Philly Named America’s Most Walkable City by USA Today — For the Fourth Straight Year!

Philly’s walkability reigns supreme (again and again and again) …

Market East Photo by Visit Philadelphia

Philly doesn’t just talk the talk. We walk the walk — all the way to the winner’s podium. But what’s new?

Today, the 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards announced that Philadelphia has been named the Most Walkable City in the U.S. — for the fourth (!) year in a row. (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 Boston, Chicago and New York City.

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 to the other in just 50 minutes.

USA Today also noted Philly’s numerous gorgeous neighborhoods, including charming historic spots like Old City and Rittenhouse Square.

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).

How to Make the Most of Philly’s Walkability

These feet — and streets — were made for walking. 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, culture, public art, ghosts, magic, veganism (!) and much more.

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.

Wait, There’s More

This honor joins an impressive list of other recent awards and accolades, from our best buddies at USA Today 10Best — including the titles of Best NFL City (Go Birds!) and Best City for Street Art — and experts the world over.

Last winter, Philly’s restaurant scene took a star-making turn, as the city made its big Michelin debut. The elite eaters at the Michelin Guide awarded three local restaurants one of its coveted stars and honored over two dozen other spots.

Philly’s culinary community also stole the show at the 2026 James Beard Awards, with big wins for Nok Suntaranon’s Kalaya (Outstanding Restaurant) and Jesse Ito of Royal Sushi & Izakaya (Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic).

Hungry for more Philly wins? The city snagged a spot on Travel + Leisure’s list of the 50 best places to travel to in 2026, while BBC Travel, The New York Times, CNN and more also named the city a must-visit destination ahead of its biggest summer yet …

2026 in Philly

Haven’t you heard? America’s celebrating a major birthday this year, and Philly — the birthplace of said nation — is the place to be.

All year long, visitors and residents have been following in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers, celebrating the nation’s historic 250th anniversary with special festivals, global sporting events and commemorative exhibitions.

The party hits its peak this summer with Wawa Welcome America, a supersized Independence Day celebration, lasting literal weeks. Bigger than ever before, the 16-day-long fest features more events and big-name celebrities, all culminating with a massive concert and fireworks show with headliner Christina Aguilera and the biggest names in Philly music — Jill Scott, Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff and more.

The fun doesn’t end there. Philly hosts the world’s top athletes and the most passionate fans in sports (next to us, of course) for FIFA World Cup 26 and MLB All-Star Week and All-Star Game.

TL;DR: You’re not going to want to miss this party, so don’t walk — run — to the City of Brotherly Love this summer.

Sabrina Carter

Web Content Manager, Visit Philadelphia

I write articles for visitphilly.com and emails, like the Ultimate Philly Guide, covering everything from insider tips to exploring only-in-Philly attractions to roundups of Visit Philly staffers’ favorite murals. (Mine is this one!)

View All Articles by Sabrina

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