Asia’s most walkable cities in 2026, according to locals

If the full list of the world’s most walkable cities got you eyeing your step count with fresh ambition, here’s the Asia-specific version. In Time Out’s annual survey of 24,000 city dwellers, locals were asked how easy their city is to discover on foot, and several Asian hubs made a seriously strong showing. The global ranking was based on the highest share of residents rating their city’s walkability as “good” or “amazing”, with the top-scoring city from each country included.

Leading the pack in Asia – and tied for first place in the world – is Seoul, with an eye-watering 93 percent walkability score. For a city of its size, that is no small flex. Locals praised the South Korean capital for being safe to wander day and night, while neighbourhoods like Myeongdong, Insadong and Hongdae remain tailor-made for getting pleasantly lost on foot. Then there are the city’s clever pedestrian projects, from the elevated Seoullo 7017 sky garden to the streamside paths along Cheonggyecheon, which link central stations with landmarks like Gwangjang Market and Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Next up is Singapore, which landed at number eight globally with a walkability score of 86 percent. Anyone who has tried crossing the city in peak humidity without shelter will understand why its covered walkways are doing heavy lifting here. Time Out points to the city-state’s climate-smart pedestrian infrastructure, including the legacy of “Five Foot Ways” or Kaki Lima in shophouse architecture. This design feature that has long made existing outdoors a lot more manageable in tropical weather.

Further down the wider ranking, Taipei also appears with a walkability score of 79 percent, while Macau comes in at 78 percent. They may not have cracked the top 10, but making the global list at all is still a respectable showing – and proof that Asia’s best cities are not just made for eating and shopping, but for wandering too.

The full list of Asia's most walkable cities in 2026: 

1. Seoul, South Korea
2. Edinburgh, Scotland
3. New York City, USA
4. Copenhagen, Denmark
5. Oslo, Norway
6. Stockholm, Sweden
7. Paris, France
8. Singapore, Singapore
9. Helsinki, Finland
10. Kraków, Poland
11. Riga, Latvia
12. Vienna, Austria
13. Amsterdam, Netherlands
14. Tallinn, Estonia
15. Zurich, Switzerland
16. Taipei, Taiwan
17. Macau, China
18. Vancouver, Canada
19. Melbourne, Australia
20. Munich, Germany

Have you heard? These are the best national parks in Indonesia

Plus: Super El Niño explained: what it means for Southeast Asia travel