Europe’s Best Sustainable Hotels

Named for the stream that crosses its 54-acre estate on the Mediterranean, Misíncu is generally considered the first ecological hotel in Corsica and has earned the EU Ecolabel, a distinction recognizing environmental excellence.

It draws inspiration from its location in the unique marine and mountain ecosystem of the Cap Corse, and in 2019 made the switch to permaculture—a planting and land management technique that encourages natural ecosystems. But that’s just the beginning: Misíncu has its own wastewater treatment plant, solar panels for heating water, and electric vehicle charging. The property keeps a close eye on selective sorting, food waste, and single-use plastic, too.

Stay at Hotel Misíncu on our Corsica cycling tour.

This nine-room boutique hotel in Southern Spain is a model eco-retreat thanks to its environmental stewardship. The property’s 1,500-acre organic farm—comprised of orchards, vineyards, olive and almond groves, sheep, goats, chickens, and bees—preserves agricultural traditions while incorporating innovations in ecology. La Donaira’s Soil Academy hosts workshops and lecturers in soil-preserving permaculture and regenerative agriculture; the farm also produces most of the food served on property.

La Donaira has another initiative focused on the unique intersection of biological conservation and preservation of Iberian heritage: their Lusitano sanctuary. The Lusitano is the world’s oldest saddle horse, domesticated in Spain and Portugal. The property’s studfarm, where the program has kept Lusitano bloodlines running for nearly two decades, is located in the same place as the horses’ ancestral breeding grounds.

Stay at Finca La Donaira on an Andalucía Bike Tour.

The 2006 construction of Chalet del Sogno adhered to the rules of bio-architecture, a practice of building design that’s both eco-friendly and inspired by the forms of nature, using all natural materials like wood, lime, and local stone. The entire hotel is heated with geothermal energy—a must in the snowy winter Dolomites—thereby reducing carbon emissions and air pollution. As a result, Hotel del Sogno received an eco-label certification attesting to its reduced environmental impact and respect for its surroundings.

Our Chef on Wheels Stefano Righetti is the Head Chef at this hotel in the ski town of Madonna di Campiglio, and there’s no better way to get closer to the land than discovering the malga (mountain dairy) and meadows where Chef Stefano finds and forages local ingredients.

Stay at Chalet del Sogno on DuVine’s Dolomites and Lake Garda cycling tour.

Since terroir is of utmost importance in France, it’s only fitting that this hotel surrounded by Bordeaux’s Grand Cru vineyards believes in protecting the gifts it was given by Mother Nature. Perhaps the most unique low-waste solutions are the treatments at the hotel’s Spa Vinothérapie, which use precious leftover pomace, grape seed, and oil in scrubs, soaks, and massages.

Recycling is second nature at Les Sources de Caudalie, and you won’t find any single-use plastic. Vegetables and eggs come directly from the hotel’s own pesticide-free farm garden and hen house, while the chef of the two-star Michelin restaurant sources any additional ingredients from producers who uphold sustainable agriculture practices—which means superior quality and true farm-to-table gastronomy.

Stay at Les Sources de Caudalie on our Bordeaux Bike Tour.

Coquillade Provence Resort & Spa puts the environment and local communities at the heart of all its decisions, services, and policies. In a holistic approach to sustainability, efforts range from planting endemic flora in landscaping to composting all food waste to employing geothermal energy to power the hotel’s heating system.

The property also places emphasis on local purchasing and patronage in order to engage the community and reduce its carbon footprint—for example, supplying bathroom amenities that are locally sourced and choosing hotel furnishings crafted by a Provençal artisan. Coquillade’s activities—such as cellar visits and guided hikes—sow interest in local businesses and increase awareness about the importance of biodiversity in nearby Luberon Regional Nature Park.

Stay at Coquillade on our bike trips in Provence.

Masseria della Volpe’s first move towards sustainability was the preservation of the ancient olive- and citrus-producing estate it now occupies. Restoration was carried out with respect to original materials that connect the hotel to its surroundings in the Noto Valley, while also integrating updates like solar panels to generate the majority of the hotel’s electricity. Ongoing efforts to reduce single-use plastic and restrict cleaning products to those which are considered organic is further proof of the resort’s continued responsibility.

The Masseria’s entire philosophy revolves around nurturing the body and spirit by tuning into nature’s rhythms and harkening back to Sicilian traditions, so it’s no surprise that the estate farm includes orchards, citrus groves, vineyards, and a kitchen garden—all used to move Masseria della Volpe closer towards a zero-kilometer experience.

Stay at Masseria della Volpe on our Sicily cycling vacation.

The Azores’ first eco-resort has prioritized sustainability from the very beginning, erecting the property out of a local cryptomeria wood, domestic cork, and bamboo. Even the smallest details show an effort to lessening the impact of hotel tourism—like lamps made from upcycled oil containers and tables fabricated from reused iron. In practice, conservation efforts range from collecting rainwater for use in landscaping to cultivating an organic farm that supplies the property’s restaurant.

As a hotel located on São Miguel island’s black sand beachfront, it’s notable that Santa Bárbara’s maintenance team takes responsibility to gather trash and bring awareness to the problem of pollution. In 2019 alone, over 750 pounds of debris was saved from entering the ocean.

Stay at Santa Bárbara on our Portugal bike tour of the Azores.

A focus on the ecosystem is exactly what makes staying at Six Senses so special. Because of its location in the UNESCO World Heritage Douro Valley, this hotel is the custodian of a 10-acre old-growth woodland—the Forest Restoration Project—and 1,640 feet of stream, both located on-property. Like many hotels in the sustainability space, Six Senses also supplies its restaurants with organic vegetables and herbs grown on the premises.

The hotel’s Sustainability Fund uses a percentage of overall revenue to support its community. To offset carbon emission, Six Senses sponsors a donkey refuge where the last remaining Miranda donkeys are being saved from extinction. The fund also benefits Bagos D’Ouro, a charity enabling at-risk children in the Douro Valley to pursue their education all the way through university and facilitating support from counselors, educators, and psychotherapists.

Stay at Six Senses on our Douro Valley Bike Tour.