© Shutterstock

Bath, England -

This canal-meets-river boasts a winning combination of scenic countryside, canalside pubs, feats of engineering, and elegant architecture. Moor at The Barge Inn and cycle up to Avebury stone circle. Bath is an obvious highlight, but don’t miss Bradford-on-Avon, a picture postcard gem of a town.

© Shutterstock

Colmar, France -

Colmar was apparently the inspiration for the village in the Disney film 'Beauty and the Beast' (1991), and it’s not hard to see why. No matter how much time you have, La Petite Venise ("Little Venice") is an absolute must-see. This stretch of half-timbered buildings along the canal is certainly one of the most alluring, where you’ll glide under the willows and pass the city’s timber-framed houses on a wooden boat powered by a silent motor.

© Shutterstock

Bruges, Belgium -

In Bruges, the Rozenhoedkaai (“Quay of the Rosary”) conceals tales of centuries gone by and reflects the city’s rich heritage and mystery. Indeed, the city’s history dates back to the medieval period, when Bruges was a bustling trading hub.

© Shutterstock

Giethoorn, Netherlands -

In the tiny Dutch village of Giethoorn, the tranquility is almost dreamlike, with locals and visitors alike navigating by bike, boat, barge, or on foot. In this hamlet of small peat islands connected by bridges, there's not much to do except slip into solitude among thatched-roof farmhouses and footbridges crossing the maze of canals.

© Shutterstock

Powys, Wales -

Powys is a dream trip if you want to immerse yourself in nature. The canal is almost entirely in the Brecon Beacons national park, with beautiful views of the mountains. This is also a designated dark sky reserve. As the canal drops into the Usk Valley, there are wild swimming spots to enjoy. To make this trip even more peaceful, it’s possible to rent an electric boat.

© Shutterstock

Copenhagen, Denmark -

Nyhavn ("New Harbour") is a 17th-century waterfront, canal, and entertainment district in Copenhagen, Denmark. Stretching from Kongens Nytorv to the Inner Harbour just south of the Royal Playhouse, it is lined by brightly colored 17th- and early 18th-century townhouses and bars, cafés, and restaurants. The canal harbors many historical wooden ships.

© Shutterstock

Venice, Italy -

The only barge cruise in Italy between Venice and Mantua runs through diverse landscapes and natural habitats, from the bustling waterfront of Venice through picturesque lagoon islands to wild beach dunes and pine woods with an abundance of bird life.

© Shutterstock

Töreboda, Sweden -

The Göta Canal is an essential part of the municipality of Töreboda, attracting many visitors every year, both afloat and ashore. The Göta Canal’s beautiful natural setting offers many places for excellent day trips.

© Shutterstock

Seville, Spain -

From 13th-century structures to medieval fortifications, from iron bridges to a Carthusian monastery, the historic sights of Seville are not to be missed. But for a truly special perspective on the city's must-see sights, the Guadalquivir River cruise is where you can see the city's landmarks while coasting down the river.

© Shutterstock

Milan, Italy -

Milan’s Navigli neighborhood is famed for the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese canals. With its great bars and boutiques, the Navigli is one a favorite area in Milan. Not to mention one of the most historic: the neighborhood dates all the way back to 1179, when the waterways were constructed to connect Milan to the nearby lakes.

© Shutterstock

Dublin, Ireland -

Started in Dublin in 1790 and completed some 27 years later in 1817, the Royal Canal's primary purpose was to ferry freight and passenger transport from the River Liffey to the Upper Shannon in County Longford. After a 50-year closure, the picturesque Royal Canal reopened in 2010.

© Getty Images

Potsdam, Germany -

The region of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommen stretching between Germany’s capital city Berlin and the Baltic Sea is crying out to be explored by boat. Renting a narrow canal boat or motor yacht, you can take your time exploring the lakes, the historic towns such as Potsdam and Furstenberg along the way, mooring alongside lake shores for a coffee, or simply sail in and out of canals and rivers, finding quiet spots to moor and read a book.

© Shutterstock

Inverness, Scotland -

The Caledonian Canal connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William in Scotland. Tracing a fault line that splits the region in two, Scotland’s Caledonian Canal passes whiskey distilleries and the exposed dome of Ben Nevis, but it’s still barely known in the barge-cruising world.  Only one third of the entire length is man-made, the rest being formed by Loch Dochfour, Loch Ness, Loch Oich, and Loch Lochy.

