A new study has identified the most walkable cities in Europe for 2026, and Edinburgh, labelled 'stunning' by its locals, has come out on top. The Scottish capital topped Time Out's list, which surveyed 24,000 city-dwellers across Europe to share their thoughts on the walkability of their cities. Cities were ranked by the percentage of residents who rated walkability as 'good' or 'amazing', with Edinburgh receiving an impressive 93%.
Why Edinburgh Is So Walkable
While Edinburgh has a sprawling bus and tram network allowing travellers to tap on with their bank card, many of its main tourist attractions are within close, walkable proximity. The most obvious example is the Royal Mile, a mile-long stretch running from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the Royal Family. Along the route, there is also St Giles' Cathedral and the Scottish Parliament. Not far away, Arthur's Seat offers a heart-pumping hike with rewarding views of the coast.
Other Top Walkable Cities
Copenhagen came in second with 90%, while Oslo ranked third with 89%. Stockholm followed with 88%, and Paris, Helsinki, and Kraków also made the list. The full top 13 includes: Edinburgh (93%), Copenhagen (90%), Oslo (89%), Stockholm (88%), Paris (88%), Helsinki (85%), Kraków (83%), Riga (83%), Vienna (83%), Amsterdam (81%), Tallinn (80%), Zurich (79%), and Munich (75%).
Things to Do in Edinburgh
Visitors can explore museums and galleries such as the National Museum of Scotland, which houses everything from science to fashion, and Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, great for all ages. For fans of frights, The Real Mary King's Close offers a warren of hidden streets once home to thousands but abandoned for centuries. Edinburgh is also famous for its ghost tours and Dungeons. Free walking tours are available from SANDEMANs Edinburgh, GuruWalk, Bobby's Free Walking Tours, and Scotland City Tours.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
No visit to Edinburgh is complete without mentioning the Fringe Festival, held each August. Thousands of shows take place in hundreds of venues, from comedy to drama to circuses, ensuring something for everyone. While accommodation and travel can be more expensive during the festival, it is a bucket-list event.
GuruWalk's Global List
Walkable cities are trending, as GuruWalk also released a list of the world's top cities for walking in 2026. Rome came first, followed by Madrid in second and Budapest in third. This study highlights a growing preference for exploring cities on foot.
