The 53 Most Beautiful Streets in the World
Between beautiful streets, stunning road trips, and mesmerizing train rides, there’s something to be said for taking the scenic route. Not only do these experiences make for an exciting journey, but they remind us that good, beautiful things are all around us—so long as we take the time to find them.
When it comes to streets, it goes without saying that not all are created equal. Take your basic grass-lined passageway and compare it to the colorful Caminito that anchors the La Boca neighborhood in Buenos Aires: The latter not only provides visitors with a vibrant photo op, but also serves as a reminder of the neighborhood’s 19th-century origins.
Still, streets don’t have to offer a history lesson or be rendered in Technicolor to be charming, or worthy of a pre-planned—or last minute—detour. Some are notable for their stunning natural features, such as the cherry blossom tunnel in Bonn, Germany, which blooms for a few short weeks every spring. Others, like the Champs-Élysées in Paris, balance unparalleled architecture with perfectly manicured trees and greenery—ideal for a walk whether or not you plan to visit the multiple retailers and restaurants that line the avenue. With a spectacular world all around us, let this list serve as a reminder to find the most beautiful street in your city or town. Here, AD surveys 53 of the most beautiful streets in the world.
Photo: Getty Images/Jose Fuste Raga1/53Setenil de las Bodegas, Spain
Located in southern Spain, directly in between Seville and Málaga, Setenil de las Bodegas is a small town of roughly 3,000 people. The whitewashed houses are beautiful, but that’s not what makes this town so special. It’s that the structures are built directly into the rocky cliffs surrounding the region. The result are beautiful natural rock formations hanging over streets, providing shade and stunning views.
Photo: Getty Images2/53Brooklyn, New York
For who walk through the cobblestone street in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood, the sudden sight of Manhattan Bridge might come as a splendid surprise. At the intersection of Washington and Water Street, locals and tourists alike can take in the majestic beauty of the longest bridge connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn (the span bearing the moniker of the former is 866 feet longer than that named after the latter). Of course, making the view all the more dramatic are the symmetrical buildings on either side of Washington Street, creating one of the best architectural photograph opportunities in the borough.
Photo: Getty Images/Antonio Ferreira Silva3/53Recife, Brazil
Recife is the easternmost major city in Brazil, and the beautiful Rua do Bom Jesus occupies one of the easternmost parts of the city. The colorful street, which is lined with tall palm trees, is brimming with history. Dating back to the 15th century, this street contained the first synagogue built in the Americas, the Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue. The building is still there for visitors to see.
Photo: Getty Images4/53Paris, France
At the turn of the century, Paris’s Montmartre was home to some of the biggest cultural names in the world. Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso, and Amedeo Modigliani were among the many famous residents of this once-bohemian neighborhood. Today, while Montmartre still has the feel of an artist community, chic stores have moved in, making this one of Paris’s most charming neighborhoods. One route in particular, Rue de l’Abreuvoir and Rue des Saules, is a must-visit destination. The colorful buildings and ivy-covered walls are any photographer’s dream, and can be found just behind the monumental landmark Sacré-Cœur.
Photo: Getty Images/Pawel Kazierczak5/53Mykonos, Greece
It's difficult to walk the streets of Mykonos without being taken aback by the beauty. Much of this is due to the cobblestone streets, which wind their way around the whitewashed houses. At certain parts of the island, pedestrians will turn on a street to unparalleled views of the sea.
Photo: Getty Images/Uxo Rivas6/53Águeda, 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 colorful umbrellas that provide shade to the pedestrians below.
Photo: Getty Images7/53Pretoria, South Africa
If you're planning a trip to South Africa, you should consider some time in late September through November. That's when the stunningly beautiful jacaranda trees go into bloom in South Africa. With purple branches drooping over the streets, any drive or stroll through Pretoria (where, along with Johannesburg, the trees seem to grow in every corner) will promise to be a memorable one. Fun fact: The jacaranda is actually native to Brazil, with the first one having been planted in South Africa in the late 19th century.
Photo: Getty Images8/53Quebec City, Canada
Quebec City makes a strong argument for being Canada's most beautiful locale. And it's with streets like Rue du Petit Champlain that makes it tough to beat. The charming, European-inspired street is lined with unique boutiques and bistros. This picture-perfect area is truly enjoyable during any season of the year.
Photo: Getty Images/serts9/53Colmar, France
Located in Colmar, France, near the border with Germany is one of the most charming towns in Europe. Yet, arguably the most picturesque area in Colmar can be found wandering through the streets of the Old Town. The architecture, which seems untouched by time, with its colorful timber structures, contains an Alsatian aesthetic.
Photo: Getty Images/Kiszon Pascal10/53Chengdu, China
Jinli street, which is located in Chengdu, China, is beautiful all throughout the year. Yet, there's no better time to see the magic of the area than during the Chinese New Year. It's then that locals light the streets in ceremonial motifs and to stunning effects.
Photo: Getty Images/tdphotostock11/53San Miguel De Allende, Mexico
The historic and colorful Aldama Street in San Miguel De Allende is a must-see for any traveler 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.
Photo: Getty Images/Artur Synenko12/53Budapest, Hungary
A stones 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.
Photo: Getty Images/BornaMir13/53Tehran, 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).
Photo: Getty Images/serge00114/53Bruges, Belgium
Along with Amsterdam, Bruges, Belgium is labeled 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 cobble stone streets, as well as the medieval buildings that are reflected in the canals.
Photo: Getty Images/StevanZZ15/53Burano, 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-colored buildings that seem to pop out at every turn.
Photo: Getty Images/AME16/53Kyoto, 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.
Photo: Getty Images/Loop Images17/53York, 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.
Photo: Getty Images/Ayhan Altun18/53Cordoba, 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.
Photo: Getty Images/Hiroshi Higuchi19/53Buenos Aires, Argentina
The multicolor homes that line the La Boca neighborhood 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 color inevitably ran out, they would simply use another one. And thus a colorful neighborhood 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: Getty Images/Neale Clark20/53San Francisco, California
San Francisco's Lombard Street has become one of the city's most visited sites. Tourists often gather to watch as drivers make their way through the hairpin turns. Completed in 1922, the street was designed to slow cars down on its steep hill. Drivers are advised to proceed at 5 m.p.h.
Photo: Getty Images/Kriangkrai Thitimakorn21/53Havana, Cuba
No matter where you stand politically, everyone can agree Cuba's architecture is stunningly beautiful. With historic buildings painted in unmistakable palettes of cobalt blue, banana yellow, and sun-bleached pinks, tourists from around the world have flocked to this tropical locale. For those looking to capture the best examples of awe-inspiring architecture on the island nation, look no further than the streets surrounding Havana's Parque Central (or Central Park). It's there that pedestrians can leisurely stroll past historic colonial buildings with arches and balconies painted in a bevy of bright colors.
Photo: Getty Images/iStock22/53Chefchaouen, 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.
Photo: Getty Images23/53Kyoto, Japan
Located some 280 miles southwest of Tokyo, Kyoto is one of the most beautiful cities in the Far East. As the former capital of Japan, the city has many cultural gems. But it's the natural scenery that brings many tourists to the bustling city. The Sagano Bamboo Forest, for example, consists of pathways that look too beautiful to be true. On sunny days, the rays of light come through the densely packed plants, creating an unforgettable experience.
Photo: Getty Images/Davis McCardle24/53Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon has many stunning sites, but perhaps the best place to take it all in is along the city's famous Elevador da Bica. Pedestrians who walk (or ride) to the top of the steep incline will be greeted with dramatic views of the narrow street, cable cars running on their tracks, and further, the Tagus River. Many of the streetcars are painted by local street artists, adding more urban beauty and grittiness to the picturesque landmark.
Photo: Getty Images/iStock25/53Jerez 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 center is shaded by grape leaves from vines grown along the surrounding walls.
Photo: Getty Images/Andreas Rentz26/53Bonn, 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.
Photo: Getty Images/Simon Montgomery27/53Lijiang, 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.
Photo: Getty Images/Universal Images Group28/53Ballymoney, Northern Ireland
Bregagh Road in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, is a verdant street designed in the 18th century. Nicknamed Dark Hedges, the road will be instantly recognizable to fans of the HBO show Game of Thrones.
