Top canal towns to explore that are not Venice

When you think about small canals flowing through a city, streets where people travel more by small boats than cars, then the first city that comes to mind is Venice, Italy. It is a picturesque town in southern Italy.
But what a lot of people don’t know is that Venice isn’t the only beautiful canal town in the world. This article will explore other Venetian-style cities that are not venice themselves. Unsurprisingly a lot of the cities on this list will be in Europe.  

5. Bruges, Belgium

​Imagine a typical enchanting city inside Europe. That is the city of Burges in Belgium. And just like the city of Venice, Bruges is full of waterways. But waterways and the historical city full of medieval architecture aren’t the city’s only attraction. 

Bruges by Hardie Van Zyl via Unsplash

Bruges is also known for its local chocolate scene, making it a paradise for people with sweet tooth. So if you are looking for a fairy tale version of Venice, Bruges is the place to go.

4. Annecy, France

The beautiful town of Annecy in France is located high up in the north along the Alps. The town is just 26 miles south of another alpine beauty Geneva, Switzerland. The town of Annecy is a burst of colorful 100-year-old houses and canals throughout the city. 

Annecy By Raissa Lara via Unsplash

If you want to glide on romantic waterways with alps in the background. Annecy is the perfect Venetian inspirsed city to do that.

3. Giethoorn, Netherlands

We can’t talk about cities and canals without going to the land of giants, the Netherlands. The Netherlands has one of the most extensive canal systems. In fact, the whole country is basically built on a huge delta. This is why not only one but two cities from the Netherlands will be featured here.
Geithoorn is a small village town in the Netherland with a population of just over 2000 people. But what the village lacks in people makes up in beauty. It is a beautiful village with an extensive 4-mile long canal system. 

Giethoorn By Yossi Moalem via Unsplash

For tourists and people living in the village alike, the canals serve as a mode of transportation since the village doesn’t have any roads. That is a photography experience; everyone should experience it at least once.  

2. Zhouzhuang, China

​The city of Zhouzhang is china’s oldest water town. And it has made itself a hub of tourism because of that. You can take a picturesque ride on a gondola and even sail through small markets with vendors also using boats as their stalls. It is totally a unique place to visit. 

Zhouzhuang by Alyssa Li via Unsplash

And if you visit the city in June, you can witness the maaing Dragon Boat festival. A show of colors, light, and mystical beauty.

1. Amsterdam, Netherlands

​The Netherlands has already made this list once with the town of Giethoorn. But Giethoorn is not the only city the dutch pride for its canal beauty. The capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, is also known for its beautiful canal system. Amsterdam boasts about 60 miles of waterways that encircle the city. 

Amsterdam by Ethan Hu via Unsplash

With the European architecture and small boats on the waterways, Amsterdam successfully manages to create an ambiance of romance. A perfect place to document European romanticism.  

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