Sustainable tourism in Germany

The quaint village of Ramsau, in Germany's mountainous southeast, is one of the most sustainable holiday destinations in the country. Ramsau locals are dedicated to soft tourism and conserving the alpine nature of surrounding Berchtesgaden National Park. What's more, Ramsau has also been designated a climatic health resort.

Close to Ramsau you will find tranquil lake Königssee. Here you could explore this body of water by boarding an electric barge that will take to the famous St Bartholomew's Church pilgrimage church, as well as the Wittelsbacher Hunting Chateau. Silent e-boats have been in service here since 1909.

This sparsely populated mountain range extends 200 kilometers (124 mi) through southwestern Germany. It's classified as a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and several years ago was declared the country's most sustainable tourism destination. Book an overnight stay at any of the region's over 150 holiday accommodations and you'll receive free access to local busses, trains and tourist attractions.

Lonely Planet listed Freiburg among the best travel destinations for 2022. Quite an honor for a German town! The Australia-based travel magazine Lonely Planet says its decision was partly based on ecological criteria. After all, Freiburg's old town center is car-free, with cyclists dominating the city center. In addition, numerous parks are dotted across the city.

Germany's western state of Saarland was the first to be certified as a sustainable travel destination. The honor was bestowed by TourCert, a German non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting soft tourism. Today, two thirds of the territory of Saarland have been placed under environmental protection. One of its best-known landmarks is the spectacular Saarschleife hairpin river turn.

Germany's Wine Route in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate is deemed one of the oldest tourist attractions in the country. With good reason: the 85-kilometer route is very scenic, leading past old castle ruins, forests and vine-covered hillsides. What's more, signs posted along its hiking trails allow visitors to learn about the local soil and climate, and how they influence local wine production.

Head further north and you will reach Eifel National Park. With very little light pollution, this volcanic region is perfect for star gazing. Nature-lovers can even stay overnight at one of the park's numerous official camp sites. Local hotels and holiday homes give out free public transport tickets to guests, so there's no need for cars.

Thuringia's Wartburg Hainich World Heritage Region is yet another great option for an eco-friendly getaway. Both thousand-year-old Wartburg castle and Hainich National Park are UNESCO World Heritage Sites — the latter being home to one of Germany's largest wild old beech forests. Numerous regional restaurants here, meanwhile, have pledged to run their business in a sustainable fashion.

Germany's Baltic coast is also a fantastic place for holidaymakers keen on soft tourism and the great outdoors. The beautiful Sly Firth is a narrow, 40-kilometer-long inlet of the Baltic Sea into the state of Schleswig-Holstein. In medieval times, a Viking settlement was located at the head of the firth (pictured).

Germany's northeastern Uckermark region is best known for untouched flood plains and nature reserves that make up much of the area. A few years ago, it was designated Germany's most eco-friendly travel destination. Visitors can choose from a range of climate-friendly accommodations on offer in the region, such as houses built with clay walls and hemp insulation.

Juist, a 17-kilometer (10.5 mi) long and just 500-meter-wide (1640 ft) island in Germany's northwest, is ideal if you want to get away from it all. Cars, except for fire engines and ambulances, have been banned for many years. Instead, horse-drawn carriages and bicycles are the most common mode of transport on the island; even refuse collectors use horse-drawn carts.