16 Incredible Suspension Bridges Around the World
Whether from airplane windows, tropical beaches, or wilderness trails, travelers will go a long way for a good view. For some, that promise of the perfect vista is even enough to combat vertigo or a fear of heights. And there are few places where the view is as good as the one from a suspension footbridge.
Encompassing modern engineering marvels and historic relics that have withstood the test of time (and who knows how many pairs of feet) alike, bridges intended solely for pedestrians range from hanging to suspended to cable-stayed. They are popular tourist attractions around the world, offering scenic panoramas plus the thrill of being suspended hundreds, or even thousands, of feet above the ground. For the ultimate views and thrilling experiences, seek out these precarious footbridges around the world.
Getty516 Arouca, Portugal
Beating out Switzerland’s 1,621-foot-long Charles Kuonen bridge by 71 feet, this brand-new suspension bridge in Portugal is now the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world. Built as a Tibet-style hanging bridge with V-shaped towers and steel cables supporting each end, it gets its name from its length (516 meters) and its hometown of Arouca. The latest attraction of the UNESCO-recognized Arouca Geopark of outdoor adventure and nature attractions, the bridge hangs 574 feet above the Paiva River, with views of the surrounding gorge and Aguieiras Waterfall.
GettyCapilano Suspension Bridge, Canada
Swooping 230 feet above the Capilano River gorge and disappearing into dense, evergreen forests, the 460-foot-long Capilano Suspension Bridge gives visitors the sensation of entering an enchanted forest, although downtown Vancouver is just 15 minutes away. Located within a nature park in North Vancouver, the footbridge was originally built in 1889. It has since been updated from its original hemp cables to its current sturdy wire cables and cedar planks. Breathtaking anytime of the year, visiting during the holidays is a real treat, as the bridge and park are decked out in colorful lights for the Canyon Lights celebration.
GettyCarrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Ireland
Originally created and used by fishermen to get to the best fishing grounds during the seasonal salmon run, this knotted-rope bridge connects the small island of Carrick A Rede to mainland northern Ireland. Swaying a hundred feet above the rocky shoreline below, the 66-foot-long bridge has been rebuilt numerous times over the years since it was first made in 1755. Salmon no longer migrate here, so the bridge isn’t used by fishermen, but it’s still open to visitors for its historic significance and views of the Irish coast and nearby islands. On clear days, Scotland can even be glimpsed across the water.
GettyCharles Kuonen Suspension Bridge, Switzerland
Despite just being beaten out for the title of world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge by 516 Arouca, the 1,621-foot-long Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge still wows with its views of the Weisshorn and Bernese Alps, rich alpine forests and meadows, and a nearby rock slide. It’s even possible to see the Matterhorn if you’re crossing from the north. Due to its extreme length and lofty height of nearly 279 feet above the Matteral Valley, the bridge is prone to swaying in high winds, and closes during winter and bad weather. While you can visit the bridge on a four-hour, round-trip hike from nearby Randa, the best way to experience it is as part of the Europaweg, a two-day hike that connects Zermatt and Grächen and is part of the larger Monte Rosa circuit.
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Chris AmatGolden Skybridge, Canada
Set to open in June 2021, the Golden Skybridge near Golden, British Columbia, will introduce visitors to the majesty of the Canadian Rockies with unobstructed views of snow-capped peaks, wild forests, rocky canyons, and waterfalls. The twin suspension bridges will be the highest in the country at 426- and 262-feet-high. At lengths of 459 and 492 feet, the two bridges are connected by nature trails and link the abutting Rocky and Purcell Mountain ranges.
GettyHighline179, Austria
From man-made castles to timeless mountains, the 1,332-feet Highline179 in Tyrol, Austria, combines natural beauty with history and culture. With the picturesque Austrian Alps as a backdrop, the Tibet-style suspension bridge—made with metal grating and four supporting cables—connects two of the area’s historic battlements: the hilltop Ehrenburg Castle, a gothic structure that dates from 1296, and Fort Claudia. Hanging 374 feet above the valley floor, the bridge can be accessed for a fee of about $9.
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GettyHillary Suspension Bridge, Nepal
Named after Sir Edmund Hillary, who along with Tenzing Norgay were the first people to summit Everest, this metal suspension bridge above Nepal’s Dudh Koshi River is one of several suspension bridges that Everest-bound travelers must cross to get to Base Camp. Surrounded by rocky canyons and strung with prayer flags and Khada Buddhist shawls, it’s a popular photo stop along the route. At 459 feet long and 410 feet high, it also frequently sways in the high-altitude winds. The bridge is the last one that needs to be crossed before reaching the hillside town of Namche Bazaar, known as the “gateway to Everest.”
