NearbyIndex data report · Updated August 25, 2026
Most walkable cities in Europe: an amenity access comparison
Among 7 reviewed European city samples, Paris has the largest share of points with high amenity access. Barcelona has the highest median NearbyIndex score.
This report measures nearby daily infrastructure. It does not rank complete walking conditions. Every result includes its range, sample size, scoring area, source, and model limit.
Largest high-access share
Paris
86% of 49 sampled points score 60 or more.
Highest median
Barcelona · 87
The middle sampled point has the strongest result in the reviewed set.
Widest internal range
Madrid · 25–89
One city average hides a 64-point difference.
Important: Paris uses a 49-point sample across an estimated 248.7 km². The ranking does not hide that smaller evidence base.
Reviewed European city samples, ranked
Rank uses the share of analyzed points scoring at least 60. Median score breaks a tie. A higher rank means broader mapped amenity access inside the sampled area.
| Rank | City | Points 60+ | Median | Typical range | Points | Area | Places/km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ParisFrance | 86% | 77 | 56–93 | 49 | 248.7 km² | 123.9 |
| 2 | LondonUnited Kingdom | 86% | 76 | 57–90 | 49 | 468.7 km² | 90.7 |
| 3 | BarcelonaSpain | 80% | 87 | 38–92 | 25 | 86.1 km² | 173.4 |
| 4 | FlorenceItaly | 75% | 74 | 45–87 | 16 | 39 km² | 93.6 |
| 5 | BerlinGermany | 73% | 73 | 43–88 | 49 | 248.9 km² | 68.9 |
| 6 | MadridSpain | 69% | 75 | 25–89 | 49 | 175.3 km² | 100.6 |
| 7 | RomeItaly | 59% | 68 | 39–87 | 49 | 239.8 km² | 70 |
The city average is not the city experience
The bar shows the 10th-to-90th percentile range. The marker shows the median. Wide bars reveal large differences between sampled locations.
What the range changes
Barcelona has the highest median, but its typical range starts at 38. Madrid spans 64 points. These differences are why NearbyIndex links every city result back to specific locations.
Use the ranking to choose places to inspect. Use the map to check the infrastructure around an address.
Explore the infrastructure mapEight categories behind the result
A similar headline score can come from different infrastructure. Category scores show which mapped services raise or limit each city sample.
| City | Groceries | Food | Transit | Healthcare | Education | Parks | Shopping | Entertainment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | 85 | 67 | 70 | 91 | 91 | 64 | 53 | 77 |
| London | 78 | 63 | 70 | 90 | 90 | 76 | 51 | 69 |
| Barcelona | 74 | 66 | 76 | 79 | 89 | 77 | 60 | 79 |
| Florence | 73 | 63 | 43 | 91 | 94 | 63 | 60 | 77 |
| Berlin | 72 | 54 | 65 | 86 | 82 | 60 | 47 | 68 |
| Madrid | 67 | 56 | 60 | 82 | 85 | 55 | 45 | 63 |
| Rome | 68 | 55 | 43 | 85 | 87 | 57 | 50 | 71 |
What the evidence says about each city
1. Paris, France
86% high-access coverage · median 7786% of analyzed points score 60 or more. The typical range is 56–93. Healthcare is the strongest category at 91; Shopping is the weakest at 53.
The sampled area has dense daily services across many districts. Central results are strong, but the grid also reaches places beyond the municipal edge.
Local evidence: Paris reports that walking represents 48% of trips in Paris and the inner metropolitan area. Its pedestrian map also documents routes and walking facilities. City of Paris pedestrian map.
Important limit: The sample includes Clamart. Read the distribution as an urban-area estimate, not a measurement of the Paris municipality alone.
Open the Paris evidence page2. London, United Kingdom
86% high-access coverage · median 7686% of analyzed points score 60 or more. The typical range is 57–90. Healthcare is the strongest category at 90; Shopping is the weakest at 51.
The result combines a strong central network with large differences across Greater London. Address checks are more useful than the city median for housing decisions.
Local evidence: Transport for London uses its Healthy Streets programme to improve walking conditions. Its plan links walking with public transport and short local trips. Transport for London walking plan.
Important limit: The grid is not weighted by population. Large, less populated parts of Greater London can influence the city result more than their population suggests.
Open the London evidence page3. Barcelona, Spain
80% high-access coverage · median 8780% of analyzed points score 60 or more. The typical range is 38–92. Education is the strongest category at 89; Shopping is the weakest at 60.
Barcelona has strong amenity access across much of the sample. The lower points mostly describe the wider sampled area, not the compact central grid alone.
