Author | Lucía Burbano
Cities that prioritize walking for residents and visitors are those that embrace social and environmentally sustainable urban planning, as these urban models promote healthy routines, social interaction, and a reduction in motor vehicle emissions.
Every year, various rankings are published highlighting the cities that best implement models promoting walkability in their streets and neighborhoods, and they often share many common features, among them, the fact that most are located in the Old Continent.
Characteristics of walkable cities
Sometimes we seem to forget, but walking is the oldest and most universal form of transportation. In addition to being one of the healthiest ways to get around, walking also encourages reflection and decision-making.
They also represent interesting economic models, as increased foot traffic benefits local businesses, raises property values in pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, reduces transportation costs for residents, and serve as a tourist attraction for visitors.
Cities designed to encourage walking embrace urban planning that promotes proximity, understood as compact design where basic, essential, and leisure services are located within about a 15-minute walking distance.
These cities also tend to rank highly in areas related to other associated factors, such as the happiness of their residents and lower levels of harmful air emissions.
Cities that encourage walking share the following features:
- Extensive green spaces.
- Pedestrianized streets.
- Shaded areas.
- A high perception of safety when walking through neighborhoods.
- Traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps and narrow roadways.
- Clear signage to guide both locals and visitors.
- Mixed-use zones that combine residential, commercial, and recreational spaces, reducing travel time and creating lively streets at all hours.
How a city’s walkability is measured
Walkability helps us understand how well a city’s design supports walking and other physical activities. To create rankings of cities that promote walking and strolling, a series of metrics are used, available through tools like Walk Score, which operates in the United States and Canada.
In this example, walkability is represented by scores on a scale from 0 (least walkable) to 100 (most walkable).
Scores are calculated based on intersection density, residential density, and accessibility to services like shops, parks, and restaurants, all of which affect how easy it is to walk within a neighborhood.
And the most walkable cities in the world are…
Before listing the cities that promote walking, it is worth noting that the various rankings differ, as they are based on slightly different metrics despite the common factors mentioned earlier.
What they do agree on is Europe’s dominance, which can be explained by a combination of historical factors, urban planning, and cultural preferences. These factors include older urban development models, limited space for expansion, strong public transportation systems, and urban planning focused on walkability.
European cities have also implemented clear policies and regulatory frameworks, such as the Pan-European Master Plan on Walking, to prioritize walking through urban redesigns, national policies, and strategic initiatives.
In contrast, North American cities, typically known for being designed around cars, are often absent from these rankings.
Zurich
The Swiss city scores 99.2% for 15-minute walk coverage, combined with perfectly integrated public transportation, pleasant lakeside walks, and extensive car-free areas in the old town.
Barcelona
A leader in the Microscale Walkability Index, its innovative superblock model, pedestrian zones in the Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas create an experience few cities can match.
Milan
Scores 95% for 15-minute city coverage. Accessibility to the fashion district, the extensive pedestrianized city center, and the charming walks along the Navigli canals provide an excellent urban mobility experience.
Copenhagen
Matching the Italian city’s 15-minute city coverage score, the Danish capital features Strøget, one of Europe’s longest pedestrian streets, along with waterfront trails by the harbor and a pioneering design that promotes cycling to complement walking.
Paris
On average, it takes just 8 minutes on foot to reach essential services in the French capital. The city was a pioneer in introducing the 15-minute city concept, which, combined with the new Seine riverbanks where car traffic is banned and its dense, vibrant neighborhoods, encourages walking.
Dublin
Its compact center, the pedestrian shopping district of Grafton Street, and the picturesque walkways along the Grand Canal offer excellent walkability. It also scores 95% for 15-minute city coverage.
Abu Dhabi
A large majority of residents in Abu Dhabi, 91%, rate walkability as “good” or “incredible.” Areas like the 8 km Corniche waterfront promenade, well-maintained shaded walkways, and pedestrian-friendly seaside developments provide thermal comfort despite the desert heat.
Florence
The city center is a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring a fully pedestrianized historic core and remarkably short distances between landmarks, making it a walker’s dream. The top five attractions in this Italian city are all within a half-mile radius.
Osaka
Internationally recognized as a model 15-minute city, its extensive covered shopping arcades, dense mixed-use neighborhoods, and transit connections create a highly efficient pedestrian network.
Hong Kong
Rated 82% for walkability by its residents, its innovative network of elevated walkways, high density, and connectivity between mountains and the harbor, despite challenging topography, make it a pedestrian’s paradise.
Munich
Most residents of Munich, 86%, live within 1 km of a car-free area. While the city’s public transportation is the third most expensive, Munich ranks fourth in safety, a crucial factor for walking, and second in the number of people living within 1 km of healthcare and educational centers.
Warsaw
Warsaw ranks in the listings thanks to its compact size and affordable public transportation, with a one-way ticket costing about $1. Additionally, 74% of the population lives within 1 km of a car-free space, such as the picturesque Lazienki Park, popular during the summer months, and the charming cobblestone streets of the old town, lined with colorful buildings.
Helsinki
With 85% of the population living within 1 km of a car-free space, Finland’s capital is known for its outdoor lifestyle and walks through Helsinki Central Park, which covers 10 km². Its public transportation is also known for its efficiency and widespread use.
Photographs | Unsplash/Frank Eiffert, Unsplash/Nerea Martí Sesarino, Unsplash/Henrique Ferreira, Unsplash/Alexander Kagan, Unsplash/Jeremy Santana
