Our Favourite Vegan-Friendly Travel Destinations

A beacon of wellness, spirituality and health food, it’s no surprise that Bali tops the list as one of the world’s most vegan-friendly travel destinations. Vegans are well catered for here, as the island is predominantly Hindu and even plays host to an annual Bali Vegan Festival each October. The main abundance of vegan restaurants can be found in spiritual Ubud. Specialities include smoothie bowls, vegan Gado Gado (an Indonesian salad made from tofu, rice crackers and peanut sauce), tempeh skewers, fruit-topped crepes and vegan ice cream.

Although the UK may not spring immediately to mind when you think of veganism, its major cities are front runners in vegan cuisine. London is awash with vegan restaurants, pubs and doughnut shops and its Scottish equivalent Glasgow is slowly but surely following in its footsteps. Vegan menus are appearing in all the big restaurant chains, and smaller independent outfits are jostling for a place on London’s packed streets. With the Vegan Society predicting that there is at least 542,000 vegans in Britain, vegans are sure to feel at home here. Whatever your favourite food is, you’re bound to find something to suit in London – options range from vegan pizzerias and vegan chicken shops to vegan gelatarias.

With national dishes including ceviche (fresh local fish marinated in lime juice), cuy chactado (roasted guinea pig) and lomo saltado (sautéed beef), Peru may not immediately spring to mind as a top destination for vegans. In more rural areas, though, Peruvian locals eat a predominantly plant-based diet. Staples include potatoes, legumes, vegetables and fruit – Peru is even the birthplace of the potato, with over 2,500 varieties native to the Peruvian Andes.

For those who prefer savoury flavours to sweet ones, quinoa can be found on every street in Peru. It’s one of the few crops that is able to withstand the altitudes of the Andes Mountains, so is found across Latin America. Peru is the world’s top quinoa exporter, and this delicious grain can be found in even the most remote regions.  

Similar to Bali, Thailand has become synonymous with the eco-conscious vegan traveller. While there are some downsides to this digital nomad trend, the upside is that vegan food is never far away. Veganism isn’t a recent trend in Thailand – Thai Buddhists have been eating vegan for years. If you’re concerned about fish sauce, eggs or meat stock making an appearance in your food, let your waiter know that you’re “gin jay,” and the dish is sure to come out vegan.

As a country whose cuisine traditionally consists of barbequed shrimp and kangaroo burgers, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Australia’s vegan scene is nothing to write home about. Today though, Australia is said to be the third fastest-growing vegan market in the world – after the UAE and China – so it’s no surprise that two of its major cities have made their mark as experts in vegan food. In Melbourne, more than 12 percent of the local population eats ‘little to no meat,’ and the vegan scene has continued to flourish in line with the eating habits of the locals. Those following a plant-based diet are spoilt for choice here; options range from buddha bowls and matcha bao buns to a completely vegan pizzeria.

India is home to the highest population of vegetarians in the world, so non meat eaters will feel right at home. Options aren’t limited to buddha bowls or vegan alternatives here, as much of India’s traditional cuisine happens to be vegetarian without necessarily trying. Indian cuisine is also heavy in dairy products though, such as ghee (butter), paneer and milk-based lassis and curries, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for hidden ingredients. However, if you do notice a dairy product you’re not keen on consuming, it’s easy enough to get them swapped for non-dairy alternatives with the help of a local translator.

As an island nation, most of Iceland’s cuisine traditionally centres around fish, seafood and hearty meat dishes. In line with world trends, there’s recently been a significant increase in vegetarianism and veganism across the country. Most restaurants provide vegan options, but the choice can be limited, so it’s worth seeking out vegan-friendly spots before you travel.