Vegan Travel — Veganpedia

Vegan travel covers how vegans plan trips, find food abroad and communicate their dietary needs, from researching restaurants and learning key phrases to packing snacks and choosing vegan-friendly cuisines.

Vegan travel refers to the practices and resources that people following a vegan lifestyle use when travelling, whether for holidays, business or longer stays abroad. Availability of vegan food varies greatly between destinations: in many large cities vegan restaurants and supermarket products are common, while in other regions travellers may need to rely on local dishes that happen to be plant-based or on self-catering.

Planning ahead

Research before departure is generally regarded as the most effective way to travel comfortably as a vegan. Common steps include:

Mapping restaurants – travellers can use itsvegan.org's map and other restaurant guides and review apps to find vegan and vegan-friendly places near where they will stay.
Researching local cuisine – identifying dishes that are naturally plant-based, as well as common hidden ingredients (see hidden animal ingredients).
Choosing accommodation – self-catering apartments or hostels with kitchens allow travellers to cook, which can be especially helpful in areas with few options.
Locating supermarkets and markets – fresh fruit, bread, nuts and other staples are available almost everywhere.
Checking customs rules – some countries restrict bringing in fresh produce, seeds or certain foods.

Transport

Air travel

Many airlines allow passengers to pre-order a special meal when booking or in the days before departure. The industry code VGML is commonly used for a vegan or strict vegetarian meal, though naming varies between airlines, and some low-cost carriers do not offer meals at all. Special meals are not always delivered as requested, so many travellers carry their own food as backup. Security rules may restrict liquids and spreads in hand luggage.

Road and rail

Motorway service stations and train stations increasingly stock vegan sandwiches and snacks in some countries, but availability is unpredictable. Packing food is advisable for long journeys.

Communicating dietary needs

Language barriers can make it difficult to explain veganism, especially where the concept is unfamiliar. Strategies include:

Learning a few key phrases, such as "I am vegan", "no meat, no fish, no eggs, no dairy" and "no fish sauce".
Carrying a printed or digital translation card explaining what one does and does not eat. Publications such as The Vegan Passport, produced by The Vegan Society, offer explanations in many languages.
Using translation apps, while bearing in mind that automatic translations may be imprecise.
Referring to local religious or cultural traditions where relevant, such as Buddhist vegetarian food, which may be better understood than the word "vegan".

Language	"I am vegan" (approximate)
Spanish	Soy vegano / vegana
French	Je suis végane / végétalien(ne)
German	Ich bin Veganer / Veganerin
Italian	Sono vegano / vegana
Portuguese	Sou vegano / vegana

In some languages, words for "vegetarian" may be understood to include fish, eggs or dairy, so listing specific ingredients is often clearer than using a single label.

Vegan-friendly cuisines

Some culinary traditions are known for a wide range of plant-based dishes:

Indian – many dishes based on lentils, chickpeas and vegetables, though ghee, cream and paneer are common, particularly in northern cooking.
Ethiopian – the Ethiopian Orthodox Church's fasting days have produced a large repertoire of plant-based stews served with injera.
Middle Eastern and Levantine – hummus, falafel, tabbouleh, ful medames and many mezze dishes.
Thai and Vietnamese – many vegetable and tofu dishes, though fish sauce and shrimp paste are common and must be requested to be left out.
Chinese and Taiwanese Buddhist cuisine – vegetarian restaurants often avoid all animal products, though eggs or dairy may sometimes be used.
Japanese temple cuisine (shōjin ryōri) – traditionally plant-based, though everyday Japanese food frequently uses fish-based dashi.
Mexican – bean, corn and vegetable dishes, while watching for lard and chicken stock.

Other considerations

Nutrition – travellers on long trips may wish to pack vitamin b12 supplements.
Budget – local markets and self-catering can reduce costs (see vegan on a budget).
Tours and activities – some vegans avoid attractions involving animals, such as animal rides or performances, and instead choose animal sanctuaries or wildlife viewing in natural settings.
Flexibility – many travellers accept that information may be imperfect abroad and focus on avoiding obvious animal products.