5 European Cities That Are Surprisingly Hard to Walk

Europe is often celebrated as a place where you can wander for hours, letting narrow streets lead you from one discovery to the next.

Many cities fit that idea, though a few ask more of our legs than we might expect. 

In some, the hills rise sharply, the distances stretch farther, and the old streets sometimes feel better suited to past centuries than present travelers.

None of this makes these places any less worth visiting. It simply means we have to move through them differently, letting the transit options carry us across the tougher stretches and saving our steps for the moments that matter.

These five cities are beautiful and deeply rewarding, although walking them from end to end can feel tiring, steep, or impractical. But, with a gentler pace, you can still experience their quiet corners and meaningful sights.

Valletta, Malta

Valletta looks compact on a map, although its tight grid can feel surprisingly intense on foot. Many streets rise toward the ridge, turning short walks into steep climbs.

Stone staircases replace sidewalks in several quarters, and the Maltese sun makes the steepest stretches feel longer than they appear.

Most people prefer to move the way locals do. Buses glide through the newer districts, and public elevators near the harbor will help you skip the hardest vertical climbs. The ferry to the Three Cities will also give you a scenic break from the hills and an easy glide across the water.

Once you reach the top, Valletta’s smaller pleasures will come into focus. You can watch Upper Barrakka Gardens settle smoothly into the calm above the sea, and Republic Street will reveal itself with little cafés and ornate facades.

Malta is a city best met in sections, giving your legs time to rest in between the moments that invite you to stay a little while longer.

Naples, Italy

Naples is a city of crowded alleys, and walking can feel more like navigating than strolling. Scooters weave through narrow lanes, sidewalks disappear without warning, and the historic center shifts quickly from piazza to tight stone corridor.

Longer distances between its waterfront, hillside neighborhoods, and markets add to the challenge.

Still, the city opens up when you rely on transit. The metro is clean and reliable, and the funiculars will lift you into the hilltop districts with little effort. Short taxi rides will help you skip the busiest streets and save your energy for the areas that feel best explored on foot.

Spaccanapoli, particularly, will pull you into its lively rhythm, and Castel dell’Ovo is happy to serve up a quiet view over the bay. The promenade sparkles prettily at sunset, and the older streets will reveal their charm once you settle into their pace.

Athens, Greece

Athens stretches across long, varied districts, and the distances between major sights are wider than most of us expect. The heat also settles over the city for much of the year, turning afternoon walks into slow treks.

Some neighborhoods feel built more for cars than pedestrians, and the hills around the Acropolis add another layer to the challenge.

The metro will become your anchor here. It’s clean and easy to navigate, linking archaeological sites to newer parts of the city.

Trams slide along the coastline, as well, and buses fill in the remaining gaps, allowing you to explore without draining your energy before you even reach the next view.

Once you step into Plaka or the National Garden, Athens will feel softer. The climb to the Acropolis is still worth the effort, especially early in the day.

The quiet corners of Anafiotika also bring a surprising stillness, and the older streets will take your hand for some slow wandering.

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin’s center is compact, although its narrow footpaths and uneven pavements make longer walks feel disjointed. Construction zones shift routes from season to season, and several attractions sit on opposite sides of the River Liffey.

Some neighborhoods look close, but require you to weave through busy roads or crowded sidewalks.

The city becomes easier when you lean on the LUAS tram or the DART rail to cross the wider gaps. Buses will help with the smaller routes, and an Uber will give a quick lift when the weather turns. These short connections will save your steps for the parts that reward slower wandering.

The river paths glow in the early morning light, and St. Stephen’s Green holds its calm even on the busiest of days.

Books Upstairs will offer you a quiet corner for browsing and a warm place to settle in with something new. The cafés tucked along side streets also add room to pause, and the older lanes around the Georgian squares are particularly decadent when you wander them slowly.