6 Countries or Islands You Can Walk Across in Under an Hour

Some advantageously shaped countries and islands are so small that you can explore them by foot in almost no time at all. So, while you’ll need a little longer to traverse the likes of Liechtenstein, Malta, and Nauru, let’s take a look at six countries or islands you can walk across in under an hour.

Vatican City

With an area of just 0.17 square miles, Vatican City, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, is the world’s smallest country. If you have an hour at your disposal, you could both walk across the Vatican and make a loop around its perimeter, though that’s missing the point. This is a place to linger, drinking in the detail of the impressive architecture of St. Peter’s Basilica and climbing its roof to appreciate the expansive view of St. Peter’s Square. Give yourself time to absorb the colors of the sumptuous frescoed ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and admire the quirky outfits worn by the Swiss Guard, too, before you exit this tiny city-state entirely surrounded by Rome. 

Monaco

Monaco, a 0.8-square-mile microstate that neighbors the French Riviera, is also one of the world’s smallest independent countries. The wealthy principality attracts the rich and famous, both as a playground and because of its status as a tax-free haven. Tourists come to chance their luck in its iconic casino, the Monte Carlo, or to admire the super yachts that moor in its prestigious marina.

Given Monaco’s diminutive size, it takes only an hour to walk roughly northeast to southwest across its length. However, you’ll want to follow the advice of Visit Monaco and follow themed routes such as the Chemin des Sculptures Rainier III, which meanders past 200 works of art, or the Heritage Tree Trail, which showcases Monaco’s many beautiful gardens.

Tuvalu

This South Pacific archipelago consists of nine main islands, along with several reefs and atolls, and sits about halfway between Hawaii and Australia. Tuvalu gained independence from the U.K. in 1978 and was admitted into the United Nations in 2000. To walk the north-south length of its largest island, Fongafale, you’ll need a few hours, but to cross its width takes just 10 minutes or so. However, this might not be possible for much longer — this low-lying strip of land, like everywhere else in Tuvalu, is exceptionally vulnerable to climate change. Even a relatively small rise in sea level is expected to have a devastating effect, and the rate of coastal erosion is already increasing.

Tonga

Also in the South Pacific, the Kingdom of Tonga extends across more than 170 islands, the largest of which is Tongatapu. Here, you’ll find the sleepy capital Nuku’alofa, home to about a quarter of the country’s 104,000-strong population. You don’t have to travel far beyond the city limits to immerse yourself in rural Tongan life.

If you’re keen to walk from one coast of the island over to the other coast, begin at Paepae ‘o Tele’a, a low-slung pyramid most likely built in the 16th century from huge slabs of coral limestone. It was intended as a royal tomb for the monarch Tele’a, also known as ʻUluaki-mata, though he was buried beside his wife in her homeland of Samoa. From there, it’s a 3-mile, roughly hour-long walk to ‘Ana Hulu, where a cool underground lake is ideal for an invigorating swim.

St. Kitts and Nevis

If you’re determined to walk across the island of St. Kitts, set your sights on Frigate Bay. At its narrowest point, the isthmus that separates the island’s Atlantic and Caribbean coasts is less than half a mile across, and in barely a quarter of an hour you can walk from one sandy beach to another. 

But it would be a waste not to lace up your hiking boots and explore more of this country’s breathtaking landscapes. Allow at least six hours to follow the trail that hugs the crater rim of Mount Liamuiga, a forested stratovolcano that marks this tiny country’s highest peak. Climbing up through lush vegetation to reach Dos d’Anse Pond is equally challenging, as is the hike from the base of Olivees Mountain to Lawyer Stephen’s Cave and the waterfalls that lie beyond it. 

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Another Caribbean nation that lends itself to short country-spanning walks is St. Vincent and the Grenadines. While the oval shape and hilly terrain on St. Vincent demands a full day for any cross-island walk, that’s not the case on Bequia (pronounced “beck-way”), the northernmost of the Grenadines, where it’s easily possible to stroll from Port Elizabeth to Friendship Bay in under an hour. However, you’d be remiss not to spend time in the water, which offers some of the most remarkable diving in the region. The Devil’s Table, Stratmann Wreck, Boulders, and Moonhole area variously attract beginner and intermediate divers for their abundant marine life and colorful corals.