Best European Cities for Walking Challenged
Oct 22nd, 2016, 08:49 PM
#23
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Peg -- I just spent two weeks at the München Goethe this past July. It was wonderful! Our teacher was Monika Reimann, who wrote the German grammar book published by Hueber (and used by Goethe).
I know you're familiar with Goethe, and I know you'll have a great time!
s
I know you're familiar with Goethe, and I know you'll have a great time!
s
Oct 23rd, 2016, 08:50 AM
#24
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Nice isn't flat at all, it has major hills, some overlooking the actual road along the shore (eg, the Parc de la Colline du Chateau) and several major art museums are up hills. Sure, it has an area that is flat around place Massena, COurs Saleya, and Vieux Nice, so if you just stayed in that area, it would be flat. You could say that about a lot of cities, though, Nice is less flat than many.
Prague is pretty flat also in most parts, but not farther out, not sure why someone said New Town was flat but not Old Town. Old Town is flat also on the right side of the river where the Jewish quarter is, Old Town Square, etc. It is flat right at the bottom of the left side, but that is the part of Old Town where it does have a hill up to the castle (Mala Strana, although it is also flat right near the river). Of course, you can take the tram right up to the castle (and back) and thus it would be pretty flat walking from the tram stop into the Castle, which most people want to see. However, no public transportation crosses the main Old Town square area, but you can get on the edges of it.
I agree with Krakow and Vienna . Of course, Madrid is flat also and that wore you out, so not sure what the solution is. Madrid has good public transportation IMO, buses and metro.
Maybe the issue is how big a city is and how far apart some of the typical tourist sites are. The center of Madrid is still pretty small, though, I think things are farther apart in Paris that many people want to see, not to mention Montmartre is hilly. It's 5 km between Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower, for example. So you won't be walking that.
Warsaw is pretty flat, but much bigger than cities like Krakow or Prague and I think the tram and bus stops may be farther apart so more walking might be necessary.
Prague is pretty flat also in most parts, but not farther out, not sure why someone said New Town was flat but not Old Town. Old Town is flat also on the right side of the river where the Jewish quarter is, Old Town Square, etc. It is flat right at the bottom of the left side, but that is the part of Old Town where it does have a hill up to the castle (Mala Strana, although it is also flat right near the river). Of course, you can take the tram right up to the castle (and back) and thus it would be pretty flat walking from the tram stop into the Castle, which most people want to see. However, no public transportation crosses the main Old Town square area, but you can get on the edges of it.
I agree with Krakow and Vienna . Of course, Madrid is flat also and that wore you out, so not sure what the solution is. Madrid has good public transportation IMO, buses and metro.
Maybe the issue is how big a city is and how far apart some of the typical tourist sites are. The center of Madrid is still pretty small, though, I think things are farther apart in Paris that many people want to see, not to mention Montmartre is hilly. It's 5 km between Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower, for example. So you won't be walking that.
Warsaw is pretty flat, but much bigger than cities like Krakow or Prague and I think the tram and bus stops may be farther apart so more walking might be necessary.
Oct 23rd, 2016, 09:45 AM
#25
Hi Chrisrina; That was me and I stand corrected. So much for memory. Not a problem on 'old town' vs 'new town.'
The tram would be the only way to visit the castle as Christina suggested. It can be pretty steep.
But once up at the top, not too bad, although going down a narrow street with all the early homes/business is a grade slightly down.
Forget how it is at the end and if it would be OK to continue walking, then being on the flat?
The tram would be the only way to visit the castle as Christina suggested. It can be pretty steep.
But once up at the top, not too bad, although going down a narrow street with all the early homes/business is a grade slightly down.
Forget how it is at the end and if it would be OK to continue walking, then being on the flat?
Oct 23rd, 2016, 10:49 AM
#26
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The historic center of Dresden is quite flat and easily explored. Extensive tram and bus network running around/through the city. I took my 80-something Mom to Dresden and one thing she really liked was the ready availability of velo taxis to go around the central area. They could go into places that cars couldn't, went at a slower pace, and offered an experience she couldn't get at home. We took several velo taxis around the historic core and even across the river.
She liked the velo taxis so much that I found a few people offering the service here in Basel and booked those for rides around our neighborhood, the St. Alban district and other parts of the city.
They're in Vienna as well, with the same type of velotaxi that we used in Dresden and here in Basel. I love them and think they're a fun, eco-friendly, and more intimate way to see the city.
http://www.faxi.at/
http://www.faxi.at/home/faxi-tour-rikschataxi/
She liked the velo taxis so much that I found a few people offering the service here in Basel and booked those for rides around our neighborhood, the St. Alban district and other parts of the city.
They're in Vienna as well, with the same type of velotaxi that we used in Dresden and here in Basel. I love them and think they're a fun, eco-friendly, and more intimate way to see the city.
http://www.faxi.at/
http://www.faxi.at/home/faxi-tour-rikschataxi/
Dec 14th, 2019, 12:56 PM
#27
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Bologna
London and Paris. Don't really agree with Rome if you have problems walking because the surface you are walking on is often very uneven, cobblestones are missing etc etc. I don't have problems walking and I find Rome does my feet and ankles in.
Florence is good but you need to go when it isn't crowded which is November, January, February and most of March. Otherwise when it is crowded it can be difficult because of the volume of people and the sidewalks are very narrow.
Venice is good but you do need to be able to do some stairs up and over canals.
I agree with Greg about not delaying difficult trips. I think people over estimate their abilities. A friend was recently in Macchu Picchu (sp?) and she said there were quite a few people in their 70's and 80's having real difficulty. Not with the altitude but with the walking and clambering around on uneven ground. My friend is 60 and she said it drove it home to her to do these kinds of trips right now.
Florence is good but you need to go when it isn't crowded which is November, January, February and most of March. Otherwise when it is crowded it can be difficult because of the volume of people and the sidewalks are very narrow.
Venice is good but you do need to be able to do some stairs up and over canals.
I agree with Greg about not delaying difficult trips. I think people over estimate their abilities. A friend was recently in Macchu Picchu (sp?) and she said there were quite a few people in their 70's and 80's having real difficulty. Not with the altitude but with the walking and clambering around on uneven ground. My friend is 60 and she said it drove it home to her to do these kinds of trips right now.
Dec 15th, 2019, 01:04 AM
#28
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Many Western European cities have excellent public transport.
It might be easier to give a good answer, if you could tell us on which cities you are interested in.
I know, you mentioned Budapest, but for this town, I'm not the right person to answer. sorry!
It might be easier to give a good answer, if you could tell us on which cities you are interested in.
I know, you mentioned Budapest, but for this town, I'm not the right person to answer. sorry!
Dec 15th, 2019, 01:48 AM
#29
Go to the small ones, not on the top of hills, with only limited cobblestones
Central Riga is only 1km long with virtually all the sites within a circle of that size
Italy is full of tiny cities with a lovely centre often surrounded by horrible housing estates, but the centres are like pearls, for instance, Soave is a walled city 500m by 1000m.
There are so many I'll not list them, but choose a country and I'll try
Central Riga is only 1km long with virtually all the sites within a circle of that size
Italy is full of tiny cities with a lovely centre often surrounded by horrible housing estates, but the centres are like pearls, for instance, Soave is a walled city 500m by 1000m.
There are so many I'll not list them, but choose a country and I'll try
