The prettiest pedestrian towns in the world

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Innere Stadt, photo by Cha già José

Nowadays, the best way to describe a city is ‘urban jungle’, with high rise buildings, huge crowds and of course, countless, noisy cars. Even smaller towns are turning into miniature versions of the big cities and their constant traffic and bustle, but not all of them. In some towns, it’s possible to experience the joy of walking on the street without keeping an eye out for cars.

The nostalgia for the towns of the past, as well as the preoccupation with health and protecting the environment has lead to a boom in pedestrianized areas in towns and cities, especially in the old centers with historical buildings. So if you feel like taking a relaxing, car-free walk, here are the prettiest pedestrian towns in the world.

Zlarin, Croatia

Zlarin, a small town located on the island of the same name on the Dalmatian coast, has about 1500 inhabitants at the best of time. There are no cars on the island, with the exception of some service tractors, and 4 electrically powered golf carts. Zlarin nothing if not picturesque, and it is a great place to learn about Croatian traditions.

Innere Stadt, Vienna, Austria

The old town of Vienna, where many of its most interesting tourist attractions are located, is blessedly car-free around St Stephen’s Cathedral. The Innere Stadt, or inner city, used to be encircled by city walls, and it is located literally at the center of the city, surrounded by all the other districts. Some of the most popular sights in Innere Stadt include the Albertina museum, the Hofburg Imperial Palace, and the Vienna State Opera.

Halibut Cove, Alaska

photo by James Brooks

Halibut Cove cannot really be said to be pedestrian, because there is not way of getting around the town on foot. Halibut Cove is, in fact, one of the few floating towns in the world.

Everything in Halibut Cove can be accessed only by water taxi or boat. While there aren’t any traditional tourist attractions, there is a floating coffee shop, a floating post office, and lots of artists’ shops and other businesses.

Mackinac Island, Michigan

The entire island of Mackinac is car-free, and the only means of transport in the little town of the same name are bikes and horse-drawn cars (motorized vehicles have been prohibited since the turn of the 20th century). There is a lot to see and do in town: walking around and enjoying the scenery, and trying some of the countless fudge-shops that are the town’s trademark.

Matheran, Maharashtra, India

photo by McKay Savage

Matheran is a lovely hill station in the Western Ghats mountain range, and the smallest hill station in India. In order to keep the town free of pollution, cars are strictly prohibited, and both residents and tourists get around on horses or on foot.

The station is very peaceful despite the large number or visitors, and it has lots of lookout points that allow you to admire the spectacular surrounding region.

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