Revealed: The best 100 cities in the world for exploring by foot, with Rome No.1, London ninth

Release time：2024-05-21 18:28:37 Source：International Insights news portal

The world's best cities for exploring by foot have been revealed and it's Rome that takes the crown with its charming plazas and cobblestone streets.

It's followed by runner-up Budapest, where tourists can explore 'its every corner on foot'.

The 100-strong list is based on booking and search data for 800 cities across 120 countries made on the GuruWalk website between April 2023 and April 2024. The company, which offers free walking tours worldwide, compared the number of bookings and page visits per destination in order to compile the list.

Spain is the most walkable country, according to the findings, with 28 cities on the top 100 list. France features seven times while the UK appears three times along with Poland, Colombia and Vietnam. Only one U.S. city makes the cut.

Scroll down for the top ten in reverse order, with the full list presented at the bottom. 

10. PORTO, PORTUGAL 

Porto captivates with its picturesque old town - and is eminently explorable by foot

Porto is eminently explorable by foot 'due to its size and density of points of interest', says GuruWalk.

The Portuguese city 'captivates with its picturesque old town - a Unesco World Heritage Site - its wineries on the banks of the Douro River, and its iconic Dom Luis I bridge', the tour company adds. 

9. LONDON, UK 

London is a 'melting pot of cultures, history and art' with many top attractions - including Westminster Abbey (above) and the London Eye - located within walking distance of one another

London offers 'myriad attractions' within walking distance of one another, from 'historic Big Ben and the majestic Westminster Abbey to the modern London Eye Ferris wheel', says GuruWalk.

It adds that the city is 'a melting pot of cultures, history, and art, with world-class museums such as the British Museum and the National Gallery'.

8. AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS 

There is plenty to do in Amsterdam in addition to admiring the scenery surrounding its 'enchanting' canal network

The Dutch capital invites visitors to explore on foot with its 'enchanting' canal network. And there is plenty to do in addition to admiring the scenery, according to GuruWalk.

'Amsterdam seduces its visitors with its enchanting canals, rich artistic history, and vibrant cultural life,' it says.

'The Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum are must-sees that offer a deep dive into history and art.'

7. PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

The Czech capital is famous for its architecture, including the above pictured Charles Bridge

Prague is known as the ‘City of a Hundred Spires’ and is famous for its beautiful architecture, historic city centre and the iconic Charles Bridge.

So says GuruWalk, which ranks it the world's seventh best city to explore by foot. 

'Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, and the Astronomical Clock are all points of interest that captivate visitors,' it adds. And all three attractions are within a 30-minute walk from one another.

6. LISBON, PORTUGAL 

Travellers are 'enchanted' by Portugal's capital city, with its historic neighbourhoods and emblematic trams (above)

'Lisbon enchants the traveller with its unique blend of tradition and modernity, its historic neighbourhoods such as Alfama and Bairro Alto and its emblematic trams,' says GuruWalk. 

'The Belém Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery and the Monument to the Discoveries are just some of the attractions that make Lisbon a must-see destination.'

Walkers will be pleased to hear that it takes just 20 minutes to walk from one to the other. 

5. FLORENCE, ITALY 

Visitors can explore the best of Florence by foot in just a few hours

'Places like the Duomo, with its impressive dome designed by Brunelleschi, the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Pitti Palace are essential for any visitor coming to Florence for the first time,' says GuruWalk.

'And travellers can discover the best of the city [by foot] in just a few hours.'

4. MADRID, SPAIN

Spain's capital city captivates with the charm of its squares and historic centre

Beyond its cultural attractions, Spain’s capital captivates with the charm of its squares, the cobblestones of the picturesque streets in the historic centre, and green spaces like Retiro Park.

So says GuruWalk, adding that the city is 'renowned for its hospitality, bustling social life, and iconic museums'.

3. BARCELONA, SPAIN 

Walking through the streets of Barcelona offers visitors an experience that combines art, history and gastronomy. Pictured: La Sagrada Familia

Barcelona's 'vibrant cultural life, impressive modernist buildings and urban beaches' make it a top tourist destination, according to GuruWalk.

