Every city has its own vibe, but there is a commonality rising among some of the biggest population centers in the world. In the last decade, growing concerns over healthy eating and the ethics of food and fashion production have turned some of the world’s major cities into hubs for veganism.
Discovering vegan-friendly travel destinations is a thrilling journey in itself. As awareness around healthy eating and ethical fashion production grows, major cities worldwide are embracing veganism. For nomadic souls and vegan travelers, the question inevitably arises: "Where is it easiest to be a vegan?"
We’ve identified the most vegan places in the world. Some of the locales may surprise you. Some may encourage a streak of vegan tourism, giving you a reason to travel somewhere you might not otherwise venture to go. Others may even inspire you to settle down and establish roots somewhere friendlier to your lifestyle, aligning your home with your values.
Read on for our short guide on the most vegan-friendly places in the world.
Top Vegan Cities: London, New York, Berlin
London, the vibrant capital of England, has recently claimed the title of the world's most vegan-friendly city, according to HappyCow's annual rankings. New York City, Berlin, and Los Angeles closely follow suit, boasting hundreds of vegan-friendly eateries that serve health-conscious, ethical menus.
In the U.K., over half of the population is now either meat-free or trending in that direction with their diets, according to CNBC’s analysts. The number of vegans living in the British isles has quadrupled between 2014 and 2019. Additionally, in 2020 the vegan population in Britain increased by a whopping 40%, according to Plant Based News. The vegan population is up to 1.5 million in the U.K., equivalent to about 3% of the total population.
Similarly, in the U.S., the vegan population is about 6% of the total population, a 500% increase since 2014. New York City has long been considered one of the best vegan and vegetarian cities in America. Of NYC’s 24,000+ food service establishments, many now offer vegan accommodations to customers due to the lifestyle’s rising popularity. From an alternative source, Portland, Oregon is considered a top vegan destination in America along with the metrics of affordability, accessibility, and overall lifestyle options.
Berlin, Germany became known as the vegan capital of Europe in recent years. An estimated 80,000 residents of Germany’s biggest city are vegans, about 3% of its total population of 3 million. Up to 50 vegan restaurants also make their home in Berlin, in addition to many more vegan and cruelty-free shops and production centers for vegan clothing.
Embracing Flexitarianism and the Global Rise of Veganism
Beyond full-fledged vegans, a growing number of individuals in the U.K. and beyond are embracing a 'flexitarian' lifestyle, reducing their meat consumption or adopting part-time vegetarianism. While full-blown vegans represent less than 5% of a country's population, the influence of part-time plant-based consumers is significantly greater.
As a result of this development - along with the general rising popularity of veganism internationally - many major global cities and their businesses now feature tons of vegetarian menus and cruelty-free productions. In addition to health reasons, environmental considerations and concerns over animal welfare have contributed to this philosophical shift over time, according to experts.
Top Vegan Destinations on Every Major Continent
Here is a shortlist of the top vegan destinations within every major continent:
North America -
- Portland, OR
- Los Angeles, CA
- Orlando, FL
- Seattle, WA
-
Austin, TX
(from Veganbits.com)
South America -
- Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Bogotá, Colombia
-
Lima, Peru
(from AlternativeAirlines.com)
Europe -
- London, UK
- Berlin, Germany
- Paris, France
- Prague, Czechia
-
Warsaw, Poland
(from AlternativeTravelers.com)
Asia -
- Taipei, Taiwan
- Singapore
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Makati, Philippines
-
Bangalore, India
(from PetaAsia.com)
Africa -
- Addo Elephant National Park, Port Elizabeth
- Boulders Penguin Colony, Simon’s Town, Cape Town
- Chobe National Park, Botswana
- David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Nairobi
-
Essaouira, Morocco
(from WorldVeganTravel.com)
Oceania -
- Adelaide, South Australia
- Melbourne, Victoria
- Sydney, New South Wales
- Auckland, New Zealand
-
Christchurch, New Zealand
(from FireandTea.com and Vegconomist.com)
The World is Becoming More Vegan
As you can see, many major population hubs in America, Europe, and Asia are transforming their restaurant menus and fashion supply lines in order to accommodate an increasingly vocal - and influential - vegan population. In addition to simply being the right thing to do, sustainability is becoming more popular for businesses to adopt around the world in response to customers.
As a vegan traveler, no matter where you go you are almost certain to encounter vegan options within your region. We hope reading through this guide has helped plan your next trip, or move. But why take our word for it? Go visit the world’s vegan havens for yourself!
Doshi’s mission as a company is to continue to support the vegan movement, contributing to its mainstream push in every country around the globe. Read our blog “Why Go Vegan?”, among others on our site, to find out more about our mission and the values of veganism.
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