Traveling in your own car may sound like a great way to be independent – until you get stuck in miles-long holiday traffic jams, use up an unbelievable amount of fuel, air conditioning, and nerves in stop-and-go traffic, and see the train whizzing by in the distance! Calculations prove that the train is often faster than the car (and even faster than the plane for connections within Europe). If you also choose sustainable accommodations, your vacation will be eco-friendly all the way. Here are some destinations for car-free travel that are easy to reach and easy to get around on vacation.
Holidays in Europe without a car
Zermatt – Car-free town in the Swiss Alps
Since Zermatt is car-free anyway, it makes sense to arrive by train. The train route through the Alps is incredibly beautiful. You’ll travel through the Visp valley, past some of the highest mountains in Switzerland, including the Weisshorn, Täschhorn and Dom. From Visp and Brig stations, you’ll transfer to the Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway – a modern, upgraded narrow-gauge railway – and head to Zermatt.
Tip: The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) offers door-to-door or station-to-station luggage delivery, making your trip to Zermatt even easier.
At Zermatt station, you’ll be picked up by an electric taxi from the CERVO Mountain Resort. This sustainable hotel has just won the German Design Award 2023 for its unique interior design. Hiking and biking trails start right outside the front door.
Just outside the village center (but still within walking distance) is the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt. Directly above the family-run wellness hotel is the lift to the valley station. This way you can reach the skiing and hiking area Sunnegga/Rothorn completely car-free. If you want to go to the Gornergrat or the Matterhorn Express, there is a good bus connection. Enjoy an active vacation in the Swiss mountains or relax in the Alpine SPA of Bella Vista.
Rittner Horn – The sunny plateau in South Tyrol, Italy
You can reach the train station of Bolzano in South Tyrol with a direct connection from many major train stations in Europe. From there, it’s only a five-minute walk to the Rittner Horn cable car. The ride in the panoramic cabin up to 950 meters above sea level is a great experience in itself – and it’s free with the RITTEN Card!
With the RITTEN Card, you can use all public transportation on the entire Ritten free of charge – including the cable car and the Ritten narrow-gauge railway. This historic train (also called “Rittner Bahni”) will take you to the APIPURA hotel rinner. This is a very special hotel for bee lovers, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The Rinner family runs their own apiary and offers honey dinners and api-wellness, where you can breathe the air of the beehive.
Another place for a sustainable vacation on the sunny plateau is ADLER Lodge RITTEN. The main house is surrounded by luxurious wooden chalets around a natural swimming pond. There’s also a beautiful infinity pool and nearby forest and mountains. You can reach the hideaway from the Ritten train station with a shuttle organized by the hotel. Or you can walk a few minutes along a forest trail from the nearest Rittner Bahn station.
Tip: The RITTEN Card is available free of charge at our Green PearlsⓇ partners and can also be sent to you in advance. In addition to free transportation, you will enjoy free admission to almost all museums and many discounts on various leisure and sports activities in the region.
Paris – The City of Art and Culture
You can get to Paris cheaply by Flixbus – the most CO2-efficient mode of transportation, according to a study by the German Federal Environment Agency. There are also many very good train connections, including the famous Thalys.
In Paris, we recommend the Green Spirit Hotels: Hôtel Le Pavillon, Hotel Malar and Hotel Amélie. They are all located in the lively 7th arrondissement, which means you’ll find boutiques, cafés and restaurants right on your doorstep. You won’t need a car for sightseeing – or even the metro! The Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, the Invalides, the Seine and other sights are all within walking distance.
Matrei in East Tyrol – Vacation in the Alpine National Park
The Naturhotel Outside is located in the middle of the Hohe Tauern National Park in the Austrian Alps. It is important to this sustainable hotel to fully support its guests when it comes to car-free travel. On the hotel’s website you will find detailed information on how to get to the Naturhotel by train. For example, there is a direct bus from Kitzbühel station, or you can take the Hotles shuttle from Lienz station.
The best way to explore the Alpine National Park is to join one of the (guided) hiking tours that start directly from the hotel, or to ride your e-bike, which you can park and charge here for free. You will also receive a guest card for public transportation. In winter, a ski bus stops in front of the hotel to take you to the slopes and cross-country tracks.
Friuli – Gourmet trip to the Italian-Slovenian border
For lovers of good food, La Subida is the place to be! It is located in Cormons, a small town in the heart of Italy’s Collio wine region, near the Slovenian border. The property, which has a swimming pool, includes a famous Michelin-starred trattoria and an excellent osteria. As a hotel guest, you can be sure of a table every night. The accommodations are set in a mixed forest and are perfect for a couple’s vacation in nature, with large glass fronts and a freestanding bathtub. The landscape presents the Julian Alps and in the distance you can see the Dolomites. On foot or by e-bike you can visit various wineries, cheese dairies and other producers of regional delicacies of La Subida.
Korčula – Bathing on the Croatian Adriatic Sea
ECO-APARTHOTEL THE DREAMERS’ CLUB is located on the Croatian island of Korčula. Many people travel by plane to Split or Dubrovnik – but you can also reach the Croatian cities by train or Flixbus! From Split or Dubrovnik you can take a catamaran to the island – a great way to get in the mood for your vacation. On the island itself it is very easy to get around without a car. THE DREAMERS’ CLUB is happy to lend you bicycles. Buses and taxis are also available if you don’t want to stay at the resort. From your terrace you can look out over the blue Adriatic Sea and spend your days swimming, water sports and sunbathing – who needs a car now ?!
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