The most walkable city in the USA has been revealed – and it’s earned the top spot for the third consecutive year.
In the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, 20 cities across the country are picked by a panel of travel experts and voted on by the public.
Each location is selected based on proximity of hotels and attractions, pedestrian accessibility and overall ease of exploration.
Philadelphia emerged as North America’s most walkable city, surpassing several popular tourist destinations such as New York City, Chicago, and Boston.
New York City is ranked 10th on the list, followed by Washington DC, in ninth place, Savannah, Georgia, in eighth and Chicago, Illinois, in seventh.
San Francisco, California, ranked sixth, while Boston, Massachusetts, came in fifth, followed by Columbus, Ohio at number four, Burlington, Vermont in third place and Providence, Rhode Island in second.
The top honour marks the Philadelphia’s long-standing appeal as a destination that is easy to navigate by residents and visitors alike.
The city’s vibrant and historical neighbourhoods are interconnected by wide, bustling sidewalks, where pedestrians can explore sights ranging from lush, green spaces and notable landmarks, to public art installations and premier cultural institutions.
Philadelphia has emerged for the third consecutive year as North America’s most walkable city, surpassing several popular tourist destinations such as New York City and Chicago (pictured: The famous cheesesteak restaurant Geno’s Steaks in Philadelphia)
Pedestrians in Philadelphia are able to walk from one end of Center City to the other within just one hour
Clockwise from top left: New York City in 10th place, San Francisco in sixth, Chicago in seventh and Boston in fifth in USA Today’s top 10 most walkable cities
Being able to explore ‘Philly’ with ease means travellers waste no time in discovering and sampling the very best of the city’s history, culture, cuisines and hidden gems.
The Centre City Philadelphia corridor spans 2.4 miles from the Delaware River on the east to the Schuylkill River on the west, with pedestrians able to walk from one end of Centre City to the other within just one hour.
The densely-packed corridor also offers a streamlined experience for explorers to discover locally owned businesses, boutiques, cafes, museums and galleries, such as Independence Hall or the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Visitors are encouraged to book a walking tours or tour experience – each specially curated for personal interests in architecture, food, history or art – which can help to soak up as much of the city’s offerings as possible.
Gregg Caren, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, said: ‘We’re thrilled that Philadelphia has been named the most walkable city in the US for the third year in a row.
‘Walkability is one of our greatest strengths, especially for international travellers who want to maximise their time exploring the city.
‘With world-class hotels, historic sites, diverse dining, and cultural attractions all within a compact, accessible footprint, Philadelphia delivers an experience that’s easy to navigate and hard to forget.’
For those planning a trip to Philadelphia, the International Visitors Guide highlights Philadelphia’s diversity and inclusivity and features specialised itineraries tailored to all kinds of visitors, including families, foodies, art lovers and the LGBTQ+ community.
The top honour marks the Philadelphia’s long-standing appeal as a destination that is easy to navigate by residents and visitors alike
Those on foot can explore sights ranging from lush, green spaces and notable landmarks (pictured: the Schuylkill River Trail)
The city’s vibrant and historical neighbourhoods are interconnected by wide, bustling sidewalks (pictured: the Pennsylvania Railroad World War II Memorial inside the east entrance to William Gray 30th Street Station in West Philadelphia)
Meanwhile, Heather Anderson, a 43-year-old writer from Washington, has visited all 50 states and here she reveals the USA’s most underrated destinations to MailOnline Travel.
It took the adventurer around 40 years to visit every state, a mission that she explains she took ‘very seriously’ over the last two decades.
Heather tells MailOnline Travel that there are five underrated US states, saying: ‘Each of these states has an often overlooked amount of natural beauty and outdoor recreation. They also have interesting history, lively cities and incredibly friendly people.’
And there’s also a state she finds ‘dull’ that you might want to leave off your itinerary.
