A stroll between sights. A quick hop from one museum to the next. A pitstop at a café or bar before walking on again.
City breaks are the best. But what’s not the best is having to grab a taxi or jump on public transport every time you want to see something new. You want a city that is walkable and easy to navigate. Where you can stroll from sight to sight without a care in the world. So, which are the most walkable cities in the world to visit in 2025? We took a look to find out.
Finding the most walkable cities
Uncovering the hidden gems to walk around in 2025
We set out to find the most walkable cities in the world to add to your city break bucket list in 2025. First, we looked at our Skyscanner flight data to pinpoint 30 up-and-coming city break destinations outside America, bypassing the usual suspects and popular spots like Berlin and Dubrovnik.
We wanted to find hidden gems that are not only great to explore, but that are easy to do so on foot. To find out, we evaluated 14 separate factors including the distances between the main attractions, the number of walking trails, average elevation, air quality, safety, and more.
Creating our walkability index
By analysing the data, we created our walkability index to help you discover where to visit and stretch your legs in 2025. We focussed on the walking distance between the main attractions and the total steps and time taken to do it. We checked the average elevation in each city, as well as the population density and crime safety. Both air quality and pollution were cross-checked alongside the number of walking trails to explore in and around each city. And finally, we researched the number of attractions you can see on your city break.
Top 10 walkable cities
These are the top 10 up-and-coming walkable cities across the world. Here you’ll discover what to see and do in each city and the reasons they’ve scored highly on our walkability index.
Cordoba
Located at the heart of Andalusia, Cordoba is a wonderful city to visit and explore on foot. Once an important Roman city and a major Islamic centre in the Middle Ages, it’s most famous for its incredible mosque – La Mezquita. The historic Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and ideal for exploring its winding streets on foot. Other attractions include Palacio de Viana, La Juderia, Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos. It takes just 26 minutes to walk around the main attractions and there are 29 walking trails to enjoy in and around the city.
Look out for:
• There are 2730 steps between attractions in Cordoba
• It will take you 26 minutes to walk around the main attractions
• Cordoba has the lowest walking distance of our top 10 cities
Nagasaki
The capital and the largest city of the Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Nagasaki is a beautiful city set on a large harbour with buildings on terraces across its surrounding hills. And it’s a fantastic city to explore on foot. A must-see attraction is the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, to understand the sobering history of the city from World War II. Other must-visit spots include the man-made island of Dejima, the Clover Garden and Peace Park. Autumn is a great time to visit for the Sasebo Yosakoi dance festival.
Look out for:
• Nagasaki has the lowest crime rate of our top 10 cities
• There are 531 attractions to see in the city
• The average elevation is just 89 metres
Hiroshima
A city known for its World War II history and cultural tourists, Hiroshima is a beautiful place to visit and a great option to stroll around. Located on Japan’s Honshu Island, it has a bustling city centre and a riverside location. Your first port of call is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to take in the sombre history of the city at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Don’t miss the sprawling food hall Okonomimura to pick up some local delicacies like okonomiyaki savoury pancakes. It will take you just 41 minutes to walk between all the major attractions.
Look out for:
• Hiroshima is a safe city to walk alone at night and in the day
• There are 771 attractions to see in Hiroshima
• You’ll clock up 3959 steps walking between major attractions
Reggio Calabria
Step off the beaten track in Italy and head to this coastal city in the south of the country. Separated from Sicily via the Strait of Messina, it promises beautiful beaches and breathtaking views across the water to Mt. Etna. Too many people pass through on their way to the ferry port, but it’s time to stop and take it all in on foot. Top sites include the stunning waterfront, the beautiful Rabarama statue and the Museo Nazionale Della Magna Grecia. It’s a small city, and you’ll wander around the main attractions in just 25 minutes and 2321 steps.
Look out for:
• It takes just 25 minutes to walk between attractions
• The city scores high for air quality
• The city limits are only 239 kilometres squared
Monte Carlo
Best known for its glitzy casinos, grand prix and opulent high life, Monte Carlo still has plenty to offer visitors. You can meander through its streets taking in shop windows from the highest class of designer brands and watch the supercars speed by. Gamble at its famous casinos, dine in world-class French restaurants and walk along its glamorous harbour. Top attractions in the city include the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, Casino Square and the Private Cars Collection of HSH Prince of Monaco. Whilst Monte Carlo is walkable, just remember the hills can be steep but the city limits are less than one kilometre squared.
Look out for:
• Monte Carlo’s city limits are just 0.44 square kilometres
• It takes 36 minutes to walk between the major attractions
• There are 100 attractions to see in the city
Tartu
The second largest city in Estonia and the European Capital of Culture for 2024, Tartu might not be a well-known city to visit, but it’s one you should definitely see. The city is picturesque with its lovely Old Town, ruins and intriguing wooden-house neighbourhoods. You’ll find big buildings and some street art dotted around here and there too. There are plenty of parks and the riverbanks offer great places to walk with some quality views as well. Top attractions in Tartu include the Estonian National Museum, the Town Hall Square and the Botanical Garden of the University of Tartu.
Look out for:
• Tartu’s city limits are just 39 square kilometres
• It has an average elevation of 53 metres
• The city is committed to sustainable practices and has the lowest air pollution in the top 10
Bursa
Bursa is a modern and industrial city in the north west of Türkiye (Turkey). Known as the Royal Springs, the city’s renowned hot mineral waters have been popular since the Roman and Byzantine times. Today, you’ll find Bursa is a fusion of Ottoman heritage (it was the first Ottoman capital), bustling bazaars and natural beauty. Discover top sights including the Tomb of Osman Gazi, Bursa Grand Mosque and Kozahan ipekciler Bazaar. It will take you around an hour to walk between the main attractions in the city.
Look out for:
• Bursa has a low population density at 306 people per square kilometre
• There are 406 attractions to see in the city
• It will take you 5324 steps to walk between the major attractions
Bolzano
The capital of the South Tirol province in Northern Italy, Bolzano is set in a valley surrounded by hilly vineyards. As the gateway to the Dolomites, many people pass through on their way to ski or hike, but the city itself is not to be missed. With city limits of just 52 square kilometres and just over an hour needed to stroll between the major attractions, it’s an extremely walkable option. Don’t miss Walther Plaza, Via dei Portici and the South Tyrol Archeological Museum on your city break here.
Look out for:
• Bolzano’s city limits are 52 square kilometres
• There are 505 walking trails in and around the city
• Bolzano is the safest city in our top 10
Sarajevo
The capital city of Bosnia & Herzegovina is compact and walkable, with beautiful scenery from its location on the Miljacka River and the surrounding Dinaric Alps. In the city, you’ll find tight cobbled streets and eclectic architecture. Take a walking tour to discover Sarajevo’s history and relax in one of the many cafes to sample its famed coffee culture. Top sights to discover include Sarajevo city hall, the bustling Bascarsija bazaar and the Latin Bridge. For a look into its turbulent past, head to the Museum of Crimes against Humanity and Genocide and the War Childhood Museum.
Look out for:
• It will take you just 22 minutes to walk between Sarajevo’s top attractions
• The city has a low population density with just 328 people per square kilometre
• There are 513 attractions to visit in the city
Victoria, British Columbia
The capital city of British Columbia, Victoria, sits on the craggy southern end of Vancouver Island. It’s famed for its Victorian architecture and remains one of the most British cities in Canada. Arguably one of the county’s most picturesque cities, it’s easy to navigate on foot and has a huge 457 walking trails. The Royal BC Museum is said to be the best museum in Canada, whilst Craigdarroch Castle, Emily Carr House and Helmcken House all dive into life here in the 19th century.
Look out for:
• There are 457 walking trails in and around Victoria
• The air quality is the highest in our top 10 walkable cities
• The city limits are just 223 square kilometres
Top 9 walkable cities in Asia and South Asia
We also looked at the top 9 walkable cities in Asia and South Asia.
Top of the pile are the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, but third in our list comes Siem Reap. The Cambodian city is the gateway to explore the stunning Angkor Wat, but there’s much to find in the city itself including the likes of Тheam's Gallery, Angkor National Museum and the Made in Cambodia Market. A stroll down Pub Street is always worth it too. The city scores well on our index for population density (98 people per square kilometre) and you’ll spend around 80 minutes walking between the main sights. There are also more than 2000 attractions to visit in and around Siem Reap. Just remember to avoid the scorching summer temperatures.
Also in our top five are Sendai city in Japan (the lowest for pollution and with 681 attractions) and Haiphong in Vietnam (city limits of just 206 square kilometres).
The rest of our top 9 is made up of Panglao, Bohol, Philippines (low crime rate, low elevation and a city limits of just 47 square kilometres) and Thiruvananthapuram in India (308 attractions and safe at night).
The final two Asian cities in our top 10 are Coimbatore in India (208 attractions and a walking time of just over two hours between major sights) and Macau in China (city limits of less than 10 square kilometres and 517 attractions).
Top 10 most accessible cities
In our research, we discovered the most accessible cities too, looking at the distance of wheelchair-accessible routes. In number one spot for accessible holidays is Bursa in Türkiye (Turkey), promising shorter distances to walk and plenty of accessible routes. The Bursa Museum has great wheelchair accessibility as well.
The easy-to-navigate city of Siem Reap (elevation of just 11m) is in second followed by Stuttgart in Germany. Stuttgart is set up for wheelchair users, with dedicated spots on trains and buses, as well as taxis that can accommodate wheelchairs. Many of the city’s attractions are accessible too, including the likes of the Porsche Arena and the Liederhalle. Stuttgart is a fantastic trip during the winter, but it can be icy. So, make sure you take footwear with deep tread and if using a walking aid, replace worn rubber tips with new ferrules.
Other cities in our top five include Monte Carlo and Rome. Despite its hills, Monte Carlo is an accessible city. Most tourist attractions are accessible and you can book wheelchair-friendly private tours to see the sights. When exploring Rome in a wheelchair, many of the ancient sites are wheelchair accessible too. At the Colosseum, you’ll find all three entrances are accessible to wheelchairs and there’s a lift between the first and second levels making both levels completely accessible.
Pack some shoes, pack your shades, pack your suncream and make 2025 the year of walkable city breaks!
