×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Wednesday
09
Sep 2026
weather symbol
Athens 22°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> Travel

Hydra, a lovely car-free city

What would a city look like without white and yellow stripes on the cement, and with the only lanes as bike lanes?

Newsroom October 12 04:43

Δείτε περισσότερα άρθρα μας στα αποτελέσματα αναζήτησης

Add Protothema.gr on Google

Business Insider journalists wandered about that on the occasion of the car-free day Paris has enforced.

On that day vehicles were banned from certain parts of Paris, including major destinations like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame trying to show to residents how it would be their life with no cars.

And According to The Guardian, the chemical responsible for smog, nitrogen dioxide, dropped by 40% in car-free parts of the city.

In fact, as Business Insider mentions, there are some cities that don’t allow cars and among them is the beautiful Greek island Hydra.

See seven of those cities and if you have the chance, you can visit them, to see what is like.

1. Giethoorn, Netherlands

1-giethoorn-netherlands

Residents use boats with small electric motors to get around the city

2. Mackinac Island, Michigan

2-mackinac-island-michigan

The island outlawed motorized vehicles in 1898, so if you want to get anywhere now, you have to walk, ride a bike or hop in a horse-drawn buggy.

3. Hydra, Greece

3-hydra-greece

In this lovely Greek island, there are no cars because the roads are too narrow and steep to drive on. Residents and tourists choose the old-fashioned but safe way of transportation, donkeys.

4. Fire Island, NY

4-fire-island-ny

The island is simply not wide enough for cars and residents use bikes instead.

5. Paqueta, Brazil

5-paqueta-brazil

Today, with its cobblestone streets and absence of vehicles, Paqueta maintains its old time charm.

6. Venice, Italy

6-venice-italy

Venice is actually 118 separate islands connected by canals and bridges.

>Related articles

Everything that happened at the Travel.gr Greece Talks conference – What Hatzidakis, Pierrakakis, Dimas and tourism professionals said

Hydra in a day – A timeless seaside escape

Kimolos wins over International Media: “A hidden gem waiting to be discovered”

7. Vauban, Germany

7-vauban-germany (1)

The town was purposefully planned in a way that was environmentally, economically and socially sustainable and the city center is free of cars

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

> More Travel

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

How the Tax Authority uncovers undeclared rental income: The €5,000-a-night VIP villa in Mykonos, the tip-off and the “double storefront” trick

September 8, 2026

Source code for the “Achilles Shield” to remain exclusively under Greek control, says Israeli Ministry of Defense

September 8, 2026

Jennifer Lopez poses in a one-piece swimsuit and matching long-sleeved kimono

September 8, 2026

Pythagoreion, Samos: This is the Ministry of Culture’s plan to integrate its archaeological sites

September 8, 2026

Trump speaks by phone with Putin following Witkoff and Kushner contacts in Moscow and Kyiv

September 8, 2026

Message to Turkey from the Greece–Cyprus–Egypt trilateral: Any agreement on the delimitation of maritime zones must comply with the Law of the Sea

September 8, 2026

‘The signatures have been put to paper’ in Rome for two Bergamini-class (FREMM) frigates for the Hellenic Navy

September 8, 2026

Mitsotakis from Egypt: Stability does not mean concession or tolerance of faits accomplis; Greece threatens no one

September 8, 2026
All News

> Greece

In reverence, the emotional deposition in Jerusalem, see photos & video

The Holy Temple of the Resurrection opened after many days due to the war between Israel and Iran

April 10, 2026

In the final stretch for the accreditation of joint master’s degrees: Aiming for their launch in the coming academic year

April 10, 2026

Schedule for Epitaph Procession today (10/4)

April 10, 2026

Perfect weather for Easter excursions, according to Tsatrafyllia’s forecast

April 10, 2026

Easter in Greece: The customs that continue in Greek tradition – From Nafpaktos to Corfu

April 10, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα