The 10 Best Cities to Visit Right Now

When we start planning a trip, the real question usually isn’t where we should go, but how we want our days to look once we arrive. Some places make it easy to get oriented and settle into a rhythm quickly. Others require constant planning just to cover basic ground.

These are the cities we’d recommend if you’d like a trip that’s engaging without being complicated. Each one is laid out in a way that makes walking easy, while giving you enough depth to want to stay put rather than carry on.

1. Madrid, Spain

Madrid works well as a first or second stop in Spain because it’s compact and easy to understand once you arrive. Central neighborhoods like Malasaña, Chueca, and La Latina are close together, which makes walking between them realistic over the course of a long afternoon.

Many of the city’s major sights line up along a single corridor. The Prado, Reina Sofía, and Retiro Park are all within walking distance of one another, so it’s possible to combine museums, green space, and meals without crossing the city repeatedly.

You can spend a full day in this area without needing public transport at all.

2. Vienna, Austria

Vienna is designed in a way that will help you instantly orient yourself. The Ringstrasse forms a clear loop around the historic center, and many of the city’s major landmarks are along it or just inside it. Once you understand that shape, moving through the city becomes pretty straightforward.

Much of a typical day happens within a compact area. The Hofburg, Albertina, and Kunsthistorisches Museum are close enough together to combine without rushing them. Then, large parks like the Stadtpark and Burggarten can serve as natural pauses between stops.

Public transport can also fill in the gaps, but you might find that you prefer the walk this beautiful city.

3. Kanazawa, Japan

Kanazawa will give you a concentrated version of Japanese history and culture without the scale of larger cities. Its historic districts, gardens, and museums cluster around the city center, making it possible to explore mostly on foot with occasional short bus rides.

Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, and the Nagamachi samurai district are all within a manageable radius. You can move between them over the course of a day without rushing or doubling back. Also, the train station connects directly to the city, so your arrival will be peacefully straightforward.

4. Porto, Portugal

Porto is shaped by the Douro River, and that geography gives the city a clear internal logic. Most of your time will be spent between Ribeira, Miragaia, and Vila Nova de Gaia. They’re all connected by bridges, footpaths, and steady climbs.

The historic center is dense, and the landmarks are close together. Your days will often unfold downhill toward the river, with long pauses along the waterfront, followed by slower climbs back through different neighborhoods.

Public transport helps in the steeper sections, but most of Porto works well on foot.