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In a world that is constantly plagued by pollution, sometimes we need a breath of fresh air.  That’s where the following destinations come in handy.  Their green spaces and innovative architectonic gems provide a healthy balance for both their residents and travelers. So if you’re looking to leave a carbon footprint on your next vacation, you will want to check out the green appeal of these seven destinations.

Eugene, OR

Decorated with verdant spaces interspersed amid glorious mountainsides and sparkling waterscapes, the city of Eugene in Oregon is absolutely obsessed with showing off its eco-style.  After all, it isn’t nicknamed the Emerald City for nothing, which may be the reason why tourists and locals are drawn to its natural beauty. 

The city’s landscape is the ultimate playground for the ecologist, with each twist and turn intensified with hiking adventures along the Coast at Cascades Trail, fishing and kayaking in the McKenzie River and clean roads perfect for an exhilarating bike ride.  Eugene’s eco-tourism is so majestically woven into its culture that even its rich history is marked with eco-inspired traditions.

Malmo, Sweden

The Swedish destination of Malmo is such an eco-friendly community even its antique buildings were recycled to create the fascinating eco-city that exists today. And there’s much more to come as Sweden’s third largest city becomes more and more hip to the green craze.

By 2030, Malmo plans to be fully operated on renewable solar power, and to this day over 20 percent of its electricity is powered through reusable forces. With plenty of energy-saving projects set to make their grand debut in the near future and as the home to a world-class eco-friendly park, Malmo proves that not all declining cities should be left to rot; some should be designed to create a more sustainable future.

Auroville, India

Sheltered by dense cashew and fig trees, the rustic cityscape of Auroville was established on the belief that the world needed a peaceful place where individuals can live harmoniously. In no time the thought of this utopic destination became a reality for the few thousand people calling this sacred village home. 

Here, roads and unique homes are carved into red sand, and electric-powered cars and bicycles as well as scooters have quickly become the main modes of transportation. Since 1968, Auroville stood on the principles of bringing mankind together by creating a universal place where they can embrace its authentic evergreen lifestyle.

Copenhagen, Denmark

With more than 1 million people riding their bikes to work every day, of course Copenhagen would be a premier destination for green travelers. But even though its eco-friendly transportation ranks as some of the highest in the world, the city has taken other drastic measures to boast an industrially-efficient landscape.

For one, its harbor sparkles with clean water, fashionistas can strut along the city’s streets wearing eco-designs, and lush gardens dominate Copenhagen’s open spaces. The city also boasts thousands of windmills that help preserve Denmark’s flow of electricity. And when you’re craving a bite to eat, restaurants offer menus filled with organic flavors. While some cities are new to the idea of becoming green, Copenhagen takes it to the extreme by producing an eco-infused environment that everyone can enjoy.

 Freiburg, Germany

When it comes to being green, many cities have nothing on Freiburg, Germany — especially because it has made impressive steps to become an eco-city. During the eclectic era of the 1970s, the German town underwent a facelift that resulted in its center becoming a highly pedestrianized hub to reduce the amount of cars from entering the area. Freiburg has also added trams, an extensive bike route and walkways as methods to uphold a greener lifestyle.

Although the effects of World War II left the city in shambles, Freiburg was able to rise out of the destruction, and in return create a healthier way of living for its residents.  Whether it’s through recycling or cutting-edge buildings, its carbon footprint dominates the city’s entire suurroundings.

Masdar City, United Arab Emirates

Leave it up to the oil-rich capital of Abu Dhabi to create a city that would be revered as the world’s most energy-efficient location. Masdar City is intended to be a revolutionary project of the century, dotted with cutting-edge architectural businesses to match the entrepreneurial spirit of the city.

Cleantech (clean technology) is the theme that will be displayed throughout its vibrant streets, where residents can bike to work and bask in the city’s cool urban spaces while sustainability is continuously maintained throughout Masdar City’s entire landscape. Not even the hot Arabian climate will be able to penetrate this city with solar-powered buildings and a colossal wind-tower specifically constructed to lower the temperature by efficiently  vacuuming the desert air and releasing cooler air into the atmosphere in the process.

Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City

When you’re one of the world’s most populated countries, how do you solve over expansion?  You join forces with another government and create a powerful, self-sufficient city. 

China and Singapore have teamed up to create the futuristic Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City that will not only conserve energy with high-tech architecture but provide a sociable and harmonious environment for its residents.  Although the city isn’t set to make its grand debut until 2020, just imagine how incredible it will be with a tech-savvy country like China dabbling into this unique solar-powered destination.