These US cities made the list of most walkable cities in the world

Whether you’re strolling along the Weaving Canal in Amsterdam, getting lost in the ancient streets of Venice, or strolling the beach in Miami, walking is the best way to discover a new destination. This study reveals the world’s most popular cities, with a focus on their accessibility.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, is the most walkable city in the world. The area’s average altitude, altitude range and overall difficulty factored into the impressive score of 20.1. The Netherlands is flat, so it’s no surprise that Amsterdam scores well in this department.

Amsterdam’s unique cityscape helps too, such as the city’s easy-to-navigate ring of canals and pedestrianized streets. Built in the 1600s, the Canal Ring spans approximately 60 miles with over 1,500 bridges. These connections make it easy to travel from one tourist attraction to another. For example, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are only five minutes away from each other.

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Rotterdam ranks second with a difficulty score of 20.7. This eclectic Dutch city is also flat; Its average elevation score is 1, the same as Amsterdam’s, which means basically zero elevation above sea level.

Visitors can stroll among art galleries and modern skyscrapers without worrying about steep climbs and steps. Rotterdam’s historic center fell in 1940, and the reconstruction resulted in wide sidewalks. The main shopping street, Lijnbaan, is one of the first pedestrian streets in the city centre.

Venice, Italy

All Clear Travel Insurance and Tourlane rank Venice as the third most walkable city in the world. Like Amsterdam, Venice’s low altitude helps. Its flat walking paths and large canal system, which includes 472 bridges, achieved an overall difficulty score of 22.8. Better yet, the city is predominantly pedestrian only, so tourists don’t have to worry about traffic.

Besides being flat and car-free, Venice ranks as one of the most popular cities in the world because the main tourist attractions are close by. It takes less than 10 minutes to walk between world famous attractions such as the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace and the Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. Not to mention that walking the charming streets of Venice is exceptionally romantic.

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America

The best way to explore the sights, sounds, and tastes of bustling New Orleans, Louisiana is on foot—which, luckily, is incredibly easy. New Orleans might be a big city, but getting around isn’t difficult. In fact, a difficulty score of 25.1 makes it the fourth most walkable city in the world.

Some things that help make New Orleans very walkable include its low elevation, minimal elevation change, and compact tourist areas. Tourists can easily walk between popular French Quarter attractions such as Jackson Square and the New Orleans Jazz Museum in about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, some streets, such as Fulton Street, have pedestrian-only blocks to encourage walking.

Kolkata, India

Kolkata might be one of the largest cities in India, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the most affordable cities in the world. Formerly Calcutta, this fascinating port city is the capital of the state of West Bengal. It is home to iconic Indian attractions including the Victoria Memorial, Howrah Bridge, Science City and Birla Mandir.

Of course, tourists may have to walk further between the main tourist attractions of Kolkata. However, it is easy as this city ranks well for altitude, altitude range and overall difficulty. Its score of 29.3 makes Kolkata the fifth most walkable city in the world. A number of walking tours allow tourists to get a real sense of what the city is like.

Cancun, Mexico

Cancún claims sixth place with a difficulty score of 29.7. The Hotel Zone, the main tourist area, has wide sidewalks with several shops and restaurants along the way. While Cancún is known for its stunning beaches, it’s also incredibly walkable. The city is mostly flat and the elevation range is minimal. With an altitude range score of 18.8, it’s easy to explore on foot.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is located on a small island in the Persian Gulf. The city is best known for its stunning architecture, rich cultural heritage and stunning resorts. However, despite temperatures reaching an incredible 108 °F (42 °C), the city is also known as one of the most affordable cities in the world.

Abu Dhabi’s position as the seventh most walkable city in the world is largely due to its low average altitude. All Clear Travel Insurance gives the city 6.7, better than number five, Kolkata. The city also has many pedestrian-friendly spots, such as the Corniche, a beautiful waterfront promenade that stretches for 4.9 miles (8 kilometers). Meanwhile, downtown Abu Dhabi is compact, so tourists can easily get from A to B quickly.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Located on the west coast and home to over 2 million people, Colombo is the largest city in Sri Lanka. One of the busiest ports in South Asia, this bustling city is best known for its long sandy beaches, turquoise waters, rich culture and vibrant architecture. Due to the city’s low-lying terrain and well-maintained pedestrian sidewalks, Colombo is considered the eighth most walkable city in the world. The city achieved an overall difficulty score of 31.6.

In the city, tourists can access walking trails such as Galle Face Green, a famous promenade that offers coastal views and access to Pettah Market. The Colombo Walks initiative encourages more locals and tourists to explore the city on foot. These guided city walks allow people to experience the heart of the city without transportation.

Miami, Florida, United States

Miami is the second American location to appear among the most popular cities in the world. It’s the perfect location for a beach holiday that’s easy on the knees, offering miles of flat walking terrain, low altitude and pedestrian-only shopping streets. Miami earned a difficulty score of 31.9.

South Beach, home to Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road Mall, is easy to explore on foot. Better yet, the Miami Beach Boardwalk is a flat, straight, well-maintained path next to a stretch of sandy beach. The shop-lined promenade stretches seven miles from South Point to Surfside. As if things couldn’t get any better, many Miami tour companies offer guided walking tours.

Bangkok, Thailand

With extreme rainy seasons, hot summers and terrifying traffic, Bangkok, Thailand is not often associated with walkability. However, the city has made considerable strides to become more walkable in recent years. With new parks, bridges and walkways crossing the cities, pedestrians can explore many famous attractions without crossing busy roads.

Compared to other Asian cities, Bangkok scores well for elevation and elevation range. According to All Clear Travel Insurance, the overall difficulty of walking in Bangkok is 33.4 out of 100. For context, Jakarta, Indonesia scores 41.6.

Another plus for Bangkok is that major attractions are close and guided tours are popular. For example, the Grand Palace is only a 10-minute walk from Saranrom Park.

This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.