‘I live in one of the world’s most walkable cities’ (2024)

FAQs

What is the world's most walkable city? ›

Florence tops the list as the most walkable city in the world. Known for its Renaissance history and stunning architecture, the city's major landmarks, such as the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Piazza del Duomo and Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, are all within easy walking distance.

The U.S. gets a bad rap for building car-centric infrastructure that shuts pedestrians out. But cities like Chicago and Miami go against the grain, offering a balance of walkable neighborhoods and great public transport that takes you where you need to go — no vehicle necessary.

79% said being within an easy walk of other places and amenities, such as shops and parks, is very or somewhat important when deciding where to live. Of these respondents, 78% indicated they would be willing to pay more to live in a walkable community.

As defined by Walk Score, a walkable neighborhood has a center, high population density, mixed income and mixed use, parks and public space, pedestrian design, schools and workplaces within walking distance, and complete streets that encourage multimodal transportation.

Amsterdam emerged as the top city for walkability, achieving a walking difficulty score of 20.1 out of 100. (The lower the score, the better.) Amsterdam's extensive network of pedestrian-friendly streets further supports its top ranking.

"The lack of sidewalks or even paved shoulders is a big problem," he said. "Many neighborhoods across the country don't have sidewalks on either side of the street. This is because many cities don't spend the money on sidewalk installations and don't even require developers to build sidewalks in housing areas."

The survey named New York City as the nation's most walkable city, with Boston and Washington, D.C. close behind.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant decline in walking activity has been observed in the United States. As of 2022, the District of Columbia had the lead with an average of 42 walking trips being taken daily by each 100 people.

“Young adults prioritize walkability the most, with 90% of Gen Z and millennial respondents indicating they'd pay more for a home in a walkable community; a third say they'd 'pay a lot more.

Are walkable cities better for mental health? ›

Research has consistently shown that walkable communities—those with accessible walking paths, retail stores, and social venues—offer numerous mental health benefits.

Parking Challenges- In dense urban areas with walkable neighborhoods, it can be difficult to find parking. So, if you own a car, you may have to pay separately for a dedicated parking spot. Increased Density- Walkable neighborhoods are generally more dense in terms of population and infrastructure.

Chicago, Illinois

According to Preply, who recently ranked the top 15 walkable cities in the US based on the distance, walking time, and how many steps it would take to walk between the five main attractions in each city, Chicago is the most walkable city in the United States.

Only 1.2% of the land mass of the largest 35 metropolitan areas in the US are walkable urban areas. This fraction of land in the top 35 metropolitan areas generates 20% of US GDP. Building more walkable urban areas will increase tax revenue for cities while easing the affordability crisis.

The Foot Traffic Ahead 2023 report examined the 35 largest metropolitan areas across the U.S. to find the most "well-connected, walkable neighborhoods." And it once again named New York City the most walkable city in America.

Boston. It's known as “the walking city” for a reason. "Beantown" was built on a small scale well before cars. New parks, neighborhoods, and public transportation keep it modern and easy to navigate on foot.

Tristan Da Cunha, South Atlantic Ocean

The volcanic island of Tristan Da Cunha in the South Atlantic Ocean has the honor of being the most remote point on Earth inhabited by humans.