Spanish city just named Europe’s ‘most walkable’ – it’s not Barcelona or Madrid

Despite being one of the hottest cities on the continent, Seville has been named Europe’s most walkable city, beating other popular Spanish  destinations like Madrid and Barcelona. 

A new Walkable Cities Index by hoppa ranked 35 top European cities for walkability, considering factors like weather, air quality, crime levels and the distance between major tourist sites.

Seville topped the list with an impressive 98% walkability score, followed closely by Athens (88%) and Istanbul (86%). 

This ranking is particularly useful for British tourists as Spain remains one of the UK’s top destinations, drawing over 17 million visitors last year alone.

Tourists in Seville who don’t have access to a car or don’t want to pay for a taxi can see the city’s top landmarks in less than half an hour on foot, according to the experts.

READ MORE: ‘I am a Brit living in Spain – this common courtesy in UK is a major no-no here’

The walking route, which includes impressive architecture such as the Cathedral and passes through Parque de María Luisa, is just over a mile long and nearly completely flat with an overall elevation of three metres. 

What’s more, anyone who plans to visit in December can expect mild temperatures, averaging around 11.3 degrees, with very little rain.

Athens and Istanbul, ranked second and third, are also great for those who love walking.

In Athens, the Acropolis and Parthenon are only a 1.6-mile walk apart, which can be done in around 38 minutes. 

Some of Istanbul’s most famous attractions are also just 700 metres apart. Visitors can walk from the Hagia Sophia to Topkapi Palace in under 10 minutes.

For those looking to travel closer to home, Krakow and Amsterdam rank fourth and fifth. 

In Krakow, travellers can see the main sites within 45 minutes on foot, while in Amsterdam, the route between attractions such as Vondelpark and the Van Gogh Museum spans just 2.7 miles.

Matthew Hall, Managing Director at hoppa, said: “In addition to its health benefits, walking in a new place is a great way to reduce stress and provides unique opportunities to explore the top sights according to your own schedule.”

He added: “Seville is a great alternative to the more popular Spanish city destinations Barcelona and Madrid. You can visit the top sites in less than thirty minutes.”