Stretching over mountainous valleys, huge bodies of water and packs of ice, the landscapes that bridges encompass have seen plenty become tourist attractions in their own right. They're more than convenient crossings, with marvellous engineering scoring many Guinness World Records. From the oldest to the tallest and shortest to the widest, read on to discover record-breaking bridges around the world.
At 1,125 feet (343m) high, the Millau Viaduct reigns supreme as the world's tallest bridge. This thin, sleek roadway is 8,070 feet (2,460m) long and links Clermont-Ferrand with Béziers and Narbonne in southeastern France. At one end is a viewpoint where you can take in panoramic views of the viaduct and the surrounding Tarn valley landscape below.
Kapellbrücke, or Chapel Bridge, is a pedestrian walkway that crosses the River Reuss in Lucerne. This striking landmark dates back more than 650 years and also flanks Lake Lucerne. It tragically caught fire in 1993 so while large parts of it had to be rebuilt, it’s still considered the oldest covered bridge in Europe.
Somerset Bridge is technically a drawbridge but it doesn’t actually raise and close – there’s just a loose plank of wood covering the gap. At just 56cm wide, this top Bermudan attraction is the world’s shortest bridge linking the southern tip of Somerset Island to Sandys Parish on the main island. When it opened in 1620, the seconds-long crossing saved residents a three-hour trip. It’s not to be confused with the world’s shortest international bridge, the Portugal-Spain bridge, which at 10.4 feet (3m) long connects the two countries in a few short steps.
Built between 1846-1851, the Göltzsch Viaduct still reigns supreme as the world’s largest brick-built bridge. It stands at 256 feet (78m) tall and 1,883 feet (574m) long. Workers used over 26 million bricks and during construction discovered that the ground wasn’t as firm as first thought, hence the wider, central arch (for better support).
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When Colorado’s Royal Gorge Bridge opened in 1929 it held the title of the highest bridge in the world for over 70 years. It’s since lost that honour but remains the highest bridge in the USA at an incredible 955 feet (291m) above the Arkansas River.
This easy-to-miss structure crosses a small gully in Greece’s southerly peninsula and was built by the Ancient Greeks sometime between 1300 and 1190 BC. Made up of limestone boulders, stones and tiles, the 72-foot-long (22m) bridge is thought to have been built to carry horse-drawn chariots. You can still walk across it today, making it the oldest still-in-use bridge in the world, although the Guinness World Book of Records lists this bridge in Turkey as the world’s oldest…
The Sky Bridge 721 became the longest suspension bridge in the world in May 2022. Stretching 311 feet (95m) over the valley of the Mlýnský Stream for 2,365 feet (721m, like its name suggests) visitors can take a chairlift to the entrance, or walk or cycle the 2.5-mile (4km) trail. There’s even an interactive game integrating the area's history.
In northwestern Vietnam lies the world’s longest glass-bottomed bridge. Up to 450 visitors at a time can walk across this 2,073-foot-long (632m) walkway which is suspended 282 feet (86m) above the ground. And great heights mean even greater views: marvel at the surrounding mountainous rainforest but, if you’re faint-hearted, don’t look down…
Check out more of the world's amazing bridges you can walk over
Supported by huge concrete pillars, Hartland Covered Bridge opened in 1901 but was initially considered controversial as it was also known as a ‘kissing bridge’ for young couples. At 1,279 feet (390m) long, the world’s longest covered bridge is now a tourist attraction with a one-way system in place for vehicles and an added pedestrian walkway.
Carrying over one million vehicles per year, the George Washington Bridge is the world’s busiest motor vehicle bridge. Connecting New York City with New Jersey, it opened to traffic in 1931 and was expanded in 1962. There are 14 lanes of traffic spread over two levels along with two walkways for pedestrians and cyclists on each side of the upper level.
The Guinness World Book of Records lists Egypt’s Tahya Masr (‘Long Live Egypt’) as the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world (and thrillingly explains the difference from a suspension bridge). The traffic-easing bridge opened in 2019 and nabbed the top spot from Canada’s 213-foot-wide (65m) Port Mann Bridge with a width of 221 feet (67.3m).
The world’s longest bridge – in any category – is Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge. The mega-bridge connects the two eastern Chinese cities of Shanghai and Nanjing and spans 102 miles (164.8km) and is around 100 feet (31m) high. It took some 10,000 workers four years to build and opened in 2011, with top rail speeds averaging 51 miles per hour (82km/h).
This medieval relic in eastern Bavaria connects the UNESCO-listed Regensburg city with the historic island of Stadtamhof. The Old Stone Bridge (or Steinerne Brücke) crosses the River Danube and was constructed during a particularly prosperous era. Although the bridge had to be repaired after the Second World War, today the 1,017-foot (310m) walkway is hailed as the oldest stone arch bridge in the country.
Supported by 77 pontoons – 21 of which are each longer than a football field – Medina’s Evergreen Point Floating Bridge is the longest of its kind in the world. It’s a replacement of the previous one adjacent to it – thankfully for drivers, this new one was built sturdier and wider. Some 74,000 vehicles make the 7,710-foot (2,350m) crossing over Lake Washington every day and could even accommodate light rail in the future.
While the oldest surviving stone arch bridge in Australia may not sound like much, it has another, eerier accolade. Completed in 1825 by nearby Richmond Gaul prisoners, the 135-foot-long (41m) bridge is supposedly haunted by the ghost of former convict George Grover. As you cross, keep an eye out for him peering out from the structure. Ghost stories aside, very few repairs have been carried out in its 200-year history.
The hardy Confederation Bridge was designed to withstand the harsh winters and high winds of Canada's Northumberland Strait, with special ice-shields protecting the support piers from the pack ice that flows through the Strait every winter. Connecting Borden-Carlton on Prince Edward Island with Cape Jourimain in New Brunswick, at 42,322 feet long (12,900m) it’s the world’s longest ice bridge – plus it’s done wonders for tourism.
OK, it’s not officially listed anywhere as the world’s steepest bridge, but we reckon Eshima Ohashi Bridge would take the title. Its highest point reaches nearly 148 feet (45m) and also has a less attractive-sounding record as Japan’s largest concrete-made girder bridge. Drive, walk or cycle over the roller coaster-like bridge and take in the awesome views of Lake Nakaumi from the top.
According to the Guinness World Records, Thailand’s Bang Na expressway is the longest road bridge in the world at 177,165 feet long (54,000m). With three lanes running in each direction, the six-lane elevated highway crosses part of the Bang Pakong River in the southeastern suburbs of Bangkok.
The world’s longest sea-crossing bridge is nothing short of impressive. Unveiled in 2018, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge stretches an eye-watering 180,446 feet (55,000m) between Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau. Over 98,000 feet (29,870m) of the bridge crosses the Pearl River delta along with an undersea tunnel to allow ships through. It’s heavily reduced the previous four-hour-long trip to half an hour but you’ll need a special permit to cross and there aren’t any public transport links. It’s also the world’s most expensive bridge.