For the eco-conscious, traveling can sometimes feel like a catch-22 because many would argue that the greenest type of travel would involve not traveling at all. This is easier said than done of course, especially for those who regularly suffer from bad cases of wanderlust.

In our mini guide to eco-friendly travel, we talked about the importance of choosing eco-friendly destinations in order to reduce your carbon footprint and it looks like the folks over at Travel Supermarket, the world's largest travel site, couldn't agree more.

They recently compiled thousands of customer reviews from TripAdvisor to determine Europe's top 10 cities for eco-friendly travel along with the top eco-friendly hotels to stay in. Find out which cities and green hotels topped the list below.

eco-friendly travel

It's important to note that the hotels that made this list are those that have been awarded GreenLeader status by the renowned travel website, for their range of eco-friendly practices such as water conservation initiatives and recycling programs, and for having things like beehives on-site, lavender fields on the roof, and for avoiding palm oil products.

Other Eco-Friendly Travel Tips to Keep In Mind

  1. Book nonstop flights: take off requires the most fuel, so booking nonstop flights is not only the most fuel-efficient options but the greenest one, too.
  2. Pack a reusable bag: many places you'll travel to will still use single-use, plastic bags, so if you want to help the world cut down on its plastic use, pack a reusable bag that you can bring with you when you shop while on your travels.
  3. Skip your hotel room cleanings or hang your towels: the hotels that made TripAdvisor's list are bound to offer sustainable programs including an option to skip having your room cleaned or hanging your towels for you to reuse instead of getting fresh ones each day. If the hotel you stay in doesn't offer these programs, just ask. It might encourage them to offer these green options in the future. These small efforts will save a ton of energy, reduce chemical use, and conserve water.