© Shutterstock

Gdańsk, Poland -

Located along the Baltic coastline, Gdańsk has some major waterways. Architectural styles were adopted in a similar fashion from Amsterdam to Copenhagen, featuring beautiful red brick buildings as well as colorful gilded houses lining the Gdańsk waterfront. While you won’t find charming gondolas or paddle boats to explore the river or canals, there are river barge cruises along the Motława River.

© Shutterstock

Paris, France -

Discover Paris along the Saint-Martin canal via a series of locks and swing bridges through the Bastille underground vault, cross the nine different locks that will lead you to the Bassin de la Villette, the Arsenal Marina, or along the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the fabulous Orsay Museum.

© Shutterstock

Lancaster, England -

Lancaster Canal is a lock-free cruise with views of the Silverdale coast and the Forest of Bowland, and overlooked by the foothills of the Pennines. At Hest Bank it’s a few hundred yards to the beach, where you’ll be looking across to Morecambe Bay. Take a tour of the nearly 1,000-year-old castle in Lancaster, where in 1612 some 10 people were convicted of witchcraft; in the 19th century, it held England’s largest debtors imprisoned.

© Shutterstock

Amsterdam, Netherlands -

Most of Amsterdam’s world-renowned canals are flanked on either side by over 2,500 houseboats. This unique accommodation became popular after World War II due to an abundance of damaged houses.

© Shutterstock

Toulouse, France -

The 330-year-old Canal du Midi running through Toulouse is one of France’s best-known waterways, considered one of the greatest construction feats of the 17th century. Today it is famous throughout the world and has achieved UNESCO World Heritage status.

© Shutterstock

Ghent, Belgium -

Ghent has a massive ring canal without bridges or locks to navigate. As you turn up the Leie River that snakes charmingly into the middle of this vibrant city, the weekend atmosphere is very much Belgique en fête weekenders, students, and a sprinkling of foreign tourists.

© Shutterstock

London, England -

Little Venice is an affluent residential district in West London, around the junction of the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal, the Regent's Canal, and the entrance to Paddington Basin. The junction, also known as Little Venice and Browning's Pool, forms a triangular shape basin designed to allow long canal boats to turn around.

© Shutterstock

Crinan, Scotland -

The Crinan Canal cruise meanders through truly magnificent scenery and is rich in history, with many world-class heritage sites. It is a designated wildlife reserve with stretches of forest walks and cycle ways. If you bring your own bike (or you can rent one in Ardrishaig), you can cycle the towpath and explore the canal's surroundings.

© Shutterstock

Nancy, France -

The Marne River has inspired artists, such as Cézanne and Pissarro, for years, and continues to inspire all who encounter it today. The Canal de la Marne au Rhin is a 314-km canal that stretches from Strasbourg in Alsace to Nancy in Lorraine.

© Shutterstock

Hamburg, Germany -

There are several different operators for a Hamburg canal trip, and each route is individually taylored. The trip over the Kleine Alster is one of two options and leads through the city center past the town hall market to the Nikolaifleet and the Zollkanal neighbourhoods, through the Speicherstadt and part of the old harbor.

© Shutterstock

Stockholm, Sweden -

Stockholm's most famous waterway, the Djurgårdsbrunnskanalen, runs through the center of the city, separating attraction-heavy Djurgården island (home to cultural powerhouses like the Vasa and Abba museums) from the mainland. The five km tow path that follows the canal is one of Stockholm's most popular walking routes.

© Shutterstock

Utrecht, Netherlands -

The stunning and magical Dutch town of Utrecht is enclosed by a six km canal ring that acts as the city’s main artery. You’ll find a series of delightful wharfs dotted along the waterway providing a Utrechtian hallmark, since it’s one of the only towns in the world to feature these kinds of urban working docks that date back to the Middle Ages. These days, they’re used less for loading cargo and more as floating terraces where happy locals and visitors mingle and drink and bask in the sun.

© Shutterstock

Birmingham, England -

Birmingham is England’s second city and is bursting with beautiful waterways with an impressive and extensive canal network, meandering through the city’s most significant historic neighborhoods. Try seeing them all on a guided walk from the Canal & River Trust, before rewarding yourself with a terrace-top pint at one of the Gas Street Basin’s many quality drinking holes.

© Shutterstock

Annecy, France -

Annecy’s picture postcard old town has a sliver of glinting water snaking between rows of pastel-colored houses, with locals calling it the “Venice of the Alps.” Spend the day weaving between the many restaurants, bakeries, and boutiques that line the canals, all housed in buildings dating back hundreds of years.

Sources: (The Guardian) (National Geographic) (Travel Addicts) (European Waterways) (AFAR Media)

See also: The pros and cons of living on a houseboat

© Shutterstock