Sometimes, you just need to leave the city behind and get into nature—but you don’t want to drive for hours to get there. Whether you’re lucky enough to live in one of these cities, or are just visiting and want to see a more scenic side of the area, I’ve highlighted ten trails worth a detour. Here are 10 of the world’s best urban hikes, all of which are conveniently located in or near major cities, so you can easily tack some fresh air time onto your city break.
Best Urban Hikes Around the World
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Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh, Scotland
You probably don’t think of lava when you imagine Scotland, but one of the country’s best urban hikes offers the chance to climb an extinct volcano. Just a quick walk from Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, Arthur’s Seat offers a brisk hike up 800 feet. You’ll be rewarded for your efforts with expansive views of the city below.
Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh, Scotland
You probably don’t think of lava when you imagine Scotland, but one of the country’s best urban hikes offers the chance to climb an extinct volcano. Just a quick walk from Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, Arthur’s Seat offers a brisk hike up 800 feet. You’ll be rewarded for your efforts with expansive views of the city below.
Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa
You can ascend Table Mountain one of two ways—the easy, overcrowded way (by cable car); or the hard, rewarding, and free option (hiking). You can get to the trails, which are some of the best urban hikes in the world, easily from downtown Cape Town, either by public transit or taxi, and there are a number of different ascents to follow to the summit. Platteklip Gorge is the most direct way up and will take you about two hours of steady climbing. Tired by the time you reach the top? Spare your knees and take the cable car down—although be warned, the cable car can close unexpectedly due to high winds or other weather conditions, so always be prepared to hike down.
Skyline Trail, Blue Hills, Boston, USA
If you come to the Blue Hills Reservation from Boston during rush hour, you may spend more time sitting in traffic than you do conquering the trail. Just a few minutes outside of the city, the Blue Hills Reservation encompasses over 7,000 acres. Appropriately named, the Skyline Trail offers some of the region’s best views of the Boston skyline. The trail winds its way up several hills, and you’ll be able to catch glimpses of Boston fairly often.
Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Leave the minibuses and packed trains to the other tourists and let your feet carry you to Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. A hiking trail winds up Corcovado Mountain, offering up incredible views of the city along the way. You’ll still need to buy a ticket to the monument once you reach the top, and the price of your ticket includes a lift back down the mountain.
Mount Hollywood Hiking Trail, Hollywood, California, USA
Maybe you’re hiking up to the Hollywood sign in the dead of the night to swap around the letters, or maybe, more legally, you’re walking up in daylight to appreciate the scenery. The Mt. Hollywood Trail starts right by the Griffith Observatory, so you can check out two Los Angeles sites off your California list on one hike. Along the trail, find plenty of great selfie opportunities with backdrops of the Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory, and the Los Angeles skyline.
Hong Kong Trail, Hong Kong
Even dense, bustling Hong Kong offers up some peaceful greenery if you know where to go. The Hong Kong Trail is an approximately 30 mile-long trail that will take you through some of the most beautiful scenery on the island. The trail is divided into eight different sections, and it’s probably best to tackle them individually, as there is nowhere along the way to camp.
Coast-to-Coast Trail, Auckland, New Zealand
Got a free afternoon in New Zealand? Then you can hike from the Tasmin Sea to the South Pacific Ocean in only a few hours on Auckland’s Coast-to-Coast Trail. Since the trail winds through the city, you’ll find plenty of spots to rest and refuel along the way.
Diamond Head, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Diamond Head is one of Honolulu’s most popular attraction, and with good reason—it offers you the chance to hike an extinct volcano. Although the trail up Diamond Head is only about 0.7 miles, it’s fairly steep, so it may take around an hour on the way up. At the top, you can cool down with sea breezes as you admire the panoramic views.
Sentiero Del Viandante, Lake Como, Italy
Start your walk in the cute city of Verenna on the banks of Lake Como. Then take a trail out of town, up past the Castle of Verenna, through tiny and classic towns, and finish in Bellano. Charming and unexpected sights are much more frequent than signage, and it’s easy to get a little lost, so bring a good map. If you don’t wish to hike round-trip, you can easily catch a ferry or train back to your starting point.
Mount Royal, Montreal, Canada
You can’t miss Mount Royal when you’re in Montreal—this landmark towers over the city and serves as a natural compass for visitors. A walk up to the summit will take you about 45 minutes, and at the top, you’ll find a public park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (who also helped design Central Park).
More from SmarterTravel:
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- 9 Essential Travel Products for Spring
Caroline Morse loves to hike and she’s always looking for the best urban hikes near Boston (and around the world). Follow her on Instagram @TravelwithCaroline and Twitter @CarolineMorse1 for views from the summit of urban hikes (and remote hikes).
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