“Take your time and don’t be afraid to get lost.”
This is Europe’s ‘most walkable city’ according to one study(Image: Getty)
When holidaying abroad, it’s far more enjoyable to explore your destination on foot rather than relying on vehicles or public transport. Whether wandering between landmarks or hunting for restaurants, being in a genuinely walkable location can significantly reduce travel anxiety.
Bearing this in mind, Braw Scottish Tours examined the walking distances and step counts between five principal attractions across 30 of Europe’s most visited cities. Their findings revealed that the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul ranks as Europe’s most walkable city.
There, a mere 2.5km stroll connects major sites including Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar. Exploring this area requires roughly 3,250 steps and approximately half an hour’s walk.
On TripAdvisor, one traveller to the metropolis commented: “Istanbul is a magical city. Phenomenal and historical buildings pepper this amazing place. Literally, it takes days to soak in the nuances and atmosphere of Istanbul. Take your time and don’t be afraid to get lost.”
Another visitor added: “Istanbul is a magnificent city… one full of beauty, history, spectacular architecture, amazing restaurants, views to die for, wonderful little family-owned hotels, exceptionally kind and honest people, fun-filled nightclubs, exotic sounds, exotic smells, and many other fabulous things too numerous to mention.”
A third person said: “There are so many cliched phrases used to describe Istanbul – ancient and modern, where east meets west, old world blended with new world, etc., etc., and they are all true. There is history, culture, shopping, sightseeing, museums, galleries, boat trips. There is SO much!”
For those who have already explored Istanbul, or perhaps feel it’s not quite their cup of tea, fear not, there are numerous other pedestrian-friendly destinations across Europe.
Europe’s most walkable cities:
- Istanbul, Türkiye
- Milan, Italy
- Hamburg, Germany
- Dublin, Ireland
- Prague, Czechia
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Birmingham, UK
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Kraków, Poland