You can walk through this entire city, dripping with history, delicious eateries, and stunning architecture, in a single day – or admire the big tourist attractions in a mere 10 minute stroll
Stroll through this rich city filled with stunning architecture and history that’s just a couple of hours from the UK. If you’re sticking to your New Years Resolution of being more active and reaching your daily 10,000 step target, you might want to pick a walkable destination for your next city break.
It means you’ll burn off those cheeky pints and gelato, will spend less money on rip-off taxi rides or unreliable public transport, and don’t have to risk your life by driving in a dodgy hire car. Insider Monkey has done all the work for you, after compiling a list of the top 10 most walkable cities in the world using a thorough methodology.
First, the company compared walkability rankings and scores from various sources including Tourlane and WalkScore. Then, it mapped out the distance between the top five tourist attractions, checked for air quality using IQAir’s rankings, and analysed the crime and safety indexes for each city using Numbeo’s rankings. The number one slot went to an iconic destination renowned for its romance and food. Of course, we’re talking about Florence, Italy…
Florence scored on impressive 44 on air quality (0-50 translates to excellent) thanks to its Mediterranean breeze, and a safety score of 60.24. Insider Monkey also hailed the city’s cleanliness and argues its walkability ‘seeps through’ the historic centre that attracts tourists from around the world.
“Landmarks like the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Piazza del Duomo, and Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore are within 0.5 miles of each other, at a 10-minute walking distance, making the city easily explorable by foot,” the report reads. “You can also walk through Central Florence in only two hours; some walking tours of the entire city take only around six to seven hours.”
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You can fly directly to Florence from most London airports, but will need to do a quick change if you’re departing from the likes of Manchester, Leeds, or Bristol. Iff you’re flexible with dates, you can grab a proper bargain, with return fares for as little as £46 in March (where temperatures will be a much more pleasant 16C).
When it comes to accommodation, you can live it up like kings or remain budget-friendly. For example, a weekend in the luxury Hotel Rapallo will set you back £275: this is based on two people staying on Friday 7, March – Sunday 9 in a double or twin room. However, the same dates at the no-frills Villa Gelsomino Garden will only cost you £114.
What’s your favourite European city? Let us know in the comments section below
