When one utters the word “Venice”, the first thing that comes to mind is the elaborate waterways instead of roads. Boats navigate across the “streets” instead of cars and bikes and the next step from the edge of the pavement might lead you to deep waters.

Venice, a canal town in Italy, is like an Atlantis that’s still on the surface. With overtourism crowding this beautiful town, many opt to seek other options that give them a slice of Venice without the crushing crowds.

So, if you’re one of those folks wondering, “where to go instead of Venice,” then read on below. This list compiles the best canal cities in the world in all different shapes and sizes but have one thing in common – expansive waterways that surround the city needing boats for transportation instead of wheels.

From Hobbit-like canal cities in Europe to Kung Fu Panda-like waterways in China, here are you best options to fulfil your thirst of Venice outside Venice!

Alappuzha, Kerala, India – A Village Waterworld

A village water-world that’s unlike anywhere else on the planet, Alappuzha (aka Allapey), is a truly scenic site in the backwaters of Kerala. Special to this Indian region, the backwaters are a network of interconnected brackish lagoons, lakes, canals, and rivers leading to the Arabian Sea, mingling fresh water with sea water in a unique ecosystem.

A ride through the backwaters will show you the ways of the villagers that live in the sea rather than the land. With schools, houses, hospitals, and even a restaurant and grocery store lining on small patches of land amidst the ever-stretching backwaters, this place is one-of-a-kind in the world. Children learn to swim before they learn to walk, and home-makers wash dishes while sitting at the edge of their patios where the next step leads to deep waters.

Alappuzha and the rest of Kerala’s backwaters play a significant role in the local economy, providing livelihoods through fishing, agriculture, and tourism. Villagers here cultivate rice paddies, coconut groves etc with traditional, age-old agricultural practices.

Today, tourism is one of major industries in these backwaters where visitors experience this water village on traditional houseboats. Booking an Alappuzha houseboat cruise is the best way to learn, see and appreciate this movie-like water-world. Most house boats offer a private day tour, or you can also opt to stay overnight.

Tuvalu, South Pacific – A Sinking Samoan Island

While not exactly a “canal town”, Tuvalu is a sinking Samoan island that is a thin strip of land in the middle of the vast ocean. This island nation is the second smallest country in the world with just 11,000 citizens measuring in a total area of 26 square kilometers. Unfortunately, due to the island sinking into the ocean because of climate change, water comes onto the roads and even enters yards and patios of the islanders’ homes.

The single stretch of a country, surrounded by water wherever you go has no mountains, no cities and no architectural heritage – which is why it’s special and unique on its own. This pacific destination is every water-lovers world with beautiful coral reefs, diving opportunities and beaches.

Traditions and culture remain strong and alive in Tuvalu and you can experience that by visiting their traditional villages and enjoying their dances performances. Tuvalu was one of the places that saw many battles and bombs during WWII, hence many of its materials including canons and bombs are still remain on the island today.

The best way to enjoy the water-filled island is by biking or hiking. You can also stay in their Maldives-like accommodation for beautiful views of the sea.

Giethoorn, Netherlands – The Hobbit Vibes

When many travelers venture into Netherlands, Amsterdam is one of, if not, the top place where visitors flock to. Hence, a lot of international tourists miss out what’s known as the “Venice of the North”, which is Netherland’s Geithoorn – a canal surrounded village.

An enchanting place tucked within the picturesque De Wieden nature preserve, Giethoorn village has interconnected waterways where its locals and visitors use canoes to get around. This canal town has no streets and its only concrete areas are connected by 180 wooden footbridges. Unlike the usual cities of Europe, Giethoorn’s charm is its centuries-old thatched-roof houses that looks like it could fit right in with The Hobbit.

Giethoorn came into existence around the 12 century, when the land was marshy and challenging to navigate. To solve this, the ingenious farmers of the village devised a solution: they dug canals to transport goods and navigate their way through the waterlogged terrain. These canals, which still exist today, wind their way through the town, creating a network of water highways that connect every corner of Giethoorn.

To explore its tranquil waterways, you can get aboard one of the villages’ “whisper boats” which are sustainable noise-free vessels that run on electric motors.

 Suzhou, China – Waterways since the Ming Dynasty

If you ever dreamed of a trip to China where you sit in a canoe, wearing a straw hat and rowing across a water canal town decorated with hanging lanterns, then Suzhou should be on your list.

