The Most Beautiful Bridges in the World

Taroko National Park, near the east coast of Taiwan, is one of the most strikingly beautiful places on the entire island. While this suspension bridge isn’t the most uniquely constructed or aesthetically pleasing river-crossing you’re likely to see, it is one the best viewing points in the whole park. The gorge is characterised by its steep marble canyons, unique rock formations and cascading streams that lead into the turquoise waters of Liwu River. All of that is framed by breathtaking cliffside greenery, and is enjoyed best from somewhere in the middle of this suspension bridge, with the river rushing downstream below you. Other highlights in the park include the Tunnel of Nine Turns and Swallow Grotto, and you’ll get a thorough tour of Taroko on day six of our comprehensive nine-day tour of Taiwan.

Is a viaduct technically a bridge? It certainly looks like one in the case of Glenfinnan Viaduct, found in the rugged heartlands of the Scottish Highlands. It’s a striking concrete remnant of the industrial-era and a symbol of Scotland’s railway prowess throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It curves beautifully around the valley for 380m (1,247ft), with 21 aesthetically pleasing semicircular spans helping it cross the River Finnan. The legacy of Glenfinnan Viaduct was cemented in the Harry Potter films, most notably the flying car sequence in Chamber of Secrets (2002), in which the railway bridge is used as part of the Hogwarts Express route. You can cross the viaduct yourself on our week-long Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands trip, which includes a ride on the Jacobite steam train – AKA the real-life Hogwarts Express – across the viaduct en route to Mallaig from Fort William.