Matador Network Readers' Choice Awards 2024: Sustainable Destination

Helsinki scored a 92.43 percent in the Global Destination Sustainability Movement’s annual rankings. This is impressive in itself, but what sets the Finnish capital apart is both its current accomplishments and bold plans for the future. Helsinki’s government in 2017 set an ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2030, zero emissions by 2040, and shortly thereafter to be a carbon-positive city – actually removing or preventing carbon emissions rather than creating them. Its architecture, parks, public transit, and forward-thinking ethos makes Helsinki one of the most sustainable travel destinations on Earth.

Photo: George Trumpeter/Shutterstock

It’s easy to look at the wealthy, progressive Scandinavian countries and shrug your shoulders at their claims of sustainability. A good social safety net and strong per capita spending power allow cities like Helsinki to focus on a green future rather than simply surviving the present. But so often overlooked is how tough it is to continually do so in volatile geopolitical climates and across both public and private sectors. Helsinki has proven it is invested in a more sustainable life year after year.

In 2016, Helsinki scored a 58.41 in the GDS Index. It’s since improved the ranking year over year with the exception of 2019, when it dropped nearly 10 points from its 2018 score to a 64.69. The index takes into consideration the efforts and impact of the city’s environmental performance, social progress, supplier performance, and tourist marketing performance.

Helsinki’s approach to sustainability is full-circle. It’s not just a green city for travelers, but for local residents as well, with visitors able to witness forward-thinking leadership from the moment they arrive in the city. A notable example of this is the Greenest of the Green Block, a strip of apartments on Jätkäsaari island in southwest Helsinki featuring green roofs and buildings optimized for energy efficiency. It’s easy to reach this area by bike or public transit because the city has invested heavily in infrastructure for green transportation, meaning travelers don’t need a rental car to move about.

Photo: George Trumpeter/Shutterstock

To prevent overtourism, Helsinki tracks visitor numbers and promotes off-season travel to spread travelers across the city and prevent popular areas Kamppi and Kluuvi from being taken over by tourists. The city’s public transit operator, HSL, reaches extensively across the region.

Pedestrian-friendly zones are prevalent throughout Helsinki, often in places that tourists frequent, including Esplanadi streets, Kasarmikatu, Erottajankatu, Korkeavuorenkatu in front of the Design Museum and on Lönnrotinkatu. The best way to see the city is on foot or on bike, where you can stop off into pubs, cafes, shops, or museums in a circular route through these areas that starts and ends at one’s hotel or rental.

Suomenlinna Beach in the summer. Photo: George Trumpeter/Shutterstock

There are 51 hotels in Helsinki that maintain a “Sustainability” certification from Booking.com. Brand leaders in sustainable accommodations here include Scandic Hotels, which ensures all properties meet the rigorous standards of its Nordic Swan label. With 15 mid-range hotels from this brand spread throughout the city, and dozens of others from major chains and boutiques, it’s relatively easy to stay in a property powered by renewable energy and employing progressive eco-friendly food service and hospitality practices for about $100 per night.

Outside of accommodations, Helsinki has aggressively protected parks and green spaces throughout the city. The same is true of its coastlines. The Helsinki Convention was initially signed in 1974 to protect the Baltic Sea and its coastlines throughout the region, and since then the city has taken aggressive stances on preservation of the coastlines – which visitors can see and support by exploring the extensive system of trails along its coastlines.

It’s increasingly easier to get to Helsinki thanks to new airline routes and consistent ferry service from major Scandinavian cities like Stockholm. There are loads of free and cheap things to do in Helsinki, particularly if you visit over the summer. If you’d rather have an entire flat to yourself, the city has ample Airbnb offerings.

In the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, the Matador Network audience voted on their favorite adventure destination, sustainable destination, wellness destination, airline, and what they thought will be the next big destination everyone will travel to. The poll included nominations from the Matador Network team as well as a write-in option. Voting took place through November, and the poll was sent out to our 600,000-plus Instagram followers and 300,000 global newsletter subscribers.