Cities are great for strolling around, but if you’re keen to journey out, stretch your legs, and get a proper view of the skyline, it sounds like a hike is what you’re after.
The world’s best hiking cities combine the best of both worlds – all the food, culture and fun of a city break with a dose of fresh air and outdoor adventure. Plenty of cities are nestled amongst mountains, on coastlines and close to magnificent nature reserves, but which one can claim to be the best hiking city on the planet?
A study by SportsShoes.com has set out to answer that question. The research looked into the number of nearby hikes in each city, alongside the number of reviews and the average rating the hikes were given.
Recommended: The 20 best hikes in the world, according to .
Topping the list? It’s Rio de Janeiro, which had a perfect score of 100 overall, thanks to 334 local hikes, which have an average rating of 4.8 out of 5, and 219 reviews.
So, alongside your flip-flops, don’t forget to pack your walking boots. Some super popular trails include the Corcovado to Christ the Redeemer, all the routes through the urban forest of Tijuca National Park, and hikes to Pedra da Gávea’s summit.
In second place was Mexico City and in third was San Francisco. The list is dominated by US cities, which claim seven places in the ranking overall – read on to find which ones, and have a look at ’s list of the best hikes in the world here.
These are the best cities in the world for hiking
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Mexico City, Mexico
- San Francisco, USA
= Cape Town, South Africa - Los Angeles, USA
- Portland, USA
- Las Vegas, USA
- Sydney, Australia
- Edinburgh, UK
- Kyoto, Japan
= Nashville, USA
= Seattle, USA
= Philadelphia, USA
Did you see that this otherworldly destination was named Europe’s best place for a road trip?
Plus: The countries with the most beautiful views, revealed.
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