For centuries, people have used bridges to eliminate physical barriers to travel, shorten distances, and facilitate trade and transportation. Some of the bridges in the world have become cultural monuments, attracting thousands of tourists and revealing amazing views to their visitors. In this article, we will introduce you to some of the most famous, large, and beautiful bridges in the world.
Ponte Vecchio (Florence, Italy)
Literally translated, the name of this medieval bridge means Old Bridge. It is located in the Arno River in Florence and is the only survivor in the area after WWII.
From its inception until today, Ponte Vecchio has been a center of merchants and nowadays you will find many small souvenir shops, jewelry, and local production.
Interestingly, this is probably where the term bankruptcy comes from – when one of the local merchants failed to pay his debts, the table he sold was broken by the soldiers and this action was called “bancorotto” (broken table).
| 🤩 Tours & Deals | Check here |
| 🏨 Accomodation | Booking.com |
| ↕️ Height | 30 meters (98 feet) |
| ↔️ Lenght | 95 m |
| 🏠 Address | Ponte Vecchio, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy |
| 📌 Map | Open in Google Maps |
Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, USA)
The famous Golden Gate Bridge connects San Francisco and Marin County and today is one of the main tourist attractions here. It took seven years to complete (completed in 1937). The architect who designed it is called Joseph B. Strauss, and there is a statue of him at one end of the bridge.
At the time the project was completed, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world, but today its record has been surpassed by eight other bridges. However, it remains one of the most popular places for tourists with its amazing views and special yellow-orange color.
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| 🏨 Accomodation | Booking.com |
| ↕️ Height | 227 m (744 ft) |
| ↔️ Lenght | 2,737 m (1.7 miles) |
| 🏠 Address | Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA, United States |
| 📌 Map | Open in Google Maps |
Viaduc de Millau Bridge (Millau, France)
Above the valley of the River Tarn in France lies The Millau Viaduct road bridge which is the highest bridge for use by vehicles. With its 343-meter pylons, it is slightly taller than the Eiffel Tower.
The view from this height is really impressive and on the way, many tourists stop to take pictures. This leads to a legal speed reduction from 130 km / h to 110 km / h to avoid traffic and accidents.
| Website | https://en.wikipedia.org |
| Completed in | 2004 |
| ↕️ Height | 336.4 m (1,104 ft) |
| ↔️ Lenght | 32.05 m (105.2 ft) |
| 🏠 Address | Viaduc de Millau, 12400 Millau, France |
| 📌 Map | Open in Google Maps |
Best Places To Visit in France
Tower Bridge (London, England)
There is hardly a person who has not heard of the famous Tower Bridge over Thames River in London at least once. Its name comes from its proximity to London. The bridge was built in 1886 and consists of two towers connected on its upper level by walkways.
| Website | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge |
| 🏨 Accomodation | Booking.com |
| Completed in | 1894 |
| ↕️ Height | 213 feet (65 m) |
| ↔️ Lenght | 800 feet (240 m) |
| 🏠 Address | Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP, United Kingdom |
| 📌 Map | Open in Google Maps |
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Charles Bridge (Prague, Czech Republic)
The Gothic appearance of Charles Bridge rises above the Vltava River in Prague, Czech Republic. Built by King Charles IV in 1357, the construction of the bridge took nearly 1 century and became the main trade route and connection between the Old Town and Pрague Castle.
Today you will find many small shops and art studios here as the bridge has become a major tourist destination in the beautiful city.
| Website | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bridge |
| 🏨 Accomodation | Booking.com |
| Completed in | 1402 |
| ↕️ Height | 13 m |
| ↔️ Lenght | 515.8 metres (1,692 ft) |
| 🏠 Address | Karlův most, 110 00 Praha 1, Czechia |
| 📌 Map | Open in Google Maps |
Best Places To Visit in Prague
Rialto Bridge (Venice,Italy)
The Rialto Bridge passes over the picturesque Grand Canal in Venice. It is the longest of the four bridges over the canal and is also the most famous among them, becoming a major Venetian attraction.
Today, the bridge is made of stone after replacing the collapsed wooden structure in 1591.
| Website | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rialto_Bridge |
| 🏨 Accomodation | Booking.com |
| 🤩 Tours & Deals | Check here |
| Completed in | 1591 |
| ↕️ Height | 7.32 metres (24.0 ft) |
| ↔️ Lenght | 31.80 metres (104.3 ft) |
| 🏠 Address | Sestiere San Polo, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy |
| 📌 Map | Open in Google Maps |
Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge (Awaji Island, Kobe, Awaji ,Japan)
Pearl Bridge, as it is often called, is the longest suspension bridge with a length of 1991 meters. It connects Kobe in Japan and Awayi Island.
It took 12 years to build the bridge before it opened in 1998. The bridge’s original design was 1990 meters long, but after a strong earthquake in Kobe, the towers had to be moved by one meter.
| Website | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akashi_Kaikyo_Bridge |
| Completed in | 1998 |
| ↕️ Height | 282.8 metres (928 ft) |
| ↔️ Lenght | 3,911 metres (12,831 ft) |
| 🏠 Address | 4 Higashimaikocho, Tarumi Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 655-0047, Japan |
| 📌 Map | Open in Google Maps |
Si-o-se Pol Bridge (Isfahan, Iran)
Located in the city of Isfahan in Iran, the bridge was built in 1602 and is a masterpiece of Safavid bridge design. The bridge is built of stones and bricks and boasts a length of 295 meters.
| Website | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si-o-se-pol |
| Completed in | 1602 |
| Longest span | 5.60 metres (18.4 ft) |
| ↔️ Lenght | 297.76 metres (976.9 ft) |
| 🏠 Address | Isfahan Province, Isfahan, Enghelab Sq Chahar Bagh e Abbasi St، Iran |
| 📌 Map | Open in Google Maps |
Old Bridge/Stari Most (Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Old Bridge was built in 1566 and connects the banks of the Neretva River in the city of Mostar, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. During the war in Bosnia in 1993, the bridge was destroyed and rebuilt in 2004.
| Website | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stari_Most |
| Completed in | 1566 |
| Rebuilt | 2004 |
| ↕️ Height | 24 m (78 ft) |
| ↔️ Lenght | 29 metres (95 ft) |
| 🏠 Address | Stari Most, Mostar 88000, Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| 📌 Map | Open in Google Maps |
Traditionally, young men jump off the bridge into the cold waters of the river, which is quite a risky endeavor and requires preparation.
Sydney Harbour Bridge (Australia)
The largest steel arch bridge in the world – Sydney Harbor Bridge is one of the most visited landmarks in Australia. The bridge was officially opened in 1932 after eight years of construction.
| Website | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Harbour_Bridge |
| Completed in | 1932 |
| ↕️ Height | 134 m |
| ↔️ Lenght | 1,149 m |
| 🏠 Address | Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney NSW, Australia |
| 📌 Map | Open in Google Maps |
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An interesting fact is that due to the weather conditions, the steel expands or contracts, which changes the bridge’s height by up to 18 cm.
Alcantara Bridge (Alcántara, Spain)
Connecting the two banks of the Tagus River, this bridge is an ideal shrimp for the grandeur of the Roman architecture. The Alcantara Bridge is located in Spain and was built in 104-106 by Emperor Trajan. In his honor, there is an arch in the middle of the bridge and a small temple at the end.
Natural forces did not have much of an impact on the demolition of the building, but the wars did. Parts of the bridge were destroyed by the Spaniards themselves to protect themselves from military incursions.
| Website | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alc%C3%A1ntara_Bridge |
| Completed in | 106 BC |
| ↕️ Height | 45 m (148 ft) |
| ↔️ Lenght | 194 m |
| 🏠 Address | 10980 Alcántara, Cáceres, Spain |
| 📌 Map | Open in Google Maps |
Brooklyn Bridge (New York, USA)
The Brooklyn Bridge is among the most famous in the world and connects Brooklyn and Manhattan. It was built in 1883 and during its time was a suspension bridge in the world. The bridge is one of the main tourist destinations in New York, has a separate alley for pedestrians and cyclists.
| Website | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alc%C3%A1ntara_Bridge |
| Opened in | 1883 |
| ↕️ Height | 39 m |
| ↔️ Lenght | 1,834 m |
| 🏠 Address | Brooklyn Bridge, New York, NY 10038, United States |
| 📌 Map | Open in Google Maps |
Chengyang Bridge (Liuzhou, China)
Wind and Rain Bridge (as this bridge is often called) is located in the Dong Minority region of China and is the largest wind and rain bridge in the world. Mostyt swyrzwa dwata brqga on Linxi River and is 64.4 meters long, 3.4 meters wide, and 10.6 meters in height.
| Website | wikipedia.org |
| Opened in | 1912 |
| ↕️ Height | 10 m (33 ft) |
| ↔️ Lenght | 64.4 m (211 ft) |
| 🏠 Address | VJWR+36C, Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China, 545505 |
| 📌 Map | Open in Google Maps |
The Kapellbrücke/Chapel Bridge (Lucerne, Switzerland)
Chapel Bridge is located in Switzerland and is 204 meters long. It connects the two banks of the Reuss River in the city of Lucerne. One of the main tourist attractions in Switzerland, the bridge was created to protect the city from attacks in the 14th century. Chapel Bridge is also the oldest wooden-covered bridge in Europe, and under its roof, you can find works of art depicting the history of the area. After a fire in 1993, much of the bridge was destroyed, but it was quickly rebuilt and regained its former grandeur.
| Website | wikipedia.org |
| Opened in | 1333 |
| ↕️ Height | 34.5 m |
| ↔️ Lenght | 205 m |
| 🏠 Address | Kapellbrücke, 6002 Luzern, Switzerland |
| 📌 Map | Open in Google Maps |
Best Places To Visit in Switzerland
The Great Belt Bridge (Korsør, Denmark)
This bridge connects Sprogø and the island of Zealand and is actually composed of two separate bridges, which are separated from the island of Sprogø – East and West Bridge. The eastern one is the shorter, 1,624 meters long, and has two pylons, which are the highest point in Denmark. The bridge also has the third-longest span in the world. The western one is 6,611 meters long, combining a railway and a road section.
| Website | wikipedia.org |
| Opened in | 1998 |
| ↕️ Height | 254 m |
| ↔️ Lenght | 26,790 m |
| 🏠 Address | Storebæltsbroen, 4220 Korsør, Denmark |
| 📌 Map | Open in Google Maps |
Conclusion
Bridges are one of the greatest architectural creations of mankind and have been a vital commercial and economic engine over the years. Today, they make it easier for us to move around and allow us to enjoy amazing views. Therefore, during our travels, we must take enough time to enjoy their majesty and beauty.
