Quirky and spectacular streets that everybody must visit of their lifetime.
1. Champs Elysées, Paris
This tree-lined boulevard in ParisThe eighth arrondissement is usually described as “essentially the most beautiful avenue on the earth”. It runs for just over a mile, connecting Place de la Concorde with the Arc de Triomphe at Place Charles de Gaulle, passing through the Jardin de Champs-Élysées and its various museums and monuments, including the Grand Palais and Petit Palais.
2. Ocean Drive, Miami
“Ocean Drive, which runs along the ocean from the tip of South Beach to fifteenth Street, is a bustling cacophony of Art Deco hotels glowing with neon and pastels, sidewalk cafes serving mojitos the scale of fish tanks, and tourists wanting to sample the South Beach good life,” says Telegraph Travel’s Miami expert, Shayne Benowitz.
3. Stradun, Dubrovnik
Despite the crowds, walking the Stradun, the important thoroughfare of Dubrovnik’s old town, is a must, especially should you’re a Game of Thrones fan (it’s where Cersei Lannister takes her penance walk).
4. Nevsky Prospekt, Saint Petersburg
“You could spend all day exploring this three-mile stretch St. Petersburg which was cut through a dense forest in 1718,” he explains Marc Bennetts, Telegraph Travel expert in St. Petersburg. “From the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica, to the countless cafes, bars and restaurants along and just off the main street, Nevsky Prospekt is the center of the city’s cultural and social life.”
5. Broadway and Times Square in New York
On a 13-mile stretch of this sprawling Manhattan street, which also runs through the Bronx for 2 miles, is Times Square, named after The New York Times newspaper (it moved here in 1904, but moved again since )It is, after all, also the middle of theater, cinema and giant advertisements.
6. Unter den Linden, Berlin
The extensive boulevard of… BerlinThe Mitte district stretches from the City Palace to the Brandeburg Gate. Paul Sullivan, our Berlin expert, says: “It’s the town’s view of the Champs Elysées, admiring along the way in which chestnut trees and shops, great theaters and great museums. This is a really touristy place, so for a little bit of peace and quiet, drop by the Room of Silence on the north side, built especially for visitors to rest and reflect.
7. Wenceslas Square in Prague
“The vibrant Wenceslas Square is the place to gauge the city’s zeitgeist in terms of emerging fashions and goods on offer, ranging from classic smoked meats to organic vegetarian cocktails (don’t miss the extensive book collection at Palác knih Luxor, Wenceslas Square 41),” he says Telegraph Travel Prague expert Will Tizard.
8. The Royal Mile in Edinburgh
The important street within the Old Town of Scotland’s capital is definitely made up of several streets that connect Edinburgh Holyrood Castle and Palace: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Cannongate and Abbey Strand. “The characteristic crown spire of the Cathedral of St. Giles marks the historic heart of the Royal Mile,” he says Linda MacDonald, Telegraph Travel expert in Edinburgh. “Despite the mighty pillars supporting the tower of Edinburgh’s much altered but essentially Gothic High Kirk, the soaring interior of this ancient church is flooded with light.”
9. Painful Via, Jerusalem
Jerusalem’s most famous artery, Via Dolorosa – “The Road of Sorrows” – it’s believed to be the route taken by Jesus carrying his cross before his crucifixion. Easter is a very busy time for groups of pilgrims who make the journey, some carrying heavy picket crucifixes.
10. La Rambla in Barcelona
Sally Davies, our expert from Barcelona, writes: “The city’s most famous street is a kilometer-long avenue that starts on the Columbus Monument in front of the port and ends at Plaça Catalunya.
Along the boulevard are the wax and erotic museums, the Palau de la Virreina information center and exhibition space, and, after all, the wonderful Boqueria grocery store. La Rambla takes on a totally different character in winter and within the morning, which is my favorite time to walk.”
11. Shambles, York
For the complete atmospheric effect, approach York’s largest constructing – The Minster – via The Shambles, an ancient cobbled street mentioned within the Domesday Book, where the upper floors of 14th-century picket houses loom almost inside arm’s reach.
