I arrived in Reykjavik on a windy Tuesday in March, and the first thing I noticed was the absence of smog. Coming from London, where the air has a visible grey tinge on most days, the clarity of the Icelandic sky was startling. Iceland runs on nearly 100 percent renewable energy — geothermal power and hydropower provide electricity and heating for the entire country — and the result is not just cleaner air but a different relationship between the people and their environment. Over the next three years, I visited a dozen destinations that are leading the transition to renewable energy, and I discovered that these places offer more than just environmental virtue. They tend to be innovative, well-governed, and genuinely pleasant to visit in ways that go beyond their green credentials.
Iceland: Geothermal and Hydroelectric Power center
Iceland generates roughly 73 percent of its electricity from hydropower and 27 percent from geothermal energy, making it the world's largest clean energy producer per capita. The country's geothermal resources are so abundant that virtually all heating — for homes, businesses, greenhouses, and even sidewalks (which are heated to prevent ice accumulation) — comes from geothermal hot water piped directly from underground. The Hellisheidi geothermal power plant, about 20 miles east of Reykjavik, produces 303 megawatts of electricity and 400 megawatts of thermal energy, and it offers public tours that explain the technology and the geology behind it. The tour costs 2,500 Icelandic krona (about $18) and includes a visit to the turbine hall and the geothermal exhibition.
For visitors, Iceland's renewable energy infrastructure has tangible benefits. The hot water that comes out of every tap in the country is geothermally heated, which means hot showers are essentially free and unlimited. The Blue Lagoon, the famous geothermal spa near Keflavik airport, is a direct product of the geothermal energy system — the milky-blue water is drawn from a nearby geothermal power plant's effluent, cooled to a comfortable 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit), and piped into the lagoon. Entry costs about 8,000 krona ($58) in advance or 10,000 krona ($72) at the gate, and the experience of soaking in naturally heated mineral water while surrounded by a black lava field is extraordinary.
Transportation within Iceland is the one area where renewable energy has not yet made a significant impact. The country is large and sparsely populated, and the distances between destinations are considerable. Rental cars are the primary mode of transport for tourists, and most are still gasoline or diesel powered. However, the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles is improving rapidly, and rental companies like Hertz and Avis now offer electric vehicles (primarily Teslas and Nissan Leafs) at competitive rates. A Tesla Model 3 rental costs about $120 per day, and charging stations are available in Reykjavik, Selfoss, Vik, and other towns along the Ring Road. The range limitation (about 250 miles per charge) means you need to plan stops around charging stations, but the infrastructure is adequate for the popular tourist route around the island.
Costa Rica: Running on Renewables Since 2015
Costa Rica has been running on more than 98 percent renewable electricity since 2015, primarily from hydropower (about 75 percent), with smaller contributions from geothermal, wind, and solar. The country's commitment to renewable energy is part of a broader environmental policy that includes a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. For visitors, the most visible manifestation of this commitment is the country's extensive network of national parks and protected areas, which cover roughly 26 percent of the national territory — the highest percentage of any country in the world. The parks system is funded in part by an entrance fee of about $15 per foreign visitor, which is collected at most national parks and biological reserves.
The Arenal Volcano area, in the country's north-central highlands, is a Show for Costa Rica's renewable energy. The Arenal hydroelectric dam, which produces about 12 percent of the country's electricity, is visible from the road between La Fortuna and the Arenal Observatory Lodge. The area also has several geothermal plants that tap into the volcanic heat beneath the Arenal and Miravalles volcanoes. For visitors, the geothermal energy manifests as hot springs — the Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort, at the base of the Arenal volcano, channels natural hot spring water into a series of pools and waterfalls set in a tropical garden. Entry costs about $70 for day visitors, and the resort offers overnight packages starting at $250 per night.
