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Allure of the Atlantic Coast
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A stunning view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge at sunset. Image credit: f11photo/Shutterstock
Though not flat in all parts, the abundance of parks and long stretches of picturesque harborfront allow for full days of walking excursions. Stay in the Sydney Central Business District for convenient access to the city’s most popular sights. The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, set within a former post office, is itself a heritage landmark and an ideal place to stay. Though malls generally aren’t a top tourist destination, the Westfield Sydney Shopping Centre about a five-minute walk from the hotel houses the Sydney Tower Eye, the city’s tallest structure, which offers spectacular panoramic views of the city and the harbor. From here, Hyde Park is a block away, and just beyond is the breathtaking St Mary’s Cathedral with its Gothic architecture and beautiful stained glass.
Continue on through Alexandria Park to the Art Gallery of New South Wales to view works by Australian and international artists, or make it a park day of exploration and head to the Royal Botanic Garden, where you can make a full day of exploring the garden, dining, shopping, or simply lounging in this verdant green space. At its northwest tip is the Sydney Opera house, a true icon of the city’s skyline. Take in a show — the venue hosts roughly 40 performances per week — or enjoy a guided tour. Before returning to the hotel, meander through The Rocks neighborhood, just a short walk along the waterfront west of the opera house, to peek into the country’s colonial past and grab a bite at one of its many restaurants or pubs.
Exploring on foot requires a bit more commitment than simply hailing a taxi outside your hotel’s entrance, but the satisfaction you’ll feel at the end of the day — and the many unexpected discoveries you’ll make along the way — are worth every single step.
Sydney
Crowds of people crossing the Charles Bridge in Prague. Image credit: 4kclips/Shutterstock
Prague is a very walkable city, and when your legs need a rest, public transportation — from the subway to buses and trams — is easy to use and very affordable (equivalent to less than about US$5 for an all-day pass). Lesser Town puts history and the city’s exquisite castles at your feet, from Wallenstein Palace and its sprawling gardens to Prague Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is also the presidential residence. The hills you’ll encounter on the mile-long walk from here to Petrin Tower are abundantly worth it; you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views in the region from atop the tower.
For a less-crowded view of the famous Charles Bridge downriver, cross the Vltava River from Lesser Town via the Manes Bridge before setting off to the must-see sites of Prague’s Old Town including the Jewish Quarter, the Clementinum historical complex and its National Library, and Old Town Square, a history-rich site that’s also where you’ll find the Prague astronomical clock, which dates to the 15th century. Stay at The Emblem Prague, in the heart of Old Town, to be at the center of them all. Make reservations to go up the Old Town Bridge Tower for more views before moving on to New Town, with Wenceslas Square and the Franz Kafka rotating head sculpture. Throughout the city, you may notice a Cukrarna coffee and pastry shop, and any location is worth a stop in for a sweet treat. Or, get a sugary boost from a trdelnik. This traditional street-stall pastry gets mixed reviews from locals but is a tourist’s must-sample — at least once.
Prague
Tourists walking outside Belvedere Palace in Vienna. Image credit: Alexander Osenniy/Shutterstock
Postcard-worthy at every corner, Vienna is primed for walking exploration with many car-free streets and endless shops, cafes, and historic buildings. A stay at Hotel Sans Souci puts you just around the corner from MuseumsQuartier Wien, a vast museum complex and cultural center in former imperial stables. Continue on to the Volksgarten, a public park famous for its roses. From here, your walk takes you past more historic buildings and international luxury shopping destinations like Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, and Hermès until you reach the signature granite paving of the Stephansplatz, with the breathtaking St. Stephen’s Cathedral at its center. Venture inside to explore the catacombs with a guided tour before reemerging to wander just a bit farther to Schwedenplatz for a croissant at CRO.
For a more rigorous walk, depart the hotel in the opposite direction to Schönbrunn Palace, the grand former summer residence of the Habsburgs. The nearly 3-mile stroll is relatively flat, culminating in pristine gardens, elegant fountains, and the sprawling storybook palace. If you need a rest, take a horse-drawn carriage ride to tour the grounds, and enjoy lunch at the brassiere within Palmenhaus, the palace’s greenhouse that’s home to thousands of plant species from around the world.
Vienna
Inside the Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II. Image credit: Lesia Popovych/Shutterstock
Centered around the resplendent Duomo cathedral and the car-free Piazza del Duomo before it, Milan is an ideal destination to explore on foot. Stay at the Rosa Grand Milano – Starhotels Collezione and walk to the piazza early in the morning to admire the stunning gothic architecture before the crowds arrive en masse — but if you want to tour the cathedral (and most of the historic sites here) be sure to purchase a timed ticket in advance. Also on the piazza is the Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II, a chic shopping destination with glass ceilings, painted frescoes, and luxury brands. Tile mosaics adorn the floors, including the famous Turin Bull, believed to bring luck to everyone who stands on him and spins three times (a hole in the exact part of his anatomy you’re supposed to stand on is a testament to the number of visitors who’ve taken part in this ritual).
Continue through the galleria to the Piazza della Scala, where you can take in a performance or simply tour the nearly 250-year-old theater, Teatro alla Scala. Walk on to the Sforza castle, home to the last sculpture Michelangelo worked on until just days before his death. On your way, stop into Starbucks (yes, that Starbucks), which is housed in a former post office and offers unique experiences unlike any you’ll find at any other location. From here, walk a few more blocks to Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie, home to Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. On the return to the hotel, stop for an Aperol Spritz at one of the many neighborhood cafés, or pop into 5 Vie, a gourmet market, to grab a picnic dinner to enjoy al fresco in the Piazza del Duomo. If you need a treat, a rich, velvety gelato at Venchi is perfect to savor on your return to the hotel.
