Poole divides into a walkable centre and a string of beaches three miles away, and the trick is knowing which to walk and which to ride.
On foot
The station, the High Street, the Old Town and the Quay are all within a fifteen-minute walk of each other. The Cockle Trail links the historic buildings on a marked route through the Old Town, free and self-guided.
By bus
Buses connect the town centre and Quay to Canford Cliffs, Branksome and Sandbanks. In high summer this is genuinely faster than driving once you count the time spent looking for a space.
By boat
Boats run from the Quay to Brownsea Island and round the harbour. The chain ferry crosses the harbour mouth to Studland in four minutes and takes cars, bikes and walkers.
By bike
The land around the harbour is flat and the shoreline paths run for miles. See cycling in Poole for routes.
By car
If you must drive, read car parking first.