Favourite Walkable Cities in Europe

Yesterday I left Malta and in the present day I’m in Istanbul for a number of days earlier than flying house. What a beautiful a part of the world! Malta is small and simple to see in 4 days, I’ll share particulars quickly.

I’ve been lucky to go to many international locations in Europe over the previous twenty years and there are cities that stand out as favorites due to their walkability. My favourite factor to do once I journey is to discover on foot so if I can see a lot of the highlights of a metropolis in two or three days, that’s a win for me.

Beneath are ten cities I’ve visited the place you’ll be able to stroll for hours and see a lot of the metropolis. These aren’t the biggies like Paris, Rome, and London. These are the smaller cities that each one have a singular attraction which incorporates meandering streets excellent for pedestrian strolls, cafes for folks watching, beautiful structure, and an outdated a part of town with a lot of historical past. What’s fascinating is all of them sit on rivers or have canals, so waterways are an enormous a part of the attraction.

If you happen to keep in a trip rental or resort in any of those cities you’ll have the ability to stroll round and see all of the highlights in two days for those who’re fast, three days for those who wish to take your time and calm down. I’ve obtained lots of different cities and cities on my record to see, however up to now these are ten that I can suggest for those who like to stroll round like I do.

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1. Salzburg, Austria

I’ll begin with my favourite walkable metropolis. I’ve visited Salzburg twice, as soon as I lived there for month throughout a summer season research overseas program, and I returned in 2016. It was simply as charming as once I lived there again within the Nineties.

Highlights of this most scenic metropolis embody Mirabell Gardens which you may acknowledge them from the movie The Sound of Music. Mozart’s Residence is within the coronary heart of the outdated city, near the Salzburg Cathedral. Take a hike uphill to the medieval Hohensalzburg Fortress. A few of my favourite beer gardens together with Stern Beirgarten within the coronary heart of the outdated city and the favored Augusteiner Bräu the place you’ll be able to sit for hours below chestnut timber.

Salzburg is a musical metropolis due to its well-known resident so for those who journey there within the hotter months you’ll discover lots of festivals occurring, a lot of them outdoor. The stroll alongside the Salzach River on a heat night can’t be beat.

2. Munich, Germany

Solely a 90 minute practice journey from Salzburg is Munich within the coronary heart of Bavaria. You may go to each in a single journey, which I did once I visited this area. I like the stroll via the outdated city previous the well-known Marianplatz and watch the well-known Glockenspiel in motion.

I like to recommend a motorbike tour via the outdated city and Englischer Gardens, don’t miss the Eisbach Wave the place surfers journey waves on a river! It’s fascinating to look at. The Bavarian delicacies is the perfect from the smaller pubs to the well-known Hofbrauhaus the place an oompa band in lederhosen prompts many a crowd to sing alongside. Augustiner Keller is the native beer that goes down very easy on a summer season’s eve! I like strolling across the market stalls at Viktualienmarkt the place you discover the best and freshest German bites to take pleasure in within the open air.

3. Porto, Portugal

My second favourite metropolis in all of Europe that I’ve visited up to now is Porto. Nestled within the northern a part of the nation the place the Duoro River meets the Atlantic Ocean is image excellent Porto the place you’re feeling such as you’re strolling via a portray.

The historic middle is dreamy to stroll round, there are such a lot of alleyways to duck down, however you’ll hit some hills whilst you do. Relaxation down by the river on the finish of the day the place reside music performs and there are countless cafes to select from to look at the boats go by. There are oh so many wine and port tastings and excursions you are able to do on this area. Stroll the well-known Luís I Bridge that spans the river or take a practice journey to the coast for contemporary fish!

4. Bruges, Belgium

Bruges is a dream to stroll round, there’s no scarcity of attraction right here with its canals and chocolate and structure, it’s a dream vacation spot in Belgium. We spent solely sooner or later right here however you’ll be able to see all of it for those who begin early and take the final practice house (to Brussels the place we had been staying).

