Eco-Accommodations for Your Next European Vacation
Image: Six Senses Rome
Sustainable & Eco Hotels in Europe You Will Love to Visit
With its Ancient Roman buildings, Medieval castles, Baroque churches, and pristine beaches surrounded by a turquoise sea, Europe has plenty of beautiful sights, locations, and charm to offer its many international guests. No wonder it's such a popular travel destination: several European countries rank among the top tourist destinations in the world.
Are you too planning a trip to Europe and would like to make your travels as sustainable as possible? Choosing an eco-accommodation for your stay is an excellent way for travelers to experience their destination more sustainably. From cozy to luxurious, minimalistic to excentric, there is something for everyone!
We have selected various amazing eco-accommodations in some of Europe's most popular cities among tourists. With so many options, you can easily find the perfect destination and sustainable accommodation for your next European vacation. Happy planning!
1) Conscious Hotel Westerpark - Amsterdam, Netherlands
With its world-famous museums like the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and the Stedelijk Museum, vibrant nightlife, and the picturesque charm of its canals and buildings, the capital city of the Netherlands is a fantastic destination for your next European trip.
For a more sustainable stay, you can enjoy all the city offers while staying at the Conscious Hotel Westerpark.
Part of the local Conscious Hotel chain, this hotel is housed in a magnificent 19th-century building in the district of Westerpark in the northwest part of Amsterdam city center.
Immersed in the homonymous public park, the Conscious Hotel Westerpark is fully electric, and the power comes from a windmill located in the Amsterdam harbor. This hotel is also cooled and heated up by its Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) system, and it's certified Green Key Gold.
2) Hostal Grau - Barcelona, Spain
The Hostal Grau is a fantastic option for a greener stay in Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia. Filled with Mediterranean charm with its white walls, large windows, and minimal yet cozy wooden furniture, this accommodation is located in the neighborhood of El Raval, but it's also quite close to the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic). This family-owned business is housed in an 1862 building that was renovated following the LEED certification parameters, which allowed it to get a LEED Gold Certification for Interior Design.
3) Lulu Guldsmeden - Berlin, Germany
Are you planning a trip to the German capital and looking for a more sustainably-minded accommodation? The Berlin location of the Copenhagen, Denmark-headquartered hotel chain Guldsmeden Hotels, which operates sustainable boutique hotels all around the globe, is the Lulu Guldsmeden, a superb choice for a greener stay in Berlin. You can find this Hygge-infused hotel between the Berlinese neighborhoods of Tiergarten and Schöneberg in West Berlin.
With its green courtyard in bustling Potsdamer Straße, warm woods, brick accents, characteristic dark lobby, and swings, the Lulu Guldsmeden is an excellent pick for those looking for a cozy stay in busy Berlin.
In terms of sustainability, this 4-star hotel has plenty of certifications to back up its green claims. It is certified by the British Green Globe and the German GreenSign Hotel certification, both recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
4) Wren Urban Nest - Dublin, Ireland
We all know that Dubin city center is packed with stunning sights and history, but did you know you can also find an accommodation perfect for green travelers there? The Wren Urban Nest in St. Andrew's Lane in the Temple Bar district in Dublin 2 is a cozy hotel housed in a gorgeous modern brick building near College Green and Trinity College. It features a colorful bio-diverse rooftop garden and Scandinavian design-led rooms in earthy, relaxing colors.
The Wren Urban Nest was built with sustainability in mind: at the 2022 SEAI Energy Awards, the hotel won in the Energy in Buildings category. The Wren Urban Nest is powered by 100% renewable electricity and has a smart HVAC system.
This Dublinese company is one of the few BER A-rated accommodation providers in Ireland, and the Wren Urban Nest is also a net carbon accommodation. They offer free filtered water on each floor, serve local organic produce, and feature local craft products.
5) room2 Chiswick - London, United Kingdom
In 2021, the capital city of the United Kingdom saw 7.8 million visitors. If you too are visiting London anytime soon, consider the eco-hotel room2 Chiswick located in the homonymous district of West London for your stay.
With its bright, colorful, modern rooms, the Arts & Crafts movement-inspired aesthetic, and works of local artists and craftspeople, the room2 Chiswick has a unique, artsy atmosphere.
