There are many different types and sizes of iconic canals worldwide, from large waterways that connect oceans to tiny waterways within cities. People are tempted to compare these cities to this well-known city because they are frequently so closely associated with Venice.
Cities all around the world that are well-known for its canals and waterways frequently get referred to as “The Venice of” their region of the globe. However, these cities are well worth a visit because they have their own beauty and history. a list of the world’s most well-known canals.
Top 10 Iconic Canals Worldwide
1. Stockholm Canals
Stockholm, located in Sweden, is referred described as the “Venice of the North” and is spread across 14 islands. There are canals and boats everywhere because it is spread across so many islands. Renting a canoe or kayak and spending an hour kayaking between the city’s islands is a terrific way to explore the iconic canals worldwide.
2. Alappuzha
Alappuzha, sometimes referred to as Alleppey, is a historic and picturesque region in India that is dubbed “The Venice of the East” due to its abundance of canals. The well-known Kerala backwaters may be reached from Alappuzha, and tourists can hire a houseboat to tour them for a day or several days. You may also watch the renowned Snake Boat Race, in which teams of rowers battle for the Nehru Trophy.
3. Bangkok Klongs
“klong” means canal. Klongs were historically used for trade and transportation throughout Thailand, garnering Bangkok the moniker “The Venice of the East.” Most klongs have been filled in today so they can be used as streets. However, you can still go to a tourist-friendly replica of a genuine floating market on the Klong Damnoen Saduak in the Ratchaburi province or take a boat through the heart of Bangkok to escape the traffic.
4. Nan Madol
A group of tiny artificial islands known as Nan Madol, or the “Venice of the Pacific,” is located off the coast of the Micronesian island of Pohnpei. The islands were probably first erected by the eighth century, although Nan Madol’s remarkable megalithic architecture was most likely created between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. For 400 years, up until the city’s downfall, it functioned as the Saudeleur dynasty’s ceremonial and political center.
5. Canals in Suzhou
Suzhou, in Eastern China on the lower Yangtze River, is a city that is frequently referred to as “The Venice of China.” Suzhou, which was established in the fifth century BC, is famed for its lovely rivers, complex gardens, and ancient stone bridges. It is particularly well-known for its silk industry and for being next to the Grand Canal, one of the world’s busiest waterways for trade among iconic canals worldwide .
6. Panama Canal
By bridging the Atlantic and Pacific oceans across a small stretch of land in Panama, the man-made 77 km (48 mile) Panama Canal altered the course of shipping and travel. The canal, which was finished in 1914, eliminates the need for ships to take the considerably longer and riskier path around the tip of South America by allowing them to pass through a series of locks to get from one side to the other. More than 14,000 ships transit through the Panama Canal each today.
7. Hoi An
This Vietnamese fishing village turned popular tourist destination is located on the South China Sea coast. Although the substantial shipping industry has long since relocated to the city of Da Nang, Hoi An has been a major international port since the sixteenth century. The Old Town, with its twisting streets and shophouses in the Chinese style, is still the center of the city. Because of the little canals that pass through a portion of the town, it is frequently referred to as the “Venice of Vietnam.”
8. Bruges Canals
Belgium’s most visited city and one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities is Bruges. Bruges is frequently referred to as “The Venice of the North” because to its canal system. The ‘Reie’ river had been transformed into a system of canals throughout the Middle Ages, allowing the traders to transport their goods to the substantial Water Halls at the Market. Today, a boat tour on these well-known iconic canals worldwide is a wonderful way to explore some of Bruges’ most stunning sights.
9. Amsterdam’s canals
During the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, Amsterdam, another city dubbed “The Venice of the North,” started constructing its renowned canal system. The grachtengordel, or concentric rings that surround the city, is formed by the Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, the three principal canals. Currently, there are 1,500 bridges and more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) of canals. The main waterways are bordered by 1550 impressive structures.
10. Venice’s canals
Venice, sometimes known as “The City of Water,” is the jewel in the crown of water cities. The Grand Canal’s romantic gondolas and Italian architecture contributed to this position. Venice, which is connected by more than 150 canals that have come to define its personality, has declined since its heyday and now attracts more tourists than locals, but the city’s romantic appeal endures. If a gondola is moving too slowly, board a vaporetto; nevertheless, avoid hailing a cab unless it is a water taxi since there are still no cars in Venice.
