Walking isn’t just good exercise—it’s a way to feel more connected to a place. Exploring new destinations on foot, you notice things you’d otherwise miss: the smell of fresh croissants from a boulangerie, the sleeping cat in the bodega, a faded mural down an alleyway. 

Certain cities around the world seem made for walking. They’re all well designed for pedestrians, and each has something special that can only be discovered step by step. Amsterdam, New York, and Mexico City are places where walking is part of the experience, not just how you get around.

Amsterdam 

Known as a mecca for bicyclists, Amsterdam is also one of the best cities to slow down even more and explore on two feet, taking your time wandering its canals, quiet alleys and hidden courtyards. Walking past the tall, curtainless windows of ground-floor apartments here feels like a stroll through a living art museum, where the world is unabashedly invited to admire the cozy corners of everyday Dutch life. 

The city’s canal rings give you a natural walking route, looping through neighborhoods where flower stalls spill onto sidewalks and cafés are made for lingering. The city’s most beloved locales, like the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House, are all easily reached on foot and, when needed, a very efficient tram system can help you get where you’re going. 

New York City

In the city that never sleeps, it’s especially important that you take it slow. It’s easy to get swept up in the “go go go” pace here—hopping in yellow taxis and rushing to board the express train—but New York City is one of the best places on Earth to walk. The sidewalks of New York City are constantly evolving—like a story being rewritten right in front of you.

Block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood, the city transforms underfoot. It’s truly amazing how you can walk in a straight line from the cobblestone calm of the West Village through the buzzing energy of Meatpacking and bright lights of Times Square to the neighborhood comfort of the Upper West Side.

You can wander the High Line at golden hour, take in art through gallery windows in Chelsea, pop into quirky bookshops in Brooklyn, or simply drift without a plan as you let the grid guide you. 

Mexico City

From Sunday afternoon strolls through Alameda Central—where you can pop into Palacio de Bellas Artes or catch a glimpse of one of Diego Rivera’s most iconic murals—to weekday wanders through the tree-lined streets of Roma Norte and Condesa, Mexico City is a dream to explore on two feet.

Meander through the massive and beloved Chapultepec Park, nearly twice the size of Central Park, where you could spend an entire day visiting the zoo, castle and botanical gardens—or taking a boat ride across the lake. Eat your way through Condesa’s many standout restaurants, where the ambiance is always on par with the food.

While you may occasionally hop in a cheap Uber between neighborhoods, Mexico City is otherwise shockingly—and pleasantly—walkable. Stop at taco stands, pop into trendy boutiques and linger in the many oases of green space throughout the city (especially Parque México).