If you think about it, back-packing is one of the greenest ways for girls to see the world – you’ll be (mostly) swapping long-haul flights for long-distance train journeys and travelling on public transport instead of driving.
As well as being a greener way to get around, backpacking in Europe is fun, cheap, and totally safe and secure for women travelling either solo or with friends. If you’re planning on going soon, think about staying in an eco hostel to reduce the impact of your trip just a little bit more. Get inspired and take a look at our top three eco-hostels in Europe, perfect for girls on the move…
Urbany Hostel in Barcelona
Barcelona is the perfect destination for matching cool city life with sunbathing on Barcelona beach. But where to stay? Barcelona Urbany Hostel is housed in a brand new, environmentally-designed building and aims to reduce, reuse and recycle wherever possible. Your stay here comes with a rain-water harvesting system as well as efficient water-usage (50% is recycled and reused), plus lighting is energy-efficient.
Jetpak Forest in Berlin
Head to Berlin for unbeatable nightlife and vintage clothes shopping. Jetpack Forest is the eco-hostel of choice to drop your bags at, running on power from 100% renewable sources and with its water heated by solar panels (and heating itself running on an innovative CO2 neutral wood-burning system). The cherry on the cake? You can rent bikes, so you can keep on travelling green while exploring Berlin.
Elephant on the Moon Eco Hostel in Krakow
Krakow is a great for finding a truly affordable arts, music and nightlife scene. Stay at eco-friendly Elephant on the Moon to enjoy regular green-themed events like the Golden Apples Festival, which had the hostel’s Backpacker Café serving free fresh, organic apples and apple juice throughout the day. The hostel grows its own fruit and veg (chemical and fertiliser-free!), and cuts down on wasteful water consumption, too.
