Spain remains the top choice for British holidaymakers, with over 17 million visits recorded last year, with Barcelona and Madrid being popular choices.
However, travel gurus are now pointing towards another city that has been crowned as Europe’s most walkable.
Airport transfer specialists at Hoppa have put together a list of the best walkable destinations in Europe. The Spanish city of Seville takes the top spot, followed closely by Athens, Istanbul, Krakow, and Amsterdam.
The experts highlight that it’s feasible to see all the city’s landmarks within a half-hour span.
The walking route, which features stunning architecture like the Cathedral and goes through Parque de Maria Luisa, is just 2km (1.2 miles) long and almost entirely flat with a total elevation of 3m, reports the Express.
One of the city’s most renowned landmarks is the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, also known as Seville Cathedral, which was built on the site of the 12th Great Mosque, which was transformed into a church after Ferdinand III’s conquest of Seville in 1248.
A stone’s throw away from the cathedral is the historic Royal palace, the Alcazar of Seville. Like the Cathedral, this building originates from the city’s Islamic era when it served as the city’s citadel. After the Castillian conquest, it was rebuilt as a Mudejar-style palace.
Both the cathedral and castle were recognised in 1987 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, along with the nearby General Archive of the Indies, which dates back to the 1500s.
Other must-see landmarks in Seville include the impressive Torre del Oro, or Gold Tower, which is an integral part of the city’s ancient walls.
There’s also the iconic Giralda Tower, a bell tower that once served as the minaret for the city’s mosque, and the Casa de Pilatos House, a 15th-century structure that beautifully captures traditional Andalusian architecture.
Speaking of the city’s accessibility on foot, Matthew Hall, Managing Director at hoppa, said: “Our ranking showed that some places are more suitable to be explored on foot than others, so doing your research before booking your flights is essential so you can properly enjoy your city break.”
He also noted: “Seville is a great alternative to the more popular Spanish city destinations like Barcelona and Madrid. You can visit the top sites in less than thirty minutes.”
Matthew further remarked: “Even though you will mostly walk when you arrive, don’t forget about getting to the city from the airport first. Booking an airport transfer in advance ensures peace of mind so you can focus on other tasks like planning your walking routes instead.”
Commenting on the ease of navigating Seville, Spain.info states: “Even though Seville has the biggest old town in Spain, it is easy to get around on foot. However, you also have the choice of hopping on a tourist bus or using the public bicycle rental service (there are more than 180 kilometres of cycle lanes).”
Additionally, they pointed out: “You can also sail down the Guadalquivir, the only navigable estuary in Spain.”
Europe’s top 20 most walkable cities
- Seville
- Athens
- Istanbul
- Krakow
- Amsterdam
- Milan
- Berlin
- Copenhagen
- Tallinn
- Cologne
- Stockholm
- Prague
- Vienna
- Bucharest
- Hamburg
- Valencia
- Florence
- Nice
- Dublin
- Paris