People sitting on a hill with a view of the sea and a lighthouse at sunset

The 4 most beautiful places of happiness for people and the environment

There are places in the world where we are supposed to be particularly lucky. Wishes come true, we find great love, the hoped-for blessing of children. But what are these happy places? And which of them not only have a positive effect on us - but also on our planet?

Let's go on a little round trip together, and be a little more fulfilled from place to place:

Sustainably happy: Collect your happiest memories here

#1 Verona - the statue of Juliet

Verona is the setting for probably the most famous love story. Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" is set in the narrow streets, lively squares and also on "the balcony" - the place that attracts thousands of people every year. A gate leads into the small inner courtyard of a 14th century residential building. Even before you see the balcony, you can already see walls full of love letters. And then, right in the middle of it all, the bronze statue of Juliet It is said that you have to touch her chest to have eternal happiness in love.

In order to reduce traffic in the city and therefore also CO2 emissions, Verona is an environmental zone. Since 2005, cars have only been allowed to drive here at very specific times. To ensure that residents and guests can still remain mobile, public transport is currently being expanded and E-buses are being introduced (source: EIB).

Many hotels are also following suit when it comes to sustainability. Breakfast with 0 km food, free bike rental, recycled furniture - the city's eco-accommodations are taking action to make our planet happy too - as a kind of Romeo and Juliet-style token of love for our planet.

Eco-hotels are, for example: Giulietta e Romeo, Veronesi la Torre, or the farm Corte all'Olmo.

#2 Florence - Fontana del Porcellino

We stay in Italy - but travel south from Venice towards Tuscany. Our next place of happiness is Florence - or more precisely the Fontana del Porcellino, the fountain of the piglet. According to tradition, it brings good luck if you rub the piglet's nose and then place a coin in its mouth.

What else does Florence have to offer? Lots of things! Above all historic paintings, medieval facades and alleyways, and an interesting history. However, the city is not only 'old', but also 'future-oriented'. Florence is considered a pioneering city for sustainable mobility in Italy and was, for example, the first city in the country to introduce bike sharing without a fixed parking space. The Novoli district is also part of the EU project cityfied - in which new methods are being tested to make existing buildings more energy efficient and reduce their emissions.

For accommodation, we can recommend the Agrivilla I Pini - a slow travel hideaway on a picturesque hill in the middle of Tuscany. The country house was renovated in 2018 using organic building methods. The idea behind it: Preserve the old and revitalize the new. The walls are made of clay, hemp and rice husks. Only fresh produce from your own garden ends up on your plate. Here you reconnect with nature

#3 Nuremberg - the Beautiful Fountain

If you don't want to travel far, and want to be able to enjoy your trip you can simply stay in Germany and take a sustainable city trip to Nuremberg.

In the middle of the city's Historical Mile - with St. Sebaldus Church in the background - stands the Beautiful Fountain. With a height of 19 meters and the shape of a detailed, Gothic church spire, the building from 1396 really makes an impression. And: Legend has it that if you turn the golden ring of the Beautiful Fountain three times, you will have many children.

Our planet should be happy that Nuremberg committed itself to greater sustainability back in 1992. In 2016, it even won the German Sustainability Award in the Large Cities category. How do you notice this during your visit? You'll find second-hand and fair trade stores everywhere, regional organic quality is a top priority in restaurants and you can stay in great, environmentally friendly hotels - such as the Kunstquartier. You will also quickly notice how consistently waste is separated and reduced. The reusable waste ban has been introduced at public events. Nuremberg relies on Zero Waste instead of disposable to-go cups.

#4 Ireland - Blarney Castle

get out into the countryside for a more sustainable active vacation? Then a trip to Ireland is just the thing. Here you can go hiking in unspoiled nature and enjoy the panoramic views over hills, meadows, rock formations, streams and lakes.

If you are looking for the happiness of 'eternal redness', your path should lead you to Blarney Castle near Cork. It is said that all you have to do here is kiss the Blarney Stone to be forever eloquent.

For several years now, Ireland has been running various projects such as 'Leave No Trace' and the 'Sustainable Tourist Network ' to keep their island truly green. There's also a clear guideto how you can vacation more sustainably in Ireland - for example by using the extensive bus and train network, accessing the Greenway cycle paths or by staying in one of the many eco-hotels. In Cork, for example, this is the Two Green Shoots.

More happiness for you - and our planet

In addition to our four tips, there are of course other places of happiness in this world. These are:

Prague - the Charles Bridge
Rome - the Trevi Fountain
Istanbul - the Hagia Sophia
Milan - Vittorio Emanuele Gallery
New York City - Charging Bull

However, it was important to us to introduce you to the most sustainable ones. Because as they say? Happiness is the only thing that doubles when you share it. And we firmly believe that we are all the happier when we travel with a good, green conscience and share our happiness with the planet.