The Top 5 Walkable U.S. Cities to Visit in 2025

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Walking is great exercise. As an avid walker planning a vacation to another city in the United States, why not combine your chosen trip with the chance to exercise your body and mind healthily? You can save on commuting costs and stresses while getting to know the city at street level — and doing your bit for the environment by reducing your carbon footprint. A trip to one of the top affordable walkable U.S. cities featured in this countdown is an excellent starting point to combine healthy enjoyment with eco-friendliness.

5. Boston, Massachusetts

The City on the Hill is famous for its Irish heritage, with around 50,000 Irish ex-pats settling there by 1855. As a result, walking around Boston provides several Celtic-themed stopping points, including the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and the Boston Irish Famine Memorial. Other options include the Canton-based Irish Cultural Center, a little out of town, and J.J. Foley’s Cafe, Boston’s oldest Irish pub. Visiting Boston in March provides even more Irish flavor due to the city’s lively annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Of course, visiting Boston wouldn’t be the same without sampling the city’s famous baked beans. Do so simply by walking into one of the many restaurants and bars that line the Beantown streets from one end to the other. If you’re pretending to be a local, don’t call the city “Beantown,” as it’ll give you away as a tourist. If hobnobbing in bars is not your chosen activity, consider an hour-long walk from the west side’s Allston to Fort Point Channel in the east — it’s jam-packed with sightseeing options. 

4. Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The nation’s capital offers a diverse and interesting walking experience for visitors. DC is short in stature — most commercial buildings are under 130 feet tall due to Washington’s Height Act — so the Capitol Building and Washington Monument are easy to find for sightseers. Without easily seeing the other buildings from afar, you’ll feel like you’re discovering something new every time you stroll through different parts of the city.

With a first-class metro system that seems to stop endlessly, you can easily reach the part of town you feel like exploring. Some ideas for walkers include the range of 21 Smithsonian museums, the institution’s National Zoo with its Giant Pandas or a meander through the Georgetown neighborhood. If you’re into movie trivia, you can even visit the infamous 75-step stairway leading up to 3600 Prospect St. NW, where filmmakers filmed the unforgettable closing scene in The Exorcist movie. 

3. Miami, Florida

Try Miami if you enjoy walking in the sunshine. With its famous beaches, diverse cultures and inspirational Art Deco architecture, The Magic City lives up to its nickname. The sun-drenched, sandy South Beach, between South Pointe Park and 23rd Street, is easy to reach on foot from the many nearby luxury hotels. South Pointe Park itself provides an interesting walk, with a sculpture garden filled with stunning artwork and a highly-regarded restaurant adding to the park’s prime sunbathing reputation.

Culturally, you can do much worse than walking around Miami. The city’s many museums, historical sites and art galleries could fill your entire vacation if visiting those is your thing. To sample true cultural diversity, you can enjoy Cuban, Latin American and Caribbean cuisine by eating at some of Miami’s impressive restaurants. The city’s nightlife is lively and abuzz with residents and visitors, young and old, so if you enjoy a good party, walk between the hot spots at night.

2. New York City, New York

It may surprise you that New York City doesn’t fill the top spot on the list. The pure population density that its overlapping residential and commercial spaces create means NYC provides a successful pedestrian city blueprint. New York City’s growth from long before cars were an option means more people are walking the city streets than practically anywhere else. In fact, only 69.5% of New York-Newark-Jersey metropolitan area households own at least one vehicle, making it the lowest car ownership metro in the U.S.

It’s a pleasure to walk in NYC. With millions of people living there, you’ll always find somebody interesting to stop and chat with and some incredible sites to visit. The Statue of Liberty is synonymous with freedom and democracy, and the Empire State Building allows you to view the city from its 102nd or 86th-floor observation decks. A meander through Central Park in the daylight is another walking highlight — be sure to take a picnic lunch or use one of the many available street food carts if you’re feeling peckish.

1. Chicago, Illinois

Last but not least on this list is the iconic city of Chicago. Call it the Windy City or the Second City, but be sure to pay “Chi-town” a visit if you’ve got your walking boots on. With nine districts — each with unique attractions, culture, and history — Chicago is a hive of activities that are easily accessible on foot. The city’s planners have done their bit to make it even more walkable over the past few years by designing more streets with the walking public in mind. 

There’s also the 606 Bloomingdale Trail to explore. It’s Chicago’s answer to the Highline of New York — a raised park walk where you can view murals and pop-up art events and enjoy ‘sound walks’ along the railway lines. With added accessible observation points like the Chicago Skydeck and the 360 Chicago, as well as many excellent street vendors and restaurants, there’s no lack of daytime activity or vibrant nightlife. The influx of young creatives and an escalating trade and commerce reputation give the city streets a vibrancy you’ll struggle to emulate elsewhere. 

Other Honorable Mentions

• San Francisco, California
• Sante Fe, New Mexico
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Seattle, Washington State
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Honolulu, Hawaii
• Arlington, Virginia
• Portland, Oregon
• Denver, Colorado

Walking in the Top U.S. Cities is an Unforgettable Experience

Until you’ve tried it, you won’t understand how fulfilling a walking vacation in a truly walkable U.S. city can be. It allows you to enjoy the city sights without worrying about traffic delays and the other added pressures of driving. Even if you occasionally catch a metro or taxi, you can sit back and relax on the short commute. These five affordable walkable cities in the U.S. are a great start, but you can always investigate the other honorable mentions if you seek further alternatives.