The Most Eco-Friendly Hotels in Europe

Everyone has a part to play in environmental sustainability, and making eco-conscious travel choices is a step towards preserving the beautiful destinations we visit and supporting local communities. We’ve grown increasingly aware of the tourism industry’s impact on the environment, resulting in depleting natural resources, soil erosion, habitat loss, overuse of water, and more. However, eco-tourism offers a sustainable alternative, and it starts with prioritising hotels that are taking the necessary steps towards a greener future. Taking time off to relax is essential for a happy society, but it doesn’t need to strain the environment – here are the 30 best eco-friendly hotels in Europe. 

This ranking is based on 7 criteria: 

Food We looked for hotels with on-site vegetable gardens, orchards, farms, and other organic growing practices. It’s also important that whatever isn’t grown on-site is sourced locally from organic farms or producers. Not only is this sustainable, but it also supports the local community.

Community Sustainability goes beyond saving water and energy. Engaging with the local community is crucial, especially in areas where traditions and cultures are filtered down for tourism. Other examples of hotels engaging with the community include working with charities, projects, and schools, and organising beach clean-ups. 

Conservation Supporting conservation sounds expensive, and not every hotel has the means to do this, but encouraging biodiversity can be as simple as not cutting the grass too often. Other examples include working with conservation initiatives in the area, rewilding the grounds with native plants, or providing free bikes to encourage sustainable transport.

Energy Solar panels, renewable energies, energy-saving measures, LED lightbulbs, motion-detecting lightbulbs – it’s all important to preserve energy sources and prioritise clean energy consumption. Carbon-neutral hotels are ranked highly.

Waste Waste encompasses a lot: recycling, proper waste management, rejecting single-use plastic, bulk buying orders to prevent excess packaging, biodegradable products, on-site composting, and more. We particularly love plastic-free and zero-waste hotels.

Water Protecting our diminishing water supplies is one of the biggest climate battles. Hotels should be monitoring and reducing water consumption at a minimum. Most hotels on this list have a rainwater irrigation system, filter system, and other water-saving techniques.

Materials Using natural materials does not produce additional carbon emissions, and vintage, upcycled, and regional interiors reduce taking more from the planet than we can give back. Many hotels are also built to adapt to the natural surroundings to support local ecology. 

No hotel on this list meets fewer than 5 criteria. 

30. 19 Rooms – Valletta, Malta

This renovated 18th-century palazzo offers a stylish, comfortable, and sustainable stay in the heart of historic Valletta. The team at 19 Rooms are focused on their climate footprint, offsetting their carbon emissions to become Malta’s first carbon-neutral hotel. They work with Sustainable Travel Solutions, whose funds go towards projects on climate change and renewable energy. They also keep on top of waste. All bedrooms, the restaurant, and common areas across the hotel have waste separation bins, and the hotel is free from single-use plastic. And the bins are weighed to track their progress in reducing waste. A set of instructions is placed in each room to help guests contribute to their sustainable efforts, and the hotel’s eco-practices are outlined at check-in. All these actions, and more, have earned 19 Rooms its Green Key certification.

29. Henriette Hotel – Vienna, Austria

Despite its city location, the Henriette Hotel boasts impressive sustainable practices. They’re committed to contributing to “a good life for all” – they employ local staff, ensure there is a high proportion of women in high management roles, and help guests make sustainable choices. They also offer a 5% discount to guests who arrive sustainably, whether by walking or train. The hotel is in a wonderful location for exploring Vienna, with eco-friendly public transport right outside the entrance.

The Henriette is the first hotel in Vienna to adhere to the Economy of the Common Good (ECG) principles. Materials and organic breakfast are sourced locally, there is no single-use plastic, water consumption is tracked, and water-saving tools are in use. And the hotel uses renewable energy sources, installs energy-saving appliances, and uses an air-source heat pump for cooling and heating water, which has saved 100% of CO2 emissions.