12. Hollywood Road, Hong Kong
“While Nathan Road in Kowloon is the plain place to go to, Hollywood Road – home to the Man Mo Temple and many antique shops – is far more interesting,” says Teresa Machan of Telegraph Travel.
13. Gurney Drive, Malaysia
Penang’s seaside promenade offers a few of the perfect street food in all of Asia, with countless stalls on the Gurney Drive Hawker Center operating because the Nineteen Seventies.
14. Dark hedges, Northern Ireland
The most photogenic country road in Northern Ireland, on either side of magnificently gnarled beech treesprovides an otherworldly backdrop for the King’s Road, a key route through the fictional world of Westeros in Game of Thrones TV series.
15. Bourbon Street, New Orleans
“A standard itinerary for most first-time visitors New Orlean – where a famous jazz festival takes place – includes locating the French Quarter, walking down Bourbon Street and ordering a neon cocktail,” he says Adam Karlin from Telegraph Travel.
16. Portobello Road, London
London has countless streets value exploring, but we pump Portobello Road, home to certainly one of the capital’s most famous markets, absorbing vintage clothes and antiques dating back to 1740. “You can visit the travel bookshop featuring actor Hugh Grant’s character within the film Notting Hill – it’s actually a shoe shop on Portobello Road. Just across the corner from Blenheim Crescent you will find the actual travel bookshop that inspired the one within the film,” he says Sally Peck, family travel editor at Telegraph Travel.
17. Beale Street, Memphis
Memphis is a melting pot of American myths and tragedies. The city itself, although relatively small, punches above its weight when it comes to attractions and prestige. The bars on Beale Street could also be a pale imitation of what they were when teenage Elvis frolicked, but they still rock every night. King, after all, is credited with starting rock and roll when he recorded “That’s All Right, Mama” at Sun Studio.
18. Royal Crescent and Circus of Bath
“Built by John Wood the Younger between 1767 and 1775, when it overlooked the fields, Bath’s most impressive piece of architecture is actually a half-ellipse, not a crescent,” says Fred Mawer, our Bath expert. “The 30 houses are currently divided mainly into flats – John Cleese owns one. Think of a reason (afternoon tea?) to pop into the Royal Crescent Hotel for a sniff.
19. Khao San Road, Bangkok
It’s not pretty, but every trip to Bangkok should include a stroll along the town’s busy thoroughfare with a backpack. It will make visits to the town’s temples or escapes to the Thai islands much more rewarding.
20. Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco
The intersection of Haight and Ashbury streets in San Francisco creates this historic district – often known as the cradle of hippie culture. The area can be known for its “Painted Ladies” – a set of virtually 48,000 Victorian and Edwardian houses painted in vivid colours.
21. Baldwin Street, Dunedin
While we’re on the subject of steepness, we must always mention Baldwin Street, the the steepest residential road on the earthin keeping with the Guinness Book of Records. It lies just a few miles northeast of Dunedin city center and is 350 meters long and rises from 30 m to 100 m above sea level. This corresponds to a median slope of 1:5, or 20 percent. The top half, nonetheless, is far steeper, with a median slope of 1:3.41 and a maximum slope of 1:2.86, or 35%. Its steepness was unintentional. The city’s streets were arranged in a grid by planners London whatever the terrain.
22. South Congress Avenue, Austin
This street in Austin, often called America’s “coolest” citythere are many trendy hotels, trendy restaurants, food trucks, thrift stores, cowboy boot stores, and designer boutiques.
23. Shijo Avenue, Kyoto
This long, narrow promenade by the river KyotoIn the Gion district, you are prone to see geishas rushing to work at dusk.
24. Route 66
The longest road on our list, Route 66, stretches from Chicago to San Francisco. Chris Moss writes: “In the Forties and Nineteen Fifties, Route 66 was sometimes called ‘America’s Main Street,’ and ran through many small towns within the Midwest and Southwest. Although the unique trunk road closed in 1984, historic Route 66 retains much of its old atmosphere. Route 66 can be home to a listing of famous topography, including downtown Chicago, St. Louis, the Grand Canyon, and Santa Monica Beach.
Source: Telegraph.co.uk