Local evidence: Barcelona reported that walking and cycling formed 57.3% of trips within the city in 2022. The city is planning further growth in sustainable travel. Barcelona in Figures 2023.
Important limit: The sample reaches Sant Cugat del Vallès. Treat the result as a Barcelona urban-area estimate and check an address before making a decision.
Open the Barcelona evidence page4. Florence, Italy
75% high-access coverage · median 7475% of analyzed points score 60 or more. The typical range is 45–87. Education is the strongest category at 94; Transit is the weakest at 43.
Florence has high amenity access across most sampled points. The compact centre and the surrounding hills still create different walking conditions.
Local evidence: The City of Florence publishes eighteen circular walking routes. They connect the Arno, the historic centre, and surrounding hills. City of Florence walking routes.
Important limit: NearbyIndex does not model slope. A nearby destination in the hills can receive the same distance credit as one on a flat street.
Open the Florence evidence page5. Berlin, Germany
73% high-access coverage · median 7373% of analyzed points score 60 or more. The typical range is 43–88. Healthcare is the strongest category at 86; Shopping is the weakest at 47.
Berlin has many local centres, so amenity access does not follow one simple centre-to-edge pattern. The map shows those differences better than one average.
Local evidence: Berlin is developing its first pedestrian plan under the Mobility Act. The plan includes network priorities, access standards, and district projects. State of Berlin pedestrian plan.
Important limit: The rectangular sample reaches fringe locations around the built-up area. It does not measure pavement quality, crossings, or the comfort of each route.
Open the Berlin evidence page6. Madrid, Spain
69% high-access coverage · median 7569% of analyzed points score 60 or more. The typical range is 25–89. Education is the strongest category at 85; Shopping is the weakest at 45.
Madrid shows a wide gap between central and outer sample points. This spread matters more than the headline score when you compare specific places.
Local evidence: Madrid 360 treats walking as the universal and priority travel mode. The plan also supports active travel and better pedestrian space through 2030. Madrid 360 sustainable mobility plan.
Important limit: The sample covers a large urban area and is not population weighted. Sparse edge points can reduce the result without representing many residents.
Open the Madrid evidence page7. Rome, Italy
59% high-access coverage · median 6859% of analyzed points score 60 or more. The typical range is 39–87. Education is the strongest category at 87; Transit is the weakest at 43.
Rome combines dense historic districts with a very large municipal area. The sample range shows why a single city score hides important local differences.
Local evidence: Rome maintains permanent and timed pedestrian areas in historic and commercial places. It also plans pedestrian zones and lower-speed areas outside the centre. Roma Mobilità pedestrian areas.
Important limit: Straight-line distance can cross major roads, rail lines, or other barriers. The score does not confirm that a practical walking route exists.
Open the Rome evidence pageWhat NearbyIndex measures
- Straight-line access to mapped daily services.
- Eight category scores under one documented formula.
- Score distribution across a regular city sample.
- Mapped inventory and estimated scoring-area density.
What it does not measure
- Walking routes, crossings, pavements, or barriers.
- Slope, safety, accessibility, weather, or comfort.
- Transit frequency, opening hours, or service quality.
- A complete walkability or car-free living verdict.
Broader walkability research also models street length, intersections, green space, slope, transit, land-use mix, and walking routes. See the 2025 study A Walk across Europe. NearbyIndex publishes a narrower destination-access layer instead of claiming those missing factors.
Method, sources, and update policy
One product formula
The report does not invent a blog-only index. It uses the same versioned profiles as the city hub, city pages, and public JSON. The ranking rule is coverage first and median second.
Public source data
Mapped places and division areas come from Overture Maps. City identities and populations come from GeoNames. Each city section also cites an official local source.
Visible uncertainty
Samples are not population weighted. Scored rectangles are not official boundaries. Point counts and estimated areas stay visible so readers can judge the comparison.
Updates and corrections
Data values update with the reviewed profiles. A new model version must keep its old evidence available. Report data problems through the correction process on the About page.
Questions about the comparison
Which reviewed European city has the highest access result?
Florence has the largest share of sampled points scoring at least 60. Barcelona has the highest median score. Florence uses a smaller nine-point sample, so both results need their sample context.
How does NearbyIndex rank the cities?
The report sorts cities by the share of analyzed points scoring at least 60. Median score breaks a tie. The city hub and this report use the same rule.
Is the NearbyIndex score a complete walkability score?
No. It measures straight-line access to mapped daily services. It does not measure routes, crossings, pavements, slope, safety, accessibility, weather, or transit frequency.
Is this a ranking of every city in Europe?
No. It compares the European cities in the reviewed NearbyIndex dataset. Each scoring area and sample size appears beside the result.
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