It’s fair to say that travelling as a vegan brings its challenges, especially in certain countries or areas where the trend hasn’t exactly caught on yet. Whilst you can probably get by in most countries these days, wouldn’t it be nice to do more than just get by? In today’s post, we’re going through the best countries to travel to as a vegan that are full of options!
Germany
Germany is great for vegans for many reasons, and it’s even been named the sixth best in the world for people on a vegan diet! Thanks to growing popularity in ditching meat, supermarkets and restaurants are increasingly providing a wide range of vegan alternatives. Plus, thanks to purity laws, almost all German-brewed beers are vegan too!
If you’re heading to Germany then Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig, and Cologne are your best bets for finding vegan food – they’re all in the world’s top 15 cities for vegans! Berlin has more than 50 vegan-only restaurants and a whopping 300+ with plant-based options on their menus.
Israel
We couldn’t have written this list without Israel – now known as the Vegan Capital of the world. Over 5% of the country are full time vegans and many of their traditional dishes are naturally vegan. Big name brands like Ben & Jerry’s and Domino’s even use Israel to launch new plant-based options as they know the take-up will be high!
From Jerusalem, to Tel Aviv, to Nazareth, wherever you’re headed you’ll find a range of amazing options. Anything from street food, to small family-run restaurants, to high-end cuisine experiences!
UK
The UK has also seen recent rises in the popularity of reducing meat consumption and in the vegan diet and lifestyle. It’s estimated that up to 4% of the UK’s population are now vegan, with a further 8-10% being strict vegetarians. As a result of this, there’s now loads of plant-based options wherever you go, making it great for travellers!
London is the best spot to head to if you’re looking to eat out – with over 1,000 vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants you won’t have to look far! But, wherever you’re headed, you won’t fall short of options – cities all across the country including Norwich, Edinburgh, Manchester, Cardiff, and Brighton have all seen huge increases in the number of vegan establishments. You’ll also find a fairly comprehensive range of vegan alternatives in almost every supermarket in the UK at an affordable price!
USA
According to recent surveys, around 6% of the US population are now vegan, which has helped to make the country a great choice for vegan travellers. Many supermarkets have a range of vegan alternatives to buy and many of the larger chain restaurants now have vegan options.
Larger cities in the country are your best bet as they’ll have more options available. LA for example has almost 8,000 restaurants that are either entirely vegan or have vegan options! Check out the top 5 U.S. cities for vegans in our recent Instagram post!
Thailand
Living the vegan lifestyle is surprisingly easy in Thailand, thanks to its many vegetable-based dishes and consistent popularity growth in meat alternatives. In fact, Thailand’s plant-based market sees roughly 25% growth year-on-year! You’ll find loads of fresh fruit and vegetable markets across the country, and vegan options in many of the local restaurants.
Some of the best places to go in Thailand if you’re on the lookout for great vegan options are Chiang Mai with over 200 vegan friendly restaurants, Bangkok, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao!
Indonesia
Similar to Thailand, Indonesia have long eaten many vegetable-based dishes, primarily using tofu and tempeh as sources of proteins. Wherever you head in Indonesia you’re likely to find options that are naturally vegan and are made with fresh Indonesian vegetables, such as vegetable mie goreng and nasi goreng, coconut curries, and other rice dishes. (just be sure to check the noodles are without egg!) Many street markets provide delicious vegan food that’s incredibly tasty and ultra-affordable!
Bali is unsurprisingly the number one spot for vegans in Indonesia – the island is packed with plant-based restaurants of all types, so you won’t find it hard to satisfy your cravings here. Jakarta and Gili Trawangan are some other spots where you’ll find a great range of plant-based food easily!
India
With more than 30% of the population living as vegetarians and countless traditional vegetarian dishes, India is a fantastic country if you’re a vegan. Whilst many of these dishes are called vegetarian, a lot of them are in fact 100% vegan! Many curries and sauces are made with delicious spices, lentils, beans, and vegetables – full of flavour, full of nutrition, and totally animal friendly.
All across the country you’ll find amazing street food, markets, and local restaurants that serve delicious, diverse dishes full of flavour. And all that, for sometimes less than $1 per person! The main things you’ll want to look out for are dairy products like cheeses, milk, and cream. If you can avoid those, you’re in for a real treat!Whichever countries you’re planning on visiting, you’ll hopefully find some vegan options to keep you going during your stay. But if you’re looking for somewhere that’s going to make it easy, these countries are definitely your safest bets! Which of the best countries to travel to as a vegan do you want to go to next?
Whichever countries you’re planning on visiting, you’ll hopefully find some vegan options to keep you going during your stay. But if you’re looking for somewhere that’s going to make it easy, these countries are definitely your safest bets! Which of the best countries to travel to as a vegan do you want to go to next?
