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It's not that La Paz lacks an interesting collection of visitor attractions, including some truly amazing museums. It's rather the fact that as the highest capital city in the world, exploring this lofty destination on foot is simply exhausting. And with the air so thin, navigating its inclines can be especially challenging.
As the world's third-highest capital city, Bogotá can leave less mobile visitors feeling breathless. The good thing is that much of the city center is flat.
Fascinating Quito, the world's second-highest capital city, also has some pretty steep streets and gradients, again making prolonged walking a difficult endeavor.
Cusco, a city in southeastern Peru and once the capital of the mighty Inca Empire, is another destination perched in the clouds. Pacing yourself while sightseeing will help you acclimatize.
Still in South America and back in Colombia, Medellín is certainly worth checking out, but go with caution. The city has cleaned up its act considerably, but be careful where you walk and resist the temptation to wander off the beaten track.
Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, engages all the senses. But as the country's most populous city, it can be rather overwhelming, especially if exploring on foot. Roads are narrow and sidewalks are almost non-existent, while traffic rarely takes any prisoners.
Most of Granada's downtown is walkable, and a pleasure to do so. The going gets tough when you make for its most famous visitor attraction, the Alhambra. Perched on Sabika Hill, an outcrop of the Sierra Nevada, this famous palace and fortress complex is worth the effort to reach on foot to absorb the magical atmosphere the upward hike exudes.
Everywhere in China is busy, but Guilin, one of the country's most popular tourist destinations, simply bursts at the seams. While walking is the best way to immerse yourself in the local culture, Guilin's problem with pollution may stop you in your tracks. The air is moderately polluted, but it's the filthy Li River that's causing the greatest concern.
You'll need a stout pair of legs to explore Amman. The Jordanian capital is built across seven hills—Qusur, Jufa, Taj, Nazha, Nasser, Natheef, and al-Akhdar—each a challenge for less abled bodies, especially in the heat.
Dallas is not very foot friendly. It's a city that has always championed a car-centric culture and, as such, the destination does not prioritize biking and walking trails.
Houston is another Texas city where the car is king. Exploring this destination on foot is to negotiate a road infrastructure rarely geared towards accommodating the pedestrian. High traffic volumes also make walking a less than rewarding experience.
Manila was never built for the pedestrian. One of the world's most densely populated cities, the Philippine capital boasts just a handful of designated walking trails. High rainfall puts many off venturing out on foot, and, with a poor public transport system in operation, a car is the only realistic way of exploring Manila.
While Bangkok does boast two very walkable neighborhoods in Sukhumvit and Phra Nakhon, this vast and engrossing city is notorious for streets bereft of proper sidewalks. Anything remotely resembling a pavement is usually narrow and far too overcrowded.
Taking a walk in Mumbai means dodging traffic and the odd cow, breathing in some of the most polluted air in the world, and shouting over the odds to make yourself heard. Other than that, it's a memorable, if somewhat unnerving, experience.
Johannesburg has a global reputation for being a hotbed for crime. In 2023, the city recorded 3,084 homicides, reason enough not to step out onto the streets. Joburg is certainly worth exploring, but for a more immersive experience and, your safety, get a car.
Walking in Dhaka is definitely a challenge. A megacity crammed with over 23 million souls, the capital of Bangladesh is a city congested with chaos. Air quality is poor and the level of sanitation leaves a lot to be desired. Even a stroll round the block can be stressful.
Los Angeles is quite simply an urban sprawl. Another US city where the motor vehicle is always one step ahead of the pedestrian, LA is difficult for tourists and locals to get around without one. And you always need to watch your step in the "City of Angels." You may find yourself joining them sooner rather than later!
Patras is Greece's third-largest city and has its fair share of historic attractions, including the Roman Odeon and medieval Patras Castle. The problem is the city lacks a network of walking trails that would facilitate exploration of these ancient wonders.
According to a study carried out by Preply, Orlando in Florida is the least-walkable city in America. The results were based on the distance, walking time, and step count between each of the city's main attractions.
The beauty that is Cape Town belies its reputation as another one of South Africa's most violent cities. In 2023, 3,072 murders took place here, making even the most walkable parts of town, places like Greenmarket Square, St Georges Mall, and V&A Waterfront, vulnerable to criminal activity.
The Portuguese capital is one of the most picturesque cities in Europe. It's also one of the most challenging to explore on foot. The historic center unfolds over a series of hills and, while served by tram, your stamina will be tested if you opt to explore it on two feet.
Birmingham, the UK's second city, has a fairly compact center dominated by a huge shopping mall complex. But while this central zone is easy to tread, exploring further afield will likely require a vehicle, though the city is served by a decent tram network.
Ahmedabad is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat and, frankly, a nightmare to explore on foot. An estimated 8.6 million people live here, and sometimes it feels like they're all using the same street. Do as many locals do and take a tuk tuk.
San Francisco famously rolls over 35 hills, which lends the city its unique roller coaster character. Unfortunately, it's often voted as one of America's least walkable cities as a result. Share the load by treading a block or two and then jumping on a tram.
Sheffield city center is actually rather hilly. In fact, if you arrive by train, the walk into town can leave some out of breath. Generally, though, Sheffield is kind on the feet. Actually, seasoned hikers tend not to hang around for long, instead preferring to head out into the surrounding hills for which this part of northern England is famous.
Despite its popularity as a tourist destination, a vibrant arts and entertainment scene drawing scores of visitors from the United States, Tijuana is a hotbed of crime, especially violent crime related to gang violence. Exploring this city on foot is not a good idea, as there are several areas in the city designated non-tourist areas. To accidently stray into these neighborhoods could cost you dear.
Sources: (Travel + Leisure) (AllClear Travel Insurance) (Time Out) (BusinessTech) (Statista) (The Guardian) (Explore) (Preply)
Memphis in Tennessee has the dubious honor of being the United States' most dangerous city for pedestrians, according to a 2024 study conducted by The Texas Law Dog. Lack of infrastructure, like sidewalks or crosswalks, in high-traffic areas, makes Memphis very unfriendly under foot.
Marseille is often cited as the least pedestrian-friendly city in France, with a total distance of nearly 12 miles (20 km) between its five most popular attractions. That's about 25,000 steps on average.
To explore Hamilton on foot, a visitor would have to follow a total route of almost 37 miles (60 km) between its five most popular attractions. That translates as a walk averaging 75,000 steps. These statistics make this Ontario destination the country's least walkable city.
Visitors looking to explore Canberra on foot can expect a hard slog. The Australian capital is small but mushrooms out considerably, with its major tourist attractions spread across quite a distance. In fact, it takes around two and a half hours to get to all of them by walking.
Indeed, walking is often the best way to explore a city. By following their feet, visitors can slowly open the doors over a town and immerse themselves in a new destination at leisure. But that's presuming a city is foot-friendly and conducive to walking in the first place. The truth is many aren't, for all sorts of reasons. For example, a city may be of high elevation, the thin air making even a short stroll exhausting. Climate, topography, pollution, traffic levels, and the distance between major tourist attractions are other factors that might deter someone in taking to the streets. So, what are some of the world's least walkable cities?
Click through and ponder whether you'd put your best foot forward in these locations.
Discover the most challenging destinations to explore on foot
Wrong-footed: the least walkable cities in the world
TRAVEL Tourism
Indeed, walking is often the best way to explore a city. By following their feet, visitors can slowly open the doors over a town and immerse themselves in a new destination at leisure. But that's presuming a city is foot-friendly and conducive to walking in the first place. The truth is many aren't, for all sorts of reasons. For example, a city may be of high elevation, the thin air making even a short stroll exhausting. Climate, topography, pollution, traffic levels, and the distance between major tourist attractions are other factors that might deter someone in taking to the streets. So, what are some of the world's least walkable cities?
Click through and ponder whether you'd put your best foot forward in these locations.