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10 Stunning Canal Cities in Europe That Will Take Your Breath

Long ago, some towns around the world relied on canals and rivers for the transportation of people and commerce. Some cities still practice this, while others have turned them into tourist destinations that allow tourists to truly experience local life. The top 10 European cities with canals are listed below.

1. Venice, Italy

Venice-Italy
Venice-Italy

Venice is unquestionably the top city when it comes to canals. Venice continues to be a very popular tourist destination, a significant cultural hub and has frequently been named the world’s most beautiful city. It has moreover been called one of the most romantic cities in the world and in all of Europe.

There are 170 canals, more than 400-foot bridges, and bridges that span between the islands of Venice. The Grand Canal, which is more than 3800 meters long and serves as Venice’s principal waterway, is the city’s longest canal.

2. Amsterdam, Netherlands

netherlands-amsterdam
netherlands-amsterdam

The most well-known and iconic city in the Netherlands is Amsterdam, it’s capital. The city is well known for its canals, among other things. A day may easily be spent exploring the lovely waterways.

The canal district from the 17th century is a UNESCO World Historic Site. Amsterdam rose to prominence as one of the world’s most significant ports during the Dutch Golden Period in the 17th century.

The narrow buildings on the canals with gabled façades are another recognizable remnant of the Golden Period in addition to the canals.

Amsterdam is renowned for its art museums, bike culture, nightlife, and festivals in addition to its landmarks from the 17th century. Amsterdam is regarded as one of the cities with the most diversity worldwide.

3. Bruges, Belgium

Bruges
Bruges

One of Europe’s most vibrantly unique cities is Bruges. It was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000 because of its web of twisting canals, elaborate church steeples, and buildings from the 15th century.

Bruges was once the center of a booming medieval European industry and a required port of call for commercial ships selling first cloth and, subsequently, Castilian and Basque wool. It continues to be a center for trade, and since the 1980s, the nearby port of Zeebrugge has grown to be the biggest in the world for the import and export of new cars.

City tours provide boat excursions, which are a great opportunity to explore parts of the city that are otherwise inaccessible, but if the thought of it makes you queasy, you can take a horse-drawn carriage trip instead.

4. Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen
Copenhagen

The picturesque Nyhavn neighborhood in Copenhagen, which translates to “new port,” connects the city’s oldest section to the sea and was once a flurry of activity, all of it legal. The neighborhood was somewhat of a red-light district with several taverns and brothels accessible for men who had been at sea for too long because it was many sailors’ first port of call into town.

Author Hans Christian Andersen, whose well-known fairy tales include The Little Mermaid, spent more than two decades living alongside the canal. You can visit his flat at number 20 and see where he penned The Princess and the Pea if you take a boat tour that departs from Nyhavn.

A progressive intentional community and independent state located within the city of Copenhagen are also seen on tour, Freetown Christiania. Because the dock is off-limits to visitors, you must travel on land if you want to see Christiania. Nyhavn is renowned for its colorful rowhouses that line the canal’s margins and its old wooden boats that are moored beside the pavements.

5. Empuriabrava, Spain

Empuriabrava
Empuriabrava

Empuriabrava, which was originally situated on a marsh, was turned into a charming tourist destination with more than 15 miles of canals in 1964 as a result of a coordinated effort by the town’s civic authorities. Water sports are a major lure in this small town, and there are numerous large marinas that can accommodate both pleasure ships and small boats.

You can explore the town’s many historic fortresses and museums, or you can forgo culture in favor of the soft, white-sand beaches. Around 330 different migrating bird species may be seen in the neighboring Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park, which also provides a number of specially crafted trips of the area that are all intended to reduce environmental damage.

Seafood eateries abound in oversupply, yet many are only open during certain times of the year. Ensure that the restaurants and other services are still operating by calling ahead if you are planning your trip outside of the summer season.