28. Aristi Mountain Resort – Aristi, Greece

Aristi offers a Grecian mountain escape at its most sustainable. The Zagori region is steeped in tradition and Epirus culture, and blessed with astounding natural beauty, such as the Vikos Gorge – the second-deepest in the world after the Grand Canyon. The Aristi team protect the natural surroundings by installing thermal insulation, energy-efficient materials, natural materials, and sustainable waste systems. Wastewater is filtered and used for irrigation, and the pool water is filtered with quartz and sand rather than chlorine. It’s also completely free from single-use plastic. The stone brick houses blend harmoniously with the location, and the team harvest the lush land by producing its own fruit, veg, and herbs from the organic garden. When guests aren’t relaxing in the pool or in the hammam, they can take advantage of thrilling activities, such as mountain climbing, horseback riding, canyoning, river fly fishing, and more.

27. Zornitza Family Estate – Melnik, Bulgaria

The relatively undiscovered region of Melnik has so much to offer visitors: culture, history, nature, and wine. Zornitza Estate takes advantage of the region’s grape-loving land by producing its own wine, with the simple pleasures of good food and wine being the focus point of the hotel. The family-run estate produces organic fruits, vegetables, honey, milk, eggs, meat, and more, from its 3,000-acre eco-farm. There’s also a truffle orchard. The commitment of farm-to-table is deep-rooted here – almost everything guests eat and drink is produced on-site. Zornitza also works on waste reduction, energy-saving, renewable energy sources, and water-saving. The family are happy to offer tours and educate guests on their sustainable practices, but when you’re not exploring the grounds, you can relax in the spoiling spa. Ingredients used in the spa – honey, olive oil, lavender, and more – are from the estate, and the salty mineral pool is the perfect antidote to a slight wine headache.

26. Octant Furnas - São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal

The Azores have become a poster child for green tourism, earning the EarthCheck Sustainable Destination Certification. This archipelago, floating in the North Atlantic Ocean, is well looked after to preserve its natural beauty. Octant Furnas is one of the hotels leading the pack. The hotel is located beside a dormant volcano, surrounded by bubbling thermal pools and hot springs. Soak up the incredible Azores landscape from the hotel pool, which is filled with thermal water. No water goes wasted here – an in-house filtration system filters the wastewater and reuses it, and bed linen is only changed upon request.

Octant Furnas finds innovative ways to give back to the community, including using recycled coffee grounds to fertilise rice fields, and the rice is then donated to food banks. The team also only has endemic plants in the garden to support biodiversity, and beach clean-ups are on the agenda.

25. Carine Hotel – Kumbor, Montenegro

Family-run Carine Hotel has generational roots in agriculture, and this connection to the land bred a commitment to sustainable practices. The gorgeous hotel is in a prime position, between the mountains and the Adriatic. With a front-row seat to sublime views, the Carine is a wonderful place to soak up Montenegro’s natural beauty. The family work to preserve the area with renewable energy sources, energy-efficient materials, and water-saving systems that harness the power of the sun and sea. 

Smart systems turn off the air conditioning when a window is opened, and movement sensors prevent lights from unnecessarily being switched on. And the hotel has been free of single-use plastic since 2020. The Carine Hotel team are also committed to supporting local businesses and initiatives. If the food isn’t from their bio-farm then it’s from local suppliers, they take part in local projects, and they have a separate fund for helping those in need. 

24. Hotel Plesnik – Solčava, Slovenia

Surrounded by the untouched beauty of the Slovenian Alps, Hotel Plesnik is show-stoppingly beautiful. This hotel encourages its guests to feel totally relaxed, with a range of Ayurveda treatments and a rainwater, chemical-free pool. Even the drive to the hotel is relaxed, winding through Logar Valley’s mountainous roads. And guests can unwind knowing that their stay is totally eco-friendly – from the hotel’s zero-waste vision to protecting the pristine landscape. The Solčava Municipality installed a water waste treatment plant and a wood biomass heater for all tourist facilities in Logar Valley. The hotel has taken further action by installing water flow restrictors, a natural pool filled with rainwater and cleaned by fish and plants, and informing guests how to maximise heat consumption in the colder months. With amazing eco-friendly policies and a commitment to locally sourced food and materials, the Hotel Plesnik has earned its Green Globe award.