Milan
The busy streets surrounding the Old State House in Boston. Image credit: 2p2play/Shutterstock
The Massachusetts capital is unendingly walkable whether you’re seeking a short stroll or something more invigorating. Stay in the Back Bay, known for its shady tree-lined streets and gorgeous brownstones, where nearly every point in the city is easily reached on foot. The handsome and historic The Eliot Hotel sits on a prime corner, a picturesque starting point for a day spent on Newbury Street, famous for its premium shopping. Grab a bite at Stephanie’s on Newbury and then walk a few blocks away to catch a baseball game if the Red Sox are home at Fenway Park. If you prefer to start your day with a jog, lace up for a loop across the Charles River to Cambridge and back, while admiring the crews skimming the river.
History buffs will love walking along the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail, which connects historic sites in the American Revolution. Stop about halfway at Faneuil Hall for a memento or a bite to eat and be sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes if you’re planning to walk the entire trail to where it ends at Bunker Hill as there is, as the name suggests, a bit of a climb to the top. On the way back to Back Bay, walk through beautiful Boston Common and the adjacent Boston Public Garden to spy the iconic Boston Swan Boats on the lagoon, and grab a pint at Cheers Beacon Hill, the bar formerly known as The Bull & Finch that inspired the hit American sitcom “Cheers.”
Boston
Skip the taxi to explore these sneaker-friendly destinations
Whenever I venture to new cities, the most rewarding experiences come, invariably, when I forgo the car and spend the day walking between all the sites on my must-see list. Stroll back to the hotel after a day at the Louvre and discover the best small-batch ice cream stand; meander through bustling London streets and happen upon remnants of the ancient London Wall within the modern city. This boots-on-the-ground approach to travel rewards your effort with the element of discovery, shaping every visit into a uniquely memorable experience that’s all your own.
A couple strolling through Sydney's verdant botanical gardens. Image credit: SolStock/iStock
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Cyclists pedal along a bike path in Helsinki. Image credit: Maximillian cabinet/Shutterstock
The Finnish capital has 745 miles of bike paths crammed into its small city center and its flat terrain is ideal for cycling. If you want to take the guesswork out of where to go, the Seurasaarenselkä Waterfront Trail is a nine-mile highlight of the city’s comprehensive bike path network. The loop steers riders around five islands to the west of the city center and takes in further-afield gems like the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum and the Didrichsen Art Museum’s free-to-access sculpture park.
Helsinki
Another cycling-mad city, Copenhagen often pips its Dutch rivals to the top spot as the world’s best place to ride a bike. Find one on the Donkey Republic app and sample the city’s highlights on the eight-mile Harbour Circle – a loop that takes in a smorgasbord of the city center and whisks you from the pastel townhouses of tourist hotspot Nyhavn to gentrified urban neighborhoods (Islands Brygge and Vesterbro) and Naturpark Amager, a protected natural expanse that is nearly half the size of the city.
Copenhagen Classico is an elegant bike race in the city. Image credit: Kim Petersen/Alamy Stock Photo
Copenhagen
Escape the Loop’s hustle and bustle and pick up the Lakefront Trail aboard a Divvy rental bicycle. The bike path hugs Lake Michigan’s shoreline for 18 traffic-free miles and is a great way to get around, but if you’re after a destination, Lincoln Park is worth a visit. The Windy City’s largest park is home to a free zoo, where you can watch the animals against the backdrop of the city’s skyscraper-filled skyline. If you prefer your nature out in the wild, rejoin the Lakefront Trail and continue north to the dunes and bird sanctuary of Montrose Beach.
Chicago
One of Chicago’s many cycle paths. Image credit: Serhii Chrucky/Alamy Stock Photo
Berlin
Relaxing with a lakeside picnic in Wannsee, Berlin. Image credit: Image Professionals GmbH/Alamy Stock Photo
The Berlin Senate has invested heavily in cycling infrastructure over the past five years, and getting around by bike has boomed. Take advantage of the new dedicated cycle lanes aboard one of the various rental bicycles (Nextbike/Donkey Republic) and head to Prenzlauer Berg, an old East German neighborhood in the northeast of the city crammed with chic restaurants and vintage stores. If it’s a Sunday, Mauerpark is a must; search for hidden gems at the flea market before joining the crowds at Bearpit Karaoke, one of the world’s largest open-air karaoke shows.
AMSTERDAM
The Dutch capital is renowned worldwide for its bike-friendly status, so grab a set of wheels and join the throng of locals. Stretch your legs on a ride to the Vondelpark – a 116-acre green space in the southwest of the city that’s a stone’s throw from Museumplein. Hunt down the park’s 69 sculptures – including one by Pablo Picasso – from your saddle, and stop to take in a free show at the open-air theater.
An underground bicycle parking station in Amsterdam. Image credit: Michael Brooks/Alamy Stock Photo
Two wheels are all you need to escape the tourist trail and experience cities around the world like a local
Cycling City Centers
The relatively flat topography of Paris makes it an ideal city to be explored by bike. Image credit: iStock
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Where to Stay
With accessible rentals and networks of user-friendly cycling routes, it’s easy to explore a new destination by bike. From memorable rides in San Francisco to Copenhagen’s dynamic cycling culture, here are our recommendations for amazing cities well worth discovering from the saddle.
June 2025 (Volume 28)
By Charlie Allenby
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