Holiday without a car

[WessexWanderer]

Usually in our holidays we go via ferry/tunnel and take our car or we hire a car. But we're wanting to avoid driving this year. We don't mind whether we eurostar/ferry or fly, but once we're there, where's good for public transport in terms of reliable, not too expensive & extensive?

I'm thinking about the summer. Ideally not a big city. I'll be travelling with teens who love outdoor activities. We enjoy the country side - lakes, mountains, coast, anywhere pretty.

Would like to base ourselves in one or two places. And use public transport for days out - eg historical sites, caves, theme parks, activities, experiences etc.

Probably thinking Europe in terms of budget but not ruling out anywhere further afield. Once I've got an area that's easy to explore by public transport I'll look at travel & accommodation costs mote closely.

We went to Lake Garda last year, excellent public transport. Going to Kalkan in Turkey this year and won’t have a car, we’ll use taxis and buses. Have also been to Ile de Re with no car, used buses and hired bikes

I don't drive.
Did Austria last summer, have done Belgium, Spain and Portugal in the past few years.
Public transport in all of these places is excellent.

Fly Geneva, transfer bus to Morzine then you can get a pass for a fe E per day that covers the buses/ski lifts for Mtn biking or walking plus fab outdoor swim complex or lakes to explore.

Or Austria fly to innsbruk and get the train into the mountains- I’ve not done this one but someone shared their experience last year and it sounded fab. Lots of the ski towns now are great summer holiday locations if you like hiking, biking, swimming and lakes.

The German side of Lake Constance for the active bit, then Munich.

Train to Annecy

Thank you, lots of lovely suggestions!

@SilkyEars I'd been wondering about the Italian lakes. Good to know the public transport is good.

@BlindurErBóklausMaður I've never been to Portugal & it would be lovely to go somewhere new. Is the transport good in the countryside & inland?

@TheStormynight The DC would love the Alps & the passes would be great for exploring.

@MinnieMountain I love Germany and have been loads of times. Even lived there for a bit. But somehow never visited Bavaria!

@idontlikealdi Annecy has been on my must-go list for ages! Is it easy to get around once you're there?

Thank you again everyone! Off to google these ideas now!

@WessexWanderer yes it is, and it's a really nice journey down. We hired bikes when we went. It's beautiful and lots to do.

@SilkyEars
Have you been to Kalkan before?
First time for us last year ( we had a car).. never ever been to Turkey before. We either choose the wrong area or it didn't suit us .. and we travel abroad at least 6 times a year and been to over 30 countries..
My gosh is it hilly.
We had a villa and you couldn't walk up and down the hill it was on without zig zaging .
Even the locals did it .
I'm 66 and walk with a stick .. over weight.. yes l wear make up .. Nice clothes hair done... but the amount of Turkish men still trying it on was horrible.
The supermarkets were bare.. no deli counters.
We saw 3 real bad RTA's because no one bothers to keep to their version of the highway code.. ( one definitely fatal).
I agree we can't all like the same thing..
Wasn't for us.. but hope you enjoy it and are very fit.

Have you been to Malta. A super little island and very accessible with local buses.

@Notateacheranymore I've not been to Malta and would love to go. But we think it might be too hot in August. But we only have a few more years of being bound by school holidays so it's definitely one for the future! And good to know that we could go there without hiring a car!