Philly walks the walk in more ways than one.
Today, the 2023 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards announced that Philadelphia has been named the Most Walkable City in the U.S. (As if there was any doubt …)
Experts from USA Today and 10Best.com nominated Philadelphia for the accolade and the nation voted for Philly to take the No. 1 spot, strolling past other major destinations like New York City, Washington D.C. and Chicago.
And it’s no surprise: Center City Philadelphia is super easy to navigate — spanning 26 blocks from the Delaware River on the east to the Schuylkill River on the west. Only 2.4 miles separate Penn’s Landing and the Schuylkill River Trail — meaning you can walk from one end of Center City Philly to the other in just 50 minutes.
Much of Philadelphia’s walkability is attributable to 17th-century city planner William Penn, who envisioned the green spaces, public squares and grid of streets that comprise Philadelphia’s downtown. Numbered streets run perpendicular north-south and east-west (many named for trees, like Walnut, Locust and Spruce).
Callowhill Neighborhood
— Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
Looking to take advantage of the city’s foot friendliness? One of the best ways to do so is to hop on a walking tour.
Philly’s robust tour scene offers in-depth excursions exploring history, food, public art, ghosts, magic, veganism and much more. That includes the new-for-2023 Historic Philadelphia Walking Tour, led by a historic reenactor through America’s most historic square mile.
Prefer going it alone? Peruse our guide to self-guided walking tours, giving you the freedom to pop into shops and down terrifically cute alleys in between stops.
Old City Neighborhood
— Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
Philly’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Award joins an impressive list of recent awards and accolades, from being named a must-see city for public art by Travel + Leisure to offering some of the best new restaurants in the country according to Bon Appétit.
Just in 2023, six Philadelphia chefs and restaurants received James Beard Award nominations, and The New York Times published 36 Hours, an intimate vignette underscoring Philly’s charms.