23. Alpenloge – Allgäu, Germany

Find blissful quiet and relaxation in southern Bavaria, surrounded by Alpine peaks. Once a schoolhouse, now an eco-friendly mountain hideaway, this family-run lodge is no ordinary hotel. Powered by cutting-edge Passivhaus energy-saving sources, decorated and built with natural materials, the Alpenloge has been committed to sustainability since it was renovated. Wood from the nearby forest fuels the pellet stove, which warms all 9 suites. 

The Alpenloge’s rural location means there is fresh, organic produce in abundance. What they don’t grow in their fruit and vegetable garden, they get from their neighbours. The chef creates new, innovative menus daily, but smoked Bavarian meats are a constant. Any food waste is given to the chickens and donkeys. Practically everything – from the wine available at the honesty bar to the all-natural bath products – is local. 

22. Solar Branco Eco Estate – São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal

Combining luxury with sustainability, Solar Branco occupies a 150-year-old country home. The owners restored it with natural materials, solar panels, and energy-saving systems, with a commitment to protecting the gorgeous Azorean surroundings. The hotel is entirely free of single-use plastic and pesticides, and encourages a supportive environment for local insects and wildlife by only cutting the grass every 6 months. Bees buzz happily in the flourishing gardens, and frogs, hedgehogs, birds, and dragonflies love the hotel’s four wildlife ponds. 

Solar Branco is the first Azorean hotel to be 100% free from food waste. Much of the fruit and vegetables are organically grown on-site – from guavas to peppers – and the rest is sourced locally from independent producers. The Solar Branco team also works with the Ocean Azores Foundation, fighting to protect the sealife and end unethical practices.

21. Hotel Jakarta – Amsterdam, Netherlands

Located on the banks of the river where ships left for Jakarta is a unique city oasis.
Filled with lush subtropical plants and erected with bamboo wood, it’s a portal to Java, Indonesia. Although the view from the rooftop Skybar Malabar takes you right back to Amsterdam. The hotel was built to be sustainable, helping it achieve its energy-neutral status. The wood was chosen for its eco-friendly credentials, almost all elements of the hotel can be recycled, solar panels supply energy, and the indoor subtropical garden naturally cools down the space. And its kept vibrant and healthy through rainwater irrigation. 

The plastic-free hotel is involved in multiple initiatives, including Join the Pipe. The organisation promotes plastic use reduction and worldwide access to clean drinking water. Every guest is provided with a sugarcane (plastic alternative) water bottle, which they can fill up from the tap or the lobby water fountain. Hotel Jakarta is also a part of the Hotels for Trees Foundation, whereby every time a guest skips room cleaning, a tree is planted.

20. Bryggen Guldsmeden – Copenhagen, Denmark

Located five minutes from the waterfront, but feeling a world away from the action, Hotel Bryggen is a refreshing Scandi-meets-Bali blend. The hotel is a part of the Guldsmeden group, which requires its hotels to uphold sustainable benchmarks. The group is recognised by esteemed eco-labels, including Green Key, Green Globe, and more. Guldsmeden hotels minimise their environmental footprint by reducing water usage, striving for a zero-waste food policy, conserving energy, lowering CO2 emissions, and more. Each guest gets a 100% recycled and recyclable plastic bottle to be filled with Denmark’s ultra-clean tap water.

While the hotel group is leading in its commitment to sustainability efforts, with hotels in Denmark, Iceland, and Bali, Hotel Bryggen is a step ahead. All 200+ rooms have Orbital showers, powered by NASA-developed technology that reuses and saves water via recirculation.

19. Hotel Hermitage – Monte Carlo, Monaco

With a private beach, a Michelin-starred restaurant, a star-studded clientele, and prestige in spades, the Hotel Hermitage is one of Monaco’s most iconic hotels. But its palatial style and 19th-century flair don’t keep it stuck in the past. The Hotel Hermitage is now one of the most eco-friendly hotels in Europe, resulting in a Green Globe award. 

