This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it: there has never been a better time to be a vegan traveler.
The world has changed in a big way. Cities that used to be near-impossible for plant-based travelers now have thriving vegan scenes. Cuisines that were always naturally plant-forward are finally getting the recognition they deserve. And even in destinations where veganism is still a relatively new concept, awareness is growing fast.
This guide is my honest, experience-informed breakdown of the best vegan travel destinations in the world, organized by region so you can plan around wherever you’re heading. I’ve personally traveled to many of these places, and where I haven’t, I’ve done the research and leaned on the broader vegan travel community to give you the real picture.
A quick note on how I’ve organized this: rather than just listing the obvious heavy-hitters (Berlin, Bali, yes we know), I’ve tried to give each region a genuine breakdown, the standout cities, what to expect on the ground, and who each destination is best for. Whether you’re a seasoned vegan traveler or planning your very first plant-based trip abroad, there’s something here for you.
Let’s go exploring. 🌍
Check out some of my favorite tours throughout the world.
How to Use This Guide
This is a long, comprehensive post by design. It’s meant to be a reference you come back to, not just something you read once and forget. Here’s what we’re covering:
- Europe – the most vegan-developed region on the planet
- Asia – ancient plant-based food traditions meet a modern vegan boom
- Latin America – incredible produce, surprising depth, a few tricky spots
- North America – the US and Canada’s best plant-based cities
- Africa & the Middle East – the most underrated regions for vegan travelers
- Destinations to approach with extra preparation
- How to decide where to go based on your travel style
And if you haven’t read the complete vegan travel guide yet, that’s the companion piece to this post — it covers all the practical how-to stuff (apps, packing, airports, language barriers) that applies no matter which destination you choose.
Europe: The World’s Most Vegan-Developed Region
Let’s start where plant-based travel has arguably gone the furthest. Europe — especially Western and Northern Europe — has seen an absolute explosion in vegan dining and culture over the last decade. Several European cities now rival or surpass the vegan scenes you’d find in the most progressive US cities.
Germany – The Vegan Capital of the World
If there’s one destination that earns the title of the ultimate vegan travel destination, it’s Berlin. The country is famous for bratwurst and schnitzel, but Berlin has done something genuinely remarkable: it’s built a complete vegan ecosystem that no other city on earth has matched.
We’re talking over 50 fully vegan restaurants, four chains of vegan supermarkets, a 100% vegan bar, vegan butchers, vegan shoe shops, and festivals like the Vegan Summer Festival that draw visitors from across the continent. Oat milk isn’t a special request in Berlin, it’s often the default.
Beyond the food, Berlin’s vegan culture is completely unpretentious. This isn’t wellness culture or status signaling. It grew out of the city’s counterculture roots, and it shows. Eating vegan in Berlin just feels… normal. Easy. Joyful.
Munich, Hamburg, and Frankfurt have also developed solid plant-based scenes, making Germany the most consistently vegan-friendly country in Europe.
👉 Go deep: the full vegan Berlin guide covers the best restaurants, neighborhoods, supermarkets, events, and exactly why this city is in a category of its own.
Italy – Harder Than You’d Think, Better Than You’d Expect
Italy is an interesting one. On paper, a country built on pasta, cheese, and cured meats shouldn’t be easy for vegan travelers. And in some ways, it isn’t, you do have to navigate around butter, eggs, and meat-based pasta sauces more than you would in, say, Berlin.
But here’s what Italy has going for it: the produce is extraordinary. The bread is incredible. The markets overflow with fresh vegetables, olives, legumes, and fruit that form the backbone of genuinely great plant-based eating. And cities like Rome, Milan, Florence, and Bologna have developed real vegan restaurant scenes that make eating well completely doable.
The key in Italy is knowing what to look for and not being afraid to ask questions. “Senza burro, senza formaggio” (without butter, without cheese) goes a long way. And the naturally vegan dishes, bruschetta, ribollita, pasta e fagioli, panzanella, are some of the best food you’ll eat anywhere.
👉 Planning a Rome trip? The 3-day Rome vegan itinerary covers exactly where to eat, what to order, and how to navigate Italy’s most iconic city on a plant-based diet.