Aside from celebrating local artistic production, at room2 Chiswick, they are also committed to sustainability. The building only relies on electricity from renewable sources, and it's heated and cooled by heat pumps located underneath the hotel.
The bathrooms feature ultra-low flow showers, and the roof features solar panels, a "green roof" that promotes biodiversity, and a "blue roof" that catches rainwater.
Thanks to its many sustainable policies and features, room2 Chiswick was awarded a Gold rating by the awards certification program Green Tourism.
6) Six Senses Rome - Rome, Italy
Italy's capital is a popular tourist destination, and it's easy to see why. In Rome, visitors can witness the city's almost three thousand years of history with their very eyes thanks to the beauty of the city's historical center, which is part of UNESCO's World Heritage List, and of monuments such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Mausoleum of Augustus. Opened in early 2023, the Six Senses Rome in the central Piazza di San Marcello is an excellent choice for those looking for an eco-friendly and highly luxurious hotel in the Eternal City.
Housed in the gorgeous historical 18th-century Roman residence Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini close to the Pantheon, this high-end hotel is powered by 100% renewable energy, was renovated to achieve energy and water efficiency, and it's working towards having its efforts certified by the LEED Gold certification for sustainable design and construction.
The hotel has also been sponsoring the restoration of the nearby Baroque building, the beautiful San Marcello Al Corso Church.
7) Hotel Hoy - Paris, France
Located in the 9th arrondissement part of Rue des Martyrs in Paris, the Hotel Hoy is characterized by its minimalistic yet cozy spaces. Named after the Spanish word for "today," this Parisian hotel has several sustainable initiatives and features. They recycle food waste through a partner and offer their guests the opportunity to purify tap water with Japanese Binchōtan charcoal. They have also installed aerators on their taps, still and sparkling water fountains, and motion sensor lights in hotel corridors, toilets, and private areas to save energy.
The Hotel Hoy is also mindfully decorated. Their bed sheets are Oekotex 100, ISO 14001, and ISO 26000 certified, while the bath linen is Oekotex 100, ISO 9001 certified. The hotel also features and sells floral arrangements made by florist Chiaki Kokami with local, seasonal flowers. These flowers get dried to create bouquets and other floral decorations if they end up unsold.
8) Mosaic House - Prague, Czech Republic
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and the biggest town in Bohemia. The city has a vibrant history, and with its distinctive mix of different architectural styles represented by its plethora of gorgeous historical buildings, it's clear how fitting its nickname, "The Golden City," is.
If you are planning a trip to Praha and are looking for a more sustainable accommodation, you should check out Mosaic House.
Located in a 1935 Functionalist building in Odborů Street in Prague's quarter of New Town (Nové Město), this hotel is close to the bank of the Vltava River and the National Museum and even closer to the famous Dancing House.
Aside from its excellent location, the Mosaic House can boast several sustainable initiatives. They have a gray-water system that allows them to reuse wastewater and a waste heat recovery system that turns the waste heat from the wastewater into power. They are also CO2-neutral, compost, and make their soil.
9) Boutiquehotel Stadthalle in Vienna - Vienna, Austria
While it might not be the first European city to come to mind, Vienna is still a popular tourist destination.
History-rich, walkable and cozy, the Austrian capital ranked the world's most liveable city in the EIU's 2022 Global Liveability Index.
To truly enjoy its quiet yet lively essence in a greener way, the Boutiquehotel Stadthalle is an excellent choice.
Located in Vienna's city center, the hotel is famous for its fragrant lavender roof, interior courtyard, and ivy-covered facade, which allow it to offer its guests a plant-filled, relaxing stay in the middle of the Austrian capital city.
This Viennese hotel is housed in a restored, turn-of-the-century building that does way more than being just pretty. The Boutiquehotel Stadthalle is, in fact, located in a zero-energy balance building, meaning it generates as much energy as it communes. This feat is achieved thanks to their use of groundwater heat pumps and solar PV.
To encourage their guests to make their travels even more sustainable, they offer a Green Bonus, a 10% discount on their accommodation, to the people who travel to Vienna via train or bicycle.
About the Author
Roberta Fabbrocino is a journalist specialized in climate change and sustainability-related topics. Her articles have been published in several international eco-publications. Roberta also works as a content writer for sustainable companies.
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