#2 Most sustainable travel destination
The Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDSI) is both a development tool and a ranking system launched in 2016 by the Global Destination Sustainability Movement. Gothenburg has claimed the top position seven times. In 2025, Gothenburg once again secured a podium finish and came second to Helsinki.
The GDS-index ranking is based on nearly 80 criteria covering all dimensions of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic. To get high in the ranking, it is not only important that the hospitality industry with facilities and hotels are committed and involved, but also how the city in general works with sustainability issues.
Katarina Thorstensson, Senior Strategist & Advisor, sustainability and destination development Göteborg & Co, presented various sustainability projects in Gothenburg when the city was appointed as the UN’s Sustainable Lifestyle Hub. Credit: Visit Sweden
UN: Gothenburg selected as Sustainable Lifestyle Hub
Parallell with the 2025 UN summit, Gothenburg was appointed as the UN’s new Sustainable Lifestyle Hub. The initiative is part of the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network and aims to create platforms where global and local stakeholders can collaborate on sustainable lifestyles.
The UN’s work with sustainability hubs is a strategy to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030. Tuscany in Italy was previously designated as a hub, and now Gothenburg becomes the second. The first activity in Gothenburg is planned for early 2026, and the initiative is set to run over two years. Read more at Visit Sweden.
Discover sustainable Gothenburg
When you visit Gothenburg, you stay in one of the world’s greenest hotel cities, have access to sustainable public transport and a large number of environmentally certified restaurants. Visit sustainable Gothenburg.
Locally produced ingredients
Locally produced, organic, vegan and vegetarian – in Gothenburg there are plenty of sustainable food and drink options. Enjoy the season’s seafood at Japanese inspired Vrå or visit Gunnebo House and Gardens, a destination just outside Gothenburg where sustainability is at the centre, not least at their eco-certified restaurant.
One of the most sustainable hotel cities in the world
Gothenburg is one of the greenest hotel cities in the world, in 2023, 96 percent the hotel rooms are eco-certified. It is easy to sleep with a good conscience here.
Second hand, vintage and sharing economy
The circular economy is only getting bigger, and in Gothenburg you’ll find many different stores selling second hand and vintage clothes and where you can rent or loan clothes, sports gear and outdoor equipments etc.
Sustainable activities
Take a bicycle tour, enjoy parks and gardens or pick some fruit in one of the public fruit groves. There are endless opportunities to explore Gothenburg in a sustainable way.
Sustainable transport in and around Gothenburg
Gothenburg is a pocket-sized metropolis – you’ll find almost everything within walking distance. If you want to get around the city with public transport you can still do it with a good conscience, approximately 95 percent is run on renewable energy.
Travel and climate
How you travel and how you live on the destination has a big impact on the climate. We have in collaboration with others created a tool to calculate the emissions from different accommodation and transport types.
Your choices makes a different. You will for instance produce seven times more Co2 emissions if you fly from Copenhagen to Gothenburg rather than taking the train.
Go to travelandclimate.org and see for yourself how you can optimise your trip based on CO2 emissions.
Read more about Göteborg & Co’s work on sustainability and different awards here.