Out of all the types of public spaces that exist, none have proven to be as important as the humble waterfront. Waterfronts are deeply woven into a city’s history and identity. Imagine San Francisco without the Bay, Nice without its Riviera, and Sydney without its harbor?
Natural beauty seems to follow these cities. With beautiful surroundings and balmy sea breezes, waterfront cities have an unquestionable atmosphere that’s both relaxing and invigorating.
There are plenty of cities located on a body of water, but these twelve seaside cities stand out from the pack. Most of them have busy harbors with a rich maritime history, scenic promenades, or even sandy beaches to seal the deal.
25. Dubrovnik, Croatia
Walking along the ancient stone walls, you’re treated to sweeping views of the Adriatic’s clear blue. Dubrovnik’s Old Town is a maze of narrow streets, red rooftops, and tiny shops tucked everywhere. The waterfront is never far away, and it’s breathtaking from almost any angle.
If you geek out over history, there’s no shortage of old forts and palaces. You might even recognize locations from movies and TV—Dubrovnik’s a famous filming spot.
When you need a break, just head to the pebble beaches outside the city walls. You get history, views, and that salty breeze all at once.
24. Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona gives you both city life and waterfront vibes. The city hugs the Mediterranean, so you can go from busy streets to sandy beaches in no time.
Maybe you start the day at a market or shopping, then wander over to Barceloneta Beach to chill by the water. The city’s got this cool blend of modern and old—palm trees, wild art, and seaside cafes keep things lively.
Sunsets from the beach? Pretty magical. And at night, music and laughter spill out from restaurants right by the shore.
23. Essaouira, Morocco
Strolling the old city walls in Essaouira, you get hit with the Atlantic breeze. Fishing boats bob in the harbor, seagulls hover overhead, and the sounds of the medina drift over.
The narrow streets are lined with blue and white buildings. The place has a creative vibe—lots of artists and musicians call it home. It feels way more laid-back than bigger Moroccan cities.
On the beach, you’ll see surfers and people flying kites. Sunsets paint the sky orange and pink. If seafood’s your thing, grab some grilled fish by the port.
It’s easy to lose track of time here and not feel rushed at all.
22. Busan, South Korea
Busan greets you with beaches, mountains, and a skyline full of skyscrapers. The coast is always busy—people hang out at Haeundae Beach or walk along Gwangalli Beach for a view of the Diamond Bridge.
The street food scene is impossible to ignore. Fish cakes and spicy rice cakes pop up everywhere. Seafood markets buzz with energy and fresh catches.
You’ll want to check out Gamcheon Culture Village, where colorful houses climb the hillside. Shopping streets get lively in the evenings, and the nightlife keeps going late.
Nature’s always nearby—parks, cliffs, and ocean views give you a break from the city’s rush.
21. Acapulco, Mexico
Acapulco sits on Mexico’s Pacific coast in Guerrero. It’s both a city and a port, famous for its beaches and warm weather.
You can stretch out on sandy beaches or grab seafood at a local spot. The waves are solid for swimming or surfing, and you won’t have trouble finding a hammock by the shore.
The beach is clean, with plenty of space to walk or just watch the sunset. Acapulco mixes fun and relaxation in a lively way.
20. Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena’s colorful colonial buildings jump out at you right away. Cobblestone streets twist through the old town, and the Caribbean Sea is always in sight.
Walking the old city walls, you can watch ships in the harbor. The sea breeze makes it a cool hangout, especially at sunset.
Neighborhoods like Getsemaní burst with street art, music, and open-air cafes. Plazas fill up with both locals and travelers.
If you want some beach time, white-sand beaches are close. The city’s mix of culture, water, and lively streets wins over a lot of visitors.
19. Monte Carlo, Monaco
Monte Carlo hugs the French Riviera, right where the city meets the Mediterranean. Dramatic cliffs, sparkling water, and classic buildings crowd together in one spot.
Stroll through Casino Square and you’ll see luxury cars and stylish people everywhere. The Monte Carlo Casino stands out with its grand look and storied past.
Larvotto Beach is nearby, with soft sand and blue water. It’s open to everyone and has a chill vibe, perfect for swimming or just zoning out.
Hotels like Hotel Metropole keep you close to the sea, restaurants, and city sights. Pretty much every view feels like a postcard, with palm trees and endless blue below.
18. Wellington, New Zealand
First thing you notice in Wellington? The city hugs the water. Hills circle the harbor, and the views never really stop.
The waterfront’s got parks, cafes, and museums right up against the harbor. Boats come and go all day.
