What are the best European cities to explore on foot?

Pack your walking shoes, and let us take you through five of the most walkable cities in the World that you can visit on a European cruise holiday. Europe is consistently touted as an amazing destination for walking holidays thanks to its incredible nature, well-maintained infrastructure and compact cities. In this article, we’ll share five cities that we think make for the perfect walking cruise stop.  

• Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Rome, Italy

• Bruges, Belgium

• Barcelona, Spain

• Copenhagen, Denmark

Amsterdam, Netherlands

One of the best-known walkable cities in the world is Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Famed for its flat landscape, lack of traffic and love of cycling, the city centre swaps out cars for canals and cycle lanes, making it perfect for pedestrians – just make sure you aren’t walking in the way of local cyclists! The low numbers of vehicles also mean the air quality here is fantastic for the city centre.

Amsterdam cruise port is located in the heart of the city, meaning you can easily walk off the ship and enjoy the city’s attractions within minutes. There is also well-connected public transport, such as trams, that can take you into the city if you’d prefer.

READ MORE: How to spend your stopover in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Rome, Italy

The Eternal City; experience ancient history and a cosmopolitan hub when you visit Rome. Accessed on a Mediterranean cruise via Civitavecchia, Rome is known for its iconic attractions – think Colosseum, Parthenon and Palatine Hill – as well as its food and drink scene.

Despite packing so many incredible sights and experiences, many of the key Roman attractions are within walking distance of one another. And, between attractions, you can find beautiful piazzas and ancient ruins, making your walk a way to see Rome off the beaten track.

The city even contains a whole other country - Vatican City. Slightly outside Rome’s city centre, at its widest point, Vatican City is just over one kilometre, so you could easily walk across a whole country in less than 15 minutes! However, if you choose to tour the Vatican Museum, be aware that this can be a lengthy pursuit, with estimates saying you can expect to walk at least two to three miles.

ALSO READ: Bucket list experiences you can tick off on a cruise holiday

Bruges, Belgium

Looking for a walkable city on a mini cruise? Bruges, the charming capital of Belgium, is a dream, with compact medieval streets, picturesque canals and a pedestrian-friendly city centre.

The Historic Centre of Bruges is UNESCO listed thanks to its outstanding medieval architecture and importance as a commercial and cultural metropolis. This pedestrianised area contains attractions like the medieval bell tower, art museums, quaint cafes and more.  

Barcelona, Spain

With wide avenues, beachside promenades and Gaudi’s beloved architecture, Barcelona is another city that we think is best explored on foot. With ample green spaces to enjoy and beach access, although you’ll be in the city centre, you won’t feel as though you are cut off from nature at all.

We spoke to Emmalene, a travel blogger who shares her stories at A Brummie Home and Abroad. She told us why she thinks walking is such a positive way to experience Barcelona: “Whilst the metro system in Barcelona is an excellent way of getting around, you miss so much of the beautiful architecture by going underground. Make your way to Plaça de Catalunya and take any of the streets radiating from this central square, taking in all of the elegant buildings and spotting Gaudi’s signature flourishes; the twisted wrought iron, the ceramics, and nature motifs.”

Copenhagen, Denmark

Home to a strong culture of encouraging walking and cycling, emphasised by the city’s wide pavements and pedestrian-only areas, Copenhagen is the final of our top five favourite European walkable cities. A highlight of our Denmark cruises, the capital city is laid-back and teeming with culture.

Copenhagen is a popular cruise port, and you could be docked as little as a ten-minute walk away from the famous Little Mermaid statue. Nearby in the city are beautiful public spaces like Nyhavn – the colourful fairytale harbour once home to Hans Christian Anderson – and Tivoli Gardens - a year-round theme park!

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Whether you’re looking to soak up the sun on a cruise to Spain and visit brilliant Barcelona or are in search of the Festive Markets of Bruges, Europe is home to some of the most walkable cities in the world. So, pack your walking shoes because your next cruise holiday is the perfect time to get your steps in!

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