Top Ten Best Views Around The World.

So, I’m a complete sucker for a good view and often when I go on holiday the first thing I do is find out where the best viewpoint is in the area. Sometimes I’m led to a lovely rooftop bar or restaurant where little effort is required and I can sit with a cocktail taking in the view, but on other occasions I’m really made to work for it by hiking up a mountain!! As much as hiking isn’t my favourite thing to do in the world, the view is always worth it. All the pain and suffering seems to fade away and becomes a distant memory when I look out and take in the breathtaking views before me.

For this blog I’ve decided to list my top 10 favourite views around the world that I have been lucky enough to visit so far. Here goes!

10. Ion Sky- Singapore.

On a fleeting visit to Singapore (mainly because we were on a backpacking budget and had heard how expensive it is there), my best friend and I did some research on free things to do during our time. Gotta save the pennies you know! We came across the Ion Sky Lounge which is located inside the Ion orchard shopping mall. We read that you need to get the escalator to the 4th floor and from there you will be guided to the viewing deck. When we arrived, we appeared to be in an art gallery where we spotted a few other tourists also looking a little shifty! But sure enough at 3pm a worker appeared and guided us to a lift which took us to the 55th floor. The view of the city was amazing and I kept pinching myself that we had been so lucky to see this for free! The viewing deck is open from 3-6pm and I would definitely recommend it!

9. Sugarloaf Mountain - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

I have written about this in my previous blog posts so I won’t bore you by repeating myself too much but the view from Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio is one that I will never forget and hope to visit again sometime. The mountains appear so small below you and the tall buildings on the ground look like lego blocks! You can watch planes take off from a nearby airport as the ocean glistens in the distance. I was able to spend my 30th birthday here so maybe it’s extra special to me but the view is just amazing. There are bars and restaurants at the top too so you can indulge yourself with a few Caipirinhas (remember to take cash as their card machines don’t like UK bank cards), kick back and relax. Personally I think the best time to go is at sunset where you can watch the sun disappear behind the mountains and see the city begin to gradually light up - it is truly magical!

8. Arc de Triomphe - Paris, France.

When people visit Paris, their top tourist priority is normally to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I did this too - but after living in Paris for 2 years, I discovered the view from the Arc de Triomphe is even better. Don’t get me wrong - the Eiffel Tower isn’t something to miss out completely as the view is great but do try to do both. It is a tiresome climb up the 284 steps in the enclosed spiral staircase but when you get to the top, you have a 360 degree view of Paris. The Eiffel Tower looks like a toy figure in the distance and you can see the eternal flame and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier below its archway. I have been here so many times and it doesn’t get old. The hustle and bustle of the Champs-Élysées can be seen below but you really feel a sense of peace at the top as you take in the views.

7. Hemakuta Hill - Hampi, India.

When I was backpacking around India in 2016, we visited Hampi and ended up staying for almost a week. Hampi is famous for its ruins, was once established as the capital of Vijayanagara and it is declared a World Heritage site. It also attracts adventurous travellers as there are many opportunities to go bouldering in the area. I would say we did the ‘more simple’ version of bouldering whereby our guesthouse owner Simba showed us an easier way of getting to the top of Hemakuta Hill (without having to use any of the bouldering equipment). Regardless, we joined fellow travellers at the top in time for the infamous sunset that you are guaranteed to see from this spot. It was truly beautiful and captivating. People began playing musical instruments which were passed around so you could either join in the fun or just sit back and soak in the atmosphere.

6. Chiang Mai Jungle - Chiang Mai, Thailand.

This is a perfect example of a view that you have to work hard to reach! Two friends and I embarked on a 3 day jungle trek in North Thailand. The trip included white water rafting, swimming in waterfalls and staying with families, experiencing life as a local. The trek itself on the first day was 10km up a mountain. Safe to say I had a few breakdowns and didn’t think I could do it but as we reached the top I downed a bottle of water, caught my breath and then looked out from the terrace and into the jungle below. I couldn’t believe I had travelled so far (and high) on foot! I think this view has stuck with me on a personal level because I reflected on what I had achieved and I felt like I was on top of the world (in height and with pride!). Top tip if you ever do this trip - make sure you have proper walking shoes or sturdy trainers, gratefully accept the sticks the locals give to you to help with the walk and make sure you stay hydrated throughout! It gets sweaty!

5. Tokyo Skytree - Tokyo, Japan.

On a trip to Japan to visit friends back in 2014, we made a trip to visit the Tokyo Skytree. We took the Sumida River Cruise (which is pretty cool in itself) to get there and once we arrived at the base of the building, we purchased our tickets and began the 634 meter climb in an elevator to the top. Tokyo is such a busy city and when you are on the ground you can’t escape the weird and wonderful things you see. But from the top of the Skytree, you can really appreciate the vast amount of buildings covering every inch of the ground. We accidentally timed it so that the sun had started to set when we were there which was amazing to see and I would recommend a visit here if you are ever in Tokyo!

4. Burj Khalifa - Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The tallest building in the world, standing at 830 meters! I’m so happy I managed to visit here when I was in Dubai - definitely something I ticked off my bucket list! It had actually been raining in the day so we were unsure if the view would be as good or not but luckily we were not disappointed! The skies cleared, the rain stopped falling and the view was perfect. There is something so iconic about Dubai. With the modern skyscrapers contrasting against the vast desert in the distance, it’s incredible. You can see it all from the Burj, and it’s not a sight to be missed!

3. Great Wall Of China - Beijing, China.

On a trip to Shanghai, we decided to take a short trip to Beijing so we could visit the Great Wall Of China. Another place I could tick off my list and I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to see this. Winding its way along over 5,000 miles, the Great Wall of China would take 18 months to walk the entire length. Although this is not the stereotypical ‘view from above’ as everything else is on this list, I couldn’t exclude this as it is a place I will always remember. It felt like I had been transported back in time and it made me marvel at the willpower