Islands Without Cars

Eigg and Easdale are part of the Hebridean islands, which lie off the West coast of Scotland. Eigg features beautiful moors, beaches composed of white quartz and historic ruins that include Iron Age forts, Viking burial mounds and more. At less than a mile in length, Easdale is the smallest permanently inhabited island of the Inner Hebrides.

Located between 30 and 40 miles off the North German coast, Heligoland is a rocky island in the North Sea and Germany's only non-coastal island. It features vertical cliffs dropping nearly 200 feet into the waters below and is the only such formation in the North Sea. Except for two taxis and a police car, automobiles are verboten.

The Venetian Lagoon in northeastern Italy is dotted with dozens of inhabited islands. Kira explores two where cars are restricted. Venice, long considered the most beautiful and romantic city in the world, is also Europe's largest urban car-free area and is recognized by UNESCO. Burano is a tiny island which has been a colorfully curated home to generations of lace makers, artists, and fishermen.

Just off Sweden’s southwestern coastline is the small island archipelago dotting the North Sea, including Marstrandson, Styrso, the largest island, and Vrango, where Kira experiences some of the understated elements of Swedish hospitality.

Michigan’s Mackinac Island is celebrated as an idealized American sense of community that feels “somewhere in time.” June is Lilac Festival time, and the popular Lilac Parade is featured. The island is famous for historic Victorian mansions, horse-drawn carriages, the iconic Grand Hotel and the island specialty, fudge!

Across the North Sea from Amsterdam and with only 900 residents, the island of Schiermonnikoog is the least densely populated municipality in the Netherlands. There is one supermarket, one bakery, and an unblemished beach stretching for miles where the Frisian Islanders come to commune with nature and each other.