Info/graphic

The best cities in the world for getting around on foot

According to a recent study on urban accessibility, Europe dominates the world ranking of the most pedestrian-friendly cities.

Cities
Maria Piand Maria Labró
07/04/2025
2 min

According to a recent study on urban accessibility, Europe dominates the world ranking of the most walkable cities, with 45 of the top 50 positions. This analysis, based on data from The Economist and Visual Capitalist on cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants, measures how long it takes a resident to walk to schools, hospitals, or supermarkets. The conclusion is clear: the Old Continent remains a pedestrian paradise. Accessible green spaces, pedestrian-friendly streets, and efficient public transportation make walking the most logical option for getting around.

Beyond Europe

Kyoto, Japan, is the most walkable non-European city on the list, at 28th. Other non-European cities in the top 50 include Taipei, Taiwan, at 35th; Kathmandu, Nepal, at 45th; Taichung, Taiwan, at 49th; and Tokyo, Japan, at 50th.

American cities, known for their car-centric design, are not in the top 50. Vancouver, Canada, is the highest-ranked North American city on the overall list, at 53rd.

Barcelona and Bilbao are among those chosen

The two Spanish cities that make the list of the most walkable cities in the world are Bilbao and Barcelona, ​​ranked 14th and 19th, respectively.

Top 20 most walkable cities

  1. Milan, Italy
  2. Copenhagen, Denmark
  3. Turin, Italy
  4. Dublin, Ireland
  5. Lyon, France
  6. Munich, Germany
  7. Paris, France
  8. Marseilles, France
  9. Genoa, Italy
  10. Edinburgh, Scotland
  11. Berlin, Germany
  12. Vienna, Austria
  13. St. Petersburg, Russia
  14. Bilbao, Spain
  15. Bordeaux, France
  16. Minsk, Belarus
  17. Stuttgart, Germany
  18. Lille, France
  19. Barcelona, Spain
  20. Oslo, Norway

The top 10 cities by accessibility

Temps mitjà necessari per accedir a les principals

comoditats (escola, botigues, restaurants) a peu

Percentatge de la població que te les principals

comoditats a menys de 15 minuts a peu

MILÀ

98,8%

15’

6’6’’

97,3%

15’

COPENHAGUEN

TORÍ

7’1’’

15’

95,9%

DUBLÍN

7’4’’

15’

96,4%

Temps mitjà necessari per accedir a les principals

comoditats (escola, botigues, restaurants) a peu

Percentatge de la població que te les principals

comoditats a menys de 15 minuts a peu

MILÀ

98,8%

15’

6’6’’

97,3%

15’

COPENHAGUEN

TORÍ

7’1’’

15’

95,9%

DUBLÍN

7’4’’

15’

96,4%

Temps mitjà necessari per accedir a les principals

comoditats (escola, botigues, restaurants) a peu

Percentatge de la població que te les principals

comoditats a menys de 15 minuts a peu

MILÀ

98,8%

15’

6’6’’

97,3%

15’

COPENHAGUEN

TORÍ

7’1’’

15’

95,9

DUBLÍN

7’4’’

15’

96,4%

A pedestrian zone in Dublin.

LIÓ

93%

7’4’’

15’

MÚNIC

94,8%

15’

7’5’’

PARÍS

92,9%

8’

15’

LIÓ

93%

7’4’’

15’

MÚNIC

94,8%

7’5’’

15’

PARÍS

92,9%

8’

15’

LIÓ

93%

7’4’’

15’

MÚNIC

94,8%

7’5’’

15’

PARÍS

92,9%

8’

15’

Louvre Museum, Paris.

MARSELLA

93,6%

8’1’’

15’

GÈNOVA

93,8%

8’1’’

15’

EDIMBURG

94,3%

8’2’’

15’

MARSELLA

93,6%

8’1’’

15’

GÈNOVA

93,8%

8’1’’

15’

EDIMBURG

94,3%

8’2’’

15’

MARSELLA

93,6%

8’1’’

15’

GÈNOVA

93,8%

8’1’’

15’

EDIMBURG

94,3%

8’2’’

15’

A walkable street in the city of Edinburgh
Infographic on the role of the ARA Domingo
passable
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