How walkable is Chennai?
Chennai has a walkability score of 86 out of 100 around its centre, which makes it very walkable: most errands can be done on foot. It is the 15th most walkable of 44 cities ranked in India.
What's within walking distance
822 shops, restaurants, parks and other everyday places are mapped within a 30 minute walk of central Chennai. The nearest grocery is Patanjali Arogya Kendra, about 7 minutes away on foot. It earns full or nearly full points for shopping, banks, parks and schools. It is weakest for culture & entertainment.
- Patanjali Arogya Kendra580 m · 7 min
- Khushboo Traders690 m · 9 min
- Kamal Mewa720 m · 9 min
- KFC60 m · 1 min
- timesquarerestobar220 m · 3 min
- Ethiraj Salai450 m · 6 min
- AK GEMS70 m · 1 min
- AJN Waste Paper Mart110 m · 1 min
- Sundha paper mart110 m · 1 min
- Chai Waale Sowcarpet permanent clothes570 m · 7 min
- Richwell Teas760 m · 9 min
- Leo Coffee1.2 km · 15 min
- Indian Overseas Bank - ATM230 m · 3 min
- IndusInd Bank230 m · 3 min
- Punjab National Bank - ATM290 m · 4 min
- Rajasthani Ground440 m · 6 min
- Sivagnanam Park800 m · 10 min
- People's Park1.0 km · 13 min
- Bachpan Play School210 m · 3 min
- Little Millennium220 m · 3 min
- Cocomelon The Preschool590 m · 7 min
- Sri Thanigavel Book Center610 m · 8 min
- Salamath Book House1.7 km · 21 min
- National Center for Catalysis Research2.0 km · 25 min
- Raja Annamalai Mandram1.8 km · 22 min
- Arumpakkam1.9 km · 24 min
- Bharath Theatre2.0 km · 25 min
Measured from the representative point at 13.0968, 80.2785. Walking times assume 80 m per minute along an estimated street route.
Street layout
Within 800 m of the representative point there are about 191 street intersections per km², and blocks average 70 m long. That is a well-connected street grid, so the score is not reduced.
Walkability around the centre
Scores at seven points within 1 km of the centre range from 69 to 92, and Chennai's score of 86 is their median.
| Point | Score | Map |
|---|---|---|
| City centre | 87 | Map |
| 1 km north | 86 | Map |
| 1 km east-northeast | 92 | Map |
| 1 km east-southeast | 77 | Map |
| 1 km south | 75 | Map |
| 1 km west-southwest | 89 | Map |
| 1 km west-northwest | 69 | Map |
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru, India | 291 km | 93 |
| Tiruchirappalli, India | 306 km | 72 |
| Vijayawada, India | 383 km | 87 |
| Madurai, India | 424 km | 81 |
| Coimbatore, India | 429 km | 81 |
Questions about walking in Chennai
Is Chennai a walkable city?
Yes. Central Chennai has a walkability score of 86 out of 100, which makes it very walkable: most errands can be done on foot. It ranks 15th of 44 cities in India and 164th of 252 worldwide on How Walkable.
What is the most walkable city in India?
Thāne is the most walkable of the 44 cities ranked in India, with a score of 96. Chennai ranks 15th with 86.
How does Chennai compare with nearby cities?
Chennai sits between its nearest ranked neighbours: Chennai scores 86, against Bengaluru (93, 291 km away), Tiruchirappalli (72, 306 km away) and Vijayawada (87, 383 km away).
How is Chennai's walkability score calculated?
The score counts groceries, restaurants, shops, cafés, banks, parks, schools, libraries and cultural venues within a 30 minute walk, gives nearer places more weight, and deducts up to 20% where streets are sparse or blocks are long. For Chennai it is the median of seven points within 1 km of the city centre, using open map data from Overture Maps and OpenStreetMap.
Scores follow a published walkability method, explained in the methodology. City position and population from GeoNames.