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Ranked: Europe’s most pedestrian-friendly city breaks

Fifty European cities were assessed on the distance, walking time, step count and elevation between all their top attractions

Liv Kelly
Written by
Liv Kelly
Writer, Time Out Travel
Bruges Markt
Photograph: Shutterstock
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Public transport is a godsend, particularly when you’re exploring a sprawling city and want to pack in as many must-see sights as you can, and plenty of hubs in Europe are decked out with affordable, efficient networks to whisk you around. 

But getting around on two feet? You can’t really beat it – and who knows what brilliant cafes, bars, pretty buildings or fun shops you might stumble across on your way. This is obviously more doable in certain cities rather than others, and FitFlop is here to walk us through the options. 

The retail company assessed 50 European cities on the distance, elevation, step count and time it takes to get between each one’s most popular tourist attractions, and has produced a ranking of Europe’s most pedestrian-friendly cities. Step right this way. 

Recommended: The cities with the best public transport in the world – according to locals

Strolling into first place is Bruges, the beautiful Belgian city with a UNESCO-protected historic centre, divided by pretty canals and Gothic buildings. The average distance between attractions here is a mere 1.2 km, just 16 minutes and no elevation, giving it an overall score of 98.73 out of 100. 

Porto came in second place, with a score of 95.45, 26 minutes average walking time and an elevation of 19 metres, and Brighton came in third, with a score of 95.33 and average distance between attractions of 1.9km. 

These are the 10 most pedestrian-friendly cities in Europe

  1. Bruges
  2. Porto
  3. Brighton
  4. Seville
  5. Venice
  6. Athens
  7. Florence
  8. Tallinn
  9. Krakow
  10. Antwerp

Really, really want to stretch those legs? Have a look at the best hiking routes in Europe, according to us. 

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Plus: The cities with the most green spaces, ranked

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