United Kingdom – A Quietly Impressive Vegan Scene
The UK has transformed itself into one of the most vegan-friendly countries in Europe, which would have surprised people even ten years ago. London in particular has an extraordinary range of vegan restaurants, from fast-casual to fine dining, covering cuisines from every corner of the world.
But the UK’s vegan scene extends well beyond London. Bristol is consistently ranked among Europe’s top vegan cities. Manchester, Edinburgh, Brighton, and Glasgow all have growing plant-based communities and dedicated vegan restaurants.
The UK also hosts some of the best vegan events in the world, including VegFest UK, which takes place across multiple cities throughout the year and is genuinely one of the most fun events a vegan traveler can attend.
👉 If you want to time your UK visit around a vegan event, the VegFest UK 2026 guide has all the dates, locations, and reasons it’s worth planning your trip around.
The Netherlands, Spain & Portugal – Honorable Mentions
Amsterdam has a fantastic vegan scene, compact, walkable, and packed with plant-based options across all price points. The city’s progressive culture makes it one of the easiest places in Europe to eat vegan without any planning stress.
Barcelona is a dream for vegan travelers who want food AND culture. The market scene (La Boqueria, Mercat de Santa Caterina) is extraordinary, and the city has a growing number of dedicated vegan restaurants alongside Mediterranean cuisine that’s naturally plant-forward.
Lisbon has quietly become one of Europe’s most exciting food cities, and the vegan scene has kept pace. Portuguese cuisine isn’t naturally vegan-friendly (salt cod is basically a national dish), but Lisbon’s restaurant culture is modern enough that options are genuinely plentiful.
👉 For a full ranking of the best vegan-friendly cities across the continent, the complete guide to the best vegan cities in Europe ranks and breaks down every major destination worth knowing.
Asia: Ancient Plant-Based Traditions Meet a Modern Vegan Boom
Asia is one of the most exciting and diverse regions for vegan travel, and also one of the most nuanced. Some parts of Asia make vegan eating effortlessly easy. Others require a lot of label-reading and ingredient-checking. Knowing the difference before you go is half the battle.
Bali, Indonesia – The Vegan Island
Bali deserves its own category. This island has become one of the most vegan-friendly destinations on the planet, especially in the areas of Canggu, Ubud, and Seminyak, which have seen an absolute explosion of plant-based cafés, raw food restaurants, vegan smoothie bowls, and health-conscious eateries.
What makes Bali special isn’t just the quantity of vegan food, it’s the quality and creativity. You’ll find chefs here doing things with whole foods and local ingredients that rival anything you’d find in the most progressive vegan cities in the world. And all of it is set against one of the most beautiful natural landscapes on earth.
Bali also happens to be incredibly affordable, making it accessible for budget-conscious vegan travelers who want to eat exceptionally well without spending a fortune.
🌴 Get the free Bali Vegan Destination Guide – sign up at the bottom of the page and it’ll land straight in your inbox.
Thailand – The Original Vegan Traveler’s Paradise
Thailand has been a go-to for vegan travelers for years, and for good reason. Buddhist culinary traditions mean plant-based food is genuinely woven into the culture. In Thailand, look for the yellow “เจ” (Jay) flag, it marks restaurants and street food stalls serving Buddhist vegan food, which excludes not just meat and dairy but also strong-smelling vegetables like garlic and onions (though that varies).
Bangkok has a thriving modern vegan scene on top of the traditional Buddhist options, think upscale plant-based restaurants, international vegan cuisine, and dedicated vegan markets. Chiang Mai is beloved by long-term vegan travelers for its laid-back pace, affordable food, and abundance of plant-based options.
The one thing to watch in Thailand: fish sauce and oyster sauce are used extensively in dishes that look vegan but aren’t. Always ask specifically, “mai sai nam pla” means “no fish sauce.”
Vietnam – Underrated and Extraordinary
Vietnam is one of the most underrated vegan travel destinations in Asia. The word “chay” (pronounced like “chye”) indicates vegetarian or vegan food, and Buddhist vegetarian restaurants, “quan chay”, are found throughout the country, particularly in cities like Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnamese cuisine has some of the most vibrant, herbaceous, and complex flavors of any food culture in the world, and the plant-based versions are no exception. Fresh spring rolls, pho chay, bánh bao, and congee with tofu are just the beginning.
