Just hop on board: Europe's cities without a ticket
Hop on without a second thought: What many have come to know and appreciate with the Deutschlandticket (Germany Ticket) is already a reality in some European cities – and it's free. No ticket, no fare zone map, no stress at the ticket machine or during ticket checks. Instead, you get cleaner air, less traffic noise, and a more relaxed city experience. However, tourists sometimes still have to pay. We have the details for you.
In this country, public transport is free for everyone.
In Luxembourg Public transport has been free since March 1, 2020 – throughout the entire country, for both tourists and residents. With this, Luxembourg has set a milestone for greater climate protection, improved quality of life, and a reduction in car traffic – benefiting citizens and tourists alike. The regulation applies to buses, trains, and trams. Only first-class train journeys require a ticket – otherwise, simply hop on and relax. This makes spontaneous trips easy and lowers the barrier to entry. The impact is measurable: in 2019, only 25 million people used public transport in Luxembourg; by 2025, this number had increased by approximately 6 million.
Free public transport in Dunkirk, France
In the French port city of Dunkirk, the Bus transport Completely free since 2018. DK'BUS buses run so frequently between 5:30 a.m. and 22:30 p.m. that you quickly run out of excuses for driving. For its fifth anniversary in 2022, the city celebrated a doubling of passenger numbers from 9 million (2017) to 20 million. In Dunkirk on the North Sea coast, the motto is also: just hop on – no ticket required.
Free public transport in Belgrade, Serbia
Since 1 January 2025, the Public transport in the Balkan metropolis of Belgrade Free of charge. This applies to buses and the BG train. The A1 shuttle bus to the airport and the minibus express lines (E lines) are excluded – tickets for these can be purchased directly on board. All other journeys are free.
German cities where you can travel by train and bus for free
augsburg
The city augsburg It enchants its visitors with its blend of historic old town, narrow streets, and numerous canals. In the Downtown You can travel for free on public transport through the so-called "city zone". This zone is one stop from each of the transport hubs "Königsplatz" and "Moritzplatz" is now removed. You only need a ticket if you travel beyond this zone. You can find more information here.
Erlangen
The same applies in the city center of Erlangen: From Werner-von-Siemens-Straße in the south to the Haagstraße and Schwabachanlage stops in the north, and from the bus station in the west to the Zollhaus stop in the east, bus services are free of charge – according to the current status, at least until December 2026. You can find more information here.
Pfaffenhofen
The small town lies in the heart of Bavaria, surrounded by hop gardens. Pfaffenhofen. Here, all residents and visitors can use the city bus free of charge and without a ticket. This applies to both regular buses and express buses, which must be booked in advance. You can find more information here.
Heiligenhafen
Also in Heiligenhafen on the Baltic Sea Since August 1, 2024, you can travel free of charge on buses throughout the city – even to the beautiful beaches – without needing proof of purchase. This applies to lines 1, 570, 574, 576, 577, 580, and 590. You can find more information here.
Hanau
In Hesse HanauSince February 14, 2026, all buses of the Hanauer Straßenbahn GmbH (HSB) can travel within a seven-stop area of Hanau, the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm. City zone can be used free of charge. You can find more information here.
FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT: IT'S WORTH A CLOSER LOOK
CONCLUSION
Three interesting articles on the topic of "traveling without a car":
5 PLACES: ON HOLIDAY WITHOUT A CAR
EXCITING HIKING TOURS IN THE ZUGSPITZ REGION WITHOUT A CAR
FIVE MOUNTAIN PLACES THAT ARE EASILY REACHABLE WITHOUT A CAR
© Photos: Pexels / Mutecevvil; unsplash / Hannah Reding; Pexels / Mikkel Kvist, Miguel Cuenca, Tim Baumeister
Ina Hiester
Ina is a digital nomad and travels through Europe by land and sea. The journalist is always on the lookout for special places for Good Travel, philosophizes about travel in her column, takes photographs, makes music and writes articles on all kinds of environmental and sustainability topics.
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