Canalside strolls: Amsterdam named most walkable city in the world
By Simone Jacobs
Amsterdam has been named the World’s Most Walkable City based on a new study by travel insurance company, AllClear. Rotterdam follows close behind, ranking as the second easiest city to enjoy a leisurely stroll.
Study reveals most walkable cities in the world
To determine which cities across the globe are the easiest to explore on foot, medical travel insurance experts at AllClear looked at the topographic maps of 242 destinations. Focusing on average elevation and the elevation range between the highest and lowest points of the cities, the study showed which places of interest won’t require strenuous leg workouts to get from A to B.
The cities were given an overall difficulty score out of 100. When choosing your next holiday destination, the ranking can be used by travellers who don’t want to lug themselves and their whole families up steep hills or those who have medical conditions making cardio-intensive activities difficult. It’s also for those who don’t want to rely on the complicated workings of public transport and just want to depend on their own two feet for outings.
Amsterdam and Rotterdam are top 2 most walkable cities
Anyone who has visited the Netherlands wouldn’t be surprised to hear that two Dutch cities have made it into a ranking of the most walkable cities in the world. With its low elevation above sea level and undeniable flatness, getting around is a walk in the park.
Amsterdam takes first place as the world’s most walkable city with a score of just 20,1. The picturesque canals and many other attractions are just a bonus. Rotterdam, well known for its interesting buildings, comes in at number two with a score of 20,7.
Top 10 most walkable cities
According to AllClear, these are the world’s most walkable cities:
- Amsterdam
- Rotterdam
- Venice, Italy
- New Orleans, USA
- Kolkata, India
- Cancun, Mexico
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Miami, USA
- Bangkok, Thailand
To see more information about the ranking, visit the AllClear website.
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Editor for the Netherlands at IamExpat Media. Simone studied Genetics and Zoology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa before moving to the Netherlands, where she has been working as a writer and editor since 2022. One thing she loves more than creating content is consuming it, mainly by reading books by the dozen. Other than being a book dragon, she is also a nature lover and enjoys hiking and animal training. Read more