The World's Best Cities for Walking

There is no better way to truly know a city than to explore it on foot. In the most walkable cities, the sights are close together, the streets are a pleasure, and every wander turns up a new discovery. These are the best.

Compact and car-free

Florence and Venice are essentially outdoor museums best seen step by step, while Bruges and Dubrovnik pack their beauty into tiny, walkable old towns you can cross in minutes.

Grand walking cities

Paris practically invented the art of the stroll, and few pleasures beat wandering its riverbanks and boulevards. London and Edinburgh reward walkers with history around every corner.

Walkable by design

Copenhagen, Vienna and Kyoto combine pedestrian-friendly streets with beauty and safety. Wear comfortable shoes, ditch the itinerary for an afternoon, and let your feet lead the way — the best discoveries are always unplanned.