In the U.S., I find it particularly difficult (and I know I’m not alone in this) to fit movement in around a demanding 9 to 5 job, cook healthy meals let alone access local, fresh food that’s pasture-raised, organic, or without seed oils, and feel safe. Health and wellness seem to be put on the back burner with the pressure to hustle, work most of the week, and then have to drive everywhere and rely on convenient but unhealthy food. Not to mention, most of what’s in the food in the U.S. is banned in other countries, and health care is for profit.
So, I left to explore Europe for five months, and I am so grateful that I did. Overall, it was easier to eat gluten-free, opt for dairy-free as needed, purchase local and fresh foods that were naturally pasture-raised and organic, walk to most of my destinations in each city, get outside more, stay safe as a female and not have to worry as much about gun violence. I observed the simpler, slower way of life and even experienced their extremely affordable yet very high-quality health care at one point.
So without further ado, here are the top six most health-conscious countries in Europe out of the 19 I visited as a health-conscious person.
Germany
Germany completely took me by surprise and is actually in the top three of my favorite European countries. It’s a country I can easily see myself living in. I think we first think of pretzels, bratwurst, and beer, which seem to be far from healthy when we picture Germany. But there is so much more to Germany than that.
I stayed in Munich, at the Wunderlocke with a rooftop suite, coffee shop, yoga room, gym, sauna, and an adorable coworking space. My first meal was at Wisthaus Am Bavaria for a gluten-free pretzel, gluten-free schnitzel, and homemade Bavarian cream cheese outside in the sun.
What made Germany stand out as a health-conscious country to me was:
- Abundance of organic grocery stores and daily local markets with fresh organic produce, homemade kombucha, pasture-raised meat, etc.
- Access to outdoor parks with well-kept trails, and fields, with beer gardens for refreshments and food — The parks were absolutely filled, even on a weekday with people walking, exercising, playing, and lying down in the grass.
- Access to nature within the city, and nearby with public transport taking you to the lakes and mountains nearby.
- Abundance of clean options to eat as in no seed oils, no sugar, or other weird additives and chemicals you can’t pronounce, and yes, that includes their gluten-free bread options.
- Fresh juice galore — in every store or at the market, there’s always freshly squeezed juice with a large variety of options.
- Everything is closed on Sundays — it’s a rest day for even grocery store workers, you can tell they really encourage working to live versus living to work over there.
- Safe and clean public transportation.
Like most European countries I will cover in this article, healthcare is mostly free and is high quality in Germany. They have an excellent safety rating with violent crimes being extremely rare. Similar to most European countries, guns are strictly regulated requiring a compelling reason to own a gun, a permit, and checks to see if an individual is psychologically fit. Germans were also very friendly and were always willing to help us out.
In summary, it’s extremely easy to eat healthily in Germany even if you have some dietary restrictions. You’ll likely find that you feel very safe and are able to spend a lot of time outdoors and getting steps in.
Spain
Another country that made it to my top three European countries out of the 19 I visited was Spain. It makes complete sense as Spain is the healthiest country in the world according to the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index, largely due to the fact that they eat the Mediterranean diet.
Funny enough, I spent a week in Spain in high school and wasn’t too fond of it. Going back to Barcelona at twenty-four knowing what I know now, I appreciated it so much more.
We stayed in Barcelona for about a week in the Central House Hostel in the high-end area of Passeig de Gracia. Immediately, it felt like home with a California vibe and I knew this was somewhere I could live. This area was extremely nice and was conveniently next door to an organic health food store. One of my first meals was at Honest Greens with plenty of gluten-free options with everything being organic, pasture-raised/grass-fed, and wild-caught.
Spain stood out to me as very health-conscious because it had:
- Loads of local markets bursting at the seams with fresh fruit, fresh juice, fresh seafood, and high-quality meats and cheeses that were always local.
- Various restaurants accommodating to dietary restrictions were also trendy and delicious, I had no issue finding gluten-free food in Barcelona.
