Travel

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Tire-Less Travel: 14 Blissfully Car-Free Destinations

Tired of the constant noise and pollution caused by cars? We’ve put together a list of people-friendly destinations around the world, where you can explore and relax – and forget you ever even knew what a traffic jam was.

By Livia Formisani

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Tire-Less Travel: 14 Blissfully Car-Free Destinations.

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Ghent, Belgium – Set at the confluence of two rivers, this university town is famous for its canals and its history, with well-preserved medieval buildings and 15th-century altar paintings by the Van Eyck brothers drawing in visitors from all over. However, it’s also a place ahead of its time: the Ghent city centre went largely car-free in 1997, designating a 14ha pedestrian zone to improve residents’ quality of life. In 2017 the city went even further, expanding the car-free zone and implementing a circulation plan to rid the centre of through-traffic entirely. Make the most of the walkable avenues in July, when the city hosts the Gentse Feesten – a music and theatre festival dating back to 1843.

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Tire-Less Travel: 14 Blissfully Car-Free Destinations.

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Santa Catalina Island, USA – Imagine a green, car-free island in the Pacific with sandy beaches, turquoise waters and a subtropical climate. Is it surprising, then, that its main town is called Avalon? Located right off the coast of notoriously traffic-laden Los Angeles, the island is a popular tourist destination and as such offers public transportation and taxis. Other than that, you can get around by foot, bicycle or golf cart.

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Tire-Less Travel: 14 Blissfully Car-Free Destinations.

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Ilha do Mel, Brazil – Situated off Paraná state in southern Brazil, this tiny 27sq km island is a protected ecological reserve and, as such, a wild and rugged paradise: no cars, no roads, no public lighting (read: great stargazing) and no more than 5,000 people allowed to visit it at any given time. With 25km of beaches, Ilha do Mel (literally: “Honey Island”) is a popular surfing and snorkelling destination reserved for true nature lovers.

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Tire-Less Travel: 14 Blissfully Car-Free Destinations.

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Venice, Italy – Will Venice ever cease to captivate? Doubtful. Built over 118 islands, the legendary city is completely car-free, with transportation relying only on boats (cycling is not allowed). In addition to its extraordinary artistic and historical patrimony, Venice is the backdrop to world-famous cultural events such as La Biennale di Venezia and the Venice International Film Festival.

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Tire-Less Travel: 14 Blissfully Car-Free Destinations.

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Fes El Bali, Morocco – This UNESCO World Heritage site is the walled historical centre of Fez, Morocco’s oldest city and former capital. Often cited as the biggest urban pedestrian area in the world, it encompasses a network of 9,400 narrow alleys, generally only accessible by foot or donkey (though some small service vehicles are allowed to operate here). With its traditional architecture, enticing souks and expansive tanneries, it’s guaranteed to transport you to a bygone era.

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Tire-Less Travel: 14 Blissfully Car-Free Destinations.

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Lübbenau, Germany – Not far from Berlin, this picturesque town in the middle of the Unesco Spreewald Biosphere Reserve is built on islands with canals flowing throughout. Founded in 1315, Lübbenau is dominated by the relaxing green hues of water and vegetation, interspersed by wooden houses and footbridges. The main means of transportation here is definitely the boat – even the mail is delivered via waterway.

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Tire-Less Travel: 14 Blissfully Car-Free Destinations.

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Dangar Island, Australia – North of Sydney, nestled in the middle of a river among two national parks, this little island is the perfect getaway from Australia’s largest city; the only vehicles allowed here are the fire truck and a community buggy. Popular with hikers, it is home to several rare tree species and a bushland reserve, as well as an epic seagrass patch (a natural nursery habitat for fish) the size of 20 Australian football fields.

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Tire-Less Travel: 14 Blissfully Car-Free Destinations.

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Sillico (Pieve Fosciana), Italy – This tiny medieval village on the northwestern tip of Tuscany is car-free by necessity: its old lanes are simply too narrow for motorised traffic. Every summer, Sillico hosts a charming renaissance festival, in which residents swap electric lighting for candles and torches, dress up in historical costume and cook traditional local dishes in food stalls across town.

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Tire-Less Travel: 14 Blissfully Car-Free Destinations.

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Giethoorn, The Netherlands – Dubbed the “Venice of the Netherlands”, Giethoorn is a small village with just around 2,800 inhabitants – but a whopping 176 bridges and zero roads; transportation is by boat, bike or foot. With its well-kept gardens, thatched-roof houses and tranquil canals, it’s the perfect escape for travellers looking to relax. Giethoorn is only a 1.5-hour drive from Amsterdam, making it close enough for an unforgettable day tour – usually involving a canal cruise.

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Tire-Less Travel: 14 Blissfully Car-Free Destinations.

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Perhentian Islands, Malaysia – Exceptionally clear turquoise waters surround the tropical Perhentian Islands off the northeastern coast of Malaysia, making them the perfect destination for divers and snorkellers. The only means of transportation here is the water taxi, but we’re certain no tourist will ever miss their car. The islands also feature a turtle hatchery, in addition to a long list of wildlife species such as monitor lizards and monkeys.

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Tire-Less Travel: 14 Blissfully Car-Free Destinations.

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Princes’ Islands, Turkey – An hour’s ride by ferry from bustling Istanbul, this cluster of nine small, car-free islands was used as a place of exile in the Middle Ages, and later became a popular getaway spot in the 19th century – hence the flourishing of Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture. Fuel-powered personal vehicles are prohibited here, while electric minibuses and small electric taxis are allowed – but cycling is one of the most popular (and scenic) ways of getting around.

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Tire-Less Travel: 14 Blissfully Car-Free Destinations.

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Hydra, Greece – Just a short ferry ride from Athens, Hydra feels as though it belongs to another century. Cars, motorcycles and even bicycles are largely absent from this elegant Saronic island, where transport is limited to walking, water taxis and the donkeys that still clatter along the cobbled lanes. Long a retreat for artists, writers and well-heeled Athenians, Hydra pairs its traffic-free tranquillity with handsome stone mansions, secluded swimming coves and a bustling harbour lined with cafés and tavernas. Arriving by sea remains the only way in – and part of the charm.

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Tire-Less Travel: 14 Blissfully Car-Free Destinations.

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La Cumbrecita, Argentina – Hidden among the pine-covered mountains of Córdoba Province, La Cumbrecita was conceived as a pedestrian-only village long before walkability became fashionable. Inspired by Alpine settlements, this tiny hamlet is characterised by timber chalets, flower-filled gardens and winding footpaths that connect waterfalls, streams and forest viewpoints. Visitors must leave their vehicles in designated parking areas outside the village and continue on foot, making for an unusually peaceful atmosphere. Hiking, horseback riding and riverside picnics are among the most popular pursuits in this pocket of central Argentina.

Travel

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Tire-Less Travel: 14 Blissfully Car-Free Destinations.

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Zermatt, Switzerland – Nestled beneath the iconic Matterhorn, Zermatt has spent decades proving that world-class tourism needn’t rely on cars. Petrol and diesel vehicles are prohibited within the village, leaving electric taxis, horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians to navigate its narrow streets. While best known as one of Europe’s premier ski destinations, Zermatt is equally alluring in summer, when more than 400 kilometres of hiking trails criss-cross the surrounding Alps. With crisp mountain air, traditional timber chalets and glacier-fed scenery in every direction, it’s a place where the absence of traffic only heightens the sense of escape.