The Most Beautiful Bridges in the World

The oldest bridge over Venice’s Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge was first constructed as a floating bridge in 1173, then rebuilt as a wooden bridge in 1255. The current stone bridge, featuring a central portico and arch-lined walkways, was completed in 1591 and is a prominent tourist attraction in the city.

This hybrid cable-suspension bridge features neo-Gothic towers and a wide promenade for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. In addition to being a tourist attraction and National Historic Landmark, the Brooklyn Bridge also conveys over 120,000 vehicles daily between Brooklyn and Manhattan.

This decorative bridge in the Bà Nà Hills French Village resort leads pedestrians from a cable car station to impressive flower gardens, offering an unobstructed mountain view along the way. Two massive fiberglass hands appear to be holding the bridge in midair.

The world’s tallest steel arch bridge, the Sydney Harbor Bridge reaches 439 feet above the water. It is one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks and is often the focal point of light shows during the country’s various festivals and holidays.

Standing 78 feet over the turquoise waters of the Neretva river, Stari Most — literally “Old Bridge” — was originally commissioned by the Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1557. After being destroyed in the Croat-Bosniak war in 1993, the bridge was reconstructed in the same Balkan-Islamic style, using materials and technology similar to the original construction.

Built during the Safavid Dynasty, the Khaju Bridge originally served as a public meeting place and contained a center pavilion from which the king could observe the view of the Zayanderud River. The Persian architecture features 23 arches and was originally adorned in paintings and tilework.

This modern cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge swings open to allow ships to pass through on the Rio de la Plata river. The bridge’s striking single mast and asymmetrical design are the work of Spanish architect and structural engineer Santiago Calatrava, who designed a similar bridge in Seville, Spain.

Originally a railroad bridge connecting coal fields to the port of Beira, the Dona Ana is now a motor vehicle and pedestrian bridge that connects the towns of Sena and Mutarara, and is the longest bridge on the Zambezi river.

The most iconic of Paris’s 37 bridges over the Seine, the Pont Alexandre III affords views of the Eiffel Tower as well as multiple palaces and Napoleon’s tomb. The ornate deck arch bridge features art nouveau lamps and multiple sculptures of nymphs, cherubs, and winged horses.

The most photographed suspension bridge in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge is 746 feet tall, and was the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world when it was built in 1937. This bright vermillion feat of civil engineering attracts over 10 million visitors a year.

This impressive cable-stayed bridge is known for its unique x-shaped tower, as well as its two curved, converging bridge decks that cross one another between the legs of the tower. The bridge was named after a prominent Brazilian businessman and newspaper publisher.

This ornate covered bridge between two villages in Chenyang serves as a public corridor and meeting place, with five pavilions, 19 verandas, and three levels. Stone piers support the wooden bridge — constructed without the use of nails — and decorative tiles line the roof.

With a pair of bascules that can be raised to allow ships to pass beneath, Tower Bridge is a pedestrian and motor vehicle crossing over the Thames, featuring two 213 foot Neo-Gothic towers connected by two raised walkways.

Originally built in 1673, this wooden bridge over the Nishiki River features five arches supported by four stone piers and two wooden piers. It was destroyed by a flood in 1950 and rebuilt three years later in the original style.

Lined with statues and made entirely from stone, this medieval arch bridge was built to replace an earlier one that was damaged by a flood in 1342. The bridge historically served as the only way to travel across the Vltava river, connecting Prague Castle with the Old Town center.

The town of Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places in the world, is known for its many living root bridges. These utilitarian walkways, made of rubber tree roots, are fashioned by locals, who braid and tie the roots to train their direction of growth.

Standing at 1,104 feet tall, this viaduct through the Tarn River valley is the tallest bridge in the world, and is often considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the 21st century. The multi-span cable-stayed bridge was designed by engineer Michel Virlogeux and architect Norman Foster.

A pedestrian footbridge over Dubai Canal, this unique walkway features a twisting aluminum truss that provides sun protection and imparts the illusion of motion. It is the third of three pedestrian bridges built over the canal starting in 2014.

A curved train bridge supported by six limestone arches, the Landwasser Viaduct towers 213 feet over the Landwasser River in the alpine canton of Graubünden, surrounded by a spruce forest and mountain peaks.

Along California’s scenic coastal Route 1, the Bixby Creek Bridge abuts the Pacific Ocean near Big Sur. It is one of the most photographed bridges in the state and is one of the highest single-span arch bridges in the world.

Connecting two prominent commercial and business centers in downtown Singapore, this stunning pedestrian bridge was designed by a multinational team and features several viewing platforms as well as nighttime illumination that highlights its double-helix design.

Connecting the eastern and western sides of the city — Buda and Pest — over the Danube River, the Széchenyi Chain Bridge was the first permanent stone bridge in Hungary’s capital. It features cast-iron chains, stone lion sculptures, and two river piers carved in Renaissance Revival style.