The Most Pedestrian-Friendly Cities in Europe
There's no better way to discover a city than on foot. A new study shows which European cities are best for pedestrians to explore.
Whether you prefer to stroll along magnificent promenades on a balmy day, wander through secret alleys or discover a city's most famous monuments, the easiest and most environmentally friendly way to do it is on foot, without the stress of traffic. But which European cities cater best to pedestrians?
The budget design hotel group Motel One has determined a ranking of European cities whose top attractions can be easily reached on foot within one day. The ranking criteria were based on plane passenger numbers, Google Trends and tourist attractions. The decisive factor was that each city has at least five major sights that could be easily reached on a walk of 30 minutes to one and a half hours. These city tours cover distances between 2.3km and 6.7km.
Top 20 Most Pedestrian-Friendly Cities in Europe
- Bruges, Belgium
- Manchester, England
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Leipzig, Germany
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Venice, Italy
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Milan, Italy
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Athens, Greece
- Madrid, Spain
- Warsaw, Poland
- Brussels, Belgium
- Berlin, Germany
- Rome, Italy
- London, England
- Barcelona, Spain
- Dublin, Ireland
Diverse range of city sights
The 20 most pedestrian-friendly cities cover a total of 13 countries across Europe. From Bruges and Rome to Manchester and Prague, you can stroll through many of these cities during a long weekend.
The sights are equally diverse, offering plenty of variety for every taste, from ancient sites and modern architecture to art, beer and frites museums.
"The time we have for city trips is usually short and precious. With the 'most walkable cities' we deliver added value for travellers who like to visit cities on foot and want to gain many attractions and impressions in a short time. With our sightseeing routes, we try to give guests a few helpful ideas so that they have more time to explore," Daniel Müller, co-CEO of Motel One, explains.