Go ahead and strut Philly. For the the third year in a row, Philadelphia has been named the Most Walkable City in the U.S. by the 2025 USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards.
Philly beat out top contenders like New York, Boston, and Chicago.
When it comes to foot-friendly city life –it’s no secret– we do it best!
Whether you’re power-walking to work, strolling to your favorite coffee shop, or wandering aimlessly through Old City on a Sunday afternoon, this makes every step feel like a vibe.
👣 So, why are we the most walkable?
It all goes back to William Penn. The city’s founder designed Philly with a thoughtful grid system in the 17th century complete with numbered streets, leafy blocks named after trees, and public squares that still serve as community hubs.
Specifically, Center City stretches just 2.4 miles from river to river, making it easy to get anywhere on foot in under an hour.
From Penn’s Landing to the Schuylkill River Trail, Philly invites you to explore by walking.
Along the way you’ll find murals, markets, museums, historic landmarks, indie shops, street performers, and the occasional impromptu drum circle in a park.
If you’re new to the scene or just want to explore deeper, Philly’s walking tour scene is unmatched.
Take your pick from ghosts, to food, to Black history, to revolutionary landmarks, murals, vegan eats, or speakeasy stories. Indeed, there’s a tour for everyone.
If you prefer to go at it solo, Philadelphia was also named the best city for solo travel. There’s plenty to do alone.
From self-guided tours to themed ones, you won’t need much more than yourself to experience the magic of Philadelphia.
Moreover, this isn’t Philly’s only win of the year. In 2025, the city was also named one of the Top 10 U.S. Cities for Food & Drink by Food & Wine, and earned the title of Best City for Street Art – again.
So the next time someone asks how to experience Philly, you already know: start walking. 🚶🏾♀️