Walkability in European Cities from a Tourist Perspective: A Comparative Study of Thessaloniki and Lyon using Choice-based Conjoint Analysis

Walking is a core component of urban mobility and constitutes the first and last mile of most urban trips, particularly for tourists navigating unfamiliar cities. Understanding how visitors perceive walkability and which pedestrian infrastructure attributes most influence their walking choices is essential for improving pedestrian mobility in urban environments.

The study uses Choice-Based Conjoint (CBC) analysis based on street-intercept surveys conducted in the summer of 2021 in two European cities with contrasting urban and mobility characteristics: Thessaloniki (Greece) and Lyon (France). A total of 163 valid questionnaires were collected (78 in Thessaloniki and 85 in Lyon). Five (5) walkability attributes were evaluated: viz. i) proximity to public transport stops, ii) road-crossing facilities and safety, iii) green elements in streets and public spaces, iv) weather protection, and v) sidewalk obstacles.

The results reveal clear differences between the two cities. In Thessaloniki, green elements in streets and public spaces are the most influential attribute (31.15%), followed by proximity to public transport (18.56%) and road-crossing equipment and safety (17.86%). In Lyon, road-crossing equipment and safety ranks highest (22.22%), followed by proximity to public transport (21.18%) and green elements (20.65%). In both cities, proximity to public transport consistently emerged among the top priorities.

The findings indicate that while certain walkability priorities, such as safe crossings and access to public transport, are transferable across European cities, others are strongly context-dependent. Climatic conditions, urban form, and existing transport infrastructure appear to shape tourists’ walking preferences differently across cities.

This study provides evidence-based insights for pedestrian mobility planning and sustainable urban mobility policy. By identifying and ranking design-actionable walkability attributes from a tourist perspective, it supports place-sensitive interventions aimed at improving pedestrian environments along urban tourist corridors.