A beautiful Spanish city with a long and rich history has been crowned the most walkable place in the world.
If wandering the alleyways, bridges and lanes of a gorgeously warm city is your idea of a good time, then a trip to Córdoba in southern Spain’s Andalusia region should be on the cards.
It’s a place “full of little streets to be explored, courtyards full of flowers, inviting squares and lively taverns where you can enjoy a good flamenco performance or try the local cuisine,” Spain.info explains. And now it’s been named the world’s most walkable city by Skyscanner.
The city’s bridge spans the iconic Guadalquivir River (Image: Getty)
The Spanish city is one of Europe’s cultural capitals, home to the most UNESCO sites in the world, including the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Medina Azahara, the city’s historic centre, and the Courtyards Festival of Córdoba.
A traveller who recently visited the Spanish city explained in her travel blog, Bagladymeredithsandiego, that Córdoba is “a city known for its rich cultural heritage, highly walkable and safe for solo female travellers”.
Despite not being a coastal destination, it is also home to one of Europe’s warmest beaches. Valdearenas Beach sits by a stunning, sandy-shored lake that promises tourists average temperatures of 31°C in the high season.
Córdoba was founded by the Romans and later ruled by the Visigoths. It then became the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate and Europe’s second-largest city by the 10th century. The city was taken by Christian forces in 1236 and integrated into the Kingdom of Castile.
It takes 26 minutes to walk between Córdoba (Image: Getty)
Other notable attractions include the Roman Bridge, built in the 1st century BC and reconstructed multiple times, and the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, a medieval fortress and former residence of Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II, which also served as a seat for the Spanish Inquisition.
“Located at the heart of Andalusia, Cordoba is a wonderful city to visit and explore on foot. Once an important Roman city and a major Islamic centre in the Middle Ages, it’s most famous for its incredible mosque, La Mezquita. The historic Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and ideal for exploring its winding streets on foot. Other attractions include Palacio de Viana, La Juderia, Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos,” Skyscanner writes.
Holidaymakers should start their journey at the Great Mosque, and from there visit the Jewish Quarter, with its “narrow streets, flower-filled patios, and historic synagogues”. The Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos, a fortress with beautiful gardens, is also a must-see, as well as the Roman Bridge, which offers one of the most iconic views of the city.
The Skyscanner index scrutinised a whole host of different factors, including the walking distance between the main attractions, as well as the total steps and time taken to make the journey. It considered the average elevation in each city, as well as the population density and crime safety. Both air quality and pollution were cross-checked alongside the number of walking trails to explore in and around each city, as well as the number of attractions you can see on a city break.
Córdoba does extraordinarily well in the walking stakes, with just 2,730 steps between attractions in Córdoba. According to Skyscanner’s estimates, it will take you 26 minutes to walk around the main attractions, the least of the top ten cities.
The city is one of Europe’s cultural capitals (Image: Getty)
The world’s most walkable cities
- Cordoba, Spain — With just 26 minutes needed to walk between its main sights (the lowest of any city on the list), this Andalusian city built around the stunning La Mezquita is the most walkable in the ranking.
- Nagasaki, Japan — A harbour city with buildings terraced across the hills, Nagasaki combines a low crime rate and gentle elevation with must-see spots like the Atomic Bomb Museum and Dejima island.
- Hiroshima, Japan — Centred on the riverside Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima is safe to walk day or night and takes just 41 minutes to cover between its major attractions.
- Reggio Calabria, Italy — A compact coastal city facing Sicily across the Strait of Messina, it offers striking Mt. Etna views and can be explored in just 25 minutes and 2,321 steps.
- Monte Carlo, Monaco — Despite steep hills, this glitzy enclave’s tiny 0.44 square kilometre footprint makes its casinos, harbour, and designer boutiques an easy 36-minute wander.
- Tartu, Estonia — Estonia’s picturesque second city and 2024 European Capital of Culture, Tartu pairs a charming Old Town with the lowest air pollution in the top 10.
- Bursa, Turkey — The first Ottoman capital, Bursa blends bustling bazaars and hot mineral springs, taking around an hour and roughly 5,300 steps to see its main sights.
- Bolzano, Italy — Gateway to the Dolomites, this South Tyrolean city is the safest in the ranking and offers over 500 walking trails amid its vineyard-covered valley.
- Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina — Set along the Miljacka River beneath the Dinaric Alps, Sarajevo’s cobbled streets and coffee culture can be explored in just 22 minutes between top attractions.
- Victoria, British Columbia, Canada — One of Canada’s most British-feeling cities, Victoria boasts the best air quality in the top 10 and a remarkable 457 walking trails around its Victorian architecture.