Da Nang and Hoi An are particularly beloved by vegan travelers, the food scene in Hoi An especially combines traditional Vietnamese cuisine with a cosmopolitan restaurant culture that makes eating extremely well very easy.
Japan – Temple Cuisine and Modern Innovation
Japan requires some navigation but rewards the effort enormously. The traditional Buddhist temple cuisine called shojin ryori is entirely plant-based, an ancient, beautiful food tradition based on seasonal vegetables, tofu, miso, and grains. Many temples offer shojin ryori meals to visitors, and it’s one of the most unique dining experiences available to any vegan traveler.
Modern Japanese cities, particularly Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, have also developed dedicated vegan restaurant scenes that are growing quickly. The tricky part: dashi (fish stock) appears in many seemingly vegetarian Japanese dishes. Always ask, and look specifically for restaurants that advertise “vegan” rather than just “vegetarian.”
Latin America: Incredible Produce, Surprising Depth
Latin America is a region that vegan travelers sometimes underestimate, and consistently end up loving. The produce culture across this region is extraordinary, the markets are some of the best in the world, and the plant-based food traditions run deep even if the restaurant labeling doesn’t always reflect that.
Peru — A Personal Favorite
I’m not even slightly objective about Peru. I’ve been there, and I will talk about it to anyone who will listen.
Peru has one of the most extraordinary food cultures in the world. Lima is consistently ranked among the top food cities on earth, and the plant-based eating there is exceptional. The produce market culture is unlike anything I’ve experienced anywhere else: vendors selling hundreds of varieties of potato, dozens of types of corn, Amazonian fruits you’ve never heard of, and vegetables in colors that seem almost unreal.
The vegan restaurant scene in Lima, Cusco, and Miraflores has grown significantly in recent years. And beyond the restaurants, simply navigating the produce markets and putting together a meal from what’s available is one of the great joys of traveling in Peru.
Watch for: lard in some traditional dishes, and meat-based broths. But the abundance of naturally plant-based options, quinoa dishes, potato preparations, vegetable stews, fresh ceviche de choclo (corn), means you’ll eat incredibly well with just a little awareness.
Mexico – Vegan Heaven If You Know What to Order
Mexico is one of my favorite vegan travel destinations, and it often surprises people how well you can eat there on a plant-based diet. The building blocks of Mexican cuisine, corn tortillas, beans, rice, fresh salsa, guacamole, grilled vegetables, chiles, are all naturally vegan.
The cities with the strongest vegan scenes are Mexico City (one of Latin America’s best overall), Oaxaca (incredible mole culture, incredible markets, a growing vegan restaurant scene), and the Yucatán region.
The most important thing to know in Mexico: lard (manteca) is traditionally used in beans and some tortillas. Most restaurants will happily use oil instead if you ask, but you do have to ask. “¿Están hechos los frijoles con manteca?” (Are the beans made with lard?) is a phrase worth knowing.
Mexico City in particular has exploded with vegan options in recent years, dedicated vegan restaurants, plant-based taquerias, vegan versions of classic street food. It’s genuinely one of the most exciting vegan food cities in Latin America right now.
Colombia, Costa Rica & Brazil – Worth Knowing
Medellín has quietly become one of Latin America’s most livable and food-forward cities, with a growing vegan scene that punches well above its weight. The fruit culture alone, mangoes, maracuyá, lulo, guanábana, is worth the trip.
Costa Rica is a natural fit for vegan travelers: the eco-tourism culture, the emphasis on fresh produce, and the “pura vida” ethos all align well with plant-based values. San José and the beach towns along both coasts have solid vegan options.
São Paulo is Brazil’s standout city for plant-based eating, it has one of the most developed vegan restaurant scenes in South America. Brazil can be tricky in smaller cities (meat is very central to the food culture), but São Paulo and parts of Rio de Janeiro are very manageable.
North America: The US and Canada’s Best Plant-Based Cities
United States – The Vegan Road Trip Nation
The United States has quietly become one of the best countries in the world for vegan travelers. The coasts are particularly strong, but even mid-sized cities across the country have seen a surge in plant-based options over the last five years.
