There’s a certain freedom in exploring a city on foot — the rhythm of daily life unfolding around you, the scent of coffee from a corner café, a quiet detour that leads to a courtyard you’d never have found by car. Europe rewards those who walk. Across the continent, centuries-old streets have evolved into living museums where history, design, and local life coexist at eye level.
From Amsterdam’s canals to Rome’s piazzas, Copenhagen’s harborfronts to Lisbon’s hills, the most walkable cities share one thing: they’re made for curiosity.
You can cross entire neighborhoods without rushing — pausing for art, pastries, or conversation — and still feel like you’ve seen something real. Some cities are flat and effortless, others gently challenging, but all reveal their character step by step.
Here are some of our favorite European cities where walking is the best way to explore.
Can you think of a better way to get to know a city than by wandering around different neighborhoods on foot? You can set your own pace, pop into restaurants and museums at your leisure, and grab street food along the way.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is a clean, compact, relatively flat city with excellent air quality. Its commitment to sustainability means walking is more than convenient; it’s encouraged. If locals aren’t walking, they’re cycling, meaning vehicle numbers are lower in many central zones.
Here are some good seafood places in Copenhagen. Also, explore the top boutique hotels in the Danish capital with our guide.
Where to Stay
Villa Copenhagen
Right next to Copenhagen Central Station is the historic Villa Copenhagen. Built in 1912, its classic architecture still shines, while thoughtfully updated for modern comfort. There are 390 rooms, and prices begin at $312 a night. One of the standout features here is the rooftop pool, which The Times praised in a recent review.
Hotel Sanders
Hotel Sanders is just steps from Nyhavn and the Royal Danish Theatre. It offers experiences, such as private boat tours or walking tours, to help you explore the city. The hotel has plenty of spots to rest your feet, like the rooftop bar, the ‘city jungle’ courtyard, and the Tata Cocktail Bar. Rates start at $734 a night.
Where to Eat
Geranium
Geranium is a three-Michelin-starred restaurant that won the World’s Best Restaurant in the World’s 50 Best 2022 accolades. It’s on the 8th floor in Fælledparken, right in the city’s center. New Nordic-inspired dishes are served here, and the menus are elaborate, with around 15 courses. Prices start at $660 per person.
Alchemist
The two-Michelin-starred Alchemist is in the Refshaleøen area. Dining here isn’t just a meal; it’s a sensory journey, blending gastronomy and performance. You’ll have 50 “impressions”, but these aren’t traditional courses and not all are edible. The team asks guests to come open-minded; tickets are around $849.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is made for wandering, with its charming canals and narrow streets that are undoubtedly best explored on foot (or by bike). Most major sights are just a short stroll apart, plus it’s perfect for spontaneous detours if something catches your eye or you need to sit down with a coffee to recharge.
Where to Stay
Conservatorium Hotel
If you’re after a luxury stay, why not try Forbes’ Best High-End Hotel in Amsterdam? The Five-Star Conservatorium Hotel sits near the Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, and the Rijksmuseum. It was initially built in 1897 as a bank before opening its doors to visitors as a hotel. For those seeking spa facilities, the wellness center offers a range of treatments. Rooms begin at $877 a night here.
Pulitzer Amsterdam
Pulitzer Amsterdam is located in the Nine Streets area of the central canal district. It’s close to the Jordaan neighborhood and top attractions, such as the Anne Frank House. This five-star hotel is set within 25 restored 17th and 18th-century homes. It has been highly rated by online reviewers and praised by some major publications, including Forbes, Condé Nast, and Vogue. Prices start at around $585 a night.
Where to Eat
Ciel Bleu
Fancy dinner with a view? Hotel Okura is home to Ciel Bleu, which holds two Michelin stars. It sits on the top floor overlooking the city. The dishes have French foundations with global influences. Though the menus change regularly, you can expect lobster, caviar, and pigeon dishes.
Foodhallen
If you want to try all the flavours of Amsterdam and beyond, it’s worth heading to the Foodhallen, a converted tram depot in Oud-West. There are 33 stands under the same roof, and the vibe is lively and sociable. You’ll also find a movie theatre, library, and shops here. While there are too many flavors to mention, Condé Nast highlights the bitterballen at De Ballen Bar.
Rome
Anyone wanting to tick off the sights in Rome will be pleased to learn that monuments like the Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, and Campo de Fiori are all within walking distance of each other. By exploring this beautiful city on foot, you’ll discover hidden gems you didn’t know existed.
Where to Stay
Hotel De Russie
The five-star Hotel De Russie is between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps. For over 10 years, it has been nominated for Europe’s Leading Landmark Hotel in the World Travel Awards. It offers luxury rooms and suites, all designed to blend classic and contemporary elements. Prices start at $2,726 a night.
Hotel Albergo del Senato
Hotel Albergo del Senato sits directly opposite the Pantheon. For the best views of this monument, head up to the roof terrace for a bite to eat and a drink. The building dates back to the 19th century, and its history remains an integral part of the design. Prices start at $547 a night, with breakfast.
View our favorite places to stay in Rome if you like small hotels.
Where to Eat
Cencio La Parolaccia
Cencio La Parolaccia is in the Trastevere neighborhood. Fair warning: this restaurant’s staff may engage in teasing and mocking guests as part of the entertainment. There’s also musical entertainment through Roman folk songs, often improvised with coarse lyrical intent. Additionally, the food is excellent, with a variety of pasta dishes to satisfy your appetite.
La Pergola
You’ll unlikely find rude waiters at La Pergola, Rome’s only three-Michelin-starred restaurant. It was named Europe’s Best Hotel Restaurant in the 2024 World Culinary Awards. It can be found at Hotel Rome Cavalieri, which offers panoramic city views. The à la carte menu features dishes such as lemon tagliolini with caviar and veal fillet. Prices start at $269 for two courses.
Madrid
Madrid is another very walkable city thanks to its compact center and pedestrianized streets. It rewards walkers with leafy parks and lively plazas, which would be missed if you hopped in a taxi to each sight. The central districts like Sol, Malasaña, La Latina, and Retiro are all nearby, as are most of the major sights. The Times offers a range of articles to help travelers explore the city.
Where to Stay
Rosewood Villa Magna
Rosewood Villa Magna consistently receives rave reviews from travelers and accolades, including Travel + Leisure’s Best Hotel in Madrid. It’s located in the Salamanca and Castellana corridor near Calle Serrano. The hotel has a range of wellness facilities, including a spa and gym. You can stay here from $1,758 a night.
Hospes Puerta de Alcalá
Hospes Puerta de Alcalá is in the Salamanca area, right by Retiro Park. Prices start at $513 a night, including access to Bodyna Spa, which offers wellness facilities. The Michelin Guide praised its modern design, devoted service, and intimate atmosphere.
Where to Eat
Mercado de San Miguel
Mercado de San Miguel is a gourmet tapas market in the city’s heart, at Plaza de San Miguel. Twenty stalls will be ready to greet you here, offering a variety of food, drinks, and sweets. The Financial Times put it at the top of their list in The World’s Best Food Markets.
Paco Roncero
If you’re after a Michelin experience, head to Paco Roncero, which currently holds two stars. It blends local tradition with international influences and offers taster menus with multiple courses, starting at $228 per person. Dishes like Bluefin Tuna Bella with caviar and oxtail Wellington have been spotted on the menu.
Lisbon
Lisbon is fairly hilly, so be ready for some steps and steep streets. That being said, neighborhoods like Alfama, Bairro Alto, and Chiado are all within reach. Travel + Leisure ran a piece on the city, naming it the happiest travel destination in the world and highlighting its walkability.
Where to Stay
Santiago de Alfama
Santiago de Alfama is a boutique luxury hotel in a prime spot in the Alfama district. The Michelin Guide awarded it a key and praised the hotel’s architecture, views, and food at Audreys. Excursions like wine tasting and pilgrimage tours are available. You can stay here from $493 a night.
The Lumiares Hotel & Spa
Located in Lisbon’s bohemian Bairro Alto district is The Lumiares Hotel & Spa. It proudly sits on a hill with glorious views of the city. Prices start at $752 a night, and you can book a suite with a terrace overlooking the city’s skyline, but the rooftop bar offers sweeping vistas while you sip on a cocktail. There’s also a spa with a steam room and sauna, with plenty of treatments available.
Where to Eat
Belcanto
The two-Michelin-starred restaurant Belcanto is near the Lumiares Hotel & Spa in the Bairro Alto district. It serves modern Portuguese dishes using local produce, and tasting menus start at $311 per person. You can expect lobster Caesar salad, sirloin onion tart, and apple-rhubarb pie.
Fifty Seconds
Fifty Seconds is situated high in the MYRIAD by SANA hotel, offering dinner with a view and providing panoramic vistas of Lisbon; it also holds a Michelin star. There are no prizes for guessing how long it takes the elevator to reach the restaurant…
Edinburgh
Scotland’s capital is another hilly city, but it’s a walkable one. Major sights like Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, and the National Museum are all within walking distance of each other. Pedestrian zones like the Royal Mile and Princes Street Gardens make for a scenic and practical stroll. The Times offers plenty of advice, including recommendations for some of the best pubs, as well as tips on how to explore without breaking the bank.
Where to Stay
The Witchery
Right beside Edinburgh Castle is a five-star hotel, The Witchery. If you’re a foodie, this is your place to stay. Its primary identity is a fine dining destination that also offers boutique luxury. You can guess the décor here; it’s moody, gothic, and theatrical. Some suites even include hidden doors and armor displays. Prices here start at $877 a night.
The Balmoral Hotel
The Balmoral Hotel is right in the center, looking up to Edinburgh Castle, so within easy reach of popular sights. Its building dates back to 1902 and features a grand clock tower that is set three minutes fast, so guests don’t miss their trains. Forbes summed up the stay perfectly in a recent review. You can stay here from $880 a night.
Where to Eat
Timberyard
The family-run, Michelin-starred restaurant Timberyard is in a 19th-century warehouse in the Old Town, close to the castle. It serves modern British dishes with local ingredients. While the menus change regularly, the tasting menu, which starts at $215 per person, has previously featured dishes such as brown crab and Scottish lobster.
LYLA
LYLA is another of Edinburgh’s Michelin-starred restaurants, earning its star in 2025. It’s also won many accolades, like Best Restaurant in Scotland in 2025 at the National Restaurant Awards. It hasn’t had a bad start since opening its doors to guests in 2023. It’s housed in a Georgian townhouse in the city’s New Town on the north side of Calton Hill.
Prague
Prague is compact and densely packed so that you can walk between many landmarks, such as Old Town, Charles Bridge, and the Jewish Quarter, without transit. In fact, most of the city is pedestrianised, with narrow alleys and stone streets. For help planning your trip, The Times offers plenty of advice on things to do and places to stay.
Where to Stay
Aria Hotel
One of The Times’ recommendations is the Aria Hotel, which sits on the west side of the Vltava River, steps away from Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, and other landmarks. It’s a music-inspired boutique hotel, where each room is dedicated to a genre, like classical, opera, or jazz. Prices start at $652 a night.
Golden Well Hotel
The Golden Well Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel in Malá Strana, situated just below the walls of Prague Castle. It offers only 17 rooms and two suites, and rates start at $311. Though there are many fabulous places to eat in the city, you’ll want to spend time at the hotel’s restaurant and eat on the terrace looking over the city.
Where to Eat
La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise
Prague’s Old Town is home to Michelin-starred La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise. The menus change with the seasons, and traditional Czech cuisine is served using modern techniques. The World’s 50 Best praises the food and atmosphere in its review, highlighting dishes like deer with garlic and thyme.
420
If you’re after fine dining and want to see your food prepared before you, head to 420. You’ll find it on the Old Town Square, opposite the Astronomical Clock. It’s Czech cuisine, with dishes like veal schnitzel, venison, and cabbage with caviar on the menu. Before you leave, you’ll want to visit the Gothic cellar beneath for baked goods.
Berlin
Berlin isn’t a small city, but its central districts like Mitte, Kreuzberg, and Prenzlauer Berg are ideal for exploring on foot. Bradenburg Gate, Museum Island, and the East Side gallery are easily accessible without wheels. It’s also a relatively flat city, which helps. Not sure where to start? Condé Nast has a handy guide for you.
Where to Stay
In Berlin we recommend the fresh Art Deco hotel Telegraphenamt Berlin.
Hotel Aldon Kempinski
The iconic Hotel Aldon Kempinski sits right beside the Brandenburg Gate, and it doesn’t get much more central than that. Condé Nast called it ‘the most glamorous landmark address of all the city’s five-star hotels, and arguably Berlin’s best’, so you can expect luxury here. Rates start at $616 a night.
Soho House
Soho House is in Mitte, near Prenzlauer Berg, within walking distance of Alexanderplatz. It has plenty of amenities to help soothe sore legs after all that walking, like the spa with a traditional hammam and the rooftop pool. You can stay here from $499 a night.
More about the Soho House concept.
Where to Eat
Markthalle Neun
Markthalle Neun is in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin. It’s one of the city’s few remaining 19th-century market halls and is home to various food and craft stalls. You’ll find fish and cheese counters, bakers, and even a brewery in the basement.
Rutz
If fine dining is more your style, how does three Michelin stars sound? Rutz is the only restaurant in the city to hold three stars. It is located in the Mitte district and serves European cuisine with German roots. For $281 per person, you’ll enjoy 11 dishes, like trout and sturgeon.
Florence
Florence earned top spot in Forbes’ 30 Most Walkable Cities in the World report, and it’s easy to see why. The historic center is compact, flat, and mostly pedestrianized. It’s easy to stroll from the Duomo to the Uffizi, then across the Ponte Vecchio.
Where to Stay
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
In the heart of the city centre is the iconic Four Seasons Hotel Firenze. It’s a Four Seasons Hotel, so unsurprisingly, it’s five-starred. Over 100 rooms are available, starting at $2,739 a night. A Condé Nast review praising the comfort, food, and spa sums up the experience perfectly.
Portrait Firenze
Portrait Firenze sits on the north bank of the Arno, just downstream from the Ponte Vecchio in a prime riverside spot. It’s much more boutique than the Four Seasons, with just 47 rooms and suites, which start at $2,113 a night. The hotel has amenities like a spa, rooftop bar overlooking the river, and experiences to help you get to know the city.
Where to Eat
Enoteco Pinchiorri
For a three-Michelin-starred dining experience, Enoteca Pinchiorri is the place to go. It’s right in the Centro Storico, close to the landmarks. It was voted the 2024 World’s Best Italian Cuisine Restaurant in the World Culinary Awards, so it’s not to be missed. Tasting menus start at $457; alternatively, you can choose from the à la carte menu, featuring dishes such as steamed lobster and gnocchi.
Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura
Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura is a Michelin-starred brand restaurant by Gucci and chef Massimo Bottura. It is located in the Gucci building and offers fine Italian cuisine and seasonal menus. Tasting menus start at $199 per person, and you can expect top-tier dishes like tuna with caviar and seafood polenta.
Stockholm
Last but not least, Stockholm. It’s a city made for strolling; its central districts, like Norrmalm, Gamla Stan, and Östermalm, are all within easy reach so that you can hop between the sights easily. Walking between the islands is easy and scenic, thanks to the bridges and waterfront promenades that connect them. Travel + Leisure has a helpful guide for those ready to plan their trip.
Where to Stay
Grand Hôtel
The five-star Grand Hôtel sits directly across from the Royal Palace, overlooking Gamla Stan and the waterfront. The Michelin Guide has highlighted it, naming the service impeccable. Those suffering from jet lag will want to pay the day spa a visit, where rituals and treatments are offered. Five restaurants and bars are also on site. Prices start from $468 a night.
Bank Hotel
In the Östermalm district is the luxurious Bank Hotel, just steps from the waterfront, shopping, and sights. The former bank hall is now the main restaurant, Bonnie’s, you know, as in Bonnie and Clyde? The hotel spans eight floors and has over 110 rooms, which start at $349 a night. It’s also featured in the Michelin Guide, which highlights the ideal city-center location.
Where to Eat
Frantzén
Frantzén is currently Stockholm’s only three-Michelin-starred restaurant, and The World’s 50 Best ranked it among the Best Restaurants in the World. It occupies a three-story townhouse in the district of Norrmalm and offers fixed tasting menus in Scandinavian styles with Asian influences. These menus are priced at $584 per person, and you can expect dishes like chicken dashi or pork broth.
Restaurant Operakällaren
Opposite the Opera House is the Michelin-starred Restaurant Operakällaren. It’s been serving European dishes to visitors since 1787 and is now one of Sweden’s most prestigious restaurants. You’ll choose from the Le Grand tasting menu for $361 or the à la carte menu for $233. Dishes like stuffed turbot and grilled duck breast are on the à la carte menu.
Explore the Best Walkable Cities in Europe
Europe really is the best place for walkable cities. By exploring them on foot, you can set your own pace, take detours, and reveal some hidden gems along the way. Which city will you stroll through next?
