I'm looking for places to visit in Europe where I can fly in, and after EASILY taking public transportation to my hotel, can walk everywhere I want to sightsee.
Here are my desires:
Walk to coffee shops/restaurants that serve delicious local food
Walk for several miles (without encountering busy traffic) to be able to reach scenic places like castles, mountain vistas, forest walks, or walks to nearby villages.
To feel as if I have stepped back somewhat in time
Where is this place?

I think you need to do some homework first and come up with a list of five or six places that appeal to you. Then ask Fodorites which are the most "walkable".

The basic answer to your question is probably everywhere and nowhere:

- Everywhere because, unlike the U.S. for example, many European cities are very accessible on foot and/or public transportation. There will be decent public transit options from the airport, and the city centre will offer a lot of cafes, sights to see, etc.

- Nowhere because it's highly unlikely that: a) any city would fully meet all of the criteria on your list; b) Europe does not operate in a separate space-time continuum where time has stood still (there will be a Starbucks full of iPad-toting tourists near that beautiful 12th century cathedral; and c) you seem to have an idealized image of Europe - so the reality probably won't live up to your dream.

sorry to hear your cynical viewpoint

Your question is confusing because what you are describing <taking public transportation to my hotel, can walk everywhere I want to sightsee> describes a city. Which would have busy traffic. Great cities for a solo traveler that I have been to include: Amsterdam, Paris, Venice, Geneva. I'm sure other places like Berlin, Prague, Barcelona, Florence, and Rome would also be great.

<Forest walks> and coffeeshops/restaurants are likely not in the same place.

All that said, I think some of what you are describing you could find in the mountains of Switzerland. Fly into Geneva or Zurich, then make your way to mountain towns using the trains.

www.venice-tourism.com

www.eurocheapo.com Venice

A magical no car water city great for walking

steeped in art history and culture...

Just stay out of the main tourist areas during peak day hours

Early morning is wonderful B4 crowds arrive.

Have fun,

If you want mountains some smaller swiss and italian towns

like Zermatt St Moritz Cortina www.dolomiti.it

will also work in central areas although naturally beautiful

not as much history of culture.

Happy Hunting,

If you post your question on the regular *Europe* forum, you'll get LOTS more replies and suggestions.

(Not too many people read this "Travel Tips & Trip Ideas" column.)

I sense a bit of a contradiction...a small town, in Switzerland for example, might have minimal public transit (not needed) and offer walks into nature.

A place with good public transit would imply a city, in which case the nature walks would be local (often large) parks.

Paris, Amsterdam, London, Vienna qualify for good transit, but not the latter.

Or...do you mean transit to get you between small towns (like France's SNCF), then walks outside of the towns.

Maybe I'm confused.

Munich.

"Or...do you mean transit to get you between small towns (like France's SNCF), then walks outside of the towns."

Yes, that's what I meant. I fly to some point, take bus, train (some form of public transportation) to a hotel. From the hotel, I then enjoy my vacation where I walk to whatever I want OR I take more public transportation (bus, train) to a point where I walk.I just don't want to rent a car.
I am interested in people's recommendations of walks they have enjoyed. There are companies (hfholidays "walking and outdoor holidays" or Country Walker) which do similar vacations, but I wanted to hear forum people's suggestions.
I listed a bunch of things I enjoy (mountain scenery, forest walks, castles, quaint villages) not as an all inclusive "must do together in one place" list, but rather to give an idea of the types of things I enjoy looking at when I am walking.
I don't have a set place in mind====I am entirely open to hearing people's ideas.

I would recommend Paris as a great city to visit and which has an easily accessible public transportation system. Vienna is also very good. I've been to Rome and walked to everywhere I wanted to go, although there is public transportation. Lyon in France has a superb public transportation system and it is also possible visit Old Lyon on foot.

Walkable small towns/countryside connected by public transit would be places like Cinque Terre in Italy, the Cotswolds in England, the Berner Oberland in Switzerland. Of course, because these are more countryside/small town, you have to fly into a major airport in another city and then take the train to reach a smaller town for a base from which to explore.

The place you describing is Edinburgh, with spectacular Arthur's Seat and easy to walk tourist destinations. However I greatly would avoid August as the time to visit due to extremely popular Festival.

I don't think car rental is needed in any European city.
You're basing your idea of city structure on US experiences.
As other people have told you--no, they are not cynical--Europe has not stood still in time, and you will have to decide which way you want to face when you sit down. The east German town we used to live in had a church where Martin Luther preached. That church was the easiest landmark for someone looking for the Subway sandwich shop or one of the 2 central city shopping malls In Germany, you can find many examples of technology being used to preserve historical features, save energy, or lessen pollution.
But the answer to your initial question is that European cities have public transport & bike paths, and it is very easy to take a train to nature preserves not far away.

Ditto Edinburgh. They have shuttles to the city and an efficient bus system. The city center is compact (but hilly). A car is more of a nuisance than necessity.

All major cities in Europe don't need a car.

schuler~ But this post also has the stated criteria:

<Walk for several miles (without encountering busy traffic)>

I can't think of any major city in Europe that this will be true.

I disagree. Depending on the route you take, many cities offer such walks. However, there will be times when one needs to cross a busy street but you don't have to necessarily walk beside one.

Anything else is shangri-la.

Suze - after some thought, I agree Edinburgh does offer what the poster is looking for. Amazing little city that grows on you. Do you think the poster would be offended by the lack of "pants" worn by the locals?

Who knows ;-)

The OP was a bit shangri-la-ish imho.