- Lots of seafood and tapas (small dishes served as a meal that’s typically shared among people).
- Walking access to beaches within the city, or public transportation options that were also clean.
- Abundance of parks and landmarks to walk to and explore.
- Easy access to organic food stores that are affordable with 100% clean ingredients and real food.
Barcelona was modernized and people were always outside, walking, exercising, and visiting for hours over tapas and sangria. English was spoken very well there for the most part, and it was easy to get around. Madrid is also an amazing city that’s worth a visit. This is a country I will travel to again and could easily live in.
Spain is usually always in the top healthiest countries each year, and citizens have a longer life expectancy. The access to really fresh and healthy food was incredible here.
Sweden
Sweden is also ranked as one of the healthiest countries in the entire world. It has the highest quality of life and the second-highest life expectancy. Wellness is a big part of the Swedish culture, and that was obvious when I visited.
I stayed in Stockholm for five days in the Gamla Stan neighborhood in an Airbnb with a built-in sauna. I easily found lots of gluten-free options at the Coop (even Swedish gluten-free cinnamon rolls!) nearby including a health food cafe that was 100% gluten-free and a twenty-minute walk from our place. Other than being known for their cinnamon rolls, Swedes have a dish called Swedish Meatballs that are just to die for.
To me, Sweden was a health-conscious country because:
- Swedes eat a high protein diet similar to what functional practitioners preach in the U.S. that’s full of wild-caught or pasture-raised, locally sourced animal proteins. Specifically salmon and other seafood, beef, lamb, chicken, and eggs. It’s easy to find moose, reindeer, elk, and other wild-caught proteins even in restaurants in Sweden.
- Their food culture is also centered around fermented dairy products, crisp breads, berries, and herbs like dill.
- Swedish culture also involves staying physically active in mostly outdoor activities, this was common to see.
- They take fikas ( a coffee break) but it’s more than just getting a hot drink. A fika is a ritual where you take a pause during the day and socialize with others while enjoying a moment of relaxation.
- Sauna culture! Saunas are a place for relaxation and fostering well-being in Swedish culture. Saunas improve mental health as well as support your detoxification pathways. You’ll notice they never wear their clothes, take their phone with them, or wear their dirty gym shoes in the sauna, and water is always thrown on the rocks.
- It’s super safe and modernized. Sweden is often among the top safety rankings for countries worldwide. And to possess a weapon, you must obtain a license and have your application granted unlike in the U.S.
Of course, like most European cities they had various fresh food markets where locals go to shop, but also have a fresh meal. In Stockholm, there are a ton of cute clothing and home decor stores that have a similar style of modern and cozy. Plus, there are coffee shops everywhere.
Greece
Greece is also a country that follows the Mediterranean diet and lives a very slow, simple lifestyle. While I didn’t get to spend a lot of time in mainland Greece, I got to experience a lesser-known Greek island for a more authentic feel. We stayed on the island of Naxos for the majority of our time in Greece at an Airbnb above the host family’s home. It had the most incredible rooftop patio and view, and the owners brought us lots of homemade Greek treats.
I was in absolute awe of the Greek culture and food. Greece had the best food out of all the European countries I traveled to, and I got to stay on a big farming island that’s known for its potatoes. In fact, all of the other islands use potatoes from Naxos.
Greece is a health-conscious country in my experience because:
- Homemade, farm-fresh food is the norm — so fresh that it’s from the very island I stayed on. The feta, honey, potatoes, and Greek yogurt were some of my favorite homemade items I found at the markets or savored in restaurants.
- It has an abundance of beaches — locals and tourists relax on their beautiful beaches with calm, crystal-clear water. They have a fair share of nude beaches, and lots of locals take advantage of daily sunbathing and swimming.
- Live on Island time — Greeks live an even more simpler, slower way of life out on the islands, truly living on “island time.” There’s no rush hour, or really any rush at all. Towns were deserted until later in the day, and shops and restaurants opened later, then closed for a few hours in the middle of the day. Everyone seemed to be sleeping in.