Photo: Getty Images/Bim29/53Paris, 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).
Photo: Getty Images/iStock30/53Amsterdam, 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.
Photo: Getty Images31/53San Francisco, California
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 colors.
- Photo: Getty Images/Alexander Spatari32/53
Istanbul, Turkey
Balat, a bohemian town in Turkey, boasts a collection of narrow, sloped cobblestone streets, the most famous of which is Kiremit Street. It’s flanked by colorfully painted residences and shops that make the neighborhood even more charming. Formerly the Jewish quarter, Balat is now home to a mix of churches, mosques, and synagogues that are all scattered among cafés and boutiques.
- Photo: Getty Images/Sean Pavone33/53
Boston, Massachusetts
If there could only be one picturesque neighborhood in Boston, it would be Beacon Hill. Famous for its steep, narrow streets lined with classically American Federal–style (and a few Victorian) row houses, Beacon Hill was built in 1795, and it shows. Acorn Street is one of the most photographed in the whole city—perhaps because it’s a stylish rendition of Colonial Boston. Plus, it's only a few minutes away from the lush Boston Public Garden.
- Photo: Getty Images/Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography34/53
Amalfi Coast, Italy
As soon as the temperatures rise above 70 degrees, the Amalfi Coast is quite possibly never a bad idea. The 40-mile-long stretch of land along the Tyrrhenian Sea that runs from Punta Campanella to Salerno is easily one of the most beautiful drives in Europe. With the aqua-hued sea on one side and the pastel hilltop buildings on the other, there’s as much to feast your eyes on as there is your stomach. After all, the ultra-crunchy pizza and supremely fresh seafood are basically unrivaled along the Amalfi Coast.
- Photo: Getty Images/Deb Snelson35/53
Telluride, Colorado
Telluride was founded in 1878 as a prosperous mining town, and its original two- and three-story flat roof structures still line many streets—namely the main street, dubbed Colorado Avenue, where the city’s most famous landmark still stands. The New Sheridan Hotel, constructed in 1895 at 231 West Colorado Avenue, became an instant hot spot among the newcomers—mostly gold-hungry tycoons—and remained at the heart of the Telluride social scene.
- Photo: Getty Images/ntzolov36/53
Miami Beach, Florida
The Art Deco design movement may have originated in Paris, but when Americans think of pastel-colored architecture with a heavy geometric influence, Miami Beach’s legendary Ocean Drive tends to come to mind. Parallel to the Atlantic, Ocean Drive isn’t very long—only 15 blocks—but it’s backed by a charismatic history that makes the colorful street even more appealing to visitors (and even locals too). It all started with entrepreneur Carl Fisher, who brought the neighborhood’s first luxury hotel and the iconic Lincoln Road shopping district to South Beach in the early 20th century.
Shortly thereafter came more boutique hotels, including The Colony Hotel, Clevelander South Beach Hotel and Bar, and the Roy F. France–designed Cavalier South Beach Hotel. By the 1940s, South Beach was one of the most popular destinations in the country, and today all of these hotels are still operating on Ocean Drive.
- Photo: Getty Images/mikolajn37/53
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Situated deep within San Juan’s historic district, Calle San Justo is flanked with centuries-old Gothic-, Renaissance-, and Baroque-style homes. After the First World War, the old city's politicians had tried relentlessly to knock down the 17th- and 18th-century dwellings because, after so many years, they were well past falling apart. To their dismay, local anthropologist Ricardo Alegría somehow convinced the provincial government to preserve the colorful colonial-era buildings.
Not long after Alegría made his case, government funds began to pour into the city, offering developers a pretty legitimate incentive to rehabilitate the existing homes to serve as models for new construction. In 1983, Old San Juan officially became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the brightly colored houses are still standing proudly along the blue cobblestone streets.
- Photo: Getty Images/joe daniel price38/53
Cotswolds, England
There are few places in the United Kingdom more quaint and charming than the Cotswolds, a historically protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as of 1966. The area, which encompasses such towns as Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Stroud, to name a few, is known for its long roads that wind through the rolling hills and ancient villages. One such road, Long Street, is dotted with one- and two-story stone houses that have been there for at least a few hundred years.
