10 idyllic places in the world where you don't need a car - just silence, nature and comfortable shoes

In an age when the world is overtaken by honking horns and traffic jams, there are still places where cars are not welcome. And it is there that we find true peace, slowing down and returning to the essence of travel. We present to you a selection of 10 unique destinations from different corners of the world, where instead of gasoline, the smell of the sea, forest or flowers reigns, and instead of road signs, only your own feet guide you.

We often associate the summer months with speed: chasing last-minute flights, clogged highways, nervous honking in traffic jams and the stress of parking in city centers. Yet summer should be about the opposite – slowing down, relaxing and getting back to what’s really important. Maybe it’s time to ask: what if we just left the car at home this year?

More and more destinations around the world are adopting car-free policies or significantly reducing car traffic. It’s not just an ecological move, but also an effort to improve the quality of life, support local communities, and offer visitors a whole new kind of experience – slower, more conscious travel. This is what makes these places come alive: you can hear birds singing, children laughing, the soft rustle of the wind in the treetops. Life here flows at a different pace – and that’s their biggest asset.

When arriving at a place means returning to yourself

Forget about GPS, don't stress about refueling, don't worry about where to park. In places without cars, traveling has a completely different rhythm. Arriving by ferry, water taxi or train often turns into a first experience - and sometimes the journey is as beautiful as the destination.

For example, the Danish island of Tunø, hidden in the Baltic Sea, is so small that you can walk around it in a day. Instead of taxis, tractors with trailers drive here – and no one seems to mind. On the contrary, everyone enjoys the peace, the smell of apple orchards and the view from the lighthouse, which is also a church.

The French island of Porquerolles has a similar effect – you can get there from the mainland in ten minutes, but the feeling that you have left the world of noise and memories comes immediately. 80 % of the island is a national park, where cars and motorcycles are not allowed. Only silence, cyclists, Mediterranean herbs and azure beaches.

Places where things don't slow down - people have been living slowly here for a long time

Some car-free destinations are nothing new – they’ve been around for centuries. Morocco’s medina in Fez is one of the largest cities in the world where cars simply have no place. Its thousands of alleys and winding paths are home to artisans, spice markets and Islamic Renaissance monuments. Walking through this labyrinthine landscape is like traveling back in time.

In Europe, Trogir, Croatia, has a similar charm, where cobblestone streets, a 13th-century cathedral and a seaside promenade create the backdrop for a peaceful summer evening. No honking cars, no stress from traffic jams. Just sit in a café and listen to the sea.

Islands without cars, but with a soul

Nothing embodies the idea of “slow travel” more than islands. Their natural isolation often means limited or no traffic. On America’s Mackinac Island, cars have been banned since the late 19th century. Visitors get around on bicycles, horses or on foot. Local shops, hotels and pastry shops with homemade fudge chocolate create an atmosphere of nostalgia.

On the other side of the planet, Australia's Rottnest Island awaits. Travelers come here for coral reefs, quiet bays and one special resident - the quokka, a small marsupial whose smile has made it the island's icon. No cars, just you and nature.

Ecology that is not just a trend

Choosing a car-free destination is also an environmental gesture. Travel has a carbon footprint, and limiting motorized traffic is one way to reduce it. Many places, like California’s Channel Islands, go even further—you have to bring your own water, electricity is limited, and you take your trash back with you. The result? Crystal-clear waters, endangered bird species, and underwater caves unspoiled by mass tourism.

How to plan such a vacation?

The biggest challenge is logistics. Many of these places are only accessible by ferry or local flight. It takes a bit of planning, but the rewards are incomparable. Don’t expect resorts or nightlife on Little Corn Island in Nicaragua—you’ll get palm-fringed beaches to yourself, jungle trails for horseback riding, and silence that surrounds you like the sound of the sea in a seashell.

Traveling to car-free cities often means getting back to basics: packing less, slowing down more, being present. Letting yourself be guided by the smell of dinner from the local market, the sound of gravel underfoot, the smile of a person you might not even meet on a regular car trip.

A car-free summer vacation is not a limitation. It's a privilege. The privilege of returning to a way of life where the journey becomes an experience, not an obstacle. And where true luxury lies in not having to do anything – just being.

Other interesting car-free destinations:

• Hydra, Greece
  This picturesque island in the Saronic Gulf is known for its car-free environment – only horses, donkeys and boats. The streets are cobblestone and the atmosphere of typical Greek architecture gives the place a cinematic romance.

• Giethoorn, Netherlands
  Also nicknamed the “Venice of the North”, it is a village where there are canals instead of roads. You get around here on foot, by bike or by boat. The houses have reed roofs, and everything looks like something out of a fairy tale.

• Zermatt, Switzerland
  The famous mountain resort below the Matterhorn, where only electric vehicles are allowed. An ideal place for lovers of skiing, hiking and alpine peace without exhaust fumes.

• Sark, Channel Islands (United Kingdom)
  The only island in Europe where not only cars but also street lights are banned – making it one of the world's "Dark Sky" areas. You can get around the island on foot, by bike or in a horse-drawn carriage.

• Fes el-Bali, Morocco
  The old city of Fez – a labyrinth of narrow medieval streets where it is physically impossible to drive a car – is a place that pulsates with history, scents and crafts.

• Bronte, New South Wales

• La Cumbrecita, Argentina
  The alpine village in the mountains of Córdoba is one of the first hiking destinations in Argentina. Surrounded by forests, waterfalls and clean air - cars must be parked outside the village.

• Fire Island, New York, USA
  A narrow island off Long Island, accessible only by ferry. No cars, only cyclists and pedestrians. A favorite spot for local New Yorkers for a quiet weekend away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

• Iles de Chausey, France
  An archipelago off the coast of Normandy that is almost entirely traffic-free. It is also unique for its extreme tides - during low water, dozens of small islands appear, which then disappear.