10 Stunning Car-Free Cities For Your Travel Bucket List

Cycling is not only a great way to stay active and explore new places, but it is also a sustainable mode of travel that benefits both the environment and the traveller. By opting for two wheels instead of four, cyclists reduce their carbon footprint, minimize traffic congestion, and contribute to cleaner air quality. Cycling also allows travellers to have an intimate experience of the landscapes, cultures, and communities they encounter along the way. Here are our top picks for cycling across the world. 

Ghent in Belgium, known for large public squares and marketplaces, is ranked the second-largest car-free region over the past five years. The initiative began in 1996. The heavy traffic in market clusters was unfit for outside cafes and dining culture. However, a 2020 report by FastCompany suggested that the city's transport has seen a significant difference with a 25 per cent rise in cyclists across the city changing the cityscape. Also, for an easier commute through the car-free area electric buses take passengers who don&rsquot prefer cycling.

Going from cities that are car-free to a village that is absolutely road-free, Giethroon takes both beauty and sustainability up a notch. Settled by the Franciscan monks in 1958 near the Dutch province of Overijssel, Netherlands, the village has a ban on cars and visitors are guided to park their vehicles on the outskirts of the town. The only form of transportation in this charming hamlet is by boat along the waterways, which are connected with almost four miles of canals. The voyage through this 'Dutch Venice' is made all the more memorable by the silence, space, and wildlife.

Adapting with the trends of nearby cities, hundreds of parking spaces in the city centre of Oslo have been taken up over the previous few years. Simultaneously, it expanded its network of bike lanes in an effort to encourage people to drive less without expressly prohibiting vehicles. The city was also reported by New18 in 2019, as the first one to record zero pedestrian or cyclist deaths by slowly and strategically removing cars from the two largest areas of the city and placing schools and residents nearby. The city has promising plans like the car-free city livability plan for the recently made pedestrian streets which will also be the upcoming attractions for travellers.

The Old Town of Dubrovnik is a city of red-tiled rooftops, pine- and cypress-shaded slopes, and beautiful turquoise waterways. The Old Town is a car-free zone. Cars are not authorised to enter within the city walls the only option is to park the car outside the city limits. During peak tourist season, this becomes a problem, as most parking locations in the area are full. However, the city plans to keep the area car-free due to both environmental issues as well as to keep the heritage market area safe from air pollution.

The small village of Halibut Cove in Alaska is centred in Kachemak Bay State Park, which is on a protected stretch of water known as The Narrows. The majority of its structures are built on stilts or float on docks, including the postal office. There are no paved roads in this car-free zone, thus the only way to get about is by foot, skiff, ATV, or seaplane. The city is a testament to how places retain scenic beauty when left undisturbed by humans.