The hotel’s commitment to sustainable development does not hinder the luxurious experience. The Nespresso pods, for example, are used to make compost and recycled aluminium. And on the on-site herb garden grows beautiful lavender, marigolds, mint, sage, thyme, Thai basil, and more, to be used in the Michelin-starred kitchen. The hotel also has a fruit and vegetable garden on a sunny hill in Beausoleil. Along with the Hotel Hermitage’s water-saving, energy-saving, and waste-reducing initiatives, it’s also committed to working with local communities and charities. 

18. Wren Urban Nest – Dublin, Ireland

Without space and land to create a sustainable haven, city hotels often fall short in eco-credentials. Wren Urban Nest, however, met our every sustainability criteria. As Ireland’s first net carbon hotel, the building is energy-efficient and fossil-fuel-free. The restaurant sources organic, local produce, supporting local, ethical businesses while keeping the kitchen zero-waste. Despite being in the heart of Dublin, the hotel works with a local beekeeping sanctuary on the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. And Wren Urban Nest has stayed true to its name with a flourishing garden rooftop. It’s not open to guests, but the diverse garden provides food, shelter, and pollen for local insects – a small but mighty champion of the ecosystem. 

17. Agrivilla I Pini – Tuscany, Italy

This 100% vegan hotel takes on a brave undertaking in the land of pasta, cheese, and prosciutto. But you might be surprised by how many traditional Tuscan dishes are vegan, and how delicious vegan pasta can be. Not only is the whole menu vegan, but the ingredients are either homegrown or sourced locally. And it’s not all about the food. Agrivilla’s incredible eco-credentials spread to its natural, handmade materials, from Tuscan terracotta tiles and walls made of hemp and clay to refurbished vintage interiors. The hotel is free from disposable plastic, waste is composted and recycled, water-saving devices are in use, and rainwater is collected for irrigation. 

Everything about Agrivilla is conducive to a slow, relaxing getaway in the quiet Tuscan countryside. Take a sunrise yoga class, take a dip in the saltwater pool, or join a hotel-led educational trip, immersing guests in the local culture and community. 

16. Maslina Resort – Hvar, Croatia

Spread across two hectares of lush pine forest, the Maslina Resort is a beautiful eco-hideaway. With the Adriatic Sea nearby, the resort takes advantage of Hvar’s sublime natural landscape. The staff work to preserve it, too – the hotel was built to harmonise with the existing nature, avoid harmful products or pesticides, organise regular beach clean-ups, and join initiatives to protect Hvar’s biodiversity. They’ve gone the extra mile so guests, locals, and wildlife can enjoy the island for as long as possible. The best place to soak up the serene surroundings is the pool, which is filtered with sand and UV. They’re also mindful of water usage, having installed water-saving appliances and using wastewater for irrigation. 

You won’t find any single-use plastics here, and the organic bathroom toiletries are distributed in dispensers rather than individual bottles. And impressively, the resort has its own compost system. Food (all of which is locally sourced or grown in the resort’s vegetable garden) and other useful waste are composted to sustain further growth.

15. ALERÓ Seaside Resort – Skyros, Greece

Led by a mother and her two daughters, ALERÓ is a true family-run hotel. Located on Skyros, the hotel very much reflects the island’s characteristics – sugar cube architecture, bohemian energy, and elegantly low-key. Each of the 12 suites has its own plunge pool for ultimate laid-back luxury and is a short stroll to the beach. And the cherry on top is the hotel’s commitment to social and ecological sustainability. The hotel employs locals and refugees and works with local initiatives to support the community. They also organise regular beach and river clean-ups. They like to keep things close to home here – all the furniture is organic and locally produced, they bulk-buy local produce, and the hotel has its own vegetable, herb, and fruit garden. Seasonal produce is harvested from the organic garden daily to create incredible meals at the beautiful Amérissa restaurant. 

14. Gerbehof Nature Resort – Friedrichshafen, Germany

This carbon-negative hotel is tucked away in the forest, on the banks of Lake Constance. It’s a place to slow down and truly appreciate the surrounding natural beauty – the hotel is intrinsically connected to nature. The hotel is run by a family who deeply care about the land, environment, and community. They’re involved in various local initiatives, including Kinder im Sternenland. The project supports local children battling illnesses, and for every guest that waives daily cleaning, the family donates 4 euros to the charity. 

