For many people considering a retirement in Europe, one of the things they look forward to is the option to go car-free. It makes sense for a number of reasons.
One, depending on the make, model, and age of your vehicle, importing it from North America to Europe can cost upwards of $20,000. Not only that, but it can take over a year, due to differing emission and operational standards.
Secondly, you will find that many houses in European cities do not have assigned parking. You’ll have to locate a spot on the street or pay to use covered parking, an expense that may go up temporarily. And that makes the most sense among all other charging considerations. Although rates vary from country to country and depend on the brand and style chosen, Europeans pay an average of 27,500 euros for a new car and monthly running costs average 616 euros. This represents a large portion of the average retiree’s budget.
And three, most European cities boast excellent public transport systems which are straightforward and affordable to use. As well as senior discounts some destinations even offer completely free travel.
In Luxembourg, public transport on trains, trams, and buses is free for both residents and visitors alike.
In Budapest, the Hungarian capital, passengers over the age of 65 travel alone on public transport.
On the island of Malta and in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, residents can travel for free on most public transport routes.
Indeed, right across Europe you’ll find railcards for seniors offering discounts as high as 50 per cent on train travel.
These are the cities that I propose if you need to live without cars in Europe.
In my opinion, Paris, where I live part-time, is perhaps the most productive city in the world to do without a car. It has a perfect public transport formula that includes the Paris metro, the RER (explicit suburban train), trams and buses. These will get you anywhere you want to go, in less than 30 minutes.
That said, Paris is a small, flat city. It is readily available and best explored on foot or by bicycle. Public bicycles can also be rented at exercise stations around the city.
Although there is no senior reduction for those traveling on public transport in Paris, the price is low: a single ticket for the city’s metro, bus or RER will cost you €2. 10. For retirees to explore the city outdoors, visitors can take advantage of senior discounts on domestic trains.
Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, has a public transport network that is effective and easy to use. Includes metro, trams, trains, buses, and ferries. The metro is made up of 4 colour-coded lines with service through 55 stations throughout the city. This is the fastest and most relaxing way to get around the city.
In Lisbon, all citizens under the age of 18, students under the age of 23 and people over the age of 65 can freely enjoy the maximum of the city’s public transport, adding the iconic yellow trams.
These iconic yellow trams are wonderful for getting around Lisbon, Portugal.
Since 1901, trams, similar to those in San Francisco, run through the hills of Lisbon for the benefit of pedestrians. Walking can also be a wonderful option to get around Lisbon. It’s incredibly picturesque, but also mountainous. Many streets are paved with cobblestones, which have become slippery after years of use. This can cause disruption for older people and those with mobility problems, so it is important to be aware of this.
Voted as the city offering the world’s best public transport, the German capital, Berlin, is home to an extensive public transport system which includes underground and light-rail trains, buses, trams, and numerous options for e-scooter, bicycle, and motor scooter sharing.
The city offers discounted fares on public transportation for people 65 and older.
Berlin is a great location to explore on foot, it is flat, safe and has wide sidewalks and pedestrian areas. The city is also implementing a pedestrian law for greater accessibility for those who don’t drive here.
One community, many voices. Create a loose account to divide your thoughts.
Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.
To do so, please comply with the posting regulations in our site’s terms of use. We summarize some of those key regulations below. In short, civilians.
Your message will be rejected if we realize that it seems to contain:
User accounts will be blocked if we become aware that users are engaged in:
So, how can you be a user?
Thank you for reading our Community Guidelines. Read the full list of publishing regulations discovered in our site’s terms of use.