DESTINATION IRELAND AUTUMN 22 16
The Top 20 list of sustainable cities was revealed at a major event in Paris , with other leading sustainable cities for 2021 listed as the likes of Zurich , Sydney , Helsinki , Cork and Brussels .
Belfast joined the GDS-Index in 2020 , and after debuting at number 47 made a notable jump in performance in 2021 , climbing up the rankings to number 19 among a total of 73 global destinations . The city is now recognised as one of the most pioneering cities in the world for sustainability .
Earlier this year , Visit Belfast launched the largestever green tourism city partnership at a dedicated ‘ Sustainable Belfast ’ event . This involves a new partnership with global sustainability experts
Northern Ireland ’ s capital is famous as the birthplace of the RMS Titanic , but this compact city is easy to navigate on your own eco-friendly two feet .
Explore at a leisurely pace , whether it ’ s to Titanic Belfast , a self-guided Game of Thrones ® walking tour , an afternoon at the famous St George ’ s Market , or the city ’ s museums , art galleries and range of food , traditional music and street art tours .
There ’ s also plenty of stunning natural landscapes to discover – it could be a meander through the glorious Botanic Gardens , a cycle trip on the peaceful Lagan Towpath , or a climb into Cave Hill , one of a series of easy to reach hills and mountains surrounding the city .
Green Tourism and gives more traders in the city the opportunity to secure gold , silver or bronze accreditation for their efforts to meet best-practice sustainability standards .
With a choice of hotels that already have the green light for being green , acres of delightful parks and well-maintained gardens , plenty of green travel and shopping options , plus an array of eco-friendly eateries , it is easy to immerse yourself in one of the world ’ s most sustainable cities .
Belfast has a wide range of cuisine to choose from and more and more restaurants are catering to vegan and vegetarian diets .
Superb plant-based food can be found in the buzzing Cathedral Quarter , where the options include 2Taps , boasting one of the city ’ s largest outdoor terraces , the eastern Mediterranean-influenced Buba , and EDŌ , perfect for those wanting to experience a range of tastes through a sharing themed menu . Following the launch of Belfast ’ s first ever climate plan , the city has set out 30 transformational
programmes to transition the city region to an inclusive , zero-emissions , climate-resilient economy within a generation .