New York City will have to take this defeat in stride.
For a city that never sleeps, the bustling Big Apple has landed a shockingly low position in the “Best 100 Walking Cities” of 2026 ranking, failing to even make the top 20 cut, according to a new report.
However, while some big steppers across the boroughs may perceive the flop as an embarrassment worthy of the walk of shame, NYC is the only metropolis to represent the US on the global list this year.
New York City ranked 23rd in GuruWalk’s “Best 100 walking cities” of 2026 roundup. deberarr – stock.adobe.com
Earning the No. 23 spot on the roster, Gotham is slowly but surely inching closer to the top of the chart. It’s even moved up 11 paces from its 34th place ranking in the 2025 roundup.
And that’s a step in the right direction.
Debuting the “definitive guide to the world’s best cities to explore on foot in 2026,” GuruWalk, a virtual walking tour platform, analyzed 467,000 verified reviews from travelers who took 3,600 tours across more than 800 cities to determine which hotspots reign supreme for strolling.
Researchers tallied each city’s “traveler volume” between April 2025 and April 2026. The headcount accounted for 65% of a location’s overall score for in ranking. The investigators also considered “traveler satisfaction ratings,” which made up the additional 35% of the total.
The historic majesty of Rome, Italy earned the getaway top honors on the traveler’s list. WineDonuts – stock.adobe.com
And when it comes to roaming, Rome, Italy, is No. 1, according to the findings.
“Rome has captivated travelers for over 2,700 years thanks to its unparalleled historical legacy,” raved study authors.
“Walking through its cobblestone alleyways reveals one treasure after another,” the experts continued, spotlighting “the Colosseum, where gladiators battled before 50,000 spectators, the Pantheon with its unreinforced concrete dome that remains the largest in the world, and the baroque fountains that spring up at every corner.”
“Every step transports you through empires, popes, and renaissances.”
Madrid took the No. 2 spot on the list, owing to his beautiful architecture and sightseeing-worthy sites. Daniel Rodriguez – stock.adobe.com
The vibrant vibes and exuberant energy of Madrid, Spain, earned the voguish vacation destination second place bragging rights.
“From the Prado Museum, home to the most important collection of European painting, to the Retiro with its 125 hectares of historic parks and gardens, Spain’s capital invites patient explorers,” said the ambling authorities. “Travelers on foot will discover that Madrid is both an open-air museum and a vibrant cultural hub.”
Budapest, Hungary ate up the competition as the world’s third-best city for pedestrians.
“Known as the ‘Pearl of the Danube,’ Budapest enchants with its imperial architecture and thermal baths dating back to the Roman Empire,” the insiders gushed. “The majestic Parliament, the Fisherman’s Bastion with its seven towers, and the famous Széchenyi Baths complete a unique experience.”
The bright lights of Budapest, Hungary attracts millions of globetrotters each year, earning it third place in the ranking. Calin Stan – stock.adobe.com
“Walking along both banks of the river reveals why more than 4 million tourists visit this city every year.”
Check out GuruWalk’s top 100 best, most walkable cities.
1. Rome, Italy
2. Madrid, Spain
3. Budapest, Hungary
4. Prague, Czech Republic
5. Lisbon, Portugal
6. Amsterdam, Netherlands
7. Porto, Portugal
8. Barcelona, Spain
9. London, UK
10. Berlin, Germany
11. Paris, France
12. Seville, Spain
13. Istanbul, Turkey
14. Krakow, Poland
15. Florence, Italy
16. Vienna, Austria
17. Toledo, Spain
18. Dublin, Ireland
19. Dubrovnik, Croatia
20. Tokyo, Japan
21. Split, Croatia
22. Santiago de Compostela, Spain
23. New York, US
24. Bucharest, Romania
25. Santiago de Chile, Chile
26. Málaga, Spain
27. Granada, Spain
28. Brussels, Belgium
29. Bruges, Belgium
30. Ljubljana, Slovenia
31. Valencia, Spain
32. Medellín, Colombia
33. Mexico City, Mexico
34. Buenos Aires, Argentina
35. Kyoto, Japan
36. Marseille, France
37. Hanoi, Vietnam
38. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
39. Zagreb, Croatia
40. Naples, Italy
41. Copenhagen, Denmark
42. Helsinki, Finland
43. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
44. Tirana, Albania
45. Edinburgh, UK
46. A Coruña, Spain
47. Valletta, Malta
48. Cartagena, Colombia
49. Cusco, Peru
50. Sofia, Bulgaria
51. Milan, Italy
52. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
53. Kotor, Montenegro
54. Warsaw, Poland
55. Cairo, Egypt
56. Marrakech, Morocco
57. Bratislava, Slovakia
58. Oviedo, Spain
59. Cádiz, Spain
60. Fez, Morocco
61. Toulouse, France
62. Shanghai, China
63. Munich, Germany
64. Hoi An, Vietnam
65. Hamburg, Germany
66. Zaragoza, Spain
67. Tbilisi, Georgia
68. Lyon, France
69. Stockholm, Sweden
70. Singapore, Singapore
71. Valladolid, Spain
72. Strasbourg, France
73. Riga, Latvia
74. Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
75. Nuremberg, Germany
76. Gdańsk, Poland
77. Ghent, Belgium
78. Mérida, Mexico
79. Pamplona, Spain
80. Bordeaux, France
81. Hiroshima, Japan
82. Zurich, Switzerland
83. Bilbao, Spain
84. Panama City, Panama
85. Bogotá, Colombia
86. Lima, Peru
87. Gijón, Spain
88. Tallinn, Estonia
89. Salamanca, Spain
90. Athens, Greece
91. Venice, Italy
92. Zadar, Croatia
93. Salvador de Bahía, Brazil
94. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
95. Santander, Spain
96. Belfast, UK
97. Oaxaca, Mexico
98. Liverpool, UK
99. Nice, France
100. Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala