Ditch the rental car: These eight cities will get you into the great outdoors on really great public transport

If you’re used to driving everywhere, the idea of using public transit in a foreign city may seem strange or intimidating. But as someone who has road-tested rental car insurance abroad, I assure you, nothing is more freeing than not having to navigate international road signs or opposite-side driving. 

Or if you’re firmly anti-car but still looking for an outdoor adventure, you’re in luck: These eight cities have public transit systems so good, they’ll take you right to the hiking, skiing, paddling, and even sledding epicenters. 

Berlin, Germany, for a mix of history and urban nature

History buffs already know that Berlin is a fascinating place to visit. Less known is that Berlin is also an underrated city for outdoor adventure. The city’s public transportation network offers incredible access to green spaces within the city center and beyond. In the Tiergarten, a huge park in the center of the city with forested trails and ponds with rowboats, you can find corners where you feel miles away from city life. Grunewald, a massive forest park in the southwest, is also easily accessed by bus. 

For an adventurous history tour, you can cycle between East and West Berlin with Berlin on Bike, whose guides will kindly answer endless questions about how the city has changed. For a fee, the Berlin Welcome Card gives visitors unlimited access to public transit across the city, plus free or discounted entry to 180 museums and attractions.

Zermatt, Switzerland, for cable cars across the Alps 

It’s impossible to talk about impressive public transit without at least mentioning Switzerland, where trains are so timely people get annoyed if they’re two minutes behind schedule. I’ve been on several visits around the country using exclusively trains, buses, and cable cars, and I’ve been impressed with how far you can get without a vehicle. 

Even the smallest mountain towns and car-free villages in Switzerland are remarkably well-connected by trains and buses, so it’s hard to make a wrong decision about where to start. Zermatt, however, offers some of the most intriguing options. The new Matterhorn Alpine Crossing connects the Swiss and Italian Alps by cable car, and there’s no shortage of hiking and skiing opportunities you can access from the town. 

If the Matterhorn is old news to you, however, you can take the train two hours north to Mörel, where cable cars will take you right to the trailhead for the Aletsch Glacier Trail. Or you could visit Saas-Fee, a car-free mountain town about 90 minutes from Zermatt by train and bus. Aside from abundant skiing there, you can also hike the Fee Gorge. You’ll need to be clipped in for a series of ladders, ledges, and swings that zig-zags through the gorge to the town of Saas-Grund, where you can catch a bus back to town or onward for the next adventure.

A multi-country Interrail or Eurail pass will cover you for Swiss trains. A Swiss Travel Pass will grant you access to buses and boats, too, plus discounts on many cable cars and free admission to 500 museums nationwide. 

Kyoto, Japan, for serene temples, gardens, and onsens

Japan, well-connected by lightning-fast trains, is another destination where it’s hard to choose just one city. If you’re looking for somewhere to start, however, make Kyoto your first stop to explore the region and then go beyond the city sights. The Sagano Romantic Train is a gorgeous scenic railroad through western Kyoto, and a great way to get to the famous Arishiyama Bamboo Forest. In the rural area of Ohara, you’ll find the Sanzenin Temple, a stunning place to enjoy a silent moment, a matcha ritual, and peaceful walking paths through well-manicured forests and moss gardens. 

From Kyoto, it’s a 3.5-hour train ride onward to Kinosaki Onsen, a relaxing basecamp for hot springs, mountain, and beach adventures around the region. 

Kinosaki is a small, walkable town with seven public onsen, or hot springs, and it’s customary to wear your yukata—like a thin cotton bathrobe—all around town. Onsen rules usually require guests to soak nude in gender-separated areas, and traditionally they ban guests with tattoos. In Kinsokai, however, all seven onsen are tattoo-friendly.

Beyond town, the Kinosaki Ropeway is a small cablecar leading to a hike with stunning views of Toyooka’s seaside mountains. Afterwards, rent a sea kayak to paddle around the rock formations and caves along the coast.

Kufstein, Austria, for free transit directly into the Alps

The Alps of Tyrol, Austria, are some of the most dramatic peaks I have ever seen. From the town of Kufstein, easily accessible from Salzburg by train, you can ride a bike or take a bus to a wealth of hiking trails and cultural and outdoor activities. I enjoyed biking from town to the base of the Kaiserlift, a stunning single-seater chairlift with access to over 600 miles of hiking trails. 

For swimmers and hikers alike, Egelsee is a gorgeous lake, with hiking trails that lead across the border to nearby Germany. If you stay in a hotel in town, you’ll get a Kufsteinerland Guest Card for free, which provides unlimited free public transportation during your stay, unlimited rides on the city bike network, and free admission to attractions including the Kaiserlift, 800-year-old Kufstein Fortress, and the Riedel glass factory, where the quick work of skilled glassblowers is mesmerizing to watch.

The England Coast Path, United Kingdom, for 2,800 miles of well-connected hikes

Britain’s public transport systems are vastly underrated. I have traveled all over the United Kingdom by train, bus, and ferry, including many weeks hiking sections of the England Coast Path from Cornwall in the southwest to Northumberland in the northeast. 

Along this trail, I’ve taken boat tours to spy on seals in Norfolk and puffins, dolphins, and seals around the Farne Islands of Northumberland. I’ve seen dramatic sea stacks in Dorset and the famous Seven Sisters chalk cliffs in East Sussex, and I’ve lost track of how many castles I’ve toured. With a rare taxi to save time, I’ve accessed all of this by train and bus from London. With so many coastal communities along the way, you can show up pretty much anywhere along this 2,795-mile trail and hike as far as you like, then catch a bus or train back to your home base. Just be sure to check bus schedules in advance, as they often have limited hours on weekends.

Oslo, Norway, for city skiing and the world’s best sledding

Scandinavia has trains, buses, and ferries figured out. One place that’s a particularly good base camp for outdoor adventure is Oslo, which is easy to reach by plane, train, and even ferry, from other parts of Europe. There’s no shortage of outdoor fun within city limits, and it’s all easily accessible on the metro—where you’ll often spot locals toting skis in the wintertime. 

Even more exciting is Korketrekkeren, the best sledding hill you could dream of: A 1.3 mile (2-kilometer) corkscrew of a trail with metro stops right at the top and bottom, so you never need to hike back up for another run. Don’t skip the trail from Old Town to the Ekebergsparken Sculpture Park, where you can find the spot that inspired Edward Munch to paint “Scream,” or the Holmenkollen Ski Museum and Tower, where you can find panoramic city views, the world’s largest collection of winter gear, and the world’s oldest skis. 

Tulum, Mexico, for a gateway to jungles and ruins of the Yucatán Peninsula 

Tren Maya has been a controversial project, but for visitors it’s good news. Now, you can fly into Tulum and take a train right from the airport into the city, and beyond. While Tulum may be most known for its beach resorts, it’s a great basecamp to explore the ancient remains of Mayan cities, jungle wildlife, and pristine cenotes—limestone sinkholes with crystal-clear water—across the Yucatán. 

In and around Tulum, you can catch colectivos—kind of like a mini-bus or shared taxi—to tourist sites beyond the city center. And when you’re ready to go onward, Tren Maya will take you to cities and sites you’re less likely to see on Instagram, such as Valladolid, a charming and lesser-known town that makes a great gateway to the Chichen Itza and Ek Balam ruins.

Stockholm, Sweden, for ferries into the peaceful Archipelago 

Stockholm’s transit system is best-known for the art installations in its metro stations, which are worth spending a day underground to explore. The city’s ferry network, however, doesn’t get nearly enough acclaim. Stockholm is made up of 14 islands, after all, and ferries are often the most efficient way to get around. Year- round, you’ll find outdoor pursuits throughout the city. 

In the summer, don’t miss walking or biking through Djurgården, a remarkably peaceful city park. The Rosendals Trädgård has a bright cafe with locally-grown ingredients right on the edge of a pick-your-own flower garden. In winter, you’ll find locals ice skating across the city’s ponds and lakes, plus a dozen nearby ski slopes and cross-country ski tracks.

From the city center, you can also take ferries to islands throughout the Stockholm Archipelago, where you’ll find peace and quiet on hiking trails year-round. The brand-new Stockholm Archipelago Trail uses ferries to connect a string of these islands, incorporating 168 miles of trails on 22 islands.

***
Adventure.com strives to be a low-emissions travel publication. We are powered by, but editorially independent of, Intrepid Travel, the world’s largest travel B Corp, who help ensure Adventure.com maintains high standards of sustainability in our work and activities. You can visit our sustainability page or read our Contributor Impact Guidelines for more information.