GettyKushma Gyadi Bridge, Nepal
As a nation of mountains and valleys, Nepal has no shortage of impressive bridges, but the Kushma Gyadi Bridge is said to be the country’s highest and longest at 1,128 feet long and 384 feet high. Suspended above the Modi River, the bridge links the Kushma municipality with the village of Gyadichour. With simple but solid construction, the bridge has unobstructed views of the river valley, which is blanketed in thick, green forests.
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GettyLangkawi Sky Bridge, Malaysia
Arching out above the lush forests of Gunung Mat Chinchang Mountain on Malaysia’s Pulau Langkawi Island, the ultra-modern and 410-foot-long Langkawi Sky Bridge uses a tower-supported, cable-stayed design. Completed in 2005, visitors take a cable car up the mountain to reach the main bridge, located 2,170 feet above sea level. Once on the bridge, you're treated to sumptuous views of forested peaks and the rich blue waters of the nearby ocean.
GettyMishima Skywalk, Japan
With its conical shape and snowy peak, Mount Fuji cuts a striking figure from any angle. But one of the best vantage points to appreciate its prominence is the Mishima Skywalk. From the 1,312-foot cable-stayed bridge, which spans a forested gorge on the southwestern rim of one of Mount Hakone’s massive calderas, pedestrians have crystal-clear panoramic views of Mount Fuji and Suruga Bay. It also happens to be the longest suspension bridge in Japan. For an extra thrill, catch the view from a zip-line that runs parallel to the footbridge.
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GettyMistico Arenal Hanging Bridges, Costa Rica
Rich in biodiversity and tropical views, Costa Rica’s rainforest canopy is one of the country’s top must-sees. While ziplines are a popular way to see this treetop world, strolling through the canopy on Mistico Park’s hanging bridges offers a far more immersive experience. Located within Arenal Volcano National Park, this private reserve has six elevated bridges of different lengths and heights that connect with paths as part of a two-mile circuit. Along the route you’ll pass through forested sections and catch glimpses of both Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal.
GettyPunakha Suspension Bridge, Bhutan
One of the longest suspension bridges in Bhutan, at approximately 520 feet, the Punakha Suspension Bridge swoops over the turquoise waters of the Tsang Chu River. Anchored to each shore by cement blocks, the cantilever bridge has railings decorated in colorful prayer flags and connects the Punakha Dzong Buddhist Temple to the nearby villages of Shengana, Samdingkha, and Wangkha. The two ends of the bridge are also bookended by picturesque rolling green hills and meadows.
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GettyQ'eswachaka, Peru
Once part of a vast road system that linked the Inca empire, this hand-woven-grass-rope bridge located near the village of Huinchiri in Peru’s Cusco region now serves as a historic reminder of Incan ingenuity. Hanging 60 feet above the Apurimac River and stretching 118 feet long, each June the nearby locals gather to renew the bridge with fresh materials in an ode to Pachamama (Earth Mother) and their ancestors.
GettySochi Skybridge, Russia
Strung above the forested Akhshtyr Gorge and Mzymta River near Sochi, the Sochi Skybridge is Russia’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge at 1,440 feet long, and sits 679 feet above the ground. Instead of a smooth, flat walkway, this bridge is composed of connected segments of steps, giving it a unique geometrical look. Visitors can also see the Colchis Forest and the Black Sea coast, and admittance costs roughly $20.
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GettyTitlis Cliff Walk, Switzerland
You don’t need to be an expert mountaineer to experience the high-altitude beauty of the Alps. The Titlis Cliff Walk, on Mount Titlis in the Swiss Alps, sits 10,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by glaciers, snow, and alpine peaks. A mere three-feet wide, the 320-foot-long bridge can only be reached by cable cars to the summit, and promises frigid and windy but “wow”-worthy views upon stepping out into the thin mountain air.
GettyZhangjiajie Grand Canyon Bridge, China
If just the thought of crossing a swaying suspension bridge gives you pause, maybe skip this one, where you can look straight down 1,000 feet beneath you. With its clear glass bottom, the 1,180-foot-long Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Bridge allows visitors to feel like they’re floating over the verdant valley below. If you’re brave enough to go, you’ll be treated to jaw-dropping views of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a spectacular region of verdant forests, giant canyons, and sandstone rock formations that served as landscape inspiration for the film Avatar.