The hotel is also a working farm, so expect to see horses, goats, chickens, and more. You can ride the horses – the owners provide lessons for all ages and experience levels. A lot of food comes from the farm, and the rest is sourced from local organic suppliers. And there is little to no waste – an on-site composter creates natural fertiliser for the farm and the forest. As for the materials, the furnishings were built with wood from the surrounding forest and hand-carpentered at the farm. Rocks, stones, and other materials came from the nearby Rhine estuary.

13. Domaine des Etangs – Massignac, France

This outrageously bucolic hotel is better described as a chateau. Built in the 13th century and sitting on 2500 acres of protected forests, meadows, and lakes, it’s the vision of a hazy French getaway. 

Despite the romantic Rapunzel-style turrets and the curated selection of artwork, it’s the surrounding nature that steals the spotlight. You can explore the land with the estate’s bikes or electric cars. And the team at Domaine des Etangs work to protect it, with sustainable forest management, renewable energy sources, recycled and composted waste, and a collaboration with the Museum of Natural History on the land’s biodiversity. The on-site vegetable garden grows seasonal, certified organic vegetables, masterfully used to create gourmet meals. There’s also a Limousin cattle farm, producing high-quality, organic, sustainble beef.

12. Es Racó d'Artà – Mallorca, Spain

Located on Mallorca’s wild east coast, Es Racó d'Artà is a restored 13th-century finca, reimagined by Mallorcan architect Antoni Esteva. The restoration involved using local, natural, energy-efficient materials, upcycling or buying vintage furniture, and ensuring the architecture was cohesive with the local environment. Even the infinity pool was built to be submerged in nature. Additionally, rainwater is collected for irrigation, waste is sustainably disposed of, their energy sources are renewable, energy-saving equipment is used, and much more. And it isn’t just the environment that is considered there – the team at Es Racó are locals, they buy from local businesses, they engage in local initiatives, and they educate guests on local culture. 

The plastic-free resort is a stripped-back version of Mallorca, where nature, food, community, and culture are rooted in everyday life. Food, in particular, is at the centre of Es Racó. The on-site vegetable garden grows organic, seasonal produce, and what can’t be grown is sourced locally. And you can wash it down with the homegrown wine – tastings are held in the converted cistern. 

11. La Donaira – Montecarto, Spain

La Donaira is a luxury, sustainable, wellness hotel wrapped into one beautiful 9-bedroom farmhouse. There are 1,700+ acres to explore, including an organic farm and vegetable garden, a medicinal garden with 350+ plants, and an equestrian centre with over 50 Lusitano horses. You can do yoga daily, swim in the saltwater pool, and relax in the spa – it has a wood-fired sauna, an ice fountain, and a menu of holistic treatments. 

The connection to the earth is not surface level. Along with sustainable farming, the hotel is committed to preserving local biodiversity, conserving energy through solar panels and motion sensor lights, achieving a zero single-use plastic policy, recycling and upcycling materials, and collecting rainwater for irrigation. The hotel also only uses eco-friendly products.

10. Areias Do Seixo – Santa Cruz, Portugal

Located just an hour from Lisbon, this sandy beach retreat will impress even the most perceptive eco-conscious traveller. Areias do Seixo is committed to zero single-use plastic, and has installed solar panels, geothermal heating technology, and much more. The team’s innovative use of fighting waste is inspiring – for example, orange peels from the breakfast orange juice are dehydrated and used as firelighters. And cork is an abundant resource in Portugal, so it’s used for insulation. Rainwater fills up the on-site well and is used for pool water and the on-site fruit and vegetable garden, too. The hotel has a penchant for upcycling and finding new life for discarded items, such as old rusty bikes, baskets, and fishing nets, which are reborn into decoration. Not only is it sustainable, but it contributes to the retreat’s rustic feel. It’s all about preserving nature here: the team are equipped to offer guides on local wildlife and armed with hike recommendations for guests to explore the surrounding nature sustainably. 

