Urban Adventures: The 12 Most Walkable Cities

Have you ever landed in a new city, unpacked your bags, and just set out to walk with no real destination in mind? It’s likely those were some of your best days – just waiting for the city to open its gates to you and delight you with surprise after surprise. 

In such a magnificent world with so much to explore, it’s tough to narrow the whole planet down to only 12 walkable cities. But, we did our best, with a focus on those coming to these cities for the first time. We hope the suggestions below will serve as an anchor to kickstart one of the best adventures of your lifetime. 

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam practically beckons visitors who prefer their feet or a pair of pedals. With its network of canals and historic architecture, it’s hard to imagine taking in the delights of this city any other way. 

If you plan your trip around springtime, of course, you’ll enjoy the majesty of the tulips that seem to spring up from every corner. 

If you need to get further faster, you can cheat the walking system and hop on a bike, as the city is renowned for its network of bike lanes, as well. In addition to all this, it will also be easy enough to find a houseboat for rent to rock you to sleep at night as you rest your weary feet. 

Florence, Italy

There are many Italian cities that belong on this list, including Rome. But, if we had to make a tough call, we’d go with Florence for its walkability and ability to transport you through time. 

Truthfully, you wouldn’t want to take in the sights of Florence any other way because you need to be able to linger over the rich Renaissance history and spectacular architecture. Of course, many people flock here for the Piazza del Duomo. You also have Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery. 

Before you go, be sure to watch the first few episodes of the Netflix series From Scratch. It’ll have you falling in love with the city even before you set foot on its storied streets. 

Paris, France

Like Italy, France has plenty of walkable cities. But, without question, Paris deserves to be on this list. While their Metro system is incredibly intuitive (perhaps more so than the New York City subway system), you can easily walk as far and as long as you’d like in this historic city. 

It would probably be easier to highlight where not to walk than where to walk. With cultural delights in Le Marais, the Latin Quarter, and Montmartre, the entire city is your oyster. But, for something a little smaller, more manageable, and slightly quieter, we’ll take aim at Île Saint-Louis. Before we start our walking tour, this guide might help you figure out where you’d like to base yourself. 

As for Île Saint-Louis, you can start at one of the major highlights of the city – Notre-Dame. Check-in on this majestic lady to see how the reconstruction of her spire is going. 

Then, you can walk across Pont Saint-Louis to the sweetest little island, Île Saint-Louis. Stop for a vin chaud at The Saint Régis café before strolling down l´Île Street to admire the homegrown boutiques, florists, ice creameries, and pretty little wine bars.

As you exit the island at the other end of l´Île Street, you’ll be within walking distance of Sainte-Chapelle, a 13th-century stunner of a cathedral with stained glass windows that will transport you straight into the clouds of heaven.  

Munich, Germany

Time and time again, Munich is ranked as one of the most walkable (and safest) cities in the world. As Bavaria’s capital, you know you’re in for a treat. With centuries-old buildings and over 60 museums, you could spend an entire day aimlessly wandering. 

For something more definitive, you can start your journey in Altstadt (Old Town). One of the focal points here is Viktualienmarkt, a former farmers’ market. Now, it’s a gorgeous display of stalls with local, gourmet, and exotic produce. 

When you’re ready to try an authentic German beer, your next stop will have to be Hofbräuhaus, an ancient and expansive beer hall dating back to the 16th century. 

To cap things off, you can tour the former royal palace of the Wittelsback monarchs, the Munich Residence. That will be the cherry on top of this delightful feeling that you’ve most assuredly stepped back in time.