If you haven’t figured it out by now, I don’t want you to assume that I’m a ‘sustainable travel blogger’ and thus staying in eco friendly yurts and volunteering my life to giving back. Though I would love to be this kind and generous with my time, it’s not realistic for the average traveller. Why promote something that is not attainable for all? 

Instead of scaring you away from engaging in sustainable travel activities abroad, I want to show YOU that it’s easy. So, welcome to our second destination of #TrainLineTravel with EURail — Prague, Czech Republic.

3 Sustainable Tours

I had the opportunity to travel and explore Prague with a wonderful tour agency called Guidilo. I want to stress the importance of this business initiative so that you understand ‘just because you’re walking around a city with a camera, doesn’t make it a bad thing’. Guidilo hires local guides who are passionate about various topics and areas within Prague. You can pick and choose between tons of different tours and really tailor make your own experiences. Though I wish I could have picked them all, there were 3 that I was particularly fond of during my 3 nights stay in Czech Republic.

Pruhonice Castle & Apple Strudel
Well this place is certainly an eco-friendly way of travelling. Explore this stunning UNESCO world heritage site by foot and travel through the 25 kilometres of trails offered throughout the grounds of the castle. Created by a man who was passionate about landscaping, the Pruhonice Park was founded to offer a unique and natural park for locals and travellers to enjoy.

Beer Tour of Prague Town
How do you say no to a beer tour? Walk by foot through the new and old towns of Prague and explore all there is to offer in beer culture throughout the city. We were lucky enough to spot a couple famous Czech artists and actors along the way – perhaps you would too!

Bio Farm & Cannabis Castle
Just outside of the city there are many green spaces to be explored, one notable one being the Bio Farm and Cannabis Castle (Konopiste Castle). Apparently it’s the place to be if you want to learn all about the introduction to farming and the history of cannabis across Czech Republic. *Note: Unfortunately we were unable to take part in the tour for personal reasons, but I can imagine with Guidilo Tours you’re bound to have an amazing time.

You are providing jobs to local people, bringing more money into the system and allowing Prague to flourish in the tourism industry. You are engaging in eco-friendly activities of your choice that are almost always on foot, bike or public transport.

In order to help paint a better picture of what would be the opposite to sustainable tours, try thinking back to a time you or a friend booked a tour online from the comfort of your home in Canada (or wherever you’re from), packing up your bags, heading on your vacation, hopping into a tourist van and exploring the city by car. Not only are you not engaging with the local people and culture of a city, but you’re likely providing support to your own countries tourism industry then the actual place you are visiting. If you would like to explore the beauty of a country, at least pay your respects by giving back and shopping local.

2 Sustainable Accommodations

Medium Budget ($$): Mosaic House
I have to say, I’ve never experienced a place like Mosaic House. You arrive and are welcomed into a beautiful entrance lobby with an upscale bar, restaurant and reception area. You have the option to book and purchase independent rooms and/or hostel beds providing you the option to spend a little or save a little. Sometimes while travelling the globe it’s nice to feel at home in a place like Mosaic House. To top it all off Mosaic House is one of the greenest hotels in the city! Of course they offer bike rentals and eco-tours across the city, but they’re also the first in Czech Republic to have a water recycling system and second in the world to have a grey water system with heat recuperation. You’ll arrive at the hotel and notice the green garden, the clever eco tips throughout the hotel and their bathroom amenities that are all eco-friendly products. [#mosaichouse]

Low Budget ($): Czech Inn
If you haven’t noticed, I’m a huge fan of Europe Famous Hostels (EFH) and the Czech Inn is a wonderful addition to EFH. What it means to be an EFH is to be famous in their own unique ways. All may be famous, but they also have one very successful thing in common – they all work towards a better tomorrow. No matter where you go, they’ll make sure you find the most sustainable ways to travel throughout the city and during your stay.

1 Sustainable Way of Travel

By Foot!!! Need I say more?
Prague is one of those cities you might miss out on if you’re spending the whole day on a tourist bus. Though relatively large in size, many of the famous sites are within close proximity to one another and you’ll always find yourself stopping along the way in their little trinket shops. So there is this map called Use It… maybe I’m crazy, but it’s the first time I had heard about them. On numerous occasions we found these Prague maps from Use It along the way – local people in the city swear by them… so I figured I should mention it here.

The idea of this map is to offer a map for young travellers which is made by local people. They provide the map with all the hot spots to be including additional tips like how to ‘act like a local’, typical food menus and beers, basic vocabulary tips, transportation information and all the basic information you would need.

My Advice?
Skip the bus tours and ‘hop on, hop off’ tours in this city. Sometimes I love taking a bus throughout the city to get my directions right, but in this circumstance… it’s expensive and it’s a waste of money (in my opinion). If you want someone to show you around the city quickly, then hop on one of the free walking tours that Mosaic House or Czech Inn offer. If you’re looking for a little more education and a lot more interaction with the locals, then definitely book yourself a tour with Guidilo.

PS. Apparently segways aren’t the way to get around in this city, they are hard for locals to deal with on the busy streets of Prague – show some respect and avoid seaways it this area.

I hope this post will help you a little while planning your next trip to Prague. Don’t forget, it’s not one side of the fence or the other. We won’t judge you if you choose not to book a homestay with a local and live off the land of the country you visit. There are alternatives to travel sustainable in a fashionable manner.

NOW GO OUT AND EXPLORE, or check out this video of our time in Prague first!

Disclosure: I was hosted in the Czech Republic by Mosaic House and Czech Inn. Guidilo tours were provided in exchange for reviews. However, as always all thoughts and words are my own.