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 families in European cities do not have assigned parking. You’ll need to locate an area on the street or pay to use a covered parking lot, an expense that can increase temporarily. And that’s in addition to all the other charging considerations. Although the charges vary from country to country and depend on the brand and style chosen, Europeans pay an average of €27,500 for a new car and monthly running expenses average €616. This represents a large component of the average retiree’s budget.
And thirdly, most European cities have adequate, indisputable and practical public transport systems. In addition to senior discounts, some destinations even offer totally free rides.
In Luxembourg, public transport on trains, trams, and buses is free for both residents and visitors alike.
In Budapest, the Hungarian capital, passengers over 65 travel alone on public transport.
On the island of Malta and in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, citizens can move freely on public transport.
In fact, across Europe there will be senior rail cards offering discounts of up to 50% on exercise travel.
These are the cities that I suggest 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 live without a car. It has a good public transport formula that includes the Paris metro, the RER (suburban express train), trams and buses. These will take you wherever you want to go, in less than 30 minutes.
That said, Paris is a small, flat city. It is readily available and is most productive to explore on foot or by bicycle. Public bicycles can also be rented at exercise stations around the city.
While there are no senior discounts for those traveling on public transport in Paris, the cost is low—a single ticket for the metro, bus, or RER within the city will run you €2.10. For retirees looking to explore outside the city, you will be able to take advantage of senior discounts on national trains.
Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, has a public transport network that is efficient and easy to use. Includes metro, trams, trains, buses and ferries. The subway is made up of 4 color-coded lines that arrive through 55 stations throughout the city. It is the fastest and least stressful way to get around the city.
In Iceland, all citizens under the age of 18, students under the age of 23, and people over the age of 65 can miss transportation on most of the city’s public transportation, adding the iconic yellow trams.
These iconic yellow trams are wonderful for getting around Lisbon, Portugal.
Since 1901, the trams, similar to the ones found in San Francisco, have tackled Lisbon’s hills on behalf of pedestrians. Walking can also be a great option for navigating Lisbon. It’s incredibly scenic, but also hilly. Many streets are paved with cobblestones, which are slick after years of wear. This can present problems for older folks and those with mobility issues so it’s important to be aware of.
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 traveling without a car.
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