Most European cities work better without a car than with. Here's the honest sort.
Tier 1 — actively car-hostile (good thing)
- Venice: No cars at all. Boats and walking only.
- Dubrovnik Old Town: Pedestrian-only inside walls.
- Munich Altstadt: Pedestrianized core.
- Split Diocletian's Palace: Pedestrian-only.
- Ljubljana: Pedestrianized centre.
- Lisbon Alfama, Porto Ribeira: Streets too narrow for cars.
Tier 2 — excellent transit, no car needed
- Vienna: U-Bahn covers everywhere.
- Berlin: U-Bahn + S-Bahn dense.
- Paris: Metro every 4 min in central areas.
- London: Tube + buses.
- Madrid: 12-line metro.
- Amsterdam: Trams and bikes.
- Most central European cities (Prague, Budapest, Krakow): Excellent transit.
Tier 3 — possible without car but car helpful for day-trips
- Florence: City walkable; car for Tuscany.
- Avignon: City walkable; car for Provence villages.
- Salzburg: City walkable; car for Hallstatt and Sound of Music.
- Tuscan agriturismo: Car essential.
- Greek mainland (Delphi, Meteora): Car or guided tour for non-Athens trips.
Cities where you genuinely need a car
- Iceland Ring Road: Public transit doesn't cover the loop.
- Highland Scotland: Same.
- Norwegian fjords beyond Bergen day-trips: Same.
- Provence villages off the train line: Same.
- Cinque Terre is exception: Trains run, parking is brutal — DON'T bring a car.
Strategy
For European cities, don't bring a car. For European countryside (Tuscany, Provence, Iceland), often you must. Mix: city stays without car + rental car for 2-3 day countryside extension.