6. Annecy, France

Annecy
Annecy

The “Pearl of the French Alps” is Annecy. Although Annecy can’t expand much due to its restricted space between Lake Annecy and the Semnoz mountains, the town’s historic center, which was laced with more waterways than roadways centuries ago, has been conserved. It doesn’t have a thriving nightlife or a ton of tourist attractions. Instead, its tranquil rivers dotted with pastel-colored homes, constant gelato shops, modest cafes, and restaurants are what give it its charm.

It’s the ideal location for getting lost for a while and seeing where you end up. This might occur at the Chateau d’Annecy or at the twice-weekly fresh fish and vegetable markets dotted around the several bridges in the old town. Before several fires forced the Counts of Geneva to abandon it, the castle, which towers over the town, served as their home.

Winter sports aficionados will love Annecy because of the neighboring lake and mountains. In actuality, Annecy submitted an application to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, but Pyeongchang won.

7. Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm
Stockholm

The capital of Sweden is a beautiful city with architecture that dates back to the 13th century. It spans 14 islands and has more than 50 bridges. Gamla Stan, the historic district including Stockholm Palace (home to the royal family of Sweden) and numerous other governmental structures, is spread across a number of tiny islands. Take a boat excursion along the canals to get a unique perspective of this city of islands, then visit the Vasa Museum to witness a sizable battleship from the 17th century.

If you go to Stockholm in the winter, you can watch ice sheets being transported around the city on miles of rivers, and occasionally you’ll see irate swans or ducks that are frustrated that they are unable to go swimming. Skridskosegl, also known as skate sailing, which is similar to windsurfing but done on ice skates, is another winter activity.

8. Hamburg, Germany

Hamburg
Hamburg

The Beatles met Ringo Starr in Hamburg, where they launched their career and rose to fame before returning to the UK. Every traveler can find something to enjoy in the city, including its wonderful nightlife, fantastic cuisine, and fantastic culture and heritage.

The bridges and the city’s history can be experienced when taking a stroll around Speicherstadt. Ships from all over the world would arrive here in the 19th century carrying coffee, tea, and spices. This is the reason the city still has a unique coffee culture today.

The Miniatur Wunderland is another amazing attraction in Hamburg that is fun for the whole family.

Seeing a concert at the Elbphilharmonie is another fantastic thing to do in Hamburg. The inside has some of the best acoustics in the world, and attending a performance here is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

9. Wroclaw, Poland

Wroclaw
Wroclaw

One of the most intriguing cities in Poland and a major tourist destination is Wroclaw, a stunning city in the southwest of the country that serves as the capital of the Lower Silesia region. The Odra River and the canals that run through the city are crossed by more than a hundred bridges, earning the city the nickname “Venice of the North.”

You will not run out of things to do in Wroclaw because there are so many wonderful things to do there. One of Poland’s most stunning squares is the Main Plaza, which features a magnificent town hall. Many tiny dwarfs there are also found; they serve as the city’s emblem.

Ostrow Tumski, the oldest section of the city, has a distinct, more spiritual vibe than the rest of Wroclaw, yet it’s worth going there to see the expansive view from the Cathedral of St. John Baptist’s tower. Visit the university’s main building as well to see the stunning Aula Leopoldinum and its Baroque furnishings. Also located in Wroclaw is Centennial Hall, a marvel of modernist architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

10. Gdansk, Poland

Gdansk
Gdansk

Gdansk on Poland’s Baltic coast will appeal to history aficionados and those seeking Northern Venice. The stunning city played host to a number of significant historical moments throughout the 20th century, including the start of World War II and the Solidarity demonstrations that put an end to communist authority and sped up the fall of the Soviet Union.

The Baltic Sea is connected to the Old Town and the shipyards by a vast network of canals. Gdańsk increased in importance and joined the Hanseatic League as a result of its strategic location and historical significance to Prussia and later Germany when it was known as Danzig. Any trip to Eastern Europe must include a stop in Gdańsk Old Town, one of the outstanding examples of a Hanseatic city.

Anna
Annahttps://my-lifestyle.co/
If you want to travel the world through blogs then my articles will satisfy you. With a never-ending journey, I'll take you to the best cities and exciting experiences!
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