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19 of the Most Beautiful Streets in the World

From San Francisco to Buenos Aires, these spectacular roads are worth travelling to see

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By Amy Saunders | June 25, 2018 | Travel Leisure

Words By Nick Mafi, Architectural Digest

Not all streets are created equal. Take the colourful Caminito that anchors Buenos Aires’s La Boca neighbourhood: It not only provides visitors with a vibrant photo op but also serves as a reminder of how the neighbourhood was built in the 19th century. Streets, however, don’t have to offer a history lesson or be rendered in Technicolor to be charming.

Some are notable for their stunning natural features, such as the cherry blossom tunnel in Bonn, Germany, which makes an appearance for a few short weeks every spring. Here AD surveys nineteen of the most beautiful streets in the world.

 

San Miguel De Allende, Mexico

The historic and colourful Aldama Street in San Miguel De Allende is a must-see for any traveller heading to centrally located Mexican city. Roughly 170 miles north of Mexico City, San Miguel De Allende was voted the “2013 Best City in the World” by Travel + Leisure.

 

Budapest, Hungary

A stone’s throw away from the mighty Danube River is Budapest’s beautiful. Zrinyi Utca Street. This pedestrian street has some of the best views of Hungary’s famous Saint Stephen`s Basilica.

 

Tehran, Iran

The majestic Alborz Mountains to the north of Tehran are placed in a perfect portrait by rows of residential buildings and the famous Tohid Tunnel (the third longest tunnel in the Middle East (nearly two miles long). Milad Tower (also referred to as Tehran Tower) is in the background as well. Scaling some 1,427 feet in the air, it’s the sixth-tallest tower in the world (and the tallest structure in Iran).

 

Bruges, Belgium

Along with Amsterdam, Bruges, Belgium is labelled by many as the “Venice of the North.” As the image above suggests, the historic, well-preserved city is a sight to behold. Much of its charm emanates from the cobblestone streets, as well as the medieval buildings that are reflected in the canals.

 

Burano, Italy

Off the coast of Venice, in the waters of the Venetian Lagoon, are a series of small islands. Like the famous Italian city on the water, many of these small islands have the recognizable canals running along their streets. And nowhere outside of Venice are these streets more beautiful, perhaps, than in Burano. Yet, it’s not the canals that make this such a destination, but rather the small multi-coloured buildings that seem to pop out at every turn.

 

Kyoto, Japan

Located in the Japanese city of Kyoto is a 1.2-mile-long street named Tetsugaku no michi. The cherry tree–lined road runs parallel to a canal and past Ginkaku-ji temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The best time to visit Tetsugaku no michi is April when the road’s overhanging trees are in full bloom.

 

York, England

The buildings that line Shambles—a street in York, England—were erected as far back as the 14th century. The charming timber-framed buildings bend and, at times, hang over the cobblestoned street below.

 

Cordoba, Spain

Located in the Andalusian city of Cordoba, Calleja de las Flores is a narrow street that runs right into a plaza. With its many flowers and white-washed walls, the charming Spanish street is very typical of the region.

 

Buenos Aires, Argentina

The multicolour homes that line the La Boca neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, still reflect much of their late-19th-century history. When European immigrants arrived from the Italian city of Genoa, many of them became dockworkers, who, with little to no disposable income, built their homes with thin pieces of corrugated sheet metal from the docks, coated with leftover paint. When one colour inevitably ran out, they would simply use another one. And thus, a colourful neighbourhood was born. Today, Caminito (shown) is brought to life by an artist’s re-creation of the old tenement dwellings that used to line La Boca’s streets.

 

Photo by Hubert Mousseigne on Unsplash

 

Chefchaouen, Morocco

The streets of Chefchaouen, a small city in northwest Morocco, are famous for their different shades of blue. Founded in 1471, the city was once used as a fortress for exiles from Spain. Over the centuries, many Jews moved to Chefchaouen, bringing with them the ancient belief that using blue dye would remind people of God’s power. For the most vivid experience, visitors should stroll down such streets as Al Hassan Onsar, Rue Outiwi, and the tight stairs leading up and down Rue Bin Souaki.

 

Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

Located in Andalusia, Spain, Jerez de la Frontera is a city known for its exquisite wine. Here, a street in the historic centre is shaded by grape leaves from vines grown along the surrounding walls.

 

Bonn, Germany

For two to three weeks each spring, the magical tunnel created by the trees lining Cherry Blossom Avenue in Bonn, Germany, brings in tourists and photographers alike.

 

Lijiang, China

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the 1,000-year-old Old Town in Lijiang, China, is famous for its orderly canals and walkways. Walk along Qiyi Street Chongron Alley or Wuyi Street Wenzhi Alley for some of the more spectacular street views.

 

Ballymoney, Northern Ireland

Bregagh Road in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, is a birch-lined street designed in the 18th century. Nicknamed Dark Hedges, the road will be instantly recognizable to fans of the HBO show Game of Thrones.

 

Paris, France

Paris’s Champs-Élysées could well be the most famous street in the world. Beautifully manicured trees line the 1.2-mile-long avenue, which stretches from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc d Triomphe (shown).

 

Amsterdam, Holland

Lined with boats and bicycles, Amsterdam’s many canals have drawn tourists through the ages. But the Brouwersgracht, located a little more than half a mile northwest of the central train station, just might be the most picturesque in the Dutch capital.

 

San Francisco, California, U.S.A.

Made famous in such movies as Mrs Doubtfire (1993) and television shows like Full House (1987-1995), a row of houses on Steiner Street near Alamo Square in San Francisco have become a historic landmark, attracting thousands of tourists each year. The Victorian and Edwardian-styled homes are beautifully painted in various pastel colours.

 

Águeda, Portugal

Águeda’s Umbrella Sky Project began in 2011 as a part of the Portuguese city’s annual Ágitagueda Art Festival. Each summer, when temperatures soar, a handful of Águeda’s narrow streets feature canopies of colourful umbrellas that provide shade to the pedestrians below.

 

Featured Image: Fabio Mangione, Unsplash

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