- Photo: Getty Images/Marco Bottigelli39/53
Bavarian Alps, Germany
There are so many lakes in Germany that experts haven’t been able to determine the exact number accurately, but they’ve estimated that the European country boasts anywhere between 15,000 and 30,000 lakes within its borders. One of the more famous bodies of freshwater, Sylvenstein Lake in Lenggries, features a gently curved bridge that earns this road a spot on the list. Especially in the colder months when the snow covers the mountains in the distance, the road atop Sylvenstein Lake is more than Instagram-worthy.
- Photo: Getty Images/mikeinlondon40/53
Hội An, Vietnam
Hội An, a highly prosperous and always-busy trading port active between the 15th and 19th centuries, is a highly visited spot for quite a few reasons, chief among them the monthly lantern festival on Trần Phú. The festival, which celebrates the full moon, involves lighting a candle and burning it at the bottom of a colorful paper lantern. It may sound like a fire hazard, but the Vietnamese locals have been doing it this way for centuries with no major incidents.
- Photo: Getty Images/Brian Farrell41/53
Singapore
Singapore brings to mind a futuristic way of life complete with glossy skyscrapers and highly efficient public transportation, but there are a few pockets of the sovereign island city-state that pay homage to a more traditional approach to life. One such area is Koon Seng Road, known locally as the most colorful street in Singapore.
Erected in the 1920s with a heavy Chinese influence, the pastel-colored shop houses that line Koon Seng Road have become such a beloved feature of the city that in the early 1990s they came under governmental protection courtesy of the conservation laws.
- Photo: Getty Images/Kelly Cheng42/53
Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia
At first glance, the blue-and-white town of Sidi Bou Said, perched on a promontory overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, could easily be mistaken for a charming island village in Greece. After all, it has all the hallmarks of a Greek isle, including cobblestone streets, bright white-painted stone buildings, and myriad alfresco cafés. But the Tunisian city boasts its own unique elements that make it worth visiting. You could even spend a whole day wandering up and down Rue Habib Thameur, popping into galleries, coffee shops, and boutiques.
- Photo: Getty Images/luoman43/53
Ouro Preto, Brazil
Set within the Serra do Espinhaço mountains of eastern Brazil, the colonial town of Ouro Preto’s interpretation of Baroque architecture—complete with intricate bridges, fountains, and town squares—is reason enough to visit the quaint village. Not to mention Rua Conde de Bobadela, the town’s main street, which is a cobblestone masterpiece on a steep hill that leads the way to famed structures throughout the city, including Praça Tiradentes, the central square, and the 18th-century rococo church of São Francisco de Assis.
- Photo: Getty Images/Alexander Spatari44/53
London, England
Before it was one of the world's most-visited street markets, London’s mile-long Portobello Road was just a 19th-century country lane that connected the prosperous Portobello Farm with Kensal Green in the north and what is today the colorful neighborhood of Notting Hill in the south. Throughout the second half of the 1800s, though, the road started to develop in response to the sweeping residences popping up around it.
- Photo: Getty Images/Spirins45/53
Tuscany, Italy
Pienza is a small Renaissance village in Tuscany framed by a collection of 15th-century sandstone and limestone buildings, including Pienza Cathedral and Piccolomini Palace, where Pope Pius II spent his summers. The ancient town, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, is known throughout the country as highly romantic courtesy of the four Streets of Love: Via dell’Amore, Via della Fortuna, Via del Buia, and Via del Bacio, which loosely translates to “the way of the kiss.”
- Photo: Getty Images/Sean Pavone46/53
Savannah, Georgia
Draped in a blanket of Spanish moss, Savannah was so beautiful that General Sherman refused to destroy it when the Union Army marched through eastern Georgia. In fact, on December 22, 1864, he sent a now-famous telegram to President Abraham Lincoln, offering the gleaming city as an early Christmas gift. It’s also the backdrop to perhaps one of the most famous movie scenes: Forrest Gump recounting the events that brought him to a particular bus stop in the quaint Southern city.
Unlike many areas in the South, Savannah is a walking city, and one particularly beautiful place to stroll is up and down Bull Street, which is flanked by everything from a historic 1940s theater to a vintage bookshop.
Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images47/53Manhattan, New York
Appropriately named, Central Park West runs along the western edge of Central Park all the way from its top to bottom (from West 110th Street to West 60th). With plenty of space for cars and pedestrians alike, a trip down the iconic avenue will have you passing an impressive collection of late-19th- and early-20th-century architecture styles, like neo-renaissance, Art Deco, neoclassical, Beaux Arts, and second empire. While the buildings are impressive on their own, the proximity to Central Park means the street gets a whole new look every few months, making it one of the best places to take in all of New York’s seasons. Central Park West is also part of Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, which starts at 77th street and marches 2.5 miles south along Central Park West, Central Park South, and Sixth Avenue.
Photo: Lipnitzki/Getty Images48/53Barcelona, Spain
It’s not surprising that a city with architecture as stunning as Barcelona’s would also be home to numerous beautiful streets. On your next trip to the coastal city, make sure to take some time to explore the Gothic Quarter. Composed of the oldest parts of the city, the area has a labyrinthine street plan with multiple small alleys and passageways opening up into public squares. Arguably the most famous, Carrer del Bisbe (which translates to Bishop’s Street) features Pont del Bisbe, a stone bridge connecting two buildings.
Photo: Imagno/brandstaetter images/Getty Images49/53Vienna, Austria
Perhaps no song communicates the beauty in slowing down quite like Billy Joel’s “Vienna,” and what better way to honor the message of the music than taking in the many incredible streets of the Austrian capital. Though not off the beaten path by any means, Kohlmarkt is one of the city’s most stunning roadways and packed with luxury shopping opportunities. Walking down the stretch also provides spectacular views of the domed entryway to the imperial palace complex. Composers Joseph Haydn and Frédéric Chopin both lived on the street during their lifetimes, making it an even more special place for musicians and fans of the craft. During the holiday season, the street gets decked out in twinkling lights, only adding to its beauty.
Photo: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group/Getty Images50/53Charleston, South Carolina
Cobblestone streets, sea breezes, and horse-drawn carriages are only a few of the things that make Charleston one of the most charming cities in the United States. Located in the Charleston Historic District, King Street seemingly packs all of the southern beauty the town is known for into one perfect strip. Dotted with dining and shopping options—not to mention a handful of interior design and home decor stores—it’s a stunning place to spend an afternoon. While you’re exploring the city, make sure to check out nearby Rainbow Row, a collection of pastel-colored historic homes along East Bay Street.
Photo: GHI/Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Image51/53Dubrovnik, Croatia
With the Adriatic Sea surrounding the city and breathtaking limestone mountains in the background, Old Town Dubrovnik is already a stunning site. Red roofs topping stone structures dot the coastal community, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Stradun, or Placa, the main street in Old Town Dubrovnik, is not only a convenient way to see different parts of the city, but also beautiful in its own right. Running from Pile Gate—the western entrance to the historic area—to the port, the street is completely pedestrianized and full of shops, restaurants, and cafés. Stradun used to be a channel separating the island that the old town is built on from the mainland, but it was filled later to serve as the main street.
Photo: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images52/53Cairo, Egypt
One of Cairo’s oldest streets, Muizz Street dates back to the 10th century and was built under the Fatimid Dynasty. The city’s markets were located on this street, and its prominence inspired Egyptian rulers and elites to build religious and charitable buildings, now making it one of the best places to see historic Islamic architecture. About 25 years ago, the Egyptian government undertook extensive renovations with the aim of converting the street into a “liveable museum.” The street was repaved in the way it would have been originally, and any newer buildings that were higher than monuments were lowered.
Photo: NurPhoto/Getty Images53/53Prague, Czech Republic
Named after a type of braided bread, Celetná street in Prague connects the Old Town Square, a historic square in the city, to the Powder Gate, a gothic tower that separates the old town from the new one. Starting in the 14th century, the road became part of the coronation parade when new royalty ascended the throne. These days the street is a central hub full of restaurants and shops, making it a popular tourist destination. Many notable architectural gems can be found along the street, though the cubist House of the Black Madonna may be the most famous.