The Burrow
Feb 3, 2025
Running might have spiked in popularity during lockdown, but it’s seen another resurgence in the last 12 months, with run clubs being cited as the new dating apps, and TikTok run trends taking over the world.
With 3 million Australians actively running, it’s one of the most popular forms of exercise in the country – and equally popular globally.1
Not every city is equal in terms of running spaces and weather, though, so as health insurance experts we wanted to uncover the best running cities in the world.
To do this we looked at multiple factors including the number of running events and trails, as well as searches for ‘run clubs’, and more.
With cities across Australia, Europe, and the US making it into the top 10, look and see if your home makes the cut.
The best city in the world for running is London, with the most running trails, at a huge 630; as well as the most searches for ‘running clubs’, at 22,340 over the last 12 months.
Not only that, but the city boasts the fifth most running events (58) and parks (230). So, whether you want to jog amongst the scenic views of Hyde Park or Regent’s Park, or run along the River Thames, there are so many ways you can keep your workout fresh!
It likely comes as no surprise that one of the best running cities in the world is New York; with Central Park featuring lots of trails to try out. There are 351 parks to choose from (the second most on our list), with waterfront-situated Brooklyn Bridge Park, and an easy 4.5km loop around Inwood Hill Park two great options.
Other reasons why NYC scored so highly is the fact it has the most running events, at 246 – including run clubs in the above-mentioned parks! – and the second most searches for ‘running club’, at 17,380 over the year.
With the third most running trails (545), fourth best air quality (a PM2.5 level of 5), and the fifth most yearly searches for ‘running club’ (6,150), Sydney makes it into a very respectable third place for runners.
Running clubs take place all over the city, with weekly meets in key places like Centennial Park, Milsons Point, and Bondi – so no matter where you’re based in the city, you can get involved.
The fourth best running city in the world is Melbourne, with the second-best air quality (4.4), fourth most run trails (542), and the seventh most parks (146).
Some of the most picturesque trails in Melbourne include The Tan, where you loop around the Botanic Gardens, and get to enjoy views of the Yarra River at the same time; and St Kilda’s Foreshore Trail, which is a longer route at 11km, but means you can enjoy the fresh sea air as you run past the pier and marina.
Rounding off our top five cities for runners is LA, with the third highest search volume for ‘running club’, at 7,860 a year, and the fourth most running events, at 74. However, what sets this city apart from the others, is it has the least rainfall (30mm on average over 12 months) – so you won’t need to time your run based on the weather!
Australian and European cities make up the rest of the top 10 running cities in the world, with Perth in sixth place, Madrid in seventh, Valencia in eighth, Canberra in ninth, and Stockholm in 10th.
Looking at each factor individually; when it comes to air quality, Canberra comes a comfortable top with a score of 3.8. Helsinki in third in air quality despite coming 13th overall with Stockholm and Glasgow tying in fifth.
Safety score was another factor we looked at, with Canberra the only city in our overall top 10 scoring highly for it, in ninth. European cities tended to score the safest, with Munich, Ljubljana and Zurich ranking in the top three for safety.
LA may be the best for rainfall, but Athens and Madrid came second and third, at 32mm and 35mm on average a year, respectively. If you love to run when it’s sunny, then Marseille may be for you, with 9.7 hours of sun a day on average (although it only comes 32nd overall), with Valencia and Seville tying third, with an average of 9.4 hours a day.
Houston and Chicago came second and third for running events but placed 21st and 20th overall. Chicago also came top for parks, with 445 in total – Lincoln Park and Navy Pier being two of the standouts.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or a total expert, you’ll feel the benefits of running from day one.
As it’s one of the best cardio exercises, the more you run, the lower your risk of developing a cardiovascular disease, with research showing that runners can decrease their risk of heart disease by up to 50%.2
Additionally, other health benefits of running could include a reduction in the risk of back and knee problems; and improved memory, energy levels, and an overall better mood – showing just how important running is for mental health, too!
If you don’t develop the right technique – or if you push yourself too far – you can cause yourself an injury. Luckily, there are things you can do to prevent and treat them.
Runner’s high is real, and it can be all-too-easy thinking you can push yourself that extra km, but if you overdo it, you could cause ankle, hamstring, or foot injuries. Start off slow and give yourself plenty of rest days before building it up with longer runs.
Not just any trainers will do – if you want to reduce the risk of an injury, you’ll want to invest in a proper pair of running trainers that fit your feet perfectly and provide you with support. If you’re not sure where to start, head into a sports store and one of the advisors should be able to give you some recommendations.
Spending 10-15 minutes running on the spot will help to warm your muscles up and could also help you to mentally prepare for your run ahead. Cooling down is even more crucial; as stretching will help you to avoid potential injuries, and even improve your flexibility.
Executive General Manager of Health Insurance, Steven Spicer, notes the health benefits running provides, but also the risks involved.
“Running, and exercise in general, brings with it an array of health benefits, but sometimes accidents can happen. From twisting your ankle to runners knee, having health insurance in place can bring you peace of mind, should you sustain an injury and need to go to the physio or if you require surgery as an inpatient in hospital” Mr Spicer said.
“Having a private hospital and extras policy is often a great way to complement all your physical activity. In the unfortunate case you fall victim to injury and require surgery, depending on your level of cover, you may be able to rely on your hospital policy to avoid public waiting lists, allowing you to get back up on your feet faster.”
This dataset ranks 50 cities, based on how good they are for runners. To do this, 8 different factors were used. Once the data for the factors was collected, the factors were then normalised, to provide each factor with a score of between 0 and 1. If data was not available, a score of 0 was given. The normalised values were then summed and multiplied by 12.5, to give each city a total score out of 100. The cities were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their total scores.
The factors used are as follows:
The factors were indexed as follows:
All data is correct as of 27/11/24. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources and may not be representative of real life. All data is accurate with regards to the sources provided.
Additional Sources –