'Glorious' European capital ranked among most walkable in the world has 'endless sunshine'

If you're pondering a city break in Europe, you might want to consider a noteworthy capital renowned for its superb walkability and architectural wonders.

Madrid, Spain’s capital, has been highlighted in a recent study as the fifth most walkable city in the world, following Porto in Portugal, Hamburg in Germany, Riga in Latvia, and Florence in Italy - which holds the top position.

Insider Monkey, a well-known investment platform, has put together a list of the most walkable cities for 2024, perfect for those who see walking as the best way to explore a destination.

To compile this list, researchers used various data sources, including walkability scores from platforms like Tourlane and WalkScore and analyses on the distances between major attractions.

They also assessed air quality and safety by referencing data from IQAir and safety indices from Numbeo, which helped them narrow down the top 30 cities.

And it might come as no surprise Madrid has ranked as high on the list, as it has major landmarks such as the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum situated close to one another.

According to the authors at Insider Monkey: “Madrid’s walkability is most evident in central areas like Puerta del Sol and Retiro Park, which are both historic landmarks.”

Visitors’ reviews published on Quora only make the Spanish capital sound more appealing, with one traveller highlighting its prevalent good weather.

Reviewer Asrin Asrin said: “Spain's glorious capital city can win just about anyone over thanks to its endless sunshine, beautiful streets and delicious food.

“Whether you're into soccer, architecture, nature or shopping, Madrid has something for everyone, so expect to be wowed.”

Jérémie Boussand, who lives in the city, echoed: “I was to answer about the city of Madrid, its blue skies, open people, welcoming attitude, efficient services, good and clean public transportation, dynamic entrepreneurs, gorgeous mountain (here la Sierra de Madrid is just called 'la Sierra'), thousands of shops, millions of bars, excellent restaurants, wonderful Mahou beer, that deep blue sky again…”

Enrique Pareja commented: “Madrid is the financial and cultural hub for Spain, and one of the most important cities in Southern Europe and in the Spanish-speaking world. There is a lot of things to see, and do, here!” (sic)

He added: “Madrileños are open-minded, tolerant and highly sociable. You will have no problems in getting along with the locals.

“Our nightlife is considered as one of the best in the world; extremely active and varied (often starting late!) and with a good music scene.”