For big city folks, or really anyone who lives in a city, there is one thing among many others that you do not always get to experience, and that is the pure joy of living in a walkable city. A safe, pleasant walk home on a safe, walkable stretch specifically designed for us to do just that, with an excruciatingly curated playlist for that exact moment as you walk alongside the sunset. I don't think this is asking for too much, is it?
There is a reason Before Sunrise works so well as a film. Jesse and Céline spend almost the entire night walking around Vienna, getting to know the city along with each other. And all you can wonder is how they managed to get through all that walking and talking without being honked at, or having to dodge a car every two minutes. It makes you wonder how much more a city can give you when it makes space for you to walk through it.
We love a good promenade. We love the convenience of an Uber. But there will always be an everlasting yearning for some alone time, and walking might be the best way to get it. Most people miss out on walking around too, because that is perhaps one of the few times you can actually slow down amid all the chaos. It is also, above all, one of the most cost-effective and sustainable ways to get from Point A to Point B.
That is especially true when you are travelling. A planned itinerary or a tour guide can show you the city's typical highlights, but an unexpected stroll can bring you much closer to its heart. The soul of every city lies in the people you stumble upon, the random conversation you end up having with a local, a café you find tucked inside a tiny lane that only a walk could have led you to. Not the "hidden" restaurants that have already been listed on an Instagram guide, but the kind of place you can only find by walking far enough into a lane to stumble upon it.
It is also a pretty good way to decide what you actually think of a city. The messy footpaths, if there are any or the beautiful old buildings you suddenly notice because a car was not rushing past them. Whatever it is, walking lets you decide for yourself, besides this list.
And while you are at it, why not go somewhere that is not just walkable but also a treat to look at? This list brings together both. Some are cities everyone already knows you should explore on foot. Others are smaller, less obvious places that make a very good case for hitting way more than 10k steps a day.
Ghent’s historic centre is largely pedestrianised, with its major attractions within walking distance and one of Europe’s largest low-traffic pedestrian zones. The city itself recommends exploring on foot, with pedestrian signposts connecting the historic centre and arts quarter. It is known for its medieval architecture, canals, three historic towers, cafés and arts scene, with the compact centre making it easy to wander between them without needing a car
Noted for continuous covered walkways (arcades), active street life, and robust, pedestrian-friendly metro connections, Taipei in Taiwan will not make you miss your car ride.
Kyoto is a strong walking city because many of its historic neighbourhoods are compact and best experienced at street level, particularly around Gion and Higashiyama. Walk through Gion and Higashiyama, along the Philosopher's Path or around the quieter streets near the city's temples. Wooden machiya houses, gardens, shrines, stone paths and mountain views make the scenery very different from the European cities on this list.
A very green, grid-layout city featuring wide sidewalks, sprawling public parks (like Panfilov Park), and pedestrianised central zones such as Erkindik Boulevard, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan offers picturesque beauty of Central Asia.
Budapest is a highly walkable big city, with the Danube providing a natural pedestrian route through some of its most scenic parts. GuruWalk ranked it third in its 2026 walking-city ranking, particularly highlighting walks along both banks of the river. The Parliament, Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion and Chain Bridge are among the sights you can take in on foot. The riverfront is especially striking at sunset, while the older streets of Buda and Pest offer cafés, architecture and everyday city life between the landmarks.
Lucca is particularly well suited to walking because most of its historic centre is a restricted-traffic zone, while its Renaissance walls form a completely walkable 4.2-kilometre route around the city. The walls are lined with trees and gardens and offer views across churches, palaces and towers. Inside them, the old centre has narrow streets, intimate squares and medieval and Renaissance buildings. It is a smaller city, but its pedestrian infrastructure is one of its best attractions.
Lisbon is walkable, although you will have to work for some of it. Its winding streets, staircases and hills connect neighbourhoods that are easy to explore without a car. Alfama's tiled façades, São Jorge Castle, the city's many miradouros and views over the Tagus make the climbs worthwhile. You can also spend an afternoon simply moving between neighbourhoods, cafés and viewpoints.
Rome was ranked the world's No. 1 walking city by many travellers, with its historic centre packed with major sights, piazzas, fountains and narrow streets that can easily be covered on foot. Walk from the Colosseum and Roman Forum towards the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona, then continue through Trastevere for cobbled lanes, old buildings, cafés and restaurants. Most of the city's major historical sights are close enough to link together on foot.
Edinburgh is one of the easiest cities on this list to explore on foot. Rated by locals for its walkability, the Old Town, Edinburgh Castle, National Museum and Calton Hill are all within a 15-minute walk of one another. Expect medieval closes, cobbled streets, Georgian buildings and views across the city from Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat. The hills may make the walking a little more demanding, but they also mean there is usually a good view waiting at the end.