Costa Rica's eco-lodge sector is one of the most developed in the world. Properties like Lapa Rios (on the Osa Peninsula), Finca Rosa Blanca (near San Jose), and Arenas del Mar (in Manuel Antonio) are designed to minimize environmental impact while providing a high-quality guest experience. Lapa Rios, a 17-bungalow lodge set in a 1,000-acre private rainforest reserve, runs on solar power, collects rainwater, composts food waste, and employs entirely local staff. Rates start at about $450 per person per night, including meals, guided nature walks, and a contribution to the lodge's conservation fund. The Osa Peninsula is one of the most biodiverse places on earth — it contains 2.5 percent of the world's biodiversity on less than 0.001 percent of its surface area — and a stay at Lapa Rios puts you in the middle of it.
Denmark: Wind Energy Leader
Denmark is a global leader in wind energy, and the country's wind turbines produce more electricity than the country consumes on an annual basis. The offshore wind farm at Horns Rev, in the North Sea about 30 miles off the west coast of Jutland, is one of the largest in the world, with 80 turbines generating 369 megawatts of electricity. The Middelgrunden wind farm, visible from the center of Copenhagen, consists of 20 turbines arranged in a graceful arc that has become an iconic part of the city's skyline. For visitors interested in renewable energy, the Danish Wind Industry Association offers tours of wind farms and turbine manufacturing facilities, and the Energy Museum in Herning (about 200 miles west of Copenhagen) provides an interactive overview of Denmark's energy transition.
Copenhagen itself is one of the most sustainable cities in the world, and the commitment to green energy is visible everywhere. The city's harbor is clean enough to swim in — the harbor baths at Islands Brygge, designed by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, are public swimming facilities built directly in the harbor water. The city's cycling infrastructure is the best in the world: dedicated bike lanes, traffic signals for cyclists, and a cycling culture that means 49 percent of all commutes in Copenhagen are made by bicycle. Renting a bike costs about 75 Danish kroner ($11) per day from shops like Donkey Republic or Bycyklen, and the city is flat and compact enough that cycling is the fastest and most enjoyable way to get around.
For accommodation, the Axel Hotel Guldsmeden in Copenhagen is a carbon-neutral hotel that runs on renewable energy, serves organic food, uses eco-certified cleaning products, and offsets its remaining emissions through verified carbon credits. Rooms start at about 1,200 kroner ($175) per night. The hotel's design is Scandinavian-chic with a bohemian twist — lots of wood, textiles, and plants — and the location on Helgolandsgade is within walking distance of the central station and the Tivoli Gardens. For a more unique experience, the CopenHill power plant, designed by Bjarke Ingels, is a waste-to-energy facility that doubles as a ski slope and hiking trail on its roof. The building burns waste to produce electricity and district heating, and the artificial ski slope on the roof is open to the public year-round.
Uruguay: South America's Renewable Energy Success Story
Uruguay is one of the most remarkable renewable energy stories in the developing world. In less than 15 years, the country transformed its electricity grid from near-total dependence on imported fossil fuels to generating over 98 percent of its electricity from renewable sources — primarily wind (about 35 percent), hydropower (about 55 percent), and biomass (about 8 percent). The transition was Guide by a combination of favorable wind conditions, supportive government policies, and competitive auctions that attracted international investment. For visitors, the result is a country that feels clean, well-maintained, and forward-looking in ways that distinguish it from its South American neighbors.
The wind farms along Uruguay's southern coast, particularly in the departments of Maldonado and Rocha, are visually striking — rows of white turbines stretching across rolling green hills, with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop. The wind farm at Cerro de los Vientos, near Punta del Este, has 50 turbines and generates enough electricity to power 150,000 homes. While there are no formal tours of the wind farms, they are visible from Route 10, the coastal road that runs from Punta del Este to the Brazilian border, and the sight of dozens of turbines turning slowly against a blue sky is a powerful visual reminder of the energy transition.
