Forget expensive taxis and public transport, sitting squeezed in between people on a subway, and anything else that the thought of a city gives you, since there are a few cities across the world where you can walk to your heart’s content! Although all the places on our list are amazing destinations for walking, remember that this does not give you freedom to run rogue. Jaywalking almost anywhere is illegal. So, enjoy your walk but stick to the rules when you’re in the heart of the city, find walking paths and stick to footpaths and pedestrian pathways! Take a look at where you can travel, though on foot.

1. Bath, England

Home to picnics with Mr. Darcy and the iconic Roman baths, Bath has been a city that’s been romanticised by authors such as Jane Austen, and is steeped in history. Since it’s such a small city, most of the key sights are within walking distance from one another. Also, it’s as quaint as the countryside, so you can walk on cobbled paths, past well-paved, almost empty streets and hop from one sight to another without a hassle. If you visit during spring/summer and also largely because of the surrounding countryside, the baths and the spas dotting the space, will leave you feeling invigorated instead of exhausted.

2. Marrakech, Morocco

Image Source: Flickr @Celso_FLORES

It’s easier to navigate this city on foot, you can conveniently weave in and out through dizzying lanes and indulge in street shopping while you wander through this colourful city. You can stop at any traditional bakery and explore treasures hidden in the narrow alleyways. The numerous open air markets are filled with street vendors, artists, performers and sights, which makes it a tourists’ heaven. There’s breathtaking beauty all around, and always a helpful pedestrian rushing past, willing to show you out of a lost corner.

3. New Orleans, USA

Image Source: Flickr @Justin Brown

There’s a lot to see and do here – but it’s really about how you can see and do it. The French Quarter is a spellbinding place to walk through. The city also has a National Park and a Garden District, so you can be assured of the uncontaminated air that you will be breathing while you’re there (you may have to skip aside occasionally for a fancy motorbike to pass through though) and don’t be surprised if you make a few friends along the way, the city is ranked among the friendliest in the USA!

4. Cambridge, USA

College cities are usually a great place to explore and that holds true for Cambridge as well. This city even has an event every May, called Golden Shoes – how could you not walk in a city that celebrates places where people want to walk?! Apart from seeing the college, you can soak up some really nice sights if you walk past Harvard square, to all the museums dotting the small city. There’s also a pond and the Charles River Reservation where you can walk along the banks.

5. Hong Kong, China

There’s a reason that people tell you to walk around Hong Kong, and it’s not only because of all the fresh air, though that does help. For such a commercial, tourist-friendly city, you’d be surprised of the numerous areas you can walk through and enjoy clean air, brilliant walkways and sights along the way. You can choose to walk through to a beach, or go up the hills and bamboo groves. Locals are out and about quite a bit here, so you can get involved with activities too. Remember to nod and smile at people as you walk past – everyone is quite friendly.

6. Paris, France

Ah, the city of love! We tried, but we couldn’t keep this one off the list, as clichéd and common as it may be. Get your walking shoes (make sure they’re chic!) out and take a stroll along the several pathways and promenades dotting the area. You can take a break at one of the street cafes, rest under the trees, sit a while on the benches dotting the riverbanks and amble past the pretty streets, lines of stores and cobbled residential areas.

7. Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is often referred to as a walking city – for good reason. The beautiful city may have seen some hard times, but there are plenty of walking tours for tourists that will show you how quickly it’s been restored to its present day splendour. The city squares, street corners and well-maintained roads make it really easy to walk around here. There are a few rough roads in the downtown area of the city, but if you stick to tourist friendly spots, you will be in good hands. The great part about Budapest is that you can walk along the Danube River, or walk past the monuments at the squares – and even get a drink at one of the pubs around the corner.

8. Rome, Italy

This city is wonderful to see, but only if you choose to do it on foot, or you’ll find yourself stuck in a little car zipping around the town, all lost and with your heart in your mouth. There’s a real advantage to walking through the city of Rome, especially if you weave in and out of the crowds slowly, and don’t always follow a map. There are several hidden gems in the alleys and lanes near the most popular sites – but don’t forget to walk to the Coliseum and sights such as the Forum.

9. Dublin, Ireland

We love Dublin – and according to a recent survey, Dublin loves us too! The city of arts, culture and literature (as home to famous artists such as Joyce), recently ranked second on a list of the friendliest places in the whole world, and is one of the best urban places to explore on foot. From the castles and churches to pretty bridges that you can cross and rivers to rest by, there’s a lot to see and do here and it’s all best done on foot. It’s also a great place to walk because there are no extremes of weather, the air is crisp and cool and it never gets too hot or too cold, and doesn’t see crazy rainstorms. There are a number of parks too –walk by slowly, nod and smile and you will come away with a host of new friends.

There’s clean air, great pathways, sights, sounds, friendly locals – there’s really no reason not to walk around these cities, so what are you waiting for?

Have we missed out any city? Do tell us.

Nicole

A poet with a penchant for prose and the itch to travel, Nicole Reed is an assistant editor and features writer for a daily newspaper, struggling to find a way out of the concrete mess by dreaming of one day living and breathing off words in an idyllic country setting somewhere. Having been editor of her college magazine, written for a number of publications including Shamiana’s short film newsletter and as a current student of Literature from the University of London, Nicole sees writing like travel - an adventure – a journey to find her place, to define and redefine who she is over and over again and to live and learn through the process.

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