In this research, the researchers standardized a wide range of data, from green hotel certifications to walkability, to help travelers make more conscious choices.
And Helsinki stands out:
- It ranked highest for green space quality (86%)
- Most amenities can be reached within a 13-minute walk
- Nearly 1 in 5 hotels (17%) are certified green
- Plus, 118 guided walking tours reflect a robust ecotourism offering
Helsinki topped the global chart with a score of 7.4/10. It’s a place of sea breezes, saunas, and sustainability-farmed local food. This is by far not the only list Helsinki was crowned the winner. Helsinki was the most sustainable travel destination in 2024 by the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index.
Helsinki’s sustainability scores are the result of bold urban planning, community action, and sustainability built into daily life.
Start with the air. Helsinki scores around 20 on the Air Quality Index, well below the “clean” threshold of 50. That’s thanks to policies that curb emissions, prioritize public transport, and follow a rigorous Air Quality and Noise Abatement Plan that sets real targets and meets them.
Then the water. It’s some of the purest in Finland, drawn from protected groundwater and delivered straight to the tap. No filters, no fuss. Thinking of buying bottled water here? Don’t do it. Just bring your own refillable water bottle and fill it with tap water.
Waste? It fuels the city. No, really. Over half of household waste is recycled, while biowaste becomes biogas for public transport. Non-recyclables? Converted into clean energy. With accessible recycling stations across the city, doing your part is easy, and everyone does it.
Green spaces matter, too. Nearly 40% of Helsinki is covered in parks and forests. They’re beautiful, but also essential for clean air, biodiversity, and everyday wellbeing.
The commitment to green living is woven into how the city moves, breathes, and grows keeps keeping Helsinki the title of the world’s most sustainable city travel destination.
Cities That Might Surprise You on This List
Sara Boisvert, Marketing Manager at InsureMyTrip commented:
“As eco-friendly travel becomes a top priority for more travelers, this study serves as a powerful time-saver, turning hours of sustainability research into a ready-made guide for greener getaways.”
Full rankings and methodology available at InsureMyTrip.com.
It’s not surprising to see the other Nordic capitals at the top of the sustainable cities list.
Close behind Helsinki are Stockholm (7.3/10) and Copenhagen (7.0/10), two cities that have long prioritized the environment. Stockholm’s green hotel rate is slightly higher (21%), and its green spaces score an impressive 85%. Copenhagen boasts even shorter walking times (7 minutes to amenities) and a similar percentage of certified-green hotels. The only factor nudging them down slightly? Hotel costs.
Some cities, like Dublin and Berlin, shine in cultural experiences but score lower due to higher pollution and fewer eco-certified accommodations. And further afield, lifestyle-heavy destinations like Sydney and Melbourne are still struggling with per capita emissions and scalable green lodging options. These findings suggest that while Australia’s major cities are rich in outdoor experiences, they face challenges in reducing emissions and implementing sustainable accommodations at scale.
The study also investigated the most sustainable cities in the United States.
San Jose, often overshadowed by its Bay Area neighbors, scored highest overall (6.9/10) among the cities analyzed. With 15% of its hotels certified as eco-friendly, low pollution (4.9), and one of the lowest average walking times to amenities (19 minutes), San Jose presents a compelling case for travelers seeking a greener domestic destination. Portland, Oregon, long considered a sustainability pioneer, followed closely. The city excelled in green space quality (85%), though it was marked down due to a lower percentage of green-certified hotels (7%) and higher average hotel costs ($203/night).
Many consider the sustainability of travel destinations when it comes to traveling to the destination, and opt for greener transportation methods or closer destinations. But when was the last time you did your research on how sustainable the destination itself is? I hope you will, and maybe you will also choose Helsinki as your destination.