15 sustainable and green hotels and hostels in Europe

What are sustainable or green hotels / hostels?

Most often, people think that sustainable or green hostels are defined by them using green or renewable energy. It’s definitely a part of it, but there is so much more. Hotels and hostels have such an important role in offering a pleasant stay of guests in respective cities, but also in contributing to making the city a nicer place. They have all the tools in their hands, but who uses them? In the following list, we’ll give you 15 examples, from cities throughout Europe, of some of these green hotels which are true innovators.

Cause green hotels/hostels can indeed opt for green energy use. But by choosing construction, appliance and maintenance materials, they’re having another impact. Employment policies can be innovative as well, we see some hotels mainly employing people with disabilities. And there is a huge local impact: one they can practice through local culture, exposing local artists, letting travellers and local citizens meet each other. Sustainable or green hotels/hostels give different tips to its residents than the average tourism highlights. Food they serve can be slow, vegetarian, vegan, organic and/or local food. And of course, comfort, affordability and friendliness are equally important, or nobody will want to stay in the “sustainable” hostel/hotel. In every aspect of their daily practice, one can choose for a different approach to travel.

Have a look at this list of innovative green hotels / hostels in Europe. Next time when you travel, perhaps you should consider one. Cause travelling is about the destination, but it’s also about the journey.

1. Sleep Green Certified Eco Youth Hostel – Barcelona, Spain

One of the green hotels and hostels pioneers is the Sleep Green – Certified Eco Youth Hostel in Barcelona. They are the first urban youth hostel in Spain to have been awarded the EU eco-label. Sleep Green – Certified Eco Youth Hostel offers dormitories of 4 or 6 beds, free wifi, free security lockers, free use of the kitchen and free smiles and shows a strong commitment to sustainability. Energy efficient electric installations, 100% green energy, encouraging recycling, minimizing water use, environmentally-friendly cleaning products, they are just a few of the sustainability policies Sleep Green – Certified Eco Youth Hostel takes. More info or prices.

2. Zalamera – Valencia, Spain

Zalamera is s a small charming bed and breakfast, one with a sincere love for the city of Valencia, and even more so for the sustainable side of the city. Water is heated by solar panels on the roof. Food that is served at breakfast comes from local suppliers and is organic wherever possible (and comes with veggie options). But even in other products they offer, you’ll notice that conscious choices are made. More info or prices.

3. Hostel Strowis – Utrecht, The Netherlands

Hostel Strowis offers dorm beds of several sizes, but even private rooms are available. It’s a no-nonsense place, but with a really warmhearted atmosphere. Social and ecological innovation have been driving this project from the start, and are still alive. The breakfast served is completely organic. Various local, cultural events are organized, and Hostel Strowis works together with ACU, which offers a vegan daily plate. More information.

4. Boutiquehotel Stadthalle – Vienna, Austria

Talking about green hotels, we have to talk of Boutiquehotel Stadthalle in Vienna. The facade of this hotel is one of the most stunning we ever say, combining solar panels with a green-wall. This hotel stands out with its sustainable measures it takes and became Vienna’s first eco-friendly hotel, being rewarded with the European eco-label. The solar panels on place provide enough power to heat up the water for the entire hotel on sunny days. Vienna’s largest lavender field can be found on the rooftop of this hotel (and is watered with water from their own well). They have become a zero-energy balance hotel, meaning they provide and consume an equal amount of energy. If you’re a guest and have an electrical car, you can charge it for free at this hotel. In 2014 several rooms were refurbished in a creative way using the concept of upcycling. More information or prices.

5. The Circus Hostel – Berlin, Germany

An environmentally friendly building, plants to captivate CO², social working policies, local products and an impact that goes further than the hotel walls but includes the wider community. At the Circus Hostel we found all of these. Staff get paid fair wages as well. Each of the owners is involved in the regular management of the hostel and together they set up this hostel according to a decent philosophy and ethical awareness. The building is installed with all well-known technologies of energy saving and renewable energy, and energy purchased is 100% green, from renewable resources. In the kitchen you’ll find seasonal, organic or local food wherever possible. And next to that The Circus Hostel is involved in a social project that builds education and multicultural exchanges in the community. Not just by donating money, but an active engagement. More information or prices.

6. Mary K Hotel – Utrecht, The Netherlands

Environmentally-friendly design and interior elements (such as second hand furniture) and conscious choices of energy-saving appliances are a basis of their approach. But Mary K Hotel also thought of choosing the sustainable options when it comes to catering (preference for local, organic and fair products from small-scale suppliers). And on the wall you can see the changing exhibitions of local Utrecht’s artists, which get a platform in this manner. Their approach shows that an independent, small hotel can still achieve a lot of innovative actions. And above all, it’s a romantic, fine and unique accommodation in the city. More information or prices.

7. Ecomama – Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Social entrepreneurship is something one can find more and more in the Netherlands, and that’s a positive trend. It means running a business with sincere social and environmental values and implications. The Ecomama boutique hostel in Amsterdam is such a space. Ecomama isn’t like a typical mass-hostel. It’s a stylish place, one where you’ll find dorm beds, but also several other room types (such as romantic double rooms). For every night of sleep, one euro is donated to a good cause. But the interior is also designed in a sustainable manner, using cradle-to-cradle furniture, fair trade materials, etc. Moreover, Ecomama encourages guests to discover the local hidden sights and to connect and socialize with other guests and locals. More information.