- Greeks eat a high animal protein diet consisting of lamb, sheep and goat’s yogurt and cheeses, beef, chicken, eggs, and more alongside lots of cucumbers and tomatoes. Kebabs and gyros were the most popular dishes, and portions were HUGE everywhere we went.
- Greek people are extremely friendly and giving. Our host family consistently checked on us, offered recommendations, and brought us homemade goodies.
- They have a strong community — Everyone knew everyone and supported one another. With that said, the islands were extremely safe, especially Naxos. We noticed locals eating later at night all together taking up most of a restaurant, and it was heartwarming to see.
I highly recommend experiencing Greece beyond the touristy islands of Santorini and Mykonos. Each island is different, but the less touristy, the better for a more authentic experience.
Italy
Italy is the ultimate wellness destination that stays true to its roots with slow living and fresh food. This European country has stricter regulations than most when it comes to the well-being of its citizens. Italy has a good variety of coastal beach towns and mountainous terrains full of greenery. I traveled all over Italy for a month visiting Positano, Rome, Naples, Venice, Florence, Pisa, and Cinque Terre. Check out my wellness travel guide to Italy for what to do, and where to eat and stay in these popular Italian cities.
Here’s why Italy made my list of the most health-conscious countries in Europe:
- Italians drink mineral water — there are so many health benefits to drinking and bathing in mineral water (Italy has plenty of thermal healing baths!) and you’ll find it on every single table in Italy. In my experience, most Americans are mineral deficient.
- Italian government banned synthetic food, GMOs, among others
- Italy has the most gluten-free options, from tiramisu to homemade gluten-free pasta and pizza crusts that are just like the real thing.
- BPA-free receipts — When I was in Naples, I turned over my receipt to discover “BPA-free” on the back. In the U.S. I avoid touching receipts completely because of the BPA which can seep into your bloodstream and cause hormonal issues among others. It’s so much easier to live a non-toxic lifestyle in Italy.
- Food is fresh, local, and homemade — Need I say more? Locals shop at their local market daily, everything is made from scratch with the freshest ingredients that are made right there in Italy or that town. In the U.S., most of the food is shipped in.
- You walk everywhere — This is a trend across most European cities if not all, but I felt it was more apparent here.
Out of all of the European countries I experienced, Italy was the most gluten-free friendly. Surprising, I know, but they view celiac disease as an actual disease and have accreditation for restaurants, including 100% gluten-free grocery stores. Italy is definitely setting the right example.
Switzerland
Switzerland is always ranked among the top of the most health-conscious countries. They’re also known for being the happiest country in the world. They’re very neutral, avoid conflict, are wealthy, and healthy with an average life expectancy of 83 years old. And of course, they have Swiss chocolate, which is by far the best chocolate I’ve ever had.
We stayed in Lucerne, a beautiful, medieval lake town surrounded by mountains that are a quick train ride over to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald to experience the valley of waterfalls and other views from the tops of the peaks. Walking everywhere was a breeze, but there were a lot of stairs. The elderly locals walked these every day without a problem.
Switzerland made the list because:
- Working on Sundays is prohibited, even household chores that can disturb the peace in any way. Shops are always closed, too.
- People seem very happy — locals are outside walking the trails and clearly have favorable living conditions such as high-quality education, high-paying jobs with 4 weeks vacation at least, and they eat real food. They seemed very unbothered and at peace.
- Easy access to nature — everywhere you turn there’s a trail, park, lake, or mountain to easily unwind and get some outdoor exercise.
- Overall they prioritize a healthy diet, exercise, and a healthy work-life balance.
- Healthcare is accessible and high-quality.
The air is so fresh in Switzerland and it’ll feel just like home rather quickly. While Europe in general is winning for being more health-focused than the United States, certain countries really stand out more than others.
If you’re curious to learn more about my long-term travels in Europe, check out this post.
