Open Ground Guides

City walks you can do on your own, stop by stop

Six cities, thirty walks. Pick a line, go to the first stop, and the page tells you what to look at and which way to walk next.

Before the first stop

Every walk starts somewhere you can reach by public transport and ends near another way home. Distances and times are for walking at an easy pace with short stops; add time for museums, churches and coffee.

Wear shoes with grip: Lisbon's stone pavements are polished smooth, Bogotá sits at 2,600 metres and Kyoto's shrine paths climb. How to walk these routes covers heat, altitude, water and safety.

AlfamaBaixaChiadoBelémGraçaAustriasPradoLetrasMalasañaMadrid RíoCandelariaOroMonserrateUsaquénChapineroCentroRomaCoyoacánChapultepecSan ÁngelVieille-VilleLakesideCarougeArianaPlainpalaisHigashiyamaTetsugakuArashiyamaInariGionStart here
LisbonMadridBogotáMexico CityGenevaKyoto

Timetable

WalkLineOn footStopsSet off
Alfama, from the cathedral to the castleLisbon1.3 km · 1h407Early morning, before the crowds
La Candelaria, the colonial gridBogotá1.3 km · 1h308Weekday or Saturday, mid-morning
The Gold Museum to Plaza de BolívarBogotá1.3 km · 1h409Weekday, mid-morning
Barrio de las LetrasMadrid1.4 km · 1h207Weekday morning or early evening
Usaquén on a SundayBogotá1.6 km · 1h407Sunday, late morning
Vieille-Ville, from the cathedral to the BastionsGeneva1.6 km · 1h408Weekday morning, before 10:00
Carouge, the Sardinian town across the ArveGeneva1.6 km · 1h207Morning, ideally a market day
Baixa and the river frontLisbon1.9 km · 1h207Morning, or late afternoon
The Centro HistóricoMexico City2 km · 2h0010Weekday, early morning
Graça and the viewpointsLisbon2.1 km · 1h507Late afternoon, for the light
Chapinero and the Zona GBogotá2.1 km · 1h307Weekday or Saturday, morning
Madrid de los AustriasMadrid2.3 km · 1h507Morning, before the midday heat
Malasaña and Conde DuqueMadrid2.3 km · 1h507Late afternoon, ending at sunset
Chiado and Bairro AltoLisbon2.4 km · 2h008Late morning or afternoon
Belém, along the waterLisbon2.4 km · 1h506Weekday morning, early
San ÁngelMexico City2.4 km · 1h507Saturday, mid-morning
The Prado to the RetiroMadrid2.5 km · 1h507Morning, or late afternoon
Up MonserrateBogotá2.6 km · 2h308Weekend morning, early
ChapultepecMexico City2.6 km · 2h307Tuesday to Saturday, morning
Higashiyama, from Kiyomizu down to YasakaKyoto2.6 km · 2h309Early morning, before 8:00
Gion at duskKyoto2.6 km · 1h409An hour before sunset
Plainpalais and the museumsGeneva2.8 km · 1h507Weekday morning, around 10:00
CoyoacánMexico City3.2 km · 2h108Weekday morning or Sunday, early
The Ariana park and the international quarterGeneva3.2 km · 2h007Weekday morning, after 9:00
Arashiyama: bridge, temple, bamboo and riverKyoto3.5 km · 2h307Early morning, before 8:00
The Philosopher's Path to Nanzen-jiKyoto3.6 km · 2h508Weekday, at temple opening
Fushimi Inari, through the gatesKyoto3.6 km · 2h206Early morning, before 8:00
Roma and CondesaMexico City3.8 km · 2h009Weekend morning, before 10:00
The lakeside, from the Rhône bridges to the Jet d'EauGeneva3.8 km · 2h007Morning, or late afternoon
Madrid RíoMadrid4.2 km · 2h007Morning, or late afternoon in summer