Where are the World’s Best Car-Free Islands: Travel Back in Time on These Unique Destinations?

Imagine stepping off a boat to find streets untouched by the hum of engines. You enter a world where walking paths replace highways, and conversations hum over honking horns. These car-free islands beckon to a slower pace, where travel isn’t just a journey but a return to simpler times. From Venice’s bustling waterways to Lamu’s serene donkey paths, these islands transport you to a space where leisure and local culture blend beautifully. Each place on this list carries its unique way of life—a slice of history set apart, just waiting to be explored.

Table of Contents

• Introduction: Reclaiming Travel with Every Step
• Car-free Islands in Europe
• Car-free Islands in Africa
• Car-free Islands in North America
• Car-free Islands in Asia
• Car-free Islands in Oceania
• Conclusion: Car Free Travel
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Car-free Islands in Europe

Venice, Burano, and Murano, Italy

• Transportation: Gondolas, vaporetto (water buses), and bicycles
• Getting There: Reach Venice from nearby Mestre or Treviso. Venice’s Marco Polo Airport connects easily by boat or train.
• Language: Italian
• Currency: Euro (€)

Venice is one of the original car-free islands, since its origins due to its unique geography. Built on over 100 islands in a lagoon, the city’s waterways became natural “streets,” making cars impractical and unsuitable. Instead, Venice adapted to boats as the primary mode of transportation, with gondolas and vaporettos becoming the city’s arteries. The choice wasn’t so much a ban on cars as a matter of necessity—Venice’s infrastructure could never accommodate them.

Nearby, Burano and Murano share this trait. Burano’s narrow streets and colorful houses, crafted for foot traffic, support a centuries-old lifestyle. Murano, known for its delicate glass art, also benefits from being car-free, maintaining an artisanal atmosphere and quiet streets that keep distractions at bay.

The Carnevale di Venezia in 2025 is scheduled from February 14 to March 4, 2025. This annual festival, renowned for its elaborate masks and vibrant parades, offers a unique glimpse into Venice’s rich cultural heritage. The festivities typically include events such as the “Flight of the Angel” and the “Festa delle Marie,” both held in the iconic Piazza San Marco. Visitors can also enjoy various masquerade balls, street performances, and traditional Venetian cuisine throughout the city during this period.

Hydra, Greece

• Transportation: Donkeys, bicycles, and water taxis
• Getting There: Catch a ferry from Athens’ Piraeus port (about 90 minutes).
• Language: Greek
• Currency: Euro (€)

Hydra exudes classic Greek charm with rugged cliffs, quaint harbors, and cats lounging in the sun. Cars? Not here. Donkeys and mules are the primary means of transportation, winding up and down narrow cobblestone paths. Hydra went car-free in the 1950s, protecting its architectural gems and peaceful atmosphere. When I arrived on Hydra, I was greeted by clear waters and tavernas wafting with grilled octopus, like a movie set without modern-day intrusions.

Every October, Hydra’s Rebetiko Festival brings the island alive with folk music, celebrating Greece’s soulful version of the “Greek blues,” Rebetiko started in the early 1900s among Greece’s working class and immigrants. It tells raw stories of struggle, love, and resilience, echoing through Hydra’s streets as it once did in the past.

Car-free Islands in Africa

Lamu, Kenya

• Transportation: Donkeys and traditional dhows (boats)
• Getting There: Take a short flight from Nairobi to Lamu Airport, then a quick boat ride to town.
• Language: Swahili, English
• Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KES)

Lamu’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, feels like a storybook of Swahili architecture and ancient mosques. No cars crowd its winding streets—only donkeys clip-clop along sandy lanes, and traditional wooden dhows, with their iconic triangular sails, drift peacefully across the Indian Ocean.

Car-free Islands in North America

Mackinac Island, Michigan, USA

• Transportation: Horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, and walking
• Getting There: Take a ferry from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace.
• Language: English
• Currency: U.S. Dollar ($)

Mackinac banned cars in 1898, creating a nostalgic, horse-drawn world. Bicycles and carriages rule the streets here, and the air is filled with a delicious blend of lake breezes and fudge shops. I remember cycling around the island, passing Victorian houses and wildflower meadows, feeling like I’d stumbled onto a film set.

The Mackinac Island Lilac Festival is scheduled for June 6–15, 2025. This annual event celebrates the island’s rich history and vibrant lilac blooms, featuring activities such as the Lilac Queen coronation, a 10K run/walk, free lilac walking tours, and the Grand Parade. Visitors can also enjoy live music, lilac planting seminars, and various family-friendly events throughout the festival. Please visit the official Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau website for detailed information and updates.

Fire Island, New York, USA

• Transportation: Walking, bicycles, and ferries
• Getting There: Accessible by ferry from Long Island
• Language: English
• Currency: U.S. Dollar ($)

Fire Island offers a peaceful escape with miles of beaches, charming small communities, and no cars to disrupt the quiet atmosphere. Visitors rely on bicycles and their own two feet to get around, making it a favorite for nature lovers.

Cumberland Island, Georgia, USA

• Transportation: Walking and bicycles
• Getting There: A ferry from St. Marys, Georgia, provides access to the island
• Language: English
• Currency: U.S. Dollar ($)

Cumberland Island is a pristine, untouched paradise with wild horses, historic ruins, and quiet beaches. No cars mean the natural beauty remains undisturbed, offering an unforgettable experience for hikers and history enthusiasts alike.

Car-free Islands in Asia

Büyükada, Turkey

• Transportation: Horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, and electric vehicles
• Getting There: Ferries run regularly from Istanbul’s Kabataş or Bostancı piers.
• Language: Turkish
• Currency: Turkish Lira (₺)

Büyükada, the largest of the Princes’ Islands, is just a short ferry ride from bustling Istanbul. This peaceful retreat, once a haven for Ottoman royalty, is known for its charm and serene atmosphere. With no cars allowed, visitors explore by bike, riding past Greek Orthodox churches, elegant Ottoman mansions, and quiet beaches. The island’s pine-covered paths and lack of traffic make it the perfect escape from the city’s hustle and bustle.

Car-free Islands in Oceania

Rottnest Island, Australia

• Transportation: Bicycles and buses
• Getting There: Ferries from Perth and Fremantle, Western Australia.
• Language: English
• Currency: Australian Dollar (A$)

Rottnest Island is known for its adorable quokkas and beaches and as one of the coolest Downunder car-free islands. Instead, visitors use bikes or the island shuttle bus to explore white sand bays, turquoise waters, and coral reefs.

Conclusion: Car Free Travel

Each one of these car-free islands preserves a moment in time, whether through cobbled paths, boats gliding past ancient buildings, or donkeys trotting along the shore. These places remind us that travel can still be quiet, joyful, and deeply connected to the land. As we explore them, we step back into a simpler world and find parts of ourselves we might have left behind. These islands let us wander without hurry, embracing every sound and sight on our journey.

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