The best riverfront cities in the world

By Brian Johnston
Updated July 13 2016 - 12:13pm, first published July 10 2016 - 12:15am
Feluccas moored at the ancient ruins of Swenet in Aswan The Nile River, Egypt.
Feluccas moored at the ancient ruins of Swenet in Aswan The Nile River, Egypt.
Admiring the views over Porto from the cruise-ship dock at Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
Admiring the views over Porto from the cruise-ship dock at Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
A Sadhu (Hindu religious devotee) during morning prayer by the river Ganges in Varanasi, India. STR10COVER-RIVER - Varanasi, Ganges River, India Photo: iStock
A Sadhu (Hindu religious devotee) during morning prayer by the river Ganges in Varanasi, India. STR10COVER-RIVER - Varanasi, Ganges River, India Photo: iStock
The Vltava river and Charles bridge of Prague, Czech Republic.
The Vltava river and Charles bridge of Prague, Czech Republic.
Douro riverside and the Dom Luiz bridge, Porto, Portugal.
Douro riverside and the Dom Luiz bridge, Porto, Portugal.
Downtown Nashville during a beautiful early morning.
Downtown Nashville during a beautiful early morning.
The banks of Ganges River in a very misty morning.
The banks of Ganges River in a very misty morning.
Looking down the River Main at the skyline of Frankfurt at dusk, Hessen, Germany.
Looking down the River Main at the skyline of Frankfurt at dusk, Hessen, Germany.
Douro river and city of Porto al sunset, Portugal.
Douro river and city of Porto al sunset, Portugal.
Prague - Charles bridge, Czech Republic. picturesque landscape Photo: iStock
Prague - Charles bridge, Czech Republic. picturesque landscape Photo: iStock

Rivers are a pleasure as they burble through the countryside, but there's something special about rivers when they flow through cities. It's the presence of rivers, after all, that gave birth to many great cities, feeding their transport and trade, providing drinking and washing water and – more lately – much needed recreational space.

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