Wellington’s beaches—Oriental Bay and Scorching Bay—are great for a swim or just soaking up the sun. The city’s got a creative streak, with street art and music everywhere.
On a sunny day, locals and tourists flock to the waterfront. It’s lively, but the sea air keeps things feeling relaxed and easy.
17. Ushuaia, Argentina
Ushuaia sits at Argentina’s southern tip, squeezed between mountains and the sea. People call it the southernmost city in the world, and honestly, it does feel remote and wild.
Colorful houses line the waterfront, and ships in the harbor head for Antarctica. Snowy peaks loom behind the city, making every walk a bit of an adventure for your eyes.
If you’re up for it, there’s hiking, boating, and penguin spotting nearby. In winter, snow falls and the city feels extra cozy—surprisingly so, considering how far south you are.
Long summer days let you wander the shoreline for hours and watch the sky shift colors. It’s a place where nature feels close and every day’s just a little different.
16. Miami, USA
Miami greets you with colorful buildings and palm trees by the ocean. The city buzzes, especially near the beaches. That warm weather just begs you to get outside.
South Beach is perfect for people-watching—skaters, bikers, you name it. The water’s clear, the sand’s soft, and boats drift by in the distance.
At night, the city lights up with music and energy. Waterfront streets fill with cafes and restaurants. You’ll find food from all over, but Cuban and Caribbean dishes are everywhere.
Art Deco buildings give Miami its style, and street art pops up on the walls. It’s a mash-up of style, nature, and culture that just works.
15. Nha Trang, Vietnam
Nha Trang sits on Vietnam’s south-central coast, famous for its long sandy beach and clear blue water. Islands dot the bay, and boat trips are a big draw.
Strolling the beach, you’ll see palm trees, cafes, and small shops. At night, the beachfront gets lively with food stalls and music, but it never feels overwhelming.
Try the local seafood, take a swim, or kick back at a beach resort. The ancient Po Nagar Cham Towers are close if you want a bit of history. You get city energy and nature in one place.
14. Split, Croatia
Split sits on the Adriatic, serving up views of blue water and old stone buildings. The city’s a mix of ancient history and modern life.
Walk around Diocletian’s Palace—it’s a Roman ruin that feels like an open-air museum. The narrow streets are packed with shops, cafes, and markets.
The palm-lined Riva promenade is made for people-watching. Boats, islands, and sunsets all compete for your attention from here.
Beaches are close if you want to swim or just stretch out. Split also makes a great base for exploring other towns and islands along Croatia’s coast.
13. Valparaíso, Chile
When you visit Valparaíso, you find a city sprawled across steep hills right by the Pacific. Streets twist and climb, and every neighborhood feels a little different, thanks to those bold, colorful houses everywhere you look.
Murals and graffiti cover walls all over the city, so every walk turns into a kind of art tour. If the hills start wearing you out, those old funiculars can give you a lift—sometimes they creak, but that’s part of the charm.
Valparaíso, a UNESCO World Heritage site, stands out for its quirky buildings and that old-school vibe. The port never really quiets down; ships come and go, adding a restless energy you can’t ignore.
Seaside cafes spill out onto the streets, and markets buzz with locals. It’s the kind of place where you might lose track of time, just watching the sunset or soaking up the salty air along the coast. Hard not to linger, honestly.
12. Cape Town, South Africa
Perched at the very southern tip of Africa, Cape Town is one of those cities that will take your breath away time and time again. Not too many cities boast mountains, beaches, and wine farms within a 30-minute drive of one another.
The whole city revolves around the ocean and mountains. As you might expect, Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities for adventure and nature seekers.
Home to hotels, a mall, museums, and markets, The V&A Waterfront seamlessly blends a historic working harbor with world-class entertainment, culture, and cuisine – all under an impressively sustainable umbrella.
11. Chania, Greece
On Crete’s northwest coast, Chania is a waterfront city carved into the Cretian landscape by its maritime history. The Venetian Harbor, known as the Old Port Area of Chania, was built in the 14th century to protect the city against pirates. Today, it’s a hub of cafes, restaurants, and shops in a unique setting that pays homage to its Cretan, Ottoman, and Venetian heritage.
The narrow alleys of the old port area are lined with boutiques and tavernas serving mouth-watering Cretan dishes. Sitting here with a chilled glass of Raki, taking in the lively atmosphere is something you won’t quickly forget.
10. San Sebastian, Spain
Spain has its fair share of iconic waterfronts, but one of the most gorgeous has to be San Sebastian. San Sebastian, or Donostia, as the locals call it, is a coastal gem along the Bay of Biscay.
