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We often take it for granted, but being easily able to travel around by foot can make city life significantly better. Obviously, it keeps us fit and healthy but it can also be far more convenient than public transport and has been proven to benefit businesses, with more people passing by. There are some cities in the world where most residents can only dream of being able to walk to their office every day (London, we’re looking at you). But there are others where locals have the luxury of being able to get almost anywhere they like by foot.
So, alongside things like the dating scene, access to nature and affordability, as part of Time Out’s Best Cities with Intrepid Travel 2026, we asked 24,000 urbanites to tell us how walkable their city is. And in this year’s survey, a UK city leapt to the top of the ranking.
With an approval score of 93 percent, Edinburgh emerged as the second most walkable city in the world (just behind Seoul). A whopping 93 percent of Edinburgh residents told Time Out that its walkability is ‘good’ or ‘amazing’.
Lots of the city’s top attractions are clustered close together. For example, Calton Hill, Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum and the Old Town are all within a 15-minute walk of each other. You can also take a leisurely stroll from the National Galleries of Scotland on busy Princes Street to Holyrood Palace and the bottom of Arthur’s Seat in half an hour or so. Once you’re there, hike up to the peak of the long-extinct volcano in roughly an hour to get unbeatable panoramic views of the city.
The compactness of the Scottish capital is also why its city-wide events like the Fringe (the biggest arts festival on the planet) are so successful, since it lets you jump between as many comedy shows across as many venues as possible. That said, comfy shoes are recommended – there are quite a lot of hills and cobbled streets to reckon with.
Edinburgh’s pedestrian-friendly set up was just one of the many reasons it ranked third overall on Time Out’s Best Cities ranking 2026. For those who are less keen on walking, you’ll be glad to know that the city’s public transport earned a local approval rating of 92 percent. It also got above 90 percent for its food, green spaces and culture. It’s proven that getting your steps in is a real mood booster too, which could be one of the reasons why 91 percent of Edinburgh residents told us that their city makes them happy.
👣 Read the full ranking of Time Out’s Best Cities for Walkability with Intrepid Travel.
Ready to see the world’s best cities for yourself? Book your next trip with Intrepid Travel and start planning the ultimate adventure today. Renowned for the ‘best small group trips’ around, Intrepid is all about locally led adventures that find the sweet spot between authentic cultural experiences and responsible tourism. Trips span more than 100 destinations – from trekking the Inca Trail in Peru to street-food discoveries in Japan and desert camping beneath the stars in Morocco.
Explore Edinburgh with Time Out’s guides to its best things to do, best restaurants and best bars.
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