Top Ten Walking Tours in the World

You can’t really know a place until you’ve taken a walk through its streets or on its trails. No matter how many times you take a private tour in Paris or Milan, you have missed some of the most interesting aspects of these places if you’ve never taken a walking tour along the avenues and through the marketplaces. Walking tours bring you closer to the heart of a city, revealing many of its wonderful secrets and scenery. From a romantic stroll along the Thames to walking from one coast to another in a single day in Aukland, walking is a great way to explore the world. These are the ten best walking tours in the world, counting down from ten…

10. Canada: Vancouver’s Stanley Park Seawall

This is a walk to remember, offering magnificent scenery along the entire route. The stone seawall that was originally built to protect Stanley Park from water erosion has become one of the most popular walking tours in the world. The paved pathway atop the seawall attracts not only visitors to Vancouver but is also the favorite route for local cyclists, skaters, and joggers. The seawall begins at Coal Harbor and extends 13.6 miles (22km) around Stanley Park, along Sunset Beach, and past False Creek until it reaches Kitsilano Beach Park. You can see incredible sunsets, golden sand beaches, and an amazing rock formation known as Siwash Rock. You also have views of Vancouver’s cityscape of high-rise buildings and the sweeping span of the Lion’s Gate Bridge. Keep an eye out for the statue of Girl in a Wet Suit, the Totem Poles and the Rock Stacker Guy.

9. United States: New York City’s Central Park

Nestled amongst the hustle and bustle of one of the busiest cities in the world, Central Park in New York City is an oasis of nature in the middle of a concrete jungle. Because of its presence as a backdrop in countless movies, more people have seen this park than any other, but to truly experience this amazing urban wonder you need to walk its pathways yourself. Designated as a National Historic Landmark, Central Park is spread over 843 acres right in the heart of Manhattan. Within the park you can visit the zoo, row a boat in the reservoir, ride in a horse-drawn carriage or catch an outdoor concert. 

8. Czech Republic: Prague’s Royal Route

This popular walking tour has you stepping in the footprints of Bohemian Kings as you follow the traditional coronation procession route through the city of Prague.  Tourists who take the Royal Route walking tour tour in Prague enjoy fantastic sights along the way, including the most important attractions of the city. As you stroll through the Old Town Square you’ll see the gothic Town Hall and the famous Astronomical Clock. You’ll see the towers and statues of the world famous Charles Bridge and be enchanted by the artists and street performers along the way. Enter the Lesser Quarter and explore the grounds of Prague Castle and the beautiful St. Vitus Cathedral. You’ll walk past the Powder Tower and you can visit the Cubist art museum in the House of the Black Madonna. Finish up your tour with a panoramic city view from atop Rosenburg Palace.

7. Iceland: Reykjavik’s Mt. Esja

A hike to Habunga, the highest point of Mt. Esja, grants you spectacular views of the city of Reykjavik, sparkling Faxafloi Bay and the magnificent landscape of Iceland. Relatively easy hiking trails provide a pleasant trek to the summit with various paths offering different levels of difficulty, from a steep climb to a meandering stroll. Nature enthusiasts fall in love with the amazing scenery that abounds along the trek to the summit, and everyone who reaches the peak is expected to sign the mountain’s guestbook.

6. Brazil: Corcovado Mountain near Rio de Janeiro

This walking tour is an important pilgrimage for many visitors to Rio, taking them to the heights of Corcovado Mountain and to the feet of Christ the Redeemer. The magnificent statue of Jesus Christ with arms wide open stands 124’ high and towers over the city of Rio de Janeiro as its guardian and most famous landmark, and was recently acclaimed one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Many tourists will take a comfortable train ride to the mountain top, but it’s a pleasant hike through the Tijuca Forest National Park for a 2-hour climb along a beautiful winding trail. Once you reach the top you can stand on the observation deck for an amazing view of Sugarloaf Mountain, Ipanema Beach and the city of Rio. A lovely wedding chapel at the foot of Cristo provides brides with a special walk down the aisle.

5. China: Dragon’s Back Trail of Hong Kong

The most amazing part of this walking tour is the fact that within minutes of leaving the bustle of a noisy metropolis you are ensconced in the peace and beauty of nature. Hong Kong’s Dragon’s Back Trail has been acclaimed the “Best Urban Hiking Trail in Asia” by Time Magazine, and it is easy to understand how it received this designation. So close to the busy city, yet so far away, this trail takes you through shady bamboo groves and lush wooded hillsides that abound with gorgeous azaleas and rose myrtle. With a background of birdsong, hikers are afforded amazing views of Clearwater Bay, the Stanley Peninsula, and the South China Sea, as well as a bird’s eye view of the city of Hong Kong, Pearl of the Orient.

4. South Africa: Cape Town’s Table Mountain

A 2 or 3 hour walk up an arduous, rocky pathway to the plateau summit of Table Mountain is rewarded by some of the most incredible views in the world. Table Mountain National Park attracts thousands of visitors each year who wish to experience the marvelous scenes offered from the top of the 3562 foot peak. The trail runs through the Platteklip Gorge beside a clear mountain stream and emerges atop a level, 2 mile wide plateau edged by rugged cliffs. An easier descent is provided by the Table Mountain Cableway. 

3. Turkey: Istanbul’s Theodosius Walls 

A walk along the top of the ancient city walls of Istanbul takes you on a historic journey across stones that have been in place since 408AD. Originally erected by the Emperor Constantine and rebuilt by Theodosius III, the double walls have repelled invaders for hundreds of years. Most of the walls are so well preserved that one can still walk atop them and see Yedikule, the Fortress of Seven Towers, as well as visit the Mihrimah Mosque and the Chora Museum. Nearly 4 miles of walls wind from the Golden Horn to the Sea of Marmara and grant fabulous views of the historic city and the surrounding landscape.

2. England: Thames Path Walkway in London

The Thames Path National Trail actually runs the entire 182 mile length of the Thames River, but it is the 7.5 mile stretch between Greenwich and the London Bridge known as the Jubilee Walkway that offers the most popular walking tour. A stroll along the Thames Path gives you marvelous views of some of London’s most iconic landmarks, including the Tower of London, Big Ben, the London Eye and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Plenty of riverside pubs along the way provide somewhere to replenish your thirst, and you can catch a boat back to your starting point if you get tired of walking.

1. New Zealand: Aukland’s Coast to Coast Walkway

There aren’t very many places in the world where you can walk across an entire country in a single day. The Coast to Coast Walkway of Aukland, New Zealand has got to be the most impressive walking tour in the world, taking you a total of 16 km. from the Pacific Ocean to the Tasman Sea. This popular trail takes you through city streets, across volcanic craters, and within lovely rainforests. The lush, fertile landscape and thriving fishing grounds of Aukland have earned the city the nickname, “Tamaki Makaurau” which means “spouse desired by a hundred lovers.” As you explore the Coast to Coast Walkway you will understand why this amazing place is so desirable, as you have a chance to view Aukland from the Sky Tower, or visit the waterfalls of Waitakere. You can complete the entire trail in about 5 or 6 hours if you aren’t too distracted by the spectacular sights along the way.

Traveling to a new and exciting destination is a wonderful way to explore the world. Taking the time to walk some of its pathways gives you a tremendous opportunity to become acquainted personally with many fascinating sights and attractions. So put on your most comfortable shoes and take a hike!

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