Top vegan cities in the US: Los Angeles, New York City, Portland (Oregon), Austin, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C. Each of these cities has enough dedicated vegan restaurants to keep you busy for a week without repeating.
👉 If you’re planning to drive rather than fly, the ultimate vegan road trip guide covers the best plant-based routes across the USA, with the best pit stops, cities, and restaurants along the way.
Canada – Underrated and Genuinely Great
Canada doesn’t always make the top ten lists for vegan travel, but it absolutely should. Vancouver is one of the best vegan cities in North America, a combination of West Coast progressive culture, incredible Asian food influences, and a deeply embedded health and wellness ethos has produced a plant-based dining scene that rivals anywhere in the US.
Toronto is close behind, the city’s extraordinary cultural diversity means you can find genuinely great vegan versions of cuisine from virtually every part of the world. Montreal has a smaller but passionate vegan scene with a distinctly Québécois flavor.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER — Suggestion: vibrant vegan food spread from a North American city restaurant — colorful bowls, tacos, or a plant-based brunch spread. Alt text: “colorful plant-based restaurant meal in North America, one of the best regions for vegan travel”]
Africa & the Middle East: The Most Underrated Vegan Travel Regions
This is the section I’m most excited to write, because these two regions are genuinely underappreciated in vegan travel conversations, and they deserve so much more attention.
Ethiopia – A Vegan Traveler’s Dream You Didn’t Expect
Ethiopian cuisine might be the single most naturally vegan-friendly food culture in the world, and it barely gets mentioned in vegan travel content. Here’s why it’s extraordinary:
Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity has extensive fasting traditions, on fasting days (which happen roughly 200 days a year for devout observers), no animal products are consumed. This means a huge proportion of Ethiopian restaurants offer entirely vegan menus on fasting days, and many offer them year-round.
The food itself is sensational. Injera (the spongy sourdough flatbread) is served with a spread of colorful lentil dishes (misir wot, tikil gomen, gomen), spiced chickpea stew, and vegetable preparations that are deeply flavorful and completely satisfying. It’s also traditionally eaten communally, you tear pieces of injera and scoop up the stews together, which makes for a genuinely lovely shared experience.
Addis Ababa has a number of dedicated vegetarian and vegan restaurants, and the food culture in smaller cities across Ethiopia reflects the same fasting traditions. Tanzania, which I’ll be visiting soon, shares some of these East African culinary influences and I cannot wait to report back.
Israel – Middle Eastern Food Is Basically Vegan
Tel Aviv consistently ranks among the top vegan cities in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. Israeli and broader Middle Eastern cuisine is built on a foundation of plant-based ingredients: hummus, falafel, tabbouleh, baba ganoush, stuffed grape leaves, shakshuka (ask for it without eggs), roasted vegetables, flatbreads, and an extraordinary variety of fresh salads.
Tel Aviv has taken this natural foundation and built an extraordinary modern vegan scene on top of it, dedicated vegan restaurants, vegan versions of traditional dishes, and a food culture that makes plant-based eating feel completely normal.
Jerusalem, Haifa, and even smaller Israeli cities have strong vegan options, making the whole country one of the most consistently plant-friendly destinations you can visit.
Morocco & North Africa
Morocco is a fascinating destination for vegan travelers. Traditional Moroccan cuisine leans heavily on vegetables, legumes, and spices, tagines loaded with root vegetables and chickpeas, harira soup (ask for the vegetarian version), couscous dishes, and preserved lemons are all naturally vegan-friendly or easily adaptable.
The medinas (old city markets) of Marrakech, Fez, and Essaouira are extraordinary sensory experiences, and the fresh produce and spice culture makes self-catering from local markets an adventure in itself.
Watch for: hidden animal fats in some tagines, and honey in traditional sweets. But with a little communication, Morocco is very manageable and incredibly rewarding for plant-based travelers.
Destinations to Approach With Extra Preparation
Not everywhere in the world is vegan-easy. Some destinations require more flexibility, more research, and more reliance on supermarkets and creative ordering. That doesn’t mean they’re not worth visiting, it just means going in with eyes open.
