Pristine nature and cities that offer unique and sustainable experiences. Discover green Germany!
Sustainable travel is environmentally friendly and opens up new opportunities for us to explore
Germany is no newcomer to "green politics" and ecology is everywhere in our western neighbours, so tourism is no exception. Sustainable travel is not only environmentally friendly. It opens up new ways of enjoying a foreign country and gives room for novel projects offering unique experiences.
But we can start quite simply. Just slow down and take your time in the spirit of sustainability. Walking or cycling will not only benefit the planet, but also our health, and we'll discover picturesque nooks and crannies, tucked-away bistros offering the best of local ingredients, or shops with original fashion that we would otherwise have missed. Sustainable holidays support regional businesses, but don't forget about multicultural understanding and openness - including towards the LGBTQ+ community, of course. Berlin, for example, is proof of this with its diverse LGBTQ+ friendly range of clubs and events - and more.
Diversity, freedom and sustainability. Berlin sets the trend for modern tourism
Historical sights, shopping, great food, clubs and housing that thinks about the planet. Berlin has it all and what's more, sustainability is not just a trend here, Berlin actually lives sustainably. From delicious vegetarian and vegan food, to shopping, to accommodation where they keep their carbon footprint as small as possible.
You can start by visiting the sights in a green way - on foot, by bike or with the help of public transport, which is free for tourists equipped with the Berlin WelcomeCard. Discounts on more than 180 attractions are another reason to get one. Once you've had your photo taken in front of the Brandenburg Gate and explored the museums on the famous Museum Island, there may be a slightly more mundane pastime to enjoy - shopping. But even those can be "green" in Berlin. Just check out the original and fair trade fashion boutiques Loveco, the famous flea markets or the second-hand store network Oxfam, where you can do something for a good cause with your extra shopping. And then? Of course, we can't forget Berlin's famous club scene, led by the largest and oldest queer club SchwuZ.
The German capital, less than three hours by car from the Czech-German border, is simply perfect for a long weekend. However, those who want a longer trip can go all the way to the sea. We won't be able to warm up there, but the experience promises to be extraordinary.
See the North Sea and penguins. Bremerhaven offers more than that.
Go to the city and get in touch with nature. This is typical of many German cities, and Bremerhaven is one of them. This town on the shores of the North Sea was made famous by its giant harbour and even today life here is closely linked to the sea. The fresh sea breeze blows over us on the SAIL City observation deck at eighty-six metres, from where it is easy to be enchanted by the harbour and the distant sea. From the twentieth and twenty-first floors of the city's tallest building, we can easily see the wind turbines. And then it's time to come back down to earth and explore Bremerhaven more thoroughly. Bremerhaven is tied to the sea at almost every turn, and this also applies to the museums here. No dusty exhibits with long, boring descriptions await you there, there's plenty of adventure to be had in a museum here.
Those who want to experience the different climate zones for themselves, for example along the 8th degree of longitude, must not miss the Klimahaus. In a brand new modern building in the heart of the harbour, we'll experience the whole world - shivering through the cold to warm up in the tropical 30s at our next stop. Then right next door is the Zoo with the North Sea Aquarium. Polar bears, seals or penguins certainly don't have to be an experience just for kids. And those who are attracted by the distance and the sea can round off the day at the German Maritime Museum with the famous medieval ship Hansekogge.
Düsseldorf invites you to a climate walk
The climate is a little different again... Germany's seventh largest city is a centre for fashion, trade and finance. Düsseldorf remains in the shadow of the Brandenburg Gate, the sandy beaches of Rügen or skiing in the Alps, but wrongly so. We can see for ourselves in just two hours! The Düsseldorf and Climate Change Walk in One Hundred and Twenty Minutes combines a visit to Düsseldorf's not-to-be-missed sights with information on how the city on the banks of the Rhine is coping with the challenges of climate change. So neither history buffs nor those who prefer to look to the future - in this case, for example, new urban planning measures, the role of green spaces in the city or modern buildings - will feel deprived. The Climate Walk will simply put Düsseldorf in a different perspective - showing how the city and the climate influence each other and what challenges we will face in the coming decades. Sustainable travel is not just about what hotels we choose or whether we choose to cycle instead of drive, but also about what we discover.
The unique foodlab: another reason to go to Hamburg
The harbour, the bars, the sights... these are the attractions Hamburg is famous for. But it is also a destination for gastronomy lovers. If you want to experience for yourself what it would be like to have your own restaurant and try to impress guests with your own recipes, or just enjoy a variety of delicacies from the hands of other chefs, you should not miss the foodlab project. It's a space for meeting, learning, discovering new trends and practices - and most importantly, for cooking and delicious food. All in the spirit of less food waste, which goes hand in hand with reducing waste production. At the foodlab, we can rent a kitchen, test out different food concepts or simply sit back and enjoy a meal at one of the pop-up restaurants after a walk through the sights.
