Great Cities to Explore on Foot

Sometimes the best way to travel and get to explore the world is by walking around on your own two feet.  And with the growing popularity of navigation apps, it’s never been easier to get around a new city by walking.  Here are some of the world’s great cities to explore on foot.

New York City, New York
New York City is often voted as America’s most walkable city.  There are several popular pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods such as Little Italy, Chinatown, the Bowery, and NoHo which make the Big Apple a great city to explore on foot.  Famous tourist hot-spot areas like Broadway and Times Square are ideal for exploring on foot and have lots of must-see sites along the way.

Barcelona, Spain
Another great international city to explore on foot is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world– Barcelona.  Highlights include pedestrian-friendly areas including La Rambla, a promenade with shops, restaurants and excellent people-watching, and Plaça de Catalunya, a waterfront promenade.

Dubrovnik, Croatia
Croatia is one of the most popular tourist destinations right now, and Dubrovnik is wonderful to explore on foot.  Dubrovnik’s Old Town is encircled by walls dating back to the Middle Ages and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can walk along the walls themselves for amazing views of the Adriatic Sea and the red tiled roofs made famous by being the filming location of the Games of Thrones series’ fictional King’s Landing.  Within the walls of Old Town itself is great to explore on foot because the area is very compact and cars aren’t permitted.  The main street in the Old Town section of Dubrovnik is Stradun, also known as Placa, and is where all the best historical sites and shops are located.

San Francisco, California
Another of the most walkable cities in the U.S. is San Francisco.  In addition to its great public transport systems, the City by the Bay has wonderful and popular neighborhoods to explore on foot such as Chinatown, Nob Hill, Union Square, the Mission District, and the Tenderloin.

Cinque Terre, Italy
Technically not a city but five connected villages on the coast of Liguria, Italy– Cinque Terre is one of the best places to explore on foot.  The UNESCO World Heritage Site-designated Cinque Terre is made up of the villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso and has become a popular tourist destination, most notably for walking.  Cars are banned and the steep trails along Italy’s rugged coast require a hiking permit and good walking shoes, but the views are worth it.

Fes el Bali, Morocco
Another great city to explore on foot that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fes el Bali is the walled Old Town section of the larger Morrocan city of Fez.  Fes el Bali is known for its narrow, labyrinth-like streets and is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world.  The historic walled Old Town, also called the medina, is a bustling, pedestrian-friendly city with plenty of history, markets, and cafes. 

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