Curling Vacations 2025: The Coolest Eco-Friendly Winter Getaways for Stone-Slinging Travelers

Move over skiing and snowboarding — curling is quietly becoming one of the hottest (or should we say coolest?) winter travel trends for 2025. This quirky, strategic, and surprisingly social Olympic sport combines the chill of the ice with the warmth of new friendships, craft beer, and roaring fireplaces. Even better? Many of the world’s best curling destinations are leading the charge in sustainable tourism, making a curling vacation the perfect blend of fun, community, and eco-conscious travel.

Whether you’re a seasoned skip dreaming of international bonspiels or a first-timer who just wants to yell “HURRY HARD!” after a few drinks, these five eco-friendly curling destinations will deliver an unforgettable winter escape in 2025 — all while keeping your carbon footprint smaller than a perfectly placed guard.

Here’s your ultimate guide to the best sustainable curling vacations for 2025.

Why a Curling Vacation Is the Perfect Eco-Friendly Winter Trip

Curling clubs run on electricity (not chairlifts or snowcats), ice is made with highly efficient refrigeration systems, and most facilities are community-owned or non-profit. Add in short travel distances within towns, excellent public transit options, and a culture that loves carpooling to bonspiels, and you’ve got one of the lowest-impact winter sports on the planet.

Plus, curling’s social nature means you’ll eat, drink, and stay local — exactly what sustainable travel is all about.

1. Québec City, Canada — The Heart of North American Curling Culture

Québec City isn’t just one of the most beautiful winter cities in the world; it’s also a curling mecca. With over a dozen clubs within 30 minutes of Old Québec, including the historic Club de Curling Jacques-Cartier (est. 1821 — yes, really), this UNESCO gem pairs world-class ice with French-Canadian charm.

Sustainability highlights:

• Many clubs (like Riverbend and Victoria) use 100 % hydroelectric power from Québec’s massive renewable grid.
• The city’s new tramway (opening 2026) and excellent bus network make car-free travel easy.
• Stay at the LEED-certified Hôtel Pur or the eco-renovated Auberge Saint-Antoine, both walking distance from clubs.
• Eat poutine and drink local microbrews at bonspiel parties — zero food miles, maximum joy.

Top 2025 event: Le Grand Slam de Curling stops in Québec in February — watch the pros, then hit the ice yourself.

Best for: Francophiles who want cobblestone streets by day and eight-end games by night.

2. Stirling & Perthshire, Scotland — The Spiritual Home of Curling

The outdoor “roarin’ game” was born on Scottish lochs centuries ago, and today the region around Stirling and Perth is curling’s greenest frontier. Clubs like Kinross Curling Rink (Europe’s first carbon-neutral curling facility) and the Peak Ice Arena in Stirling run entirely on wind and solar power.

Sustainability highlights:

• The Peak uses heat-recovery systems that warm the café with waste heat from the ice plant.
• Train from Edinburgh or Glasgow in under an hour — no flight required for most Europeans.
• Stay at eco-lodges like Monachyle Mhor or Gleneagles’ new net-zero townhouses.
• Whisky distilleries (Auchentoshan, Glengoyne) power tasting rooms with biomass from barley waste.

2025 highlight: The Scottish Curling Festival in January — four days of open bonspiels, ceilidhs, and haggis-supplied energy.

Best for: Travelers who want to throw stones where the sport was invented, then sip peat-fired whisky by a fireplace.

3. Canmore, Alberta, Canada — Rocky Mountain Curling with a Conscience

Just 20 minutes from Banff but far less crowded, Canmore is emerging as Western Canada’s curling capital. The Canmore Curling Centre at Elevation Place is a LEED Silver facility that shares geothermal heating with the town’s aquatic center and climbing gym.

Sustainability highlights:

• 100 % powered by Bullfrog Power green electricity.
• Free public transit (Roam) connects Canmore to Banff and the Nordic Centre.
• Stay at eco-chalets like Blackstone Mountain Lodge (solar pre-heating + EV chargers).
• Pair curling with fat-biking or cross-country skiing — all on the same low-impact trail network.

2025 event: The Canmore Curling Classic in March — a laid-back bonspiel with live music and local craft cider.

Best for: Adventure travelers who want curling mornings and Rocky Mountain hikes in the afternoon.

4. Östersund, Sweden — Nordic Cool Meets Climate-Smart Curling

Sweden takes sustainability seriously, and Östersund’s curling hall is no exception. The city that hosted the 2021 World Women’s Curling Championship runs its arena on 100 % renewable energy and uses CO₂-based refrigeration (one of the greenest ice-making systems available).

Sustainability highlights:

• High-speed trains from Stockholm in under 5 hours.
• The city’s district heating is 99 % renewable (mostly biomass from forest waste).
• Stay at Sweden’s most eco-certified hotel, Frösö Park Hotel (wood-built, geothermal, organic breakfast).
• Winter activities include dog-sledding with rescued huskies and ice skating on Europe’s largest lake island.

2025 highlight: The Östersund Open — a famously friendly international bonspiel every February.

Best for: Travelers craving Scandinavian design, fika breaks, and guilt-free saunas after sweeping.

5. Naseby, New Zealand (Yes, Really) — Southern Hemisphere Winter Curling

For travelers chasing winter in July-August, New Zealand’s Maniototo region delivers the world’s only outdoor natural-larch ice curling rink. The Naseby Curling International Luge & Curling Centre uses no artificial refrigeration — just Mother Nature and a manicured outdoor sheet under the Southern Alps.

Sustainability highlights:

• Zero electricity for ice-making (it’s literally frozen water on grass).
• The entire town runs on community solar and micro-hydro.
• Stay in restored gold-rush cottages or the carbon-zero Black Forest Station glamping pods.
• Pair curling with stargazing in the UNESCO dark-sky reserve.

2025 event: The Southern Hemisphere Curling Championships (July) — where northern visitors finally get revenge.

Best for: Off-season travelers who want winter in summer and bragging rights forever.

Final Sweep: Plan Your Eco-Friendly Curling Vacation Now

A curling trip isn’t just a vacation — it’s a masterclass in slow travel, community spirit, and laughing until your cheeks hurt (from smiling and the cold). From the hydroelectric hum of Québec sheets to the starlit silence of Naseby’s outdoor ice, these destinations prove you can travel responsibly and still party like it’s the fifth-end break.

Pack your grippers, bring a reusable water bottle (and maybe a hip flask), and book your 2025 curling adventure today. The ice is waiting — and it’s greener than ever.

Ready to slide into sustainable travel? Drop your dream curling destination in the comments and let’s start planning!