9. The Torridon – Wester Ross, Scotland

The Scottish Highlands has some of the world’s wildest, most beautiful landscapes, so hotels here are amping up their sustainability efforts. The Torridon is leading the pack, with a commitment to “the environment, society, and responsible governance”. Most of the food on the menu is grown or reared on the Torridon land, or sourced locally from organic producers. The hotel’s energy-saving credentials are impressive, too: timber is chipped on-site for biomass energy, they’ve installed extra insulators to reduce heat loss, electrical systems are on timers, and much more. Water savings are carefully considered too, and they also donate 50p to Just a Drop for every bottle of water sold. This isn’t the Torridon’s only connection to organisations and the community: they closely work with the Wester Ross UNESCO Biosphere and promote enjoying the landscape sustainably, they organise beach cleans, and they engage the community and guests with environmental activities and workshops. The Torridon’s sustainability efforts are paving the way for other hotels, which the Carbon Trust and the Green Tourism Business Scheme have recognised.

8. The Lefay Resort – Gargnano, Italy

Perched on the sloping hills of Gargnano, overlooking Lake Garda, the Lefay’s location is hard to beat. And luckily for eco-conscious travellers, it’s one of the most sustainable hotels in Europe. The Lefay supports the surrounding nature reserve, built from biocompatible materials that integrate the hotel into the parklands. The carbon-neutral hotel utilises solar panels, biomass plants, and cogeneration for electricity and energy, and also collects rainwater for the spectacular infinity pool and irrigation. Lake Garda doesn’t see a lot of rainfall in the summer months, so water use is one of the region’s biggest ecological challenges. However, harvesting rainwater, laundry management, and water-saving automation have contributed to the Lefay’s huge reduction in water use. 

7. The Green House – Bournemouth, England

Designed with sustainability at the forefront, the Green House is one of Europe’s most eco-friendly hotels. The boutique hotel is tucked away in a green corner of Bournemouth, in between the lush New Forest and Dorset’s blue-flag beaches, so guests can enjoy a spectrum of natural beauty. And with sustainable on-site electricity generators, rainwater harvesting techniques, on-site composting, water-saving installations, and more, the Green House works hard to preserve the landscape. Before renovating the Grade II Victorian manor, the team undertook an ecological survey to identify improvements and introduced native plant species, bird and bat boxes, and a log pile that provides a habitat for wildlife. They also restored the interior with natural materials – from the carpets to the tiles. 

The hotel goes the extra mile in sustainable practices and has set up the Green Goals Project. The initiative aims to raise environmental awareness, engage the community, and preserve the local environment. Local projects, such as community gardens, can apply for funding of up to £5,000 from the Green Goals Project.

6. Whitepod – Monthey, Switzerland

Tucked away in the heavenly Swiss Alps, Whitepod is an innovative answer to sustainable travel. The rooms are geometric-shaped pods, built to be energy-efficient by nature. They require 30% less energy than a conventional building while simultaneously letting lucky guests feel embedded in the incredible surroundings. They’re also fit with water-saving devices, timed water boilers, and wood-pellet heating systems. 

The domes are constructed using as little material as possible, and the wood that is used is responsibly sourced from Swiss forests. They’re also built by local construction workers. In line with keeping things close to home, all wine, fish, and meat are locally sourced. The kitchen only uses seasonal products and aims to purchase from local suppliers. If necessary, sustainable European suppliers are used.

5. Holzhotel Forsthofalm – Leogang, Austria

The Holzhotel Forsthofalm proudly complements its Austrian Alps surroundings, built entirely of wood and free from metal or glue. The construction method reduces heating requirements by 85% and the building materials are 100% recyclable. The hotel has a solar thermal system, and surplus energy is used to heat the pool. The Forsthofalm has really nailed its renewable and sustainable heating efforts – the hotel even has a smart ventilation system that turns off a room’s heating system when a window is opened. And it has solar panels for eco-friendly electricity. 

The commitment to a sustainable stay is impressive, box-ticking every criterion: water, energy, waste, community, materials, food, and conservation. When you’re not enjoying the organic cuisine, admiring the nature-inspired rooms, taking a yoga class, or relaxing in the wellness centre, you’ll love exploring the region that the Forsthofalm is working so hard to protect and preserve. 

