拱桥是指以拱作为主要承重结构的桥梁。

最早出现的拱桥是石拱桥，借着类似梯形石头的小单位，将桥本身的重量和加诸其上的载重，水平传递到两端的桥墩。各个小单位互相推挤时，同时也增加了桥体本身的强度。近现代的拱桥则更多的使用混凝土或钢材建造。

现存最早的石拱桥是约公元前1300年前的迈锡尼文明的Arkadiko bridge ；最早并还在使用的石拱桥则是前850年的卡雷凡桥。

有些高速公路或是较长的桥可能由好几段拱桥连接而成，虽然现在已经有其他更符合经济成本的结构可供选择。历史上著名的拱桥包括罗马的输水道系统、中国建于隋朝的赵州桥。

An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side. A viaduct (a long bridge) may be made from a series of arches, although other more economical structures are typically used today.