City living offers plenty of benefits, from jobs to entertainment. But big cities often come with a good dose of hassle, whether it’s car traffic or overly crowded public transportation options. For both living and visiting, the ability to walk from place to place in a city is an ideal perk. Unlike sprawling metropolises, compact, walkable cities are easy to get around. A recent Time Out survey polled locals in cities across the world to reveal the 20 most walkable cities in the world, and five U.S. cities made the list.
Based on survey results, Boston is the most walkable city in the U.S. (and the second most walkable in the world). Nearly 90 percent of locals rated the city’s walkability positively. Its small size allows easy walking access to many of the top sights, services and attractions. There are beautiful green parks, tons of historic landmarks, and The Freedom Trail—a 2.5-mile walking path that connects some of the top spots in the city.
At number two is New York City. You can spend entire days walking around each of the city’s amazing neighborhoods, or challenge yourself to walk from one end of Manhattan to the other to take it all in. Chicago, at number three, may be a massive city, but locals love that it’s easy to get around from place to place on foot. At number four is San Francisco. You can walk from one cool neighborhood to the next, and the hills will get you a bonus workout. Wrapping up the top five is Washington, D.C. Where else can you see so many amazing museums just by walking around one compact area?
Find the full list of the most walkable cities in the world here.
Most walkable cities in the U.S.
- Boston
- New York
- Chicago
- San Francisco
- Washington, D.C.