These Are the Best Destinations in the World for Vegan Trave…

There are about 26 million vegans sprinkled all over the world. And while they are certainly capable of traveling to any destination they wish, a new report by The Vegan Society says there are a few key spots vegans may want to consider for their next getaway.

In January, The Vegan Society released its Veganism Around the World report, which offered a comprehensive analysis of how “plant‑based living is shaping global culture, travel, and commerce.” The report, the team explained, came together through “desk research to build a robust database of cross-national data,” along with original surveys across 10 countries to show  “where veganism is gaining ground and why it matters for the future of food, hospitality and business.” 

And in that data, the team ranked the top vegan travel destinations based on vegan-friendly dining per capita, with New Zealand coming out on top, which is little surprise to Plabita Florence, the co-owner and chef at Forest Restaurant in Auckland. 

“We have really good quality fresh produce here, which is, of course, important for all food, but especially when you’re cooking and eating without the assistance of animal products,” Florence told Travel + Leisure. “We also grow a lot of produce locally, and because it doesn’t have to travel far, the flavors and textures retain a really special, delicate quality, which makes my job so much easier.” 

As Florence noted, New Zealanders are also fortunate to have really mild seasons, which means plenty of access to a greater variety all year round. “I imagine cooking vegan food in a place that sees frozen winters might have very tough limitations as far as access to good-quality local produce goes,” Florence added. 

Despite being recognized as the top spot for vegan foods, Florence explained that it is “pretty slow going” for the vegan movement in the nation. “We have a few specialist places in New Zealand, but they’re few and far between,” Florence said, specifying that while her restaurant is technically vegetarian, not purely vegan. “That said, we quietly serve about 95 percent fully vegan food, but find that keeping a small amount of dairy on the menu helps get more hesitant diners through the door who otherwise would never step foot inside were we totally vegan and loud about it.” 

Food, Florence shared, is meant “above all else to make people happy.” And who knows, maybe a bite of vegan food may surprise even the most ardent carnivore.

Beyond New Zealand, The Vegan Society named Taiwan another top spot as it “leads on fully vegan restaurants per capita,” along with Iceland as Europe’s standout nation, where 43 percent of restaurants offer at least one vegan dish, and Portugal, which ranks as No. 2 globally for fully vegan restaurants per capita.

The U.S. also made the list, as it has the most vegan restaurants in absolute terms, meaning you really can find an excellent meat-free dish just about anywhere. But if you need this story to serve as an excuse to book a trip to New Zealand, that’s OK too.