Unearth The Voyage
Across Europe, a handful of islands have said goodbye to cars, inviting travelers to slow down and explore by bike or on foot. These peaceful havens offer a refreshing escape from traffic jams and honking horns. Pack a picnic basket, hop on a ferry, and discover twelve enchanting islands where life moves at a gentler pace.
1. Spetses, Greece
Belle-Époque mansions peek through fragrant pine forests on this elegant island where cars are nearly extinct. A ten-minute boat ride from the Peloponnese coast transports you to a place where bicycles outnumber engines. The coastal road loops around the island, shaded by pines that perfume the warm air.
Rent a bike at the harbor and pedal toward Zogeria beach, where turquoise water laps against smooth pebbles. Pack cheese, olives, and crusty bread for a shady lunch under the trees. The municipality takes its car ban seriously, reminding visitors that this island belongs to pedal power and footsteps.
Circle back through the old town as twilight softens the stone facades.
2. Iona, Scotland (Inner Hebrides)
An ancient abbey rises from emerald grass on this tiny Scottish island where saints once walked and cars never will. Iona enforces a formal Prohibition of Vehicles order, keeping its sacred landscape unspoiled. You’ll leave your car on neighboring Mull and cross by passenger ferry, stepping into centuries of quiet history.
Shell-sand beaches glow white against impossibly blue water, while footpaths wind across heather-covered moorland. Cycle the mellow lanes or simply wander, listening to waves and wind. Pack a thermos of tea and head to the North End dunes, where big skies stretch toward the island of Staffa.
The light here changes by the minute, silver and gold dancing across the waves.
3. Sark, Channel Islands
Cliffs plunge into foaming sea on an island ruled by horses and bicycles, not combustion engines. Sark rejected cars entirely, creating a landscape straight from a storybook. Passenger ferries from Guernsey deliver you to a place where horse-drawn carriages still clip-clop along narrow lanes.
Hire a bike the moment you arrive and explore sea caves carved by centuries of Atlantic storms. The La Coupée causeway is your must-see picnic spot—a knife-edge ridge connecting Little Sark to the main island, with dizzying drops on both sides. Spread your blanket and watch seabirds wheel below your feet.
The silence here feels almost tangible, broken only by waves and laughter.
4. Herm, Channel Islands
Shell Beach lives up to its name on this pocket-sized island that advertises absolute quiet. Herm banned cars completely, leaving only footpaths and the sound of waves. A twenty-minute ferry from Guernsey delivers you to shores where turquoise water rivals the Caribbean.
The entire coastal path can be walked in an afternoon, winding past wildflower meadows and rocky coves. Pack sandwiches and fruit, then claim your spot on Shell Beach where millions of tiny shells create the softest sand imaginable. Children build castles while parents doze in the sun, free from the worry of traffic.
The island feels like a secret, even though ferries run regularly throughout the warm months.
5. Hydra, Greece
Whitewashed houses tumble down hillsides like sugar cubes, and the only traffic you’ll encounter wears four hooves. Hydra outlawed motor vehicles decades ago, preserving its timeless charm. Donkeys carry luggage up narrow stone lanes while water taxis ferry visitors to hidden coves.
Frequent ferries from Piraeus port make the journey in about ninety minutes, dropping you into a world frozen in the most beautiful way. Grab some flaky pastries from a local bakery and hike up to Kamini village. Settle on a rock overlooking the harbor as the sun melts into the Aegean, painting the sky in shades of apricot and rose.
Greece tightened enforcement recently to keep this gem vehicle-free forever.
6. Vlieland, Netherlands (Wadden Islands)
Endless dunes roll like frozen waves across this Dutch island where visitors must leave their cars behind. Vlieland grants vehicle exemptions so rarely that cycling becomes the natural rhythm of life. Ferries from Harlingen carry bikes and backpacks, but not engines.
Superb cycle ways crisscross the island, leading through bird-rich wetlands and across sandy expanses that seem to stretch forever. Pedal toward Vuurboetsduin, where a red-and-white lighthouse watches over the North Sea. Climb the dune nearby with your picnic basket and spread out lunch with panoramic views of wind-sculpted landscape.
Seabirds call overhead while the wind whispers through marram grass, creating a symphony of natural sounds.
7. Schiermonnikoog, Netherlands
One village sits on an entire national park island where cars are virtually extinct. Schiermonnikoog keeps its policy strict—park on the mainland at Lauwersoog and board the ferry as a pedestrian or cyclist. The island greets you with vast beaches that seem to go on forever, backed by dunes that shift with every storm.
Classic Dutch scenery unfolds as you cycle through polders where sheep graze and water reflects enormous skies. Head west toward Westerstrand for your picnic, timing it for sunset when the North Sea glows molten gold. The horizon swallows the sun while you sip coffee from your thermos, completely alone except for the occasional seal.
8. La Graciosa, Spain (Canary Islands)
Sandy streets replace pavement on this Canary island where movement happens by foot, bike, or licensed taxi only. La Graciosa refuses to pave its roads, keeping its wild character intact. Twenty-five-minute ferries from Lanzarote land you in Caleta de Sebo, where fat-tyre bikes wait for rent.
Pedal across volcanic trails toward virgin beaches that see more seabirds than people. Playa de las Conchas offers the most dramatic picnic spot—wild Atlantic swells crash against golden sand while Montana Clara island rises offshore. Arrive early with plenty of water and something to create shade, because this beach bakes under the subtropical sun.
The island feels like the edge of the world, beautifully untamed.
9. Cíes Islands, Spain (Galicia)
Strict visitor caps protect these Atlantic islands where vehicles never set wheel. Part of a national park, the Cíes require advance authorization during peak season—a small price for paradise. Seasonal ferries from Vigo, Cangas, or Baiona deliver lucky visitors to shores often called among Europe’s most beautiful.
Hiking replaces driving here, with marked trails climbing to viewpoints where the Atlantic stretches to infinity. Follow the path down to Praia de Rodas and spread your picnic blanket on sand so white it almost hurts your eyes. The curved beach connects two islands, creating a natural lagoon of turquoise calm.
Bring everything you need because services are minimal by design, preserving this precious ecosystem.
10. Île d’Aix, France (Charente-Maritime)
Napoleon once walked these ramparts on a petite island frozen in time. Île d’Aix banned cars completely, preserving its historic charm and quiet lanes. Ferries from Fouras-les-Bains run according to tides, adding a touch of adventure to your arrival.
Rent a bike and circle past Vauban-era forts that once defended France from invaders. Big Atlantic skies arch overhead as you pedal toward Plage de l’Anse de la Croix, where fort-dotted views make the perfect picnic backdrop. The island measures barely more than a mile across, small enough to explore thoroughly in a single afternoon.
Yet somehow it feels spacious, with room to breathe and wander without schedules or rush.
11. Porquerolles, France (Îles d’Hyères)
Pine forests exhale their resin perfume on this Mediterranean jewel where motor vehicles stay prohibited in the park core. Porquerolles sits just fifteen ferry minutes from La Tour Fondue, yet feels worlds away from mainland bustle. Vineyards stripe the interior while blindingly white coves punctuate the coastline.
Bike hire stations wait right by the quay, ready to equip you for exploration. Pedal through dappled shade toward Plage Notre-Dame, consistently ranked among France’s finest beaches. The sand glows almost white against water in impossible shades of blue and green. Spread your blanket under umbrella pines and feast on baguette, cheese, and chilled rosé.
Time slows to Mediterranean pace here, measured in sun and waves.
12. Silba, Croatia (Zadar archipelago)
At peak season, even bicycles get banned from the village core on this supremely serene Croatian island. Silba takes its quiet seriously, creating a refuge from modern noise. Passenger ferries and catamarans from Zadar follow seasonal timetables, delivering visitors to piney footpaths and shallow coves.
Off-season allows biking, but walking suits the island’s contemplative mood better anyway. Wander toward Šotorišće beach where turquoise water stays shallow for dozens of yards, perfect for families and lazy floating. Spread your picnic on smooth rocks under the shade of Mediterranean pines. The water glows so clear you can count pebbles on the bottom.
Silba whispers rather than shouts, rewarding those who listen carefully.
