Skyscanner names world's Top10 most walkable cities for tourists

Travel platform Skyscanner has compiled an index of ten cities around the world that are easiest for tourists to explore on foot, without needing to rent a car, hail a taxi or use public transport. According to Euronews, seven of these cities are located in Europe. The ranking considered 14 different factors, including distances between major attractions, the number of steps and time required, availability of walking trails, terrain, population density, air quality and safety.

Spanish city leads the ranking

Cordoba in southern Spain was named the most walkable city on the list, with its main attractions reachable in about 26 minutes on foot, and the surrounding area offering 29 walking routes. Visitors can walk to the UNESCO-listed old town, the Mosque-Cathedral known as La Mezquita, and the Jewish quarter. An even shorter route was recorded in Reggio Calabria in southern Italy, where key sights can be covered in about 25 minutes, or 2,321 steps.

The list also includes Monte Carlo in Monaco, whose territory covers less than one square kilometer, though its hilly terrain means short distances don't always translate into easy walks.

Estonia's Tartu also featured

Tartu, Estonia's second-largest city, ranked sixth worldwide. Skyscanner highlighted its compact center as well as its environmental performance, noting it recorded the lowest air pollution among all cities in the index. The city offers numerous parks and riverside walking opportunities, with attractions such as the Town Hall Square and the University Botanical Garden within walking distance of each other.

Meanwhile, in the Italian city of Bolzano, covering the main sights takes about an hour, though it was rated the safest of all ten cities on the list, offering more than 500 walking routes.

Why it matters

Being able to explore a city on foot reduces the need for taxis or rental cars on short trips, cutting direct transport emissions at the destination, even though much of a trip's overall environmental impact often comes from getting there in the first place.