The Best Cities To Explore On Foot In Europe

When you’re done, several high-quality restaurants will almost certainly be within walking distance.

Birmingham

We fly the flag for Birmingham a lot here, but that’s because the city is wonderful and deserves to be regarded much more highly than it is.

• Birmingham is generally quite well-served by a public transport network of buses and trams.
• You can walk from the nightlife-loving Broad Street into the city centre easily and without needing to take a tram, perhaps stopping by several great eateries and the world-famous Library on the way.

Salzburg

Austria’s crown jewel—or one of many, anyway—has a population of around 160,000 and is just 66 kilometres squared, making it ideal for those who prefer their cities vertical rather than horizontal.

• The legendary Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, and you can visit his childhood home, which now serves as a museum to the underappreciated genius (in his time, at least).
• You’ll also find Austrian cafes selling pastries and coffee to keep you going as you walk.

Paris

Alright, we’re cheating slightly with this one. We aren’t picking Paris because it’s easy to explore on foot; quite the contrary, in fact—trying to do so will quickly leave you exhausted.

Rather, we’ve chosen Paris simply because it’s easy to explore pretty much any part of the city on foot and find a day’s worth of entertainment without needing to leave that particular area. Steeped in history and culture as it is, Paris should definitely be on your walking itinerary.

Ljubljana

Be honest: have you ever considered Ljubljana as a walking destination? Probably not, right? That’s a shame because, as Slovenia’s capital city, it’s a criminally underrated destination, and you should definitely throw a little cash Ljubljana’s way for the tourist trade.

• It’s a larger city than you might be used to walking, but it houses some incredible museums that are full of history.
• The iconic Ljubljana River should serve as an idyllic backdrop for a cup of well-deserved coffee.

Seville

When you’re visiting Spain, leave Barcelona and Madrid off your list if you’re looking to walk; they’re massive, and they can often get unbearably hot, making walking difficult to recommend.

Seville, on the other hand, is a much more compact city, although no less charming for its lesser size.

• Of course, the Seville Cathedral is the main draw of this city.
• You’ll also find plenty of tapas restaurants and bars dotted around where you can grab a quick lunch before continuing on.

Reykjavik

Did you know that Iceland is currently the most sparsely populated country in all of Europe? It’s true; despite being the capital city of the country, Reykjavik plays host to a mere 372,000 people, which makes it the ideal city to wander.

If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to look up and see the gorgeous Northern Lights while you’re exploring Reykjavik on foot, which is just one of the many reasons to consider visiting this city and ditching the taxis.

Stockholm

We could honestly fill this list with cities from Scandinavia alone. Stockholm is a picturesque city situated in Sweden, and it’s lined with wonderful shops, bars, and restaurants at which to while away the hours.

• At 188 kilometres squared, it isn’t the smallest city in Europe, and walking from one end to the other would likely require some serious stamina.
• However, you can easily chain several major tourist attractions together without needing to touch public transport or a taxi.

Florence

In many cities, the most unforgettable experiences you’re likely to have are gained by walking the streets and sampling local culture. That’s true of Florence in Italy, too, but if you want to make sure you hit the major tourist attractions, then Florence is one of the easiest cities to walk around in Europe.

• Attractions like the Uffizi Gallery can easily be reached from the Duomo, for instance, all while walking at a leisurely pace.