Uruguay's capital, Montevideo, is a pleasant, livable city that benefits from the country's clean energy grid. The city has an extensive network of public parks, a waterfront promenade (the Rambla) that stretches for 22 kilometers along the Rio de la Plata, and a growing restaurant scene that Display Uruguay's excellent beef and wine. A steak dinner at the Mercado del Puerto, a historic market building in the old city, costs about 500 to 800 Uruguayan pesos ($12 to $20) and is one of the best meals you will find in South America. The city is safe, clean, and easy to Explore on foot or by public transport. A hotel room in the central district costs about $60 to $100 per night, making Montevideo one of the most affordable capital cities in South America.
Bhutan: Carbon Negative and Proud of It
Bhutan is the only carbon-negative country in the world, meaning it absorbs more carbon dioxide than it produces. The country's constitution mandates that at least 60 percent of the land must remain forested (the current figure is about 72 percent), and the forests serve as a massive carbon sink. Bhutan's electricity comes almost entirely from hydropower, and the country exports surplus electricity to India. The government has also banned the import of most single-use plastics, and the capital, Thimphu, is one of the few capital cities in the world with no traffic lights — intersections are managed by police officers, which somehow works perfectly.
Visiting Bhutan requires planning and a budget. The country controls tourism through a "minimum daily package" that until recently was $250 per person per day (the government reduced it to $100 per person per day in 2023). The fee includes accommodation, meals, a guide, and a $65 per day "sustainable development fee" that funds free healthcare and education for Bhutanese citizens. While the fee sounds expensive, it covers almost all expenses, and the quality of the experience is high. The guide who accompanies you throughout your stay is knowledgeable, personable, and genuinely proud of their country's environmental achievements.
The Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang), perched on a cliff 3,000 feet above the Paro Valley, is Bhutan's most iconic sight and one of the most spectacularly located religious sites in the world. The hike to the monastery takes about two hours uphill and 1.5 hours downhill, and the trail passes through pine forests with views of the valley and the snow-capped Himalayas in the distance. The monastery itself, built in 1692, clings to the cliff face in a way that seems to defy gravity. Photography is not permitted inside the monastery, but the exterior and the surrounding Scene are among the most photogenic in the Himalayas. Bhutan is best visited in spring (March to May) or autumn (September to November), when the weather is clear and the mountain views are unobstructed.
How to Support Renewable Energy Destinations
The most direct way to support the transition to renewable energy through your travel choices is to visit destinations that are leading the way and spend your money at businesses that run on clean energy. Look for hotels, restaurants, and tour operators that advertise their renewable energy use — many eco-certified businesses prominently display their environmental credentials on their websites and in their marketing materials. Green Key, EarthCheck, and LEED are internationally recognized certification programs that verify a business's environmental practices, including energy use. Choosing a certified hotel over a non-certified one sends a market signal that rewards environmental leadership.
Offset the carbon emissions from your flights. A round-trip flight from New York to London produces about 1.6 metric tons of CO2, which is roughly the annual per-capita emissions of a person in India. Carbon offset programs — offered by organizations like Gold Standard, myclimate, and Atmosfair — fund renewable energy projects, forest conservation, and other emissions-reduction activities. The cost of offsetting a flight varies, but a typical offset for a transatlantic round trip costs $15 to $30. While offsets are not a substitute for reducing emissions, they are a practical way to take responsibility for the environmental impact of your travel.
Consider slow travel as an alternative to flying. Trains produce roughly 90 percent less CO2 per passenger-mile than airplanes, and in Europe and parts of Asia, the rail network is extensive, efficient, and comfortable. A train Trip from London to Paris produces about 6 kilograms of CO2 per passenger, compared to about 122 kilograms for the same Trip by plane. The Eurostar train takes two hours and 15 minutes city center to city center, which is faster than flying when you include airport transit and security time. For longer Trip, overnight trains like the Nightjet from Vienna to Venice or the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Scotland combine transportation with accommodation, reducing both emissions and hotel costs.
