Guruwalk, the renowned platform specializing in walking tours, has just released its third annual ranking of the top 100 cities worldwide to explore on foot. This year's list reaffirms Morocco's status as a leading African destination, with two of its cities making it into the top sixty. This recognition highlights the unique charm and cultural richness found in Moroccan cities, particularly Marrakech and Fes, both of which offer extraordinary experiences for foot travelers.
Unlike many rankings that rely on subjective criteria, this classification is grounded in a robust dataset comprising nearly 467,000 verified reviews of 3,600 organized tours across more than 800 cities globally. Guruwalk's methodology combines two key variables: the volume of visitors and their satisfaction rates, providing a reliable perspective on contemporary trends in local tourism. This year's ranking sees European capitals dominating the top spots, with Rome, Madrid, and Budapest securing the first three positions. Notably, Marrakech has achieved an impressive 56th place, just behind Cairo at 55th. What captivates walkers from around the globe is the sensory intensity of Marrakech's medina, where the lively Jemaa el-Fna square, bustling since the 11th century, the intricate labyrinth of souks, hidden riads behind austere facades, and the stunning Majorelle Garden, with its famous ceramics, create an unforgettable atmosphere that can only be fully appreciated on foot.
Meanwhile, Fes has reaffirmed its status as a city of memory, claiming the 60th position in the ranking. Home to the largest medina in the Arab world and the historic Al Quaraouiyine University, founded in 859 and recognized as the oldest continuously operating university, Fes offers visitors a unique temporal immersion. Its 9,000 narrow alleyways, traditional tannery practices, and the intoxicating scents of leather and spices combine to create an experience that few cities worldwide can rival. Morocco stands out with two cities in the top ranks, matching Egypt in quantity but surpassing it overall.
On a global scale, this edition reflects several significant trends. Spain leads as the country with the most representations, boasting nineteen cities in the top 100 for the third consecutive year. Meanwhile, Asia is gaining prominence, particularly through Japan with cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, and Vietnam, which also features three entries. Latin America continues its upward trajectory, highlighted by cities such as Santiago de Chile, Medellín, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City. These trends illustrate a profound shift in contemporary travelers' expectations, favoring pedestrian exploration over bus tours.
Here is the complete list of the top 100 cities to discover on foot:
- Rome, Italy
- Madrid, Spain
- Budapest, Hungary
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Porto, Portugal
- Barcelona, Spain
- London, United Kingdom
- Berlin, Germany
- Paris, France
- Seville, Spain
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Cracow, Poland
- Florence, Italy
- Vienna, Austria
- Toledo, Spain
- Dublin, Ireland
- Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Tokyo, Japan
- Split, Croatia
- Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, Spain
- New York, United States
- Bucharest, Romania
- Santiago de Chile, Chile
- Malaga, Spain
- Granada, Spain
- Brussels, Belgium
- Bruges, Belgium
- Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Valencia, Spain
- Medellín, Colombia
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Kyoto, Japan
- Marseille, France
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Zagreb, Croatia
- Naples, Italy
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Helsinki, Finland
- Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Tirana, Albania
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- A Coruña, Spain
- Valletta, Malta
- Cartagena, Colombia
- Cusco, Peru
- Sofia, Bulgaria
- Milan, Italy
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Kotor, Montenegro
- Warsaw, Poland
- Cairo, Egypt
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Bratislava, Slovakia
- Oviedo, Spain
- Cádiz, Spain
- Fes, Morocco
- Toulouse, France
- Shanghai, China
- Munich, Germany
- Hoi An, Vietnam
- Hamburg, Germany
- Saragossa, Spain
- Tbilisi, Georgia
- Lyon, France
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Singapore, Singapore
- Valladolid, Spain
- Strasbourg, France
- Riga, Latvia
- Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Nuremberg, Germany
- Gdańsk, Poland
- Ghent, Belgium
- Mérida, Mexico
- Pamplona, Spain
- Bordeaux, France
- Hiroshima, Japan
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Bilbao, Spain
- Panama City, Panama
- Bogotá, Colombia
- Lima, Peru
- Gijón, Spain
- Tallinn, Estonia
- Salamanca, Spain
- Athens, Greece
- Venice, Italy
- Zadar, Croatia
- Salvador, Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Santander, Spain
- Belfast, United Kingdom
- Oaxaca, Mexico
- Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Nice, France
- Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
As reported by maroc-hebdo.com.
