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Top 5 European Cities That Are Easiest To Get Around And Have The Best Public Transportation

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Anyone who has traveled to a big city knows that getting there is only half the battle. Navigating new urban areas can be overwhelming and expensive if you aren’t prepared. That’s why the travel planning company Omio has researched transportation options across major European cities to come up with a list of the places that are easiest to get around in.

Top 5 European Cities That Are Easiest To Get Around And Have The Best Public Transportation

Omio’s study looked at public transportation links, taxis, and shared mobility transport like shared bikes, scooters, and e-scooters available in 30 European cities. They also took into consideration the price of each mode of transportation to come up with a comprehensive ranking of cities with the most convenient and best-value urban transportation options. These are the top 5 European cities from the study that are the easiest to get around and have good public transportation.

a row of bright green bikes line a bike path in Paris, a european destination

1. Zurich, Switzerland

Switzerland’s largest city topped the ranking in this study. Zurich has plenty of public transportation options, with 15 tram lines, 4 commuter train lines, and 67 bus routes to whisk locals and tourists across the city. The network is efficient and extensive, making travel within Zurich a breeze. The Zurich Airport is also well connected to public transport, making the need for a car obsolete for anyone staying within the city. Trains from the airport to the city’s main train station come every 10 minutes and take just 15 minutes.

a man rides a bike in front of a train in Zurich, a european destination

2. Berlin, Germany

Berlin is a world leader when it comes to shared transportation. Germany’s capital city has tons of options when it comes to sharing programs for e-scooter, bikes, and motorscooters. According to Omio’s study, there are 16 different companies to choose from! Visitors traveling short distances within the city can choose from companies like Lime, Bird, or Tier. Anyone wanting to use a shared bike or scooter can download the relevant company’s app to locate, pay for, and unlock a bike or scooter. Just be sure not to ride on sidewalks or in pedestrian zones, or you will face a fine.

people in Berlin ride on bright red bikes from a bike share program making transportation throughout the city easy

3. Vienna, Austria

The Austrian capital of Vienna is not only well-connected, but it also has affordable transportation choices. Taxi rates are reasonable, as are the shared mobility options. With 2 bike share providers, 7 e-scooter, and 3 motor scooter companies to choose from, getting around without a car is easy. Tickets on the city’s public transportation cost just $2.50, and the average price of a shared motor scooter is just $5.50.

a colorful row of bikes is parked in front of a historic building in Vienna Austria

4. Milan, Italy

Milan is a good option for travelers who are looking to get around on the cheap. The city’s Metro offers a tourist pass allowing visitors to explore Milan using the metro, tram, or bus system for an affordable price. A three-day MilanoCard is $20 and includes $5 towards a taxi and a free coffee. The Milano Card also provides discounts at some of the city’s top attractions and can be customized to also include airport transfers at an additional cost.

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A red city metro sign is displayed in front of a majestic church in Milan, Italy

5. Paris, France

Visitors to Paris will be able to see all of the city’s top sights via the intricate RATP system, which includes an efficient metro and an extensive bus network. You’ll also find bike and e-scooter shares all over the city, with 11 different companies to choose from. Because there are so many shared mobility companies, the rates are competitive and are a great option for inner-city travel in Paris.

a woman riding a train looks out the window to see the Eiffel tower

Other Cities That Are Easy To Navigate

Omio’s inner-city mobility study looked at transportation options across 30 top cities in Europe. Other cities that ranked in the top 10 for transport options and affordability include:

A view of the incline and Bica tram, Lisbon, Portugal
  • Porto, Portugal
  • Lisbon, Portugal
  • Brussels, Belgium
  • Warsaw, Poland
  • Frankfurt am Main, Germany

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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.


Ken

Wednesday 15th of March 2023

The fact that Prague is not in the top 5 is crazy. I didn't find Milan as easy to get around as Prague. Between the metro, tram, bus and train; you would find it hard to be out of walking distance from public transport in Prague. Also, the signage and directions are clear.

Crisco

Monday 26th of December 2022

You have got to add Prague on nr. 2 or even same as Zürich... I've lived in Prague for 8 yrs, now in Züri, and they are absolutely comparable in this respect...

NM

Monday 19th of December 2022

Please! Have you never been to Budapest??!I think you need to edit your article.Disappointed.

Dee

Sunday 18th of December 2022

Warsaw, Istanbul & Budapest came to mind immediately.

H

Sunday 18th of December 2022

I found Prague's metro and tram system extremely easy to use.

Crisco

Monday 26th of December 2022

@Marco, like any crowded public transport in a big city... In Züri there are security agents deployed on almost every s-bahn line lately, because of the increase in robberies...

Marco

Monday 19th of December 2022

@H, indeed it is. However, it's a place to be robbed! That was my experience...