There’s something rebellious about putting one foot in front of the other now that the world is obsessed with cars, planes, and apps that promise to shave ten seconds off your journey. Walking, as unfashionable as it may be, is really the ultimate eco-luxury. It costs nothing, clears the head, and in the right walkable cities, it’s far more rewarding than a gym class, especially when clean air and car-free streets come as part of the deal.
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, there’s also something undeniably romantic about a city best explored on foot, think unhurried streets, long conversations, and the kind of wandering that doesn’t require a plan. So if the idea of strolling without smog in your lungs or traffic at your heels sounds appealing, here are five places worth considering. They’re easy(ish) to reach, rank highly for air quality, and are best enjoyed on two feet.
Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm, the first-ever European Green Capital, is one of those rare walkable cities that feels made for wandering. Spread across 14 islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, it allows for island-hopping without ever leaving the city. Walk across its many bridges and you’ll find water so clean it’s tempting to dive straight in, while the Stockholm Archipelago, some 30,000 islands, sits just a ferry ride away.
A third of the Swedish capital is green space, so you’re never far from a city park, 26 of them, if you’re counting. With some of the cleanest air in Europe, you can wander old cobbled lanes in Gamla Stan, trendy boulevards of Södermalm, or Djurgården’s ancient forests, where you’ll also find the ABBA Museum. After all that walking, you’ll have earned a drink, so raise a glass, say skål, and consider Stockholm a strong Valentine’s contender if your idea of romance involves fresh air and a good workout.
Freiburg, Germany
If there’s a poster child for sustainable, walkable cities, Freiburg is it. Tucked at the edge of the Black Forest, this university town has spent decades proving that cities don’t have to revolve around cars. The centre is largely pedestrianised, trams run like clockwork, and cyclists rule the road. If you’ve got the legs for it, hike up Schlossberg hill for a view that, on clear days, stretches from the Black Forest right across to Switzerland.
Freiburg also has some of the cleanest air in Germany, making it a walker’s paradise with cobbled streets, medieval towers, and little water-filled runnels called Bächle that run through the old town. Originally a medieval firefighting tool, according to various legends, if you step into one of the brooks, you will end up marrying a local resident. Consider that your Valentine’s warning, or your plan.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik is a capital that feels more like a village, and is one of Europe’s most appealing walkable cities, especially if Valentine’s plans involve long conversations rather than long drives. Houses are painted as if competing to be the brightest crayon in the box, while easy routes take you along the waterfront past the Sun Voyager sculpture or up to the Hallgrímskirkja tower for sweeping views over the city’s rainbow rooftops.
All the while, you’re breathing some of the cleanest air of any capital in the world. Powered almost entirely by geothermal energy, Reykjavik even heats its pavements in winter to prevent snow and ice. Its name comes from Old Norse, meaning ‘smoky bay’, and is a nod to the steam that still rises from the ground beneath the city.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Ljubljana is one of those rare capitals where cars were pushed out years ago, leaving the historic centre to walkers and cyclists and making it one of Europe’s most enjoyable walkable cities. The result is a calm, compact city that lends itself to lingering, particularly appealing around Valentine’s, when unhurried strolls matter more than reservations. The Ljubljanica River runs through the centre, lined with cafés and market stalls, while Ljubljana Castle, built in the 11th century, rises above it all and is visible from almost anywhere in town.
With its cobbled streets and café-lined riverbanks, it’s easy to see why this is widely voted as one of the best walkable cities. The city brims with such old-world charm that you half expect a horse and carriage carrying a minor member of the Austro-Hungarian royal family to round the corner. Ljubljana has also been crowned European Green Capital, and more than 70 per cent of its area is covered in green space. It’s the kind of place where strolling counts as sightseeing, with a castle and a coffee stop never far away.
Paro, Bhutan
Paro might not be a ‘city,’ but since it’s the gateway to Bhutan – one of the world’s only carbon-negative countries – and one of the cleanest, most walkable cities you’ll ever set foot, it more than earns its place. Surrounded by forests, mountains and threaded with rivers, Paro makes other cities feel like well, smog machines. The town itself is small and walkable, with traditional Bhutanese houses, quiet streets, and views across the valley.
You can easily lose an afternoon wandering the weekly market or chatting with locals – who are some of the friendliest you’ll ever meet. From here the trail winds up to the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery, perched on a cliff 3,120 metres above the valley. The walk takes a couple of hours through pine forest and fluttering prayer flags, ending in a view that silences even the chattiest walker. And after all that walking, reward yourself with a trip to Paro’s own craft Namgay Artisanal Brewery, where you can sip hops infused with Bhutanese red rice and take in sweeping valley views.
