Vintage Photos of Cities Around the World
The biggest cities around the world are rich with history and culture, which is a huge part of what makes thousands of tourists flock to them every single year. Beyond the unique shops and delicious restaurants are historical monuments that sometimes date back hundreds of years and old buildings or streets that will make you feel like you're stepping back in time.
While you may have visited some of these cities while traveling, you've never seen them the way they are in these vintage photos: everything from the buildings to the cars to the outfits on the people strolling around are completely different. It's always interesting to look back and see what your favorite city looked like many years ago, and how it has evolved and changed since then. Here's a look at vintage photos of cities around the world that will make you wish you could grab your passport and go.
Times Square became a popular spot in New York City back in the early 1900s. By 1905, it was a hub filled with theaters, restaurants, and shops, just like today, and although the Great Depression hurt the area and vendors, this photo from 1953 shows that it bounced back pretty well.
The iconic Grand Hotel in Paris dates back to 1862, when Empress Eugenie inaugurated it. The Palais Garnier (the Opera) dates back even further, to 1669. The two structures stand next to each other, and as you can see in this photo from 1960, it's a popular tourist destination.
When in London, almost everyone makes a stop at Parliament Square to see Big Ben, among many other historical buildings and monuments. Big Ben first rang in Westminster in May 1859. This photo from 1907 was taken long after it cracked in September 1859.
Today, Ginza in Tokyo is known as a busy shopping district full of luxury stores, restaurants, and cafes. This photo dates back to 1921, so it was taken before The Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 that destroyed much of the area - Ginza then went through a huge reconstruction financed by the government, and the buildings pictured here are probably long gone.
Ipanema Beach, pictured here in 1960, has long been one of the most popular beaches in Rio de Janiero. The neighborhood in the area was traditionally more wealthy than the neighborhood in Copacabana, making the beach more refined, and in the 1970s, it became a major spot for surfers.
This photo from about 1900 shows an old image of Adderley Street in Cape Town. It's the main street in the business district of Cape Town, and has been since way back in the day: originally called the Heerengracht, it was changed to Adderly Street in 1850 in honor of Charles B. Adderley, a British member of Parliment.
The Gran Vía is known as Madrid's most famous street. It's full of shops, restaurants, and some of the most iconic buildings in the city. It dates back to 1862, when part of the city was renovated, and was one of the most challenging urban constructions in Spain. This photo from 1960 shows off the beautiful buildings.
It's almost impossible to visit Rome and not at least get a glimpse of the giant Colosseum, one of the most popular spots in the city and a truly historic building - it dates back to A.D. 70-72, when it was gifted to the Roman people by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty. Two-thirds of the original Colosseum has been destroyed over time, but enough still stands today to be a tourist destination, and this photo from 1962 shows a horse and buggy out front instead of a line of cabs.
Amsterdam is a maze of canals with thousands throughout the city, the oldest being from 1648. Some are more famous than others, but all are beautiful and part of what makes the city so unique and interesting. In this photo from 1969, a group of young Dutch girls are walking over one of those bridges in the spring.
This photo from the 1950s gives an old look at the Queen Sophie Street in Athens, also known as Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, one of the most popular streets in the city. It was once called Kifissias Avenue after Sofia Dorothea Alice of the House Hohenzollern.
Easily the most iconic building in Australia, the Sydney Opera House took 14 years to build and was finished in 1959 - in this photo from 1955, you can see work is still being done to it. It has since been home to many of the world's greatest artists and performers.
Lebanon gained independence in 1946, only two years before this photo was taken in 1948. Beirut is the largest city in Lebanon, and its main seaport. It is also one of the oldest cities in the world, and the first historical mention of Beirut was found in the ancient Egyptian Tell el Amarna letters dating from the 15th century BC.
Buenos Aires was founded in 1536 by Spanish explorer Pedro de Mendoza, and quickly became a very popular city. The tango dance actually originated from Buenos Aires in the 19th century. In this photo from 1946, you can see workers gathered on the street in a protest.
The Rossio train station pictured here in 1957 is one of the most iconic buildings in Lisbon. Built in the late 19th century between 1886 and 1887, the station was once called the Central Train Station, and made the connection between the city of Lisbon and Sintra. At the time it was built, it was thought of as a marvel of engineering.
The rickshaw may have originated in Japan, but it has been a staple of culture in Hong Kong as well. The name, jinrikisha in Japanese, means "man-powered carriage." Here, you can see one in Hong Kong from 1955.
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and the largest city in Scandinavia. It began as a small fishing village and was once called "Havn," which means harbor. In 1343, King Valdemar Atterdag made Copenhagen the capital of Denmark. This photo from 1960 shows a girl riding her bicycle down the street.
One of the main streets in Jerusalem is King David Street, which was known as Julian's Way when this photo was taken in 1930. It started off as just as a dirt track to the city of Bethlehem, but today, you can find luxury hotels, art galleries, and shopping, making it one of the most expensive areas of the city.
Wawel Hill was the first of the first early-Romanesque and Romanesque sacral buildings. One of those was the stone cathedral you see here, which was established all the way back in the year 1000. The castle and cathedral shown here have a rich history and are important monuments.
The city of Seoul can date back as far as 18 B.C. At the end of the 19th century, the modern Seoul we know today began to take over with the construction of electrical facilities, railroads, parks, schools, hospitals, and more. It came under the influence of Japanese colonialism in 1910 to about 1945. This photo was taken in 1952 during the Korean War, and shows bomb damage and a United States Army Jeep.
If this photo of Dubrovnik from 1960 looks like something straight out of a Game of Thrones episode, that's because it kind of is. Many scenes from the show were filmed in Dubrovnik's Old Town. This makes sense, since the city (originally called Ragusa) was founded in the 7th century as a refuge fro coastal residents running from barbarians.
This photo from 1965 shows an old look at the Plaza de los Coches in Cartagena, the most central plaza in the city. It was once called Plaza del Esclavo, and was used as a market for enslaved people. It has changed names several times, and is now a popular spot in the city.
This photo from 1865 shows the John Knox house, a 16th century Protestant Reformer. Located on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, the John Knox house is an extremely popular tourist destination that is one of the oldest buildings in Edinburgh, built in the mid-16th century with parts of it dating back to 1470.
The luxury hotel Chateau Frontenac, pictured here in 1974, is one of Canada's most historic landmarks located in the heart of Old Québec. It was built on the grounds of the former Chateau St. Louis, which was the main administrative office for both the French and British colonial governments in the city until it burnt down in 1834. Construction began on the hotel in 1892.
Berlin was left in ruins after World War II, when Soviet forces came in and fighting began. After the war, the city was occupied by Allies, and civilians began cleaning it up. In this photo from 1945, you see German children playing on a tank in one area of the city that was severely damaged by bombs.
Sunset Boulevard, otherwise known as the Sunset Strip, is one of the most iconic streets in Los Angeles, and has been a haven for celebrities since the beginning. It started off as a tiny dirt road and expanded into a a bustling street full of shops, historic buildings, and more. This photo from 1945 shows the Palladium, where Jimmy Dorsey was playing, and the CBS building.
Amer Fort (sometimes also called Amber Fort), is one of the most popular historical monuments in the city of Jaipur, and is pictured here in 1965. It's a well-preserved monument from the time of Rajput rule in Rajasthan, and the design is an interesting mix of Hindu and Muslim styles.
This photo from 1950 shows an older Djemaa-El-Fna, which is the main square and market in Marrakesh. It's there that you'll find everything from fortune tellers and snake chamers to poets and shops. It dates back to the founding of Marrakesh by the Almoravids in 1062 and has been used as a market and gathering place for over a thousand years.
This photo from 1989 shows the Khaju Bridge on the Zayanderud Riber, which is known as the finest bridge in Iran. It was built on top of an older bridge around 1650, consists of 23 stone arches, and is about 430 feet long and nearly 40 feet wide.
The Bund, pictured here back in 1950, is a famous waterfront on the Huangpu River and is thought of as the symbol of Shanghai. This popular walkway is home to so many important landmarks, like the Shanghai Tower and Shanghai World Financial Centre.
In this photo from the 1950s, you get a view of three of Miami Beach's historic hotels: the Delano, the National, and Sagamore. All three hotels are still there today. The 1950s were the time of Miami's peak, when Miami Beach was known as America's Playground.
Vintage Photos of Cities Around the World
The biggest cities around the world are rich with history and culture, which is a huge part of what makes thousands of tourists flock to them every single year. Beyond the unique shops and delicious restaurants are historical monuments that sometimes date back hundreds of years and old buildings or streets that will make you feel like you're stepping back in time.
While you may have visited some of these cities while traveling, you've never seen them the way they are in these vintage photos: everything from the buildings to the cars to the outfits on the people strolling around are completely different. It's always interesting to look back and see what your favorite city looked like many years ago, and how it has evolved and changed since then. Here's a look at vintage photos of cities around the world that will make you wish you could grab your passport and go.
Go back in time with these photos of some of your favorite spots.
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