Whenever you imagine beautiful scenery, places like Venice, Belgium and Stockholm surely come to your mind. But do you know the one thing that ties them all together? It’s their canals!
Canals, mainly built as transportation passages for goods, have slowly become attractions for tourists over the years. The beautiful bridges and old yet gracefully restored infrastructure make canals picturesque destinations for people all over the world. Many activities like boating, city tours, gondola rides, and floating markets are the highlights of these places.
Let’s check out some of the world’s best canal cities with breathtaking views!
1. Venice, Italy
A city dubbed ‘the City of Canals’ had to be at the top of our list. Venice has some of the world’s best views and is situated on a group of 118 islands, all of them separated by canals. The main transportation medium in Venice is a gondola.
With over 400 foot bridges, 170 canals, and 0 roads, Venice is the largest car-free city in Europe. The Grand Venice Canal, which is the longest in Venice, is about 3800m long and acts as the main waterway for the city.
This makes Venice a must visit!
2. Birmingham, England
3. Bruges, Belgium
This medieval city located in the heart of Belgium is famous for its old architecture and beautiful canals. Also known as the “Venice of The North”, the canals of Bruges connect all parts of the city. Bruges is encircled by a network of canals which the people have rightfully named as the “Bruges Egg”.
These canals interconnect major parts of the city. You can avail boat services to travel across the city. A typical boat excursion usually lasts for 30 minutes and lets you capture some of the most scenic views in Bruges!
4. Annecy, France
The famous “Venice of the Alps”, Annecy is a French city that shares stunning views with flower-decked banks, and cleanest lake in the World. Annecy has three canals which stretch across the old city along the Thiou River. The most well-known is Canal du Thiou, where the renowned Palais de l’Ile from the 12th century is located. As the sunlight falls on the canals, the water appears shockingly green-blue, making it ideal for some ideal Instagram shots.
On Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, make sure to stop by the neighbourhood morning market before heading to the Jardins de l’Europe, located between the Thiou River and the Canal du Vassé.
5. Cape Coral, US
So, you may be wondering which city has the longest of all the canals? Florida’s Cape Coral City, which was established in 1957, takes the title. The city features the longest canal system in the world, stretching a whopping 400km.
The extensive waterfront lends the city a distinctive appearance and makes for the scenic views we all crave. Additionally, the canal system supplies water for irrigation and safeguards the city from flooding.
On Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, make sure to stop by the neighbourhood morning market before heading to the Jardins de l’Europe, located between the Thiou River and the Canal du Vassé.
6. Stockholm, Sweden
The capital of Sweden, Stockholm cannot be left out when creating a list of canal cities. Built on 14 islands in Lake Malaren, this city is the ideal place to capture picturesque views. Stockholm is also one of the greenest cities in the world.
57 bridges link these Islands together, and the water makes up about one third of the entire city! Stockholm is located on Sweden’s south east coast which connects the city to the Baltic Sea to the east. A boat ride around the city can help you explore some great places including The Royal Palace, Gamla Stan (an old town, south of Norrmalm), Skansen Open Air Museum and the famous Vasa Museum famous for its 17th century warships and historic art galleries.
7. Giethoorn, Netherlands
The small village of Giethoorn, located in the heart of cheese and tulips, Netherlands is located in De Weiden Nature Reserve, Overijssel. The bicycle would be our recommended mode of transport as Giethoorn is a car-free village. Oh, and don’t forget to experience the magic of noise-free “Whisper boats”.
8. Suzhou, China
9. Bangkok, Thailand
Since the 18th Century, the canal system has been an integral part of Bangkok city. The canals were initially dug to safeguard the city’s borders, which are now home to some of the best tourist spots and local boat markets.
The canal system is called ‘Klongs’ locally. The longest canal of Bangkok, Khlong Saen Saeb, spans 18km. Some of the canals have been drained and emptied over the years, but that doesn’t keep Bangkok from offering tourists an enjoyable experience. Taling Chan, Khlong Lat Mayom, Amphawa, Bang Nam Pheung, and Damnoen Saduak are some of the finest floating markets in Bangkok.
10. Alleppey, India
This place may be last on our list, but has the potential to compete with some of the most beautiful and serene places in the world. Alleppey, located in the southern part of India, is considered to be one of the oldest planned cities of Kerala. Considered to be the best canal city in India, it offers a visual delight for its visitors.
The canals were initially constructed to convey coir, or fibre obtained from the coconut husk, but today they connect to beautiful backwaters where thousands of houseboats operate. There is a 1,500km network of canals, rivers, and lakes in this gorgeous metropolis. Renting your own houseboat can allow you access to cruise through the canal and explore the picturesque flora and fauna of South India.
So, planning your trip to a canal city?
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