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Sustainable Travel in Paris: What UK Visitors Should Know

The French capital is among the world’s most beautiful and inspiring cities. Paris holidays are popular for a reason! But if you’d like to get the most from your visit here, and to enjoy the most sustainable possible break, you’ll need to abide by a few simple principles. Let’s run through some of the more important ones.

Getting Around the City Sustainably

The way that you get from place to place matters, when it comes to your emissions. While it’s possible to get around on foot for much of the time, you may occasionally have to resort to public transport. The city’s combination of metro lines, trams, and bus services will help you to avoid the emissions that come from a trip in a taxi. At the same time, you might elect to hire a bicycle, and get around on two wheels.

Choosing Eco-Conscious Accommodation

If you want to drive down your emissions, you’ll also need to think about the place in which you’re staying, and the approach it takes to things like energy efficiency and waste handling. Look for hotels and guest houses that not only talk about environmentalist values, but which embody them.

Eating and Drinking Responsibly

If you’re going to enjoy the best of French cuisine, then you’ll need to think about what foods are in season at the time of your visit. Look for establishments that offer a seasonal menu, and you’ll not only lower your environmental impact; you’ll also tend to enjoy better food and drink.

For the same reason, you might take the opportunity to look around local markets, and consider the produce available to you. You never know what amazing treats you might find!

Respecting Neighbourhoods and Communities

If you want to preserve what it is that makes Paris great, then you might seek to be respectful of the neighbourhoods you find yourself in, and the people who live there. This will help to protect these areas against the damaging effects of over-tourism. The principle of caution applies especially if you intend to drink alcohol – be sure that the good time you are having doesn’t disturb anyone else.

Supporting Sustainable Attractions

Some of the attractions available in Paris have made considerable efforts to reduce their emissions, and to adopt green practices more broadly. The same applies to tour operators in the city. If you pick out the best ones and favour them, then you’ll considerably reduce the environmental impact of your visit.

Of course, the greenest spaces of all are the many parks and gardens that can be found throughout the city. These include the Royal Gardens, and the forests and rivers of the surrounding Île-de-France region.