Hiring a car abroad is expensive, stressful in unfamiliar cities and a tie when you would rather relax. In much of Europe you simply do not need to, because the public transport is so good that you can reach not just the cities but the countryside, the mountains and the coast without ever taking the wheel. Knowing where this works opens up a more relaxed kind of travel.
The standout regions
Switzerland is the gold standard, a country where trains, buses, boats and mountain railways run like clockwork and connect to one another so seamlessly that a single pass takes you almost anywhere, including high into the Alps. Austria and parts of Germany come close. In Italy, the Dolomites and the lakes are well served by buses and ferries, and many countries run scenic rail and bus networks into national parks designed with visitors in mind.
Making it work
- Choose a base on a good transport hub and day-trip outwards, rather than constantly relocating.
- Look into regional or national travel passes, which can be excellent value for a week of exploring.
- Use the boats and mountain railways as attractions in themselves; the journey is often half the pleasure.
The benefits
Going car-free saves the cost of hire and fuel, removes the worry of driving on the other side and finding parking, and lets everyone enjoy the scenery, including the driver. You can have a glass of wine with lunch, read on the train, and arrive in city centres rather than hunting for a car park on the outskirts. It is travel with the stress taken out.
It does not suit every destination; remote rural areas and scattered sights may genuinely need a car. But for a great many trips, the assumption that you must hire one is simply wrong. Pick a region with a strong network, get a pass, and discover how much of Europe you can see while someone else does the driving.