Being unable—or not wanting—to eat everything can make traveling challenging. Here we have some tips on how to prepare for your trip as a vegan.
I still remember being in Dresden with a friend many years ago during a cold December. We’d stocked up on vegan spreads at a health food store and kept them cool between the two old window panes. And when we found a shop that served vegan burgers, we were in heaven.
A lot has changed since then—plant-based products have long been standard in supermarkets. On my city trips, I can choose from dozens of vegan restaurants, and vegetarian and vegan options have also become commonplace in hotels.
Tip: One of these pioneers is the Green PearlsⓇ partner hotel LA VIMEA in South Tyrol. It opened in 2016 as Italy’s first all-vegan hotel, and in its ten years of operation, it has inspired many other establishments to add plant-based alternatives to their menus.
Being vegan in a foreign country? It’s easy thanks to Vegefied and Co.!
Despite all the changes, I like to bring a small travel snack that will last at least for the flight or train ride because I’ll never forget how hungry I was on that flight to China a few years ago. I had requested a vegan meal, but while the other passengers received well-filled sandwiches, I only got an apple. If you bring granola bars, fruit bars, or cookies, you’ll be all set.
When we travel, we love using Instagram and other social media platforms to find tips on vegetarian restaurants. For a long time, Vegefied was my favorite. In 2018, shortly before a trip to Japan, founder Sneha Mehta started the Vegefied Facebook group. “After just a few months, thousands of people had joined and were asking each other for recommendations,” she says. For travelers like me who love strolling through unfamiliar cities, it was ideal to get tips from the community.
In 2026, Mehta launched a new online project focused on “Indian Meal Balancing” by combining vegan cuisine with protein powder.
Happy Cow is the most popular vegan app worldwide.
HappyCow is now the most popular app for vegans on the go. Founded in California as early as 1999 (precisely because it’s so hard to find vegan restaurants while traveling), it went live as an app for Android and iOS in 2011 and has since grown to become the world’s number one.
However, HappyCow doesn’t exclusively list vegan restaurants; it also includes those that “only” offer vegetarian or vegan options. If you’re looking for an app that focuses solely on vegan establishments, try Future Maps. Otherwise, you can use the “vegan only” filter on HappyCow.
Plant-based dining at Green Pearls® hotels? No problem!
Food naturally plays an important role at all our Green Pearls® partner hotels. Regional, seasonal, and organic quality are criteria our hoteliers take for granted when selecting ingredients. Plus, you’ll always find someone willing to accommodate your requests, whether you’re looking for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or lactose-free options, even if they aren’t already on the menu. In our next blog post, we’ll show you everything our hotels have to offer. Stay tuned—we recommend not reading the post on an empty stomach!
Here are some tips for hotels where you can enjoy delicious vegetarian and vegan meals:
My conclusion: There’s something to be found in every country
Asia, in particular, is worth a visit for vegetarians and vegans—as long as you’re understood correctly. On that trip to China, my boyfriend interpreted for me and ordered everything without meat, though the waitstaff would often respond with, “No meat? You mean more meat! We’ll bring you more meat!”
But even in countries where meat traditionally plays a major role, I’ve been pleasantly surprised: In South Africa, people barbecue extensively on every occasion and celebrate the “braai” with the whole family—naturally, with plenty of meat. And yet, as early as 2012, I discovered many vegetarian restaurants and even one in Johannesburg that served only raw vegan dishes. And believe me: I still dream about the pizza there today!
FAQ
Can vegans rely on plant-based options on airplanes?
In my experience, no. You’ll certainly be offered something to eat, but it won’t necessarily be a satisfying meal. I recommend that vegans bring their own lunch for the flight. It’s both vegan and zero-waste.
Which countries are good for vegan travelers?
I recommend Asia. Asian cuisine naturally uses very few dairy products. The staples here are rice or noodles, fresh vegetables, tofu, and coconut milk. Caution: Broths or curries often contain meat or fish hidden as “spices.” In Sri Lanka, however, “rice and curry” dishes are traditionally always coconut milk-based and therefore naturally vegan.
Which apps are helpful for vegan travel?
While there used to be web directories and Facebook groups, HappyCow and Future Maps are now the best-known apps. Note: With HappyCow, you’ll need to use the filters, as there are many restaurants listed there that aren’t actually meat-free but merely offer some vegan options.
This is an update from August 23, 2019
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Toto je poprvé, co vidím váš web… Je to škoda!!! Už jsem pár článků přečetla a chci další 🙂 Čtení mě baví a trefili jste se do mého vkusu. Děkuji a jsem s pozdravem 🙂