For many people, vacation means an escape from the city. For many others, though, it’s an escape to the city. The world has a lot of cities rich in culture, history, architecture, and more. When you visit a city, it’s nice if it’s walkable. That saves money on car rentals and reduces the hassles of coordinating schedules around public transportation. The following are 20 world cities that are friendly to those on their feet.
These cities are chosen for their walkability, which enhances the visitor experience by making exploration straightforward and immersive. By prioritizing places where you can meander from one site to another on foot, travel becomes not just about the destination but also about the journey between its highlights.
Florence, Italy
This city often tops or comes close to the top of many lists of the world’s most walkable cities. Example: It takes just 10 minutes to walk between the famous Ponte Vecchio Bridge and the iconic Cathedral of Santa Maria, where you’ll find the world’s largest brick dome.
Athens, Greece
The ancient ruins at the Acropolis tower above the city’s skyline. Because they’re so concentrated, it’s easy to walk from one to another. Back in the city itself, you’ll find many pedestrian-friendly outings for visiting restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions.
Istanbul, Turkey
This is one of the largest cities in the world, but it’s amazingly walkable. That’s because a lot of its most famous nights are often very close to one another. You’ll also love the winding streets that lend a sense of adventure to touring the city.
Bordeaux, France
This city is the unofficial world capital for food and wine lovers. After enjoying one or both, you can take a foot tour of the impressive UNESCO World Heritage Center located in the city.
London, England
Although London is well known for its Underground trains and black taxis, it’s also a very walkable city. In the eastern sections, visit the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge. In the western section, go for a stroll or just relax in Hyde Park after visiting Buckingham Palace.
Cape Town, South Africa
One of the best walking tours here is a visit to the city’s waterfront. When you’re ready for something different, hike up Table Mountain for what’s considered one of the best views in Africa.
Paris, France
There’s so much to see and do on foot here that you’ll want to set aside at least three days, maybe adding in rest days since your feet will be so tired at the end of each walking one. Walking along the Seine accesses gardens and famous buildings, including the Eiffel Tower. Or go for a stroll in the Latin Quarter, where you’ll find the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral. The options are nearly endless.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Here, you have a hillside town on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, and the entire town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Another reason this town favors foot travel is that it has cobblestone streets, not exactly the most comfortable to drive on.
New York, New York
New Ypork is very pedestrian-friendly as long as you don’t try to cross the street, or so the joke goes. Really, though, New York is one of the best cities in the world to explore on foot, namely because it’s so big and there’s so much to see and do. Just a day in Manhattan might take you to Broadway, Times Square, famous stores, iconic skyscrapers, and so much more.
Vancouver, British Columbia
The people of Vancouver have a reputation for being active and outdoors-minded, and the city’s design reflects that. And the city’s natural surroundings make it one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Many parks and walks mix shoreline access, mountain views, and cultural landmarks.
Munich, Germany
In a country known for luxury and performance cars, plus the Autobahn, you might not expect cities that are pedestrian-friendly. Munich proves that wrong, though, as the city center is practically designed for pedestrian usage.Shopping, sightseeing, and dining all await, and the biggest challenge is narrowing down choices for the time you have.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh is a pleasing mix of the histotic and the contemporary. One of the best pedestrian outings is the Royal Mile, which connects Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace.
Boston, Massachusetts
The coolest thing about a walking tour of Boston is that you’re literally walking in the footsteps of history and the people who made it. Not everything there has to be about colonial history and the Revolutionary War, though; try the Harborwalk along the waterfront for great views of the harbor and the city.
Venice, Italy
Venice is world-famous for its canals and the gondolas that carry lovers through them, but it’s also a great city for walking around. The narrow streets have a labyrinthine feel, but instead of getting lost, you always discover something incredible.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Venice isn’t the only city famous for canals. To extend the city center back in the 1500s, city planners authorized the construction of canals. There are now 165 of them in all, and they span 60 miles. UNESCO has recognized the city center as a World Heritage Site for its innovative engineering and unique urban planning.
Prague, Czech Republic
Over 50% of this city, the national capital, is covered in urban greenery; that, combined with several historic landmarks, makes Prague one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Pedestrian zones such as Old Town, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, make it easy to see all the major landmarks on foot in a day.
Chicago, Illinois
After the Great Fire of 1871, there was an effort to reimagine city planning here, and it paid off. Today, Chicago is rated #4 among the most walkable cities in the country. Its many walking paths connect people to many local amenities they can enjoy.
Valletta, Malta
Malta occupies a Mediterranean archipelago south of Sicily, and it’s one of the smallest nations in the world, with Valletta being the smallest capital city in the EU. The city and its surroundings are big on attractions, and touring them by foot is literally a breeze since the grid design of the city streets allows ocean breezes to penetrate the city during the summer and help people stay cool.
Savannah, Georgia
Nicknamed the Forest City, Savannah isn’t that big, but it’s one of the most beautiful cities in the United States. The National Historic Landmark District is the hub of it all, with several interconnecting public squares and parks. Unlike Atlanta, Savannah still has many original Antebellum structures since Union General Sherman spared the city and presented it as a gift to President Abraham Lincoln.
Bangkok, Thailand
Before the pandemic, Bangkok was the top destination for global travelers. The heat, humidity, industry, and high population make Bangkok perhaps seem not so pedestrian-friendly, but as tourism and economic growth boomed, city leaders made efforts to make the city more walkable. New parks and cross-town walkways are among the ways the city is doing this.
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Robert Sihler is an educator, freelance writer, and rock climbing guide and instructor living with his family in Driftwood, Texas. In his spare time, he enjoys reading fiction, streaming films, completing crossword puzzles, and rock climbing. When he goes on vacation, he likes to visit the mountains of the West and climb remote, obscure peaks that have seen few or no prior ascents.