A quiet side street. A local bakery you didn’t mean to find. The kind of detail you’d miss from the back of a cab. For many tourists, the best way to discover a city isn’t by bus, bike or taxi – it’s on foot.
Walking allows tourists to slow down, take in the hidden details and stumble across hidden gems like alleys, squares, cafes and local businesses that never make it into the guidebooks. In some cities, walking isn’t just an option; it’s the best way to experience the area. From ancient alleyways to wide pedestrian boulevards, there are some incredibly popular walkable cities across the world, but revealed below is the very best of the bunch.
Using data from their website, GuruWalk analysed the number of page views each city received. They then cross-referenced this data with the booking trends to reveal the world’s most walkable cities.
It was the Italian capital, Rome, that came out on top. A perfect blend of ancient history, mild winters and hot summers, vibrant street life and mouth-watering food, Rome ticks all the boxes for those wanting the perfect city break. It is also the best place to roam around for food, with most major attractions, including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and the Piazza Navona, located within a 1.5-mile radius. In fact, you can walk from the Colosseum to the Vatican in just 45 minutes.
Luckily, Rome was largely designed for pedestrians. Many areas in the historic centre are pedestrian-only or have limited vehicle access. For example, streets like Via dei Fori Imperiali and Piazza di Spagna are closed to regular traffic. Rome grew organically around ancient Roman roads and piazzas, creating a web of small streets ideal for wandering around.
There are not that many public transport options, even if you wanted them. Rome’s metro has limited coverage in the historic centre due to the extensive archaeological sites underground, so walking is often faster and more convenient. Plus, due to heavy car and scooter traffic in certain areas, walking is often faster and more pleasant than using taxis or buses.
With numerous businesses cottoning on to this major draw for tourists, many hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs are located in or near the historic centre, meaning that even after a long day of exploring, you don’t have to walk far to rest your tired legs. You can also reward yourself for your impressively high step count with as much pizza, pasta or gelato as your heart desires.
The world’s most walkable cities – Top 10
- Rome, Italy
- Budapest, Hungary
- Madrid, Spain
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Barcelona, Spain
- Lisbon, Portugal
- London, UK
- Florence, Italy
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Berlin, Germany