4. Tauber’s Bio Vital Hotel – South Tyrol, Italy

South Tyrol is a mountain-blessed region in the northern tip of Italy, where visitors gawp at gorgeous valleys, vineyards, and lakes. The luxurious Tauber’s Bio Vital Hotel takes advantage of its stunning location without harming it, ticking all our sustainability criteria. The building was constructed using natural, local materials and followed ecological measures to avoid disrupting the surrounding nature. The rooms were also designed with natural materials, complementing the alpine view from the windows. 

The outdoor pool is another wonderful spot for soaking up the views, and it’s filtered with salt rather than chlorine. The hotel stays clear from harsh, harmful chemicals completely – all cleaning products are environmentally friendly, and pesticides are not used. Tauber’s is also impressively energy efficient, measured by its low CO2 emissions. While the average hotel emits 50-70 kg of CO2 per night, Tauber’s emits around 5.3kg. And of course, you can expect high-quality, homegrown meals, with a wide range of vegetarian and vegan dishes.

3. Gut Guntrams – Schwarzau am Steinfeld, Austria

This unique nature hotel is a pioneer in biodiversity and sustainable tourism. The hotel is deeply rooted in agriculture and is composed of three accommodation types – villas, apartments, and suspended ‘garden lofts’. All of which are built with carefully chosen, durable wood. Much of the food is produced on the hotel’s organic farm, and the seasonal menu is curated around what’s good. Wild herb orchards create aromatic tea, crispy vegetables are used in Asian salads in the springtime, and an array of wild fruits are processed into delicious jam. Even the soda water is produced in-house. But if it can’t be grown or reared on-site, food is bought locally from organic farms. The committed team at Gut Guntrams have taken excellent energy-saving measures, including installing solar panels and sustainable heating and cooling pumps. The hotel also has a natural swimming pool, and rainwater is collected to irrigate the veg’ and herb gardens during dry periods. 

What is most impressive about Gut Guntrams is its offshoot non-profit organisation: Guntrams Ark. The organisation protects the area and promotes biodiversity by replanting the Schwarza riverbed with drought-resistant plants, monitoring local bio-life, gently mowing the orchards to preserve species, working with a beekeeper to pollinate the orchards, and more. Their message is simple: “Humans cannot take more than what they can replace.”

2. Gregans Castle Hotel – Ballyvaughan, Ireland

Charming manicured gardens surround the 18th-century manor, but this hotel is anything but stuck in the past. Gregans Castle Hotel firmly looks to the future of the local community, local wildlife, and the environment. Tree planting in the area has created a new habitat for Irish red squirrels, long-eared owls, and other wildlife. The hotel also protects the Burren, a recognised Special Area of Conservation, through local initiatives, community stewardship, and education. They also encourage guests to explore the area sustainably – they campaigned for a new bus service to stop at the hotel 6 times per day, there are free bicycles available to use, they are members of Leave No Trace, and the hotel arranges group walks. They also organise a litter clean-up at popular Corkscrew Hill. Gregans’ engagement with the community and sustainable initiatives is exemplary, from contributing to local fundraising activities, such as the Galway Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to committing to sourcing food locally. 

1. Heckfield Place – Hampshire, England

Heckfield Place is two steps ahead. The beautiful Victorian residence is self-sufficient in terms of growing organic foods across seven greenhouses, opening its own dairy, fruit-picking from its orchard, and so much more. This is already impressive, but Heckfield Place has leapfrogged regular organic produce by utilising seeds, herbal remedies, and biodynamic growth data to regenerate the soil. Not only is the team protecting the soil for generations to come, but they’re restoring what they’ve lost. They’re also preserving the ancient woodlands surrounding the hotel, protecting the 150-year-old Redwoods, Douglas Firs, Monterey Pines, English Oaks, and various other trees, and planting seeds for new ones. 

With so many eco-credentials under its belt, it almost goes without saying that the hotel is free from single-use plastic, heat comes from sustainable bio-mass boilers, rainwater is harvested for irrigation, and energy is generated from renewable sources. To better understand Heckfield Place’s incredible work, the team offers walks and talks through the gorgeous gardens, woodlands, and farms.

Know of a hotel that deserves a spot on this list? Let us know!