8. Un Posto a Milano – Milan, Italy

Un posto a Milano is a wonderful, unique and remarkable place within central Milan. Esterni, a cultural and social association started this project, housed in a renovated farmstead from the 1700’s, called Cascina Cuccagna. The location and the atmosphere surrounding this place are a reason on itself to come and visit. Cause you won’t get closer to a rural countryside feeling while being in the center of Milan. It’s a multifunctional space, dedicated to culture, the environment, food and more. The restaurant of Un posto a Milano offers truly slow food. Ingredients that come from regional suppliers, that are seasonally harvested and with the shortest chain as possible to guarantee full traceability. Recently, a guesthouse was added to the project, offering 16 beds in this wonderful setting which will give you the feeling of residing in the Lombardian country, while you’re in Milan’s buzzing city center. More information.

9. Jam Hostel – Barcelona, Spain

Despite the fact that it is just a great hostel, with double rooms or dormitories, a lot of light, cleanliness, a great location and atmosphere, their sustainable targets make the difference. Some of their goals: energy saving, renewable energy, environmentally-friendly products, working together with cooperatives and ethical institutions for banking, insurance, maintenance, ecological, local and fair trade food, creativity and reuse for the interior design, …. Free fair trade coffee and tea are offered when you’re a guest in the hostel, artistic and cultural events are held on the terrace, to bring local upcoming talent and visitors closer to each other. And so on. On their website they give clear explanations on their approach of sustainability, including tips. If you stay in the Jam Hostel, they’ll also give you the sustainable choices as a first option. More information or prices.

10. Green City Hotel Vauban – Freiburg, Germany

The Green City Hotel Vauban is a three-star hotel in the Vauban neighbourhood of Freiburg, which gets outstanding scores on all hotel-review websites. This doesn’t surprise, since the hotel is created with an inclusive philosophy that goes so much further than just offering beds. Sustainability is the basis of all choices here, from the design of the hotel, to the working methods. The hotel is located in Vauban, the eco-district of Freiburg, 4km from the city-centre but with a direct tram-link in front of the entrance. The building has an interesting architecture, surrounded by a huge green wall. Energy efficiency is one of the key issues, and Green City Hotel works with regional products only for their decoration and breakfast. Their inclusive philosophy makes that employees with or without disabilities work side by side. More information or prices.

11. Almodóvar Hotel – Berlin, Germany

Every room has a modern design, and the staff create a welcoming, friendly atmosphere. But Almodóvar Hotel really stands out with its sustainability actions. The food and drinks are exclusively vegetarian and organic, often from local, fair trade and seasonal produce. The materials used in the hotels are from sustainable resources, sustainable cosmetics are used in the spa, partnerships with small sustainable businesses are favored, energy-saving policies and 100% green energy applied, sustainable wood used for decoration, … The list of sustainable measures taken at Almodóvar Hotel is even too extensive to sum up here. More information or prices.

12. EcoZentric – Barcelona, Spain

The owners of EcoZentric aimed to create a comfortable hostel, while respecting the environment. They offer private rooms for one, two or 4 people, with or without balcony. Sustainable standards include organic cotton sheets, bottled water, energy saving policies and installations, ecological toilets and part of the revenues go to tree planting. At EcoZentric the sustainable measures don’t take away any of your freedom, they add comfort. The only thing left to do is water the plants on your terrace, and relax. More information or prices.

13. Hostal Grau – Barcelona, Spain

This boutique hotel offers double rooms, rooms for three people, family rooms and an apartment. All very stylish and comfortable, they even started a new project, a so-called off-room. To offer you maximum quality with a low footprint, they are an eco hotel, with quite some innovative measures. To ensure you the best night of sleep, they provide you with handmade, organic beds. The entire interior concept is based on sustainable principles, such as the use of sustainable wood, the restoring of furniture, a vertical garden, deliberately no use of PVC, etc. More information or prices.

14. Conscious Hotel – Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Conscious Hotel is a sustainable hotel at (soon) 4 different locations in Amsterdam. Sustainable, but not in an “in your face”-style. They just try, as the name reflects, to make conscious choices in their hotel keeping. This includes a building powered with renewable energy. You’ll find local and sustainable food and drinks, they have a green roof with a beehive, interior elements that come from recycled sources and much more. Being sustainable is the basis of their work, which you’ll see reflected in the entire place. Moreover, they present it in a hip, funky and funny way, making it truly pleasant to support their work. And to stay in a comfortable hotel of course. More information or prices.

15. Yök – Barcelona, Spain

Yök offers very stylish apartments in the heart of Barcelona. An unbeatable location and great comfort are offered in this project by Petz and Mari. But it’s also a project which completely adopted sustainable tourism practices. In this, they take it several steps further. Their apartments carry a lot of history and were renovated in 2014 in a truly eco-sustainable way. Reusing the materials that were available, working with brands that make objects from recycled sources and other local brands that fully incorporated sustainability as their core mission. In all of the assets of their business-keeping, from the energy provider, to the soap-provider or carbon-offsetting program, you’ll notice that Yök cares for a sustainable society. Moreover, they actively support and promote local tourism. Several events, such as organic and biodynamic wine tastings are organized. But guests are also encouraged to discover the real and sustainable Barcelona, out of the beaten paths. More information or prices.

 

More green hotels, hostels and apartments in Europe

Good Goal is an independent guide to green hotels and other sustainable places various European cities. We visit every place ourselves and only list the most innovative ones. Our guide is made so that everyone can easily find the sustainable options, those that benefit local people, sustainable innovators and that show you the real and local side of the city. To keep yourself updated, please like our