11 Legendary Bridges Around the World to Visit

Take in Colorado’s Royal Gorge like never before atop Royal Gorge Bridge near Cañon City. The bridge crosses over the Arkansas River from 955 above. Constructed in 1929, the bridge has drawn visitors for decades. At the time, it was the highest bridge in the world before the Liuguanghe Bridge in China surpassed it in 2001 with a higher deck height. © Jacek Sopotnicki | Dreamstime.com

Imagine if your shop not only dated back to the 14th century but was also on a bridge over a river? In Florence, Italy, you’ll discover Ponte Vecchio, a medieval stone bridge crossing the Arno River. But atop the bridge is what truly sets this masterpiece apart: Art dealers, jewelers and souvenir stores actually occupy buildings on the bridge. Open to pedestrians only, the bridge also contains a piazza in the center. © Minnystock | Dreamstime.com

Walk Singapore’s Helix Bridge, a pedestrian bridge with carbon steel rods twisting to form the shape of DNA. In fact, the bridge features pairs of colored letters a and t, as well as c and g, that are lit up at night in green and red to represent the four bases of DNA. The bridge also offers canopies and viewing platforms for pedestrians. © Joyfull | Dreamstime.com

How daring are you? If heights do not faze you, put it to the test on Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge in Hunan, China. This glass-bottomed, completely transparent bridge was once the longest and tallest glass-bottomed bridge in the world. The bridge connects two mountain cliffs over the canyon in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and is a whopping 1,410 feet long and 980 feet high. © U Photostock | Dreamstime.com

In Dubai, look for Meydan Bridge, a road-traffic structure best known for its skeletal, wave-like appearance that, come sundown, lights up thanks to a blue LED lighting system. The steel and concrete bridge dazzles at night, with lights continually moving from end to end, like a wave in the ocean. © Cesar Crusat | Dreamstime.com

In Meghalaya, India, you’ll uncover Umshiang Double-Decker Root Bridge, a living root bridge made from a type of rubber tree where roots are trained to grow in the shape of the bridge. Roots take around 25 years to grow and function but, once grown, can carry up to 50 people and operate for 500 years. Although remote, you can walk the bridge after climbing 6,500 steps from Cherrapunji. © Aliaksandr Mazurkevich | Dreamstime.com

As its name suggests, Dragon River Bridge in Da Nang, Vietnam, has a steel structure in the shape of a dragon. The yellow dragon appears to cross River Hàn and, every Saturday and Sunday night, the dragon breathes fire and water. Fun fact: It’s the longest dragon-shaped steel bridge in the world. © Aliaksandr Mazurkevich | Dreamstime.com

It’s nearly impossible to miss Python Bridge, a bold red bridge in Amsterdam’s Eastern Docklands connecting Sporenburg and Boreno Island over a canal. Built in 2001, the nearly 300-foot-long bridge is pedestrian-only, letting visitors and locals enjoy the walk and views atop a truly unique piece of architecture. © Marcel Van Den Bos | Dreamstime.com

The skills and craftsmanship of the Romans is arguably best seen at Pont Du Gard in Gard, France. This aqueduct was constructed in the first century A.D. and still stands today, a testament to the Romans’ knowledge and mastery of architecture. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the bridge spans three tiers of arches and, in its heyday, carried about 11 million gallons of water a day to baths, fountains and homes of Roman citizens in Nemausus (now Nîmes). Today, you can walk the length of the bridge. © Emicristea | Dreamstime.com

You’ll feel like an ant on the Golden Bridge in Bana Hills in Da Nang, Vietnam. This unique pedestrian bridge is partly held up by two massive hands, as if a giant from the earth keeps the structure upright. The bridge connects the cable car station to the gardens, but it’s also a scenic overlook and attraction in itself — and well worth the visit. © Tawatchai Prakobkit | Dreamstime.com

Once the tallest bridge in the world for more than 20 years, Millau Viaduct in Southern France still commands the landscape today with its triangular white cables 1,125 feet above the ground. The bridge’s longest span is 1,122 feet long over Tarn gorge valley, connecting Paris to Béziers and Montpellier. © Oleg_ivanov | Dreamstime.com