The world’s most walkable cities

By Florence Derrick

February 14, 2023

There’s no better way to get to know a city than on your own two feet, and these cities are truly pedestrian-friendly.

How to get around easily is any traveller’s first concern when they land in a new city. Navigating transport systems generally takes some time, so it’s liberating to be able to simply follow your feet, becoming immersed in your surrounds from the get-go. Riverside walkways, pedestrian shopping streets and inviting green spaces make these cities ideal for exploring on foot.

Marrakech

Walking is just about the only option in Marrakech’s bustling Medina, whose sensory overload will stop you in your tracks. Floor-to-ceiling displays of lanterns dazzle alongside mounds of spices, and slippers and satchels are piled high in the many leather shops. Come nightfall, the main square, Jemaa el-Fnaa, heaves with musicians, snake charmers and insistent henna artists. Take a taxi for trips further afield, to the intricately decorated Bahia Palace, perhaps, or the Jardin Majorelle (30 minutes on foot from the Medina, if you prefer to walk).

Stay at Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, a tranquil retreat within easy reach of the heart of the city.

Sunset falls on the busy 42nd street in Manhattan, New York

New York City

If some US cities are more geared towards drivers, NYC bucks the trend – and was ranked the most walkable city in the US in 2020 by Walk Score, an organisation that advocates for urban walkability. In much of Manhattan, at least, it’s almost impossible to get lost on the numbered street grid (though the quirky West Village is an exception to the rule). Swap your yellow cab for sneakers, hopping on the subway for a quick change of neighbourhood. While walking a few blocks can be deceptively far, there’s always plenty to see, from the noisy pizza parlours of Little Italy to Art Deco masterpieces such as the Chrysler Building and Rockefeller Plaza.

Stay at Mandarin Oriental, New York, overlooking Central Park. It’s the perfect place from which to take a long walk down the length of Manhattan island.

Guangzhou

On the Pearl River northwest of Hong Kong, this wonderfully sprawling Chinese city is surprisingly pedestrian-friendly. That’s not least thanks to the redevelopment of its riverbanks, where six pathways were connected to create an ecological corridor that links various venues and tourist attractions via 60 miles of greenways. Elsewhere, take a stroll around Baomo Garden, filled with koi ponds, museums and statues, or hit the pedestrianised Beijing Road, which is lined with shops and street food stands.

Stay at Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou, in the upscale, creative Tianhe district. Feeling weary? Head for The Spa, and a restorative Hot Stone session.

Paris

You can walk from one side of central Paris to the other in two hours, and strolling the city is the best way to get under its skin. From the shaded benches of Places des Vosges to the designer shops of the Champs-Élysées, or the shopping arcades lining rue de Rivoli, it’s all on an easily navigable grid. The ongoing Paris piétons project is transforming squares across the city, while Paris-Plages sees urban beaches and activities pop up by the Seine every year.

Stay at Mandarin Oriental, Paris, close to the Jardin des Tuileries and the gloriously grand Place Vendôme.

London

When you’re relying on the network of Tube trains speeding below street level, it’s easy to forget that central London is surprisingly walkable. Starting from Big Ben, you can stroll all along the South Bank, past buskers, street food trucks and the London Eye, to Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and Tower Bridge – all without leaving the riverside. Then there are the canals of Camden and Hackney, and the resplendent royal parks (head for Richmond Park for deer-spotting, amid the oaks and beeches). In North London, hilly Hampstead Heath is where Londoners like to stretch their legs, generally followed by a long Sunday lunch in one of the cosy local pubs.

Stay at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London is, as its name suggests, right on the edge of Hyde Park. You’re perfectly placed for a turn around its rose gardens and lake, while also being close to central London’s shops and major museums.

Hong Kong

In a 2020 US study of over 1,000 cities, Hong Kong was ranked one of the world’s most walkable cities. See for yourself with a stroll through the Central district, where charming 19th-century buildings are dwarfed by dazzling skyscrapers, or amble along the historic harbour to Kowloon Peninsula, whose colourful back streets are dotted with vibrant food, craft and flower markets. For a different perspective on the city, head for Lugard Road – actually a wooded hiking loop around Victoria Peak, with second-to-none views of the skyline and harbour.

Stay at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong in the Central District, or Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, overlooking Victoria Harbour.

All offers and experiences available at time of publication. Please contact the relevant hotel team for more information.

About the Author

Florence Derrick

Florence Derrick is a London-based travel journalist. A former editor of ABTA Magazine, she writes for Condé Nast Traveller, Telegraph Travel, Time Out and more.