You, me, and everyone’s grandmother knows that no matter how lazy you are in your own city, the second you visit a foreign country, the tables turn. Walking changes how you interact with the city you are visiting; moving from one attraction to another in a cab or disappearing underground on a metro tends to lead to you missing out on the beauty and culture of old neighborhoods, markets, cafés, waterfronts, and smaller landmarks in between. Of course, some cities make this considerably easier than others. Skyscanner’s latest study identifies some of the most walkable cities in 2026, moving beyond the usual names. Cordoba takes the top spot, two Japanese cities make the top three, and several smaller European destinations feature prominently.
Who Released The Most Walkable Cities List For 2026?
The ranking comes from Skyscanner, a global travel search platform for comparing flights, hotels, and car rentals. For its 2026 walkability index, Skyscanner used flight-search data to select 30 emerging city-break destinations outside the United States, moving beyond established favorites such as Berlin and Dubrovnik.
The walkability index covers fourteen factors, including walking distance and time between major attractions, number of steps, walking trails, average elevation, air quality, pollution, crime, safety, population density, and number of attractions. The result highlights places where spending much of a sightseeing day on foot is genuinely practical. Looking for travel inspiration? Discover the top 10 most attractive cities in the world in 2026 and what makes them stand out.
What Are The 10 Most Walkable Cities In 2026?
1. Cordoba, Spain
Cordoba is the sort of city where several centuries of history fit into one relatively short walk. Only about 26 minutes separate its major attractions, while 29 walking trails provide options beyond the historic center. Start around the Mosque-Cathedral, then continue through the narrow lanes of La Juderia before reaching Palacio de Viana or the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos. The Roman Bridge also makes a natural evening walk, particularly around sunset.
2. Nagasaki, Japan
Nagasaki has an average elevation of 89 meters, keeping many sightseeing walks manageable. The harbor gives the city an open feel, while places such as the Atomic Bomb Museum, Peace Park, and Dejima reveal very different periods of its history. The city also recorded the lowest crime rate among the top 10, according to the index. After walking around town, Mount Inasa offers views across the harbor.
3. Hiroshima, Japan
Hiroshima is particularly well-suited to walking because several of its most important places are concentrated around its rivers and Peace Memorial Park. Skyscanner calculates roughly 41 minutes and 3,959 steps between the major attractions. The Peace Memorial Museum is an obvious stop, and walking also makes it easy to spend time along the river before heading toward Okonomimura for Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. Searching for a peaceful escape? Discover the quietest countries in the world, with Bhutan topping the list.
4. Reggio Calabria, Italy
Reggio Calabria is easy to overlook when Sicily sits directly across the Strait of Messina, but that compactness is exactly what makes the city interesting to explore on foot. Around 25 minutes and 2,321 steps separate its main attractions. A walk can take in the Lungomare waterfront, views toward Mount Etna on a clear day, and the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia, home to the ancient Riace Bronzes.
5. Monte Carlo, Monaco
Monte Carlo sounds like an unlikely walking destination considering its steep terrain, supercars, casinos, and Formula 1 circuit. Its advantage is size. Major attractions can be covered in roughly 36 minutes, and public elevators and escalators help with some of the steeper changes in elevation. Casino Square and the Oceanographic Museum can be combined with a walk toward Rue des Remparts for views over the harbor.
6. Tartu, Estonia
Tartu offers a slower kind of city walk. Estonia’s second-largest city covers a relatively compact area, with an average elevation of just 53 meters. Town Hall Square provides an obvious starting point before continuing toward the University of Tartu, its botanical garden, Toome Hill Park, or the Estonian National Museum. Its large student population also means the center feels lived-in rather than arranged entirely around tourists. Curious about the unusual side of travel? Explore some of the weirdest tourist attractions in the world you should know about this World Tourism Day.
7. Bursa, Türkiye
Bursa requires more walking than most destinations higher up the ranking, with around an hour and 5,324 steps needed to get between its main sights. That extra distance takes visitors through a city shaped by early Ottoman history. The Grand Mosque, Koza Han, Ottoman tombs, and covered markets make the route feel like more than simply walking between monuments. Bursa’s relatively low population density also helped its performance in the study.
8. Bolzano, Italy
Bolzano gives walkers two very different options. Within the center, Walther Plaza, the arcaded Via dei Portici, and the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology make for an easy sightseeing route. Beyond town, more than 505 walking trails extend into the vineyard-covered surroundings. The city was also identified as the safest among the top 10, helping it stand out among these pedestrian-friendly destinations. Interested in magnificent Hindu architecture around the world? Discover eight spectacular BAPS temples around the world you should visit.
9. Sarajevo, Bosnia And Herzegovina
Sarajevo packs an unusual amount of history into a small area. Only about 22 minutes separate its top attractions. A walk through Baščaršija brings you to Ottoman-era streets and coffee shops before the route reaches the Miljacka River and the Latin Bridge. Museums dealing with the city’s more recent history are also nearby. For those wanting to go farther, a cable car connects the city with Mount Trebević and its former Olympic bobsled track.
10. Victoria, Canada
Victoria offers something different from the predominantly European and Japanese cities above it. Its Inner Harbor is an easy place to begin exploring, with the British Columbia Parliament Buildings and historic architecture nearby. The city also has 457 walking trails and recorded the highest air-quality score among the top 10. Beacon Hill Park and the waterfront provide options when the idea is to keep walking rather than move between specific attractions. Planning a festive holiday? Explore five of the best Christmas markets in the world for a memorable seasonal experience.
Author’s Note
This list is based on Skyscanner’s 2026 Walkability Index, which ranked 30 emerging city-break destinations using 14 factors, including walking distance, steps, trails, elevation, air quality, safety, and population density. The rankings and figures mentioned in this article have been taken from the Skyscanner study.
Summing Up
What makes this ranking interesting is the variety. Walking in Cordoba means moving through narrow historic streets and centuries-old architecture, while Hiroshima offers riverside routes and memorial sites. Bolzano opens into vineyard-covered hills, and Victoria combines its harbor with parks and trails. For travelers who enjoy seeing what sits between the headline attractions, these cities offer plenty of reasons to leave the car behind and explore at street level. In the end, the list is complete because it shows how walking can shape the travel experience in each city.