It adds: 'Walking through the city streets allows visitors to explore the Gothic Quarter, the Rambla and the Boqueria market, offering a complete experience that combines art, history and gastronomy.'

2. BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

The Hungarian Parliament, pictured, is one of the 'jewels' Budapest offers to travellers who 'increasingly choose to explore its every corner on foot'

'Budapest, known as the "Pearl of the Danube", offers its visitors a unique blend of history, architecture and nightlife,' says GuruWalk.

'Attractions such as the Parliament, Buda Castle, and the Chain Bridge are just a few of the jewels this city offers to travelers who increasingly choose to explore its every corner on foot.'

1. ROME, ITALY

The sheer number of monuments in Rome sometimes causes tourists to not even know where to start, says GuruWalk, who has named it the world's best city for exploring by foot

There are clusters of world-class attractions discoverable by foot in Rome, from the Colosseum to the Pantheon.

GuruWalk comments: 'The sheer number of monuments it hosts sometimes causes tourists to not even know where to start.

'So it’s not surprising that Rome hosts more guided tours than any other place.'

THE BEST 100 CITIES IN THE WORLD FOR EXPLORING ON FOOT 

1. Rome, Italy

2. Budapest, Hungary

3. Barcelona, Spain

4. Madrid, Spain

5. Florence, Italy

6. Lisbon, Portugal

7. Prague, Czech Republic

8. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

9. London, UK

10. Porto, Portugal

11. Paris, France

12. Vienna, Austria

13. Berlin, Germany

14. Venice, Italy

15. Seville, Spain

16. Toledo, Spain

17. Istanbul, Turkey

18. Brussels, Belgium

19. Edinburgh, UK

20. Bruges, Netherlands

21. Valencia, Spain

22. Krakow, Poland

23. Dubrovnik, Croatia

24. Medellin, Colombia

25. Milan, Italy

26. Split, Croatia

27. Granada, Spain

28. Copenhagen, Denmark

29. Dublin, Ireland

30. Bilbao, Spain

31. Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

32. Santiago de Compostela, Spain

33. Malaga, Spain

34. Munich, Germany

35. Cordoba, Spain

36. Mexico City, Mexico

37. Naples, Italy

38. Marrakech, Morocco

39. Stockholm, Sweden

40. Ghent, Belgium

41. Bratislava, Slovakia

42. Hanoi, Vietnam

43. Zaragoza, Spain

44. Santiago, Chile

45. Bucharest, Romania

46. San Sebastian, Spain

47. Bordeaux, France

48. Bogota, Colombia

49. Cadiz, Spain

50. Salamanca, Spain

51. Strasbourg, France

52. Palma de Mallorca, Spain

53. New York, U.S.

54. Segovia, Spain

55. Warsaw, Poland

56. Zagreb, Croatia

57. Helsinki, Finland

58. Caceres, Spain

59. Tirana, Albania

60. Buenos Aires, Argentina

61. Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala

62. Valletta, Malta

63. Lima, Peru

64. Ljubljana, Slovenia

65. Fez, Morocco

66. Cusco, Peru

67. Toulouse, France 

68. Oviedo, Spain

69. Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

70. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

71. Girona, Spain 

72. Havana, Cuba

73. Antwerp, Belgium

74. A Coruna, Spain

75. Riga, Latvia

76. Zurich, Switzerland

77. Oaxaca, Mexico

78. Bologna, Italy

79. Nuremburg, Germany

80. Leon, Spain

81. Nice, France

82. Marseille, France

83. Sintra, Portugal

84. Alicante, Spain

85. Belfast, Northern Ireland

86. Cuenca, Spain

87. Hoi An, Vietnam

88. Pamplona, Spain

89. Bangkok, Thailand

90. Tarragona, Spain

91. Zadar, Croatia

92. Gijon, Spain

93. Merida, Mexico

94. Ubeda, Spain

95. Lyon, France

96. Wroclaw, Poland

97. Liverpool, UK

98. Panama City, Panama

99. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

100. Cologne, Germany

Source: GuruWalk

Related articles