The Market Sq. historic middle is the place you’ll find yourself when you get off the practice and take a stroll via the city. It’s a terrific place to sit down in a restaurant and folks watch, among the best components of touring to Europe. If you happen to’re formidable you’ll be able to climb the Belfry, however we spent our time tasting chocolate and beer as we meandered from avenue to avenue.

5. Bordeaux, France

I used to be shocked how a lot I beloved this metropolis once I visited a number of years in the past. It’s skilled a resurgence which makes it an enthralling place to land for a number of days and discover.

If you happen to’re a wine lover, you’ll be able to discover the number of wine estates in St. Emilion and the Medoc wine area. Bordeaux was as soon as a walled metropolis and has a wealthy historical past that dates again to the 1500s, so for those who go to positively take a guided strolling or bike tour! There are squares with fountains and the left financial institution alongside the river is a beautiful waterfront stroll and there’s additionally a cool procuring district. The outdated belfry La Grosse Cloche is certainly one of a number of monuments within the coronary heart of city that make Bordeaux really feel a bit of like Paris.

6. Prague, Czech

Prague feels quite a bit smaller comparatively to different international locations’ capital cities. There’s a lot to see and do from strolling across the outdated city to tasting the native delicacies and beer. Prague is the place I first observed overtourism creeping into the continent however I nonetheless beloved all the pieces about this metropolis, particularly strolling round within the evenings. Town has a magical high quality and the very best bar I’ve ever been too, extra on that journey on this submit.

7. Seville, Spain

My third favourite metropolis in Europe and such a delight to discover! Sunny Seville is an excellent place to expertise the very best of Spain, from flamenco to sangria. The outdated city has superb cafes and retailers, the river stroll is divine, and the Plaza de Espana will seize your coronary heart with its architectural magnificence.

8. Venice, Italy

I nonetheless have but to share photos of my journey to Venice in 2021 but it surely was actually enchanting. I went with mates and hit it simply on the proper time when it wasn’t crowded and the climate was excellent.

I had been to Venice earlier than in August when mosquitos are actually dangerous and didn’t prefer it in any respect, however there was one thing about returning in October when there have been no crowds that made the expertise quite a bit higher. Venice is so distinctive, the floating metropolis that’s straightforward to get misplaced in however a delight to discover. There’s nothing fairly like being sung to in Italian by a gondolier at sundown. I additionally beloved my ferry rides and day journeys to Murano and Burano which I extremely suggest.

9. Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen was my first cease on a whirlwind journey to Scandinavia and such a delight I’d positively return. I used to be shocked how many individuals get round on bikes on this city so you’ll be able to stroll or bike, both approach it’s a beautiful place to go to with pretty water views, loads of historical past, and nice meals and beer. Each Tivoli Gardens and Nyhavn are to not miss.

10. Amsterdam, Netherlands

What a picturesque metropolis to stroll and bike. Amsterdam is loveliness round each nook. I haven’t returned since I used to be in my twenties however all I would like is an inexpensive flight and I’ll go once more.

The Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank Home are fantastic and don’t miss the world well-known Rijksmuseum full of work by Dutch masters. Canal cruises are a calming strategy to see the websites. As a lot as I’m an advocate for strolling, having a motorbike is very nice in Amsterdam, it’s a good way to get round just like the locals do. Vondelpark is an English model backyard that’s pretty on a sunny day. And naturally there’s the well-known Crimson Mild District if that’s your factor.

I’ve simply left Valletta in Malta, I’ll share all the main points about my expertise in that nation quickly. Different honorable mentions for walkable cities in Europe embody: Good, France; Verona, Italy; the island of Ibiza; the island of Mallorca; Brussels, Belgium; and each Florence and Siena, Italy.

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Chime in mates, have you ever been to those cities? Did you discover them to be walker pleasant? Any highlights you skilled whereas in these cities? Any others you’d suggest for avid walkers?