Eastern Europe (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic outside of Prague): Strong meat and dairy traditions, though major cities have improving vegan scenes. Prague and Warsaw are much easier than smaller cities.
Rural Japan: Outside of major cities, vegan options become scarce and dashi (fish stock) appears in almost everything. Tokyo and Kyoto are very manageable; rural areas less so.
Argentina: The country basically runs on beef. Buenos Aires has a surprisingly good vegan scene, but outside the capital, options are limited. Bring snacks.
Rural parts of Southeast Asia: Away from tourist areas, fish sauce and shrimp paste appear in nearly everything. The cities are easy; the countryside requires more care.
Mongolia: One of the most challenging destinations for vegan travelers in the world. Meat and dairy are absolutely central to the food culture in ways that go beyond cuisine into cultural identity. Possible, but requires significant preparation and flexibility.
How to Choose Your Next Vegan Travel Destination
With so many incredible options, how do you narrow it down? A few questions worth asking yourself:
How much do I want to have to think about food? If the answer is “as little as possible,” Berlin, Bali, Tel Aviv, and London are your best bets. These are the destinations where you can essentially stumble into incredible vegan food without any planning.
Am I traveling for food specifically, or is food one part of a bigger experience? If food is the main event, Peru, Thailand, and Italy offer some of the most extraordinary culinary experiences anywhere. If food is one part of the trip, most destinations in Europe and Southeast Asia will serve you well.
What’s my budget? Bali, Vietnam, Thailand, and Mexico offer exceptional vegan eating at a fraction of the cost of European or North American destinations. If eating well on a budget is a priority, Southeast Asia and Latin America are hard to beat.
Am I going somewhere I’ve always dreamed of, regardless of the vegan scene? Then go. A prepared vegan traveler can eat well almost anywhere. Use this guide, download HappyCow, bring a snack kit, and make memories. The food will work itself out.
And whenever you’re ready to get into the practical planning details — apps, accommodations, airports, language barriers, packing — the complete vegan travel guide has everything you need for any destination on this list.
Ready to Book? Let Me Plan It for You
I’ve personally traveled to many of the destinations on this list, and I spend my days researching the ones I haven’t been to yet. If you’re ready to stop dreaming about your next vegan adventure and actually make it happen, without the hours of research, the anxiety about finding food, or the risk of planning something that doesn’t quite come together, I’d love to help.
I’m Angie, a vegan travel planner who specializes in creating custom itineraries for plant-based foodies and travelers who want experiences that go beyond the tourist trail. Find out more about how I work, or jump straight to planning your trip.
What is the #1 vegan travel destination in the world?
Berlin, Germany consistently tops the list for vegan travelers, with over 50 fully vegan restaurants, four vegan supermarket chains, and a plant-based culture that’s deeply embedded in the city’s identity. Bali and Tel Aviv are close runners-up for different reasons, Bali for its stunning natural beauty and creative vegan food scene, Tel Aviv for its Middle Eastern cuisine that’s naturally plant-forward.
Which region of the world is easiest for vegan travelers?
Europe, particularly Western and Northern Europe, is the most consistently vegan-developed region in the world. Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Spain all have strong plant-based infrastructure in their major cities. Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Bali) is a close second, with the caveat that fish sauce is commonly used and requires vigilance.
Are there good vegan travel destinations in Africa?
Absolutely! Ethiopia in particular has one of the most naturally vegan-friendly food cultures in the world, thanks to Orthodox Christian fasting traditions that produce entirely plant-based menus. Israel and Morocco are also excellent for plant-based travelers
Is Latin America good for vegan travel?
Yes, more than most people expect. Peru has extraordinary produce culture and a growing vegan restaurant scene in Lima and Cusco. Mexico City and Oaxaca have vibrant plant-based dining scenes. The main things to watch for are lard in beans and meat-based broths, but both are easy to navigate once you know to ask.
How do I find vegan food in a country where I don’t speak the language?
A combination of the HappyCow app (for finding vegan restaurants), Google Translate’s live camera feature (for reading menus in real time), and a printed vegan card in the local language (explaining exactly what you don’t eat) covers the vast majority of situations. For a full breakdown of every strategy that works, the guide on finding vegan food in any country even without the language is the place to start.
