakes, millions of saunas, and a bounty of fresh, forest-inspired cuisine, provide a perfect backdrop for well-deserved rest and holistic wellbeing. Here’s a curated list of the best nine experiences in Finland to add to your travel bucket list for the upcoming year.

With some 300 sunny days annually, Spain’s third-largest city Valencia is a popular spot for visitors, yet it remains pleasantly uncrowded, making it perfect for a weekend city break. Almost equidistant from its bigger sisters Madrid and Barcelona, this charming city on Spain’s southeastern coast is striking — expect Blue Flag beaches, distinctive neighbourhoods, fragrant orange groves and heaps of heritage.

The most festive time of year is now and with just under two weeks left before the end of 2023, time is running out to explore some of the world's very best Christmas markets.

From January up until the end of September 2023, Spain received 66.5 million international arrivals, up 18.8% year-on-year, and 0.6% below pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The main inbound tourism markets were the United Kingdom, representing around 13.8 million arrivals, France with almost 9.4 million arrivals and Germany, with almost 8.5 million arrivals.

From January up until the end of September 2023, Spain received 66.5 million international arrivals, up 18.8% year-on-year, and 0.6% below pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The main inbound tourism markets were the United Kingdom, representing around 13.8 million arrivals, France with almost 9.4 million arrivals and Germany, with almost 8.5 million arrivals. By Autonomous Communities (or regions), from January to September (inclusive), Cataluña received the most international visitors with almost 14.2 million arrivals, followed by the Balearic Islands.

Estonia is the fifth most sustainable destination in the world according to the latest annual study from Euromonitor International. Estonia, certified as a Green Destination, has moved up five places in this years’ Sustainable Travel Index 2023, thanks to its approach to sustainable living and nature conservation.

Egypt is making measurable progress in sustainable travel and tourism efforts, with two towns dedicated exclusively to sustainable travel. A recent report by Bain & Company highlights the small “eco-village” of El-Qula’an and the resort town of El Gouna as two locations within Egypt centered around environmental practices.

You’ve probably never heard of apitourism, or even considered “bee tourism” to be a thing. But it is, and it’s a travel trend swarming all over Slovenia.

Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised by Slovenia's recent popularity — it's one of Europe's most fought-over countries, after all. The country was once part of the Roman Empire, then the German Holy Roman Empire, then under the rule of the Habsburgs of Austria, and even Napoleon for a brief period. It became part of Yugoslavia in the 1920s, until 1991, when it finally achieved independence. Although Lake Bled currently ranks as the country's most popular spot for tourists, growing numbers of visitors are taking time to explore Slovenia's beautiful capital, so we've put together a guide to Ljubljana so you can make the most of this enthralling city.