Its famous beach, called Concha Beach because of its crescent-shaped shoreline, is often hailed as one of the most beautiful city beaches on the continent. This small city revolves around its waterfront, which is lined with tapas bars, and historic churches.
If you’re up for a hike, the best place to view the waterfront in all its glory is from Monte Igueldo.
9. Singapore
This city-state and island country might be small, but it packs a real punch when it comes to waterfront attractions. And with 63 islands making up the country, it makes sense that water is a big part of Singapore’s identity.
The Marina Bay Sands, with its iconic rooftop infinity pool and unparalleled views, is an easy highlight. But there are some less touristy spots that are just as beautiful.
The Singapore River was once the heart of maritime trade in the area. Today, it’s lined with bustling quays where you can enjoy a meal on the water or take a bumboat cruise at sunset.
8. Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul is especially unique in that the city straddles the border of two continents. It’s where East meets West, and nowhere is this more noticeable than along the Bosphorus Strait. For some locals, ferry rides between Europe and Asia are a daily commute.
The waterfront area is extensive, but one of the most iconic spots is the Karakoy Waterfront. It’s here where you can eat fresh seafood straight off the boats and listen to the hum of the mosques across the other side of the Golden Horn waterway.
7. Vancouver, Canada
Surrounded by ocean and mountains, Vancouver is considered a nature lovers paradise. And it’s easy to see why. Downtown Stanley Park has over one thousand acres of waterfront and woodlands right in the heart of the city.
The Seawall, stretching over 14 miles, is an iconic stretch of land for cycling and walking. Granville Island is another waterside haven. It’s a vibrant hub of food and produce on the water’s edge. And, of course, we can’t leave out False Creek, the narrow inlet that divides the city into two. It’s this creek that makes the city center feel almost like an island.
6. Nice, France
Nice is at the very heart of the French Riviera, surrounded by other glamorous cities like Cannes, St. Tropez, and Monte Carlo. It’s here where you will find the bustling Promenade des Anglais, an icon of the Mediterranean.
You might be surprised by the soft pebbled beaches, but there are countless restaurants and beach clubs along the beach with day beds on the water’s edge. The promenade leads through the Old City and into the Nice harbor, which is equally popular with local fishing boats as it is multi-million-dollar yachts.
5. San Francisco, California
San Francisco and its Bay are an inseparable duo. Joined to the mainland by the Golden Gate Bridge to the north, the Bay Bridge to the east, and Palo Alto to the south, there is no U.S. city with a waterfront as celebrated as this one.
The bay includes plenty of little towns and neighborhoods, like Sausalito and Marin. But it also has a few islands, including the eerie prison of Alcatraz and the uninhabited Angel Island. But the heart and soul of San Francisco’s waterfront centers around Fisherman Wharf, the Ferry Building, and Pier 39.
4. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Few cities radiate the vibrance and charisma that Rio de Janeiro does, and its waterfront is the beating heart of the electric energy that pulsates through the streets.
The golden beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema are the center of it all, with a waterfront promenade featuring distinctive black and white patterned mosaic tiles. Here, locals play volleyball and lounge under colorful umbrellas on a Monday morning. The ocean is a huge part of Rio’s culture. In fact, this city has 23 beaches alone.
3. Sydney, Australia
The sea is like a religion in Australia. Sydney has around 70 beaches, numerous rock pools, and more than 1,509 miles worth of spectacular shoreline to its name. It’s a city where urban cosmopolitanism meets laid-back beach vibes, and the harbor is the glue that holds it all together.
Sydney’s waterfront is an architectural marvel famous for its Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. It’s about as coastal as a city can get.
2. Bergen, Norway
With its fjords and inlets, Norway is pretty much one big waterfront. But the country’s second-largest city, Bergen, has a waterfront that truly steals the show. Set against a backdrop of picture-perfect mountains and lined with pastel wooden Hanseatic merchant houses, it’s no wonder the Bryggen Wharf is a listed UNESCO site.
The Bryggen looks just like it did during the Hanseatic League’s trading empire between the 14th and 16th centuries. In the 600-odd years since its founding, the city has been burnt down and rebuilt exactly as it was a handful of times.
1. Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong’s skyline is one of the most memorable in the modern world. It’s like a glittering mosaic of skyscrapers against jungle-clad hills that hug the edge of the Victoria Harbour.
Victoria Harbour is a hub of culture, cuisine, and lively energy that really capitalizes on its coastal location. The East Coast Park Precinct and Belcher Bay Promenade are at the center of it all.
For the best views of this harbor, hop on the famous Star Ferry, which transports passengers back-and-forth between Kowloon and Hong Kong.
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