Travel Sustainably in the Alps

You’ll soon be travelling to the Alps and we’re here to help you get prepared in the best way possible.

During your trip, you’ll be experiencing the local culture and heritage of the countries that make up this region. Learn about the royal history of Bavaria in Germany, wander through charming mountainside villages in Switzerland and immerse yourself in music and art in Austria.

Through all this, it’s good to keep in mind the importance of preserving it all for future generations to enjoy.

At Nordic Visitor, we believe in doing our part for the planet and our local environment. For that reason, we want to encourage you to do the same when visiting our beloved home and region.

That said, sustainable travel is not just about conserving the environment. It’s also about supporting local economies and having a positive impact on local communities.

On this page, you’ll find some friendly suggestions on how you can do your part.

Packing for your visit to the Alps

Arrive in Munich prepared to be as green as possible by bringing a couple of items from home, including reusable water bottles and shopping bags. This way, you can save money and be environmentally friendly in one go.

The drinking water in Germany, Switzerland and Austria is clean and of high quality. In fact, all 3 countries rank in the top 20 of the Environmental Performance Index, scoring very highly. That means it’s safe to drink the tap water and you can refill your bottle as you go.

When it comes to shopping bags, businesses in Germany are required by law to charge you for them. Plastic bags are also banned in Austria. So an easy way for you to reduce the amount of waste from your holiday and save money is to bring a reusable shopping bag with you.

Making the most of the local cultures

When you visit the Alps, you’ll soon be immersed in the beauty of snowy peaks, shimmering lakes and charming cities. While similar to one another, each country has its own culture, festivals, traditions and tasty food.

By supporting the local communities, you’ll embrace your Alpine experience while making a positive impact on the economy and people.

1. Shop local for souvenirs

If you plan on buying souvenirs, why not purchase items made locally? Here are some suggestions for each country:

Switzerland:

Cheese fondue set
Swiss chocolate
Handmade wooden toys
Swiss watch
Swiss Army knife

Germany:

Heilemann Chocolates
Traditional outfits like a lederhosen or a dirndl
Lebkuchenherzen (or “gingerbread heart”) biscuit
Beer and a traditional Hofbräuhaus beer stein mug

Austria:

Snow globe (they were invented here!)
Mozart ball, a sweet made of marzipan and pistachio
Austrian chocolate
Austrian schnapps
Items made of Austrian glass or porcelain

When buying souvenirs, try to look for the origins of the product to see if it is local or not. You can also ask the vendor.

2. Visit sites outside peak times

If you can, try to visit popular attractions outside peak times. Not only will you help reduce the pressure on these spots, but you’ll enjoy a more relaxed experience when you visit.

3. Don't remove natural items from the landscape

It can be tempting to bring back a bit of the landscape home with you, but it’s best to keep things where they belong. So please do not remove stones, plants, animals or other natural items from the Alps, protected areas or national parks.

4. Eat local

An easy way to support the local economy while travelling is to eat out at local restaurants. You need to eat after all!

We recommend looking for menus that feature local produce. In Germany, this includes a lot of sausages and potatoes, as well as pretzels and sweet treats like pancakes.

In Switzerland, you won’t be surprised to hear that this means a lot of chocolate and cheese. In fact, you’ll find over 400 types of cheeses here. Dishes to try include cheese fondue, raclette, Cordon Bleu and potato rösti. In the morning, opt for muesli, a typical Swiss breakfast.

Finally, in Austria, expect more cheese, such as käsespätzle or cheese dumpling soup. This country is also where the famous Schnitzel comes from. Or why not try Gröstl, a pan-roasted dish of potatoes and bacon? And don’t forget to try the apricot dishes and sweet dumplings popular here.

5. Attend local events

Going to festivals and special events hosted in the cities or countryside is a great way to soak up the local culture.

You’ll find some cultural and sporting events and festivals here:

6. Be respectful of local traditions and customs

When visiting cultural and historical sites, remember to be mindful of the importance these sites have for locals. Sometimes they represent our culture and hundreds of years of tradition and are great sources of pride.

Using sustainable transportation

1. Walk around if you can

Town and city centres in Bavaria, Switzerland and Austria are very pedestrian friendly and easy to get around on foot. In some cities, such as Lucerne and Bern, the old towns are pedestrian-only, so you can wander freely while enjoying the scenery.

Walking along the cobblestone streets will allow you to take in the charming architecture, learn about the local history and immerse yourself in cultural experiences.

Your accommodation is likely to be central so you can easily access restaurants and shops on foot.

2. Hop on public transport

If you would like to give your feet a rest, an easy, cheap, and sustainable way to travel around the cities is by catching public transport.

You could also decide to hire a bicycle to explore like a local.

3. Drive in an eco-efficient way

If you are going on a self-drive tour, there is still a way for you to be more sustainable if you want.

The easiest way to limit the fuel consumption of your vehicle is to drive gently, evenly, and smoothly. Acceleration and braking require more energy, so avoid sharp acceleration and abrupt braking. Try maintaining a constant speed to be more economical and eco-friendly.

Conserving the natural environment

One of the main attractions of the Alps is its incredible natural scenery, and there is lots you can do or keep in mind to help preserve it during your trip.

1. Leave no trace behind

The Alpine region is known for its unspoiled and thriving nature and you’ll soon notice that people do not litter here. Help keep it this way by putting your litter in bins and recycling if possible.

If there are no bins where you are visiting, take your rubbish back with you to your accommodation so you can dispose of it there.

We also encourage you to recycle your travel documents if you do not plan on bringing them home with you as a keepsake. Make sure to place them in a designated paper recycling bin.

2. Don’t go off-road driving

Driving and parking sensibly will help preserve the natural landscape. Keep to marked roads and parking spots and do not create an obstruction.

3. Hike along marked trails

Hiking is a great way to explore the heights of the Alps or take in the beauty of ancient glacial valleys. In fact, there are thousands of kilometres of hiking trails across the Swiss, Bavarian and Austrian Alps. You’re sure to find something to explore!

4. Observe wildlife without disturbing it

The Alps are one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in Europe, with over 45,000 recorded species of plants, fungi and animals. If you are lucky, you might encounter golden eagles, mountain hares, wildcats, foxes, brown bears, red deer, alpine ibex, otters, chamois, wild boars, bearded vultures or alpine marmots, to name a few.

When visiting the Alps and going wildlife spotting, your goal should be quiet observation. Make sure to observe wildlife from a distance. To not disturb the different species, we recommend you do not make quick movements or loud noises. And do not try to touch them.

Reducing your carbon footprint

All tour packages with Nordic Visitor since September 2023 are being carbon offset through the Iceland Carbon Fund and SoGreen. But what does carbon offsetting mean? There are many ways to carbon offset your trip. We use 2: tree-planting to offset the carbon emissions produced by your trip, and earning carbon credits through education.

You can read more about this initiative on our Sustainability Policy.

What else can you do? We recommend you look into sustainable ways to travel to Germany. If you’re coming from another European destination, you may want to consider taking the train to Munich.

When travelling by plane, here are some sustainable options to consider to reduce your flights’ carbon footprint:

Using a booking site that shows flights’ carbon emissions to allow you to choose the lower-carbon option.
Choosing direct flights to limit the carbon emissions of your journey. Planes burn the most fuel during take-off and landing, which means emissions are higher for layover flights.
Travelling with airlines that offer trustworthy carbon offsetting schemes. If your airline doesn’t include this, you could instead donate to a carbon offsetting fund yourself.

By travelling in a sustainable way you are helping us preserve this beautiful region so that future generations can also enjoy visiting.