Streets have the ability to define a city, providing visitors with incredible entertainment and nightlife, beautiful street art, award-winning restaurants, rich history, and often many iconic landmarks.
While streets can give way to road rage and bumper‑to‑bumper traffic, many are so incredibly loved and famous that they have become top tourist attractions.
So, we’ve gathered a list of some of the world’s most famous streets, boulevards, avenues, and roads that will no doubt leave a lasting impression.
To make sure you remain on Easy Street, be sure to consider travel insurance for added peace of mind, should you run into any travel disruptions along the way.
Broadway: New York City, USA
Not only is Broadway one of New York City’s most famous streets, but it’s also one of the city’s oldest north-south main thoroughfares.
Running nearly 21 kilometres through the city, the street was once known as the Wickquasgeck Trail by its early Native American inhabitants. It was later referred to as Heeren Straat, or “Gentlemen’s Way”, during Dutch rule, before being renamed Broadway under British governance, a name believed to reference its width.
Today, Broadway is home to New York City’s famous Theatre District as well as Times Square, where the annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop takes place.
Broadway was one of the first New York City streets to be illuminated by electric bulbs, and the street continues to shine brightly, , drawing millions of visitors each year who come to see Times Square and the Theatre District.
Don’t miss the chance to take a detour to check out Fifth Avenue as well, an avenue lined with some of the most famous and expensive stores in the world, including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Tiffany & Co.
La Rambla: Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona’s most famous street, La Rambla, is where most visitors flock when they visit the city.
The roughly 1.2‑kilometre‑long, tree-lined pedestrian street is home to numerous kiosks selling everything from flowers to souvenirs, and a host of attractions can be seen along the route.
From sunrise to late night, the street is often very crowded, especially during peak tourist season. In recent years, the city has introduced measures aimed at improving safety and managing crowd flow along La Rambla.
Some come to check out Casa Bruno Quadros, also known as the Umbrella House, while others aim to drink from the Font de Canaletes fountain, which is said to ensure you will one day return to the city.
Don’t miss the Joan Miro mosaic that’s set into the promenade, as well as one of Barcelona’s oldest hotels, Hotel Oriente.
Abbey Road: London, England
If you’re a Beatles fan, no trip to London is complete without visiting Abbey Road.
Every year, countless fans make the pilgrimage to Abbey Road’s famous zebra crossing, which is located near the southern end of the road in St John’s Wood.
It is here where the Beatles had their famous photo shoot, which went on to grace the cover of the band’s legendary eleventh studio album Abbey Road in 1969.
Most visitors come to Abbey Road to recreate the pose the Fab Four are shown doing on the album cover, and you can also visit the nearby Abbey Road Studios, where the Beatles recorded many of their songs.
Just remember, if you are the one posing as Paul McCartney, tradition has it that you need to make the crossing barefoot to do it correctly.
Champs-Élysées: Paris, France
Easily the most recognised avenue in Paris, if not the world, the Champs-Élysées attracts tourists from all over the world due to its historical significance.
Home to the Arc de Triomphe monument, the approximately 2-kilometre-long avenue is lined with horse-chestnut trees, cafés, theatres, and shops.
Special events taking place on Avenue des Champs-Élysées include the annual Bastille Day military parade and the final stage of the Tour de France bike race.
The Royal Mile: Edinburgh, Scotland
Home to some of Edinburgh’s most significant landmarks, The Royal Mile is a series of interconnected streets that run for almost exactly one mile through the heart of the Old Town.
The streets that make up The Royal Mile include Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate and Abbey Strand, stretching between the impressive Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland.
Other notable landmarks on The Royal Mile include St. Giles Cathedral and the Heart of Midlothian, a heart-shaped mosaic in the street that marks the location of the old 15th-century tolbooth and once-public execution site. Criminals who were released from the nearby prison would spit on the location upon leaving, and today, visitors continue to spit on the Heart of Midlothian for good luck.
While The Royal Mile is a beautiful place to stroll today, daily life here in earlier centuries was far less refined. With no modern plumbing systems, residents would often dispose of household waste, including human waste, directly onto the street. Thankfully, that practice is firmly in the past, leaving today’s visitors free to enjoy the history without the hazards.
Orchard Road: Singapore
Home to Singapore’s most famous shopping precinct, Orchard Road offers visitors thousands of businesses, which include all kinds of shops, restaurants, cafés, hotels, and nightclubs.
The roughly 2-kilometre-long road dates back to the 1830s, when, at that time, it was unnamed. It was later named Orchard Road due to the fact that the road once led to a number of fruit orchards, as well as nutmeg and pepper plantations.
You will find the official residence of Singapore’s president at the eastern end of Orchard Road and the 160-year-old, lush Singapore Botanic Gardens nearby towards the western end.
Hollywood Boulevard: Los Angeles, USA
Travellers wanting to literally walk in the footsteps of the world’s most famous celebrities need to look no further than LA’s Hollywood Boulevard.
Famous for its fifteen-block stretch that houses the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the boulevard is also where you will find the Hollywood & Highland shopping mall and entertainment complex.
Don’t miss the TCL Chinese Theatre, the Dolby Theatre, and great photo opportunities at Madame Tussauds Hollywood. Come the Christmas season, the boulevard becomes somewhat of a Santa Claus Lane, where the street becomes lit up with many Christmas lights and decorations.
Rent a car and drive four miles northeast, and you will find yourself on one of America’s other most notable stretches of road, the Las Vegas Strip.
Another of America’s most notable stretches of road is the Las Vegas Strip.
Actually, a stretch of South Las Vegas Boulevard, the street is, of course, home to some of the grandest and most well-known casinos and resorts in the world, including the Bellagio and The Venetian.
It is important to check the appropriate authority for the most up-to-date travel requirements.