Which cities truly deserve to be discovered step by step? GuruWalk has just released the third edition of its Best 100 Walking Cities ranking — the definitive guide to the world’s best cities to explore on foot in 2026. Built on real traveler data rather than editorial opinion, this list reflects where people actually go and how they rate the experience of walking a city with a local guide.
How the Ranking Works
Unlike other lists based on subjective criteria, the Best 100 Walking Cities is built entirely on objective data drawn from real activity on GuruWalk over the past twelve months (April 2025 – April 2026):
- Over 467,000 verified reviews from 3,600 tours across more than 800 cities worldwide.
- The final score combines traveler volume (65%) with satisfaction rating (35%) — because it’s not enough to attract visitors; the experience has to deliver.
The result is a reliable, up-to-date snapshot of global walking-tourism trends.
The 2026 World Top 10
| # | City | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rome | Italy |
| 2 | Madrid | Spain |
| 3 | Budapest | Hungary |
| 4 | Prague | Czech Republic |
| 5 | Lisbon | Portugal |
| 6 | Amsterdam | Netherlands |
| 7 | Porto | Portugal |
| 8 | Barcelona | Spain |
| 9 | London | United Kingdom |
| 10 | Berlin | Germany |
The Big Trends of 2026
Asia Makes a Bold Entrance
Asia is the standout story of this edition. Tokyo leaps 16 positions to 20th place, breaking into the world Top 25. Kyoto (35th) and Hiroshima (81st, new entry) further strengthen Japan’s presence.
But the trend extends well beyond Japan: Shanghai (62nd) and Singapore (70th) debut in the ranking, while Ho Chi Minh City delivers one of the year’s most dramatic climbs — up 22 spots to 38th. Vietnam also adds Hanoi (37th) and Hoi An (64th) as new entries. Asia is firmly on the walking-tourism map.
Latin America Gains Ground
The Americas continue to grow their footprint. Santiago de Chile is the region’s biggest climber, surging 23 places to 25th. Buenos Aires rises 11 spots (34th) and Mexico City reaches its best-ever position (33rd). Salvador de Bahía makes its debut at 93rd, adding a new Brazilian destination to the list.
New York: Unstoppable
The only U.S. city on the list keeps rising: from 53rd in 2024 to 33rd in 2025 to 23rd in 2026 — a cumulative climb of 30 positions in just two years.
Krakow and Dublin: Europe’s Surprise Climbers
In Europe, Krakow moves up 6 places to 14th, while Dublin pulls off the continent’s biggest leap, jumping 12 positions to 18th. Istanbul also makes a strong move, climbing from 17th to 13th.
Venice: The Biggest Drop
On the other end of the spectrum, Venice records the ranking’s steepest fall — dropping from 15th to 91st, a slide of 76 places amid ongoing concerns over overtourism in the city.
More Global Than Ever
With 19 cities on the list, Spain remains the most represented country for the third consecutive year. But the ranking is growing more diverse: Asia and Latin America are surging, first-time entries like Shanghai, Singapore, Hoi An, and Salvador de Bahía are reshaping the map, and cities across every continent are consolidating their positions.
This third edition confirms a clear trend: walking is the world’s preferred way to discover a city, and more destinations than ever are making it possible.
See the Full Ranking
Want to know which 100 cities lead the on-foot experience in 2026? Head to our official landing page and explore the complete list:
👉 Best 100 Walking Cities 2026
Start planning your next urban adventure, one step at a time, with GuruWalk. See you on the route!
