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.'
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
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