Located in the southeastern Jiangsu Province of East China, Suzhou is a historic canal town that’s known not only for its waterways but also for its 20 UNESCO tagged gardens. This canal city was built way back in 5th century BC and offers an experience into a water town that still retains century-long practices and culture.

Suzhou has 15 canals intersecting the city. Some of these connect to the 1,200-mile-long Grand Canal, the longest man-made waterway in the world. Both the Grand Canal, which was built between 581 and 618 BC, and the minor canals of Suzhou pass through many beautiful parts of the city.

And it’s not just the aquatic charm that makes Suzhou worth visiting. The canal town is called the world’s Oriental Venice mostly known for its gardens. Filled with ancient pagodas and breath taking floral landscape, the gardens of Suzhou have been occupying the area since the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).

The water city is also renowned for its silk production, with a history spanning over a thousand years. Visitors can learn about the intricate process of silk-making at local factories and even purchase high-quality silk products as souvenirs while taking the famous Suzhou boat ride.

Suzhou’s vibrant cultural scene, from traditional Chinese opera performances to bustling markets and authentic local cuisine, provides visitors with a truly immersive experience, allowing them to connect with the city’s rich tapestry of traditions and modern life that floats above the water.

Bruges, Belgium – The “Egg” Canals

One of Europe’s best-preserved cities, Bruges is tagged as a UNESCO World Heritage site and has an atmosphere that is as old as it is charming.

Located in the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, Bruges is a canal city surrounded by chains of waterbodies that were built back in 1128. This city is known as the “Bruges Egg” due to the city’s shape on old maps, resembling that of an egg.

Bruges was originally built on the banks of the Reie river, and the canals have been called ‘Reie’ since. A boat ride through these canals and you will pass by traditional homes, scenic gardens and medieval churches built almost a thousand years back. On foot, you can explore centuries old cobble-stone streets, historic market squares, museums, and age-old churches. Bruges is known as one of the friendliest cities in the world and its locals makes sure to meet you with a smile.

Ine, Kyoto, Japan – Paddle Across Fishermen Village

This small village has houses perched directly on top of the water. These unique houses are known as a “funaya”, meaning boat houses. The name comes from the fact that they have a garage where boats are parked while the floor above is the residential area where the house owners live.

Over 200 traditional funaya line the Ine Bay today that are occupied by working fishermen and local folks. Now due to popularity, the residents of Ine offers also offers lodgings to travelers and visitors. Since Ine is a popular village for tourists, the lodgings need to be pre-booked as they get filled pretty quickly.

The best way to experience Ine is by a boat ride with a local fisherman around the bay’s waters. You can take a 25 minute loop around the bay or go for a more personalized experience by navigating the water with a local fishermen. These boat rides aren’t large sight-seeing cruises. They are small boat tours that require reservations before hand at the tourism office at Funaya Sato Park.

Compared to other popular places in Japan, Ine is a small town with a handful of shops and restaurants. It’s appeal is its rural lifestyle that offers more of nature and less of modern entertainment.

Ine makes for a great day trip or an overnight stay for those who would love to deurbanize themselves and refresh their souls.

Annecy, France – Alpine Canals and Lakes

Surrounded by the beauty of the Alps, the glistening River Thiou and the beautiful waterways that run around Annecy, this canal city in France is said to be one of the most beautiful in the world and aptly named “Venice of the Alps”.

This medieval town has a history dating back to the Neolithic period (-4000 BC). Annecy has seen multiple lineage of kings and Caesars, going through multiple changes to the throne and its successors.

You can see the remnants of those periods with a guided tour of Annecy today. One of the most popular places in this French town is the Vielle Ville, which means ‘old town’. Picturesque cobble stone streets coupled with the backdrop of the serene canals along with medieval buildings bring quite the old-world charm to the place.

Vielle Ville is also where Annecy’s famous structure, the Palais de I’Ile (an ancient prison) can be accessed.

Other places to explore in the town includes the Château d’Annecy (medieval defensive structure and the castle of the 13th and 14th century Geneva counts) and Lake Annecy which is regarded as Europe’s cleanest lake that is said to have been formed around 18,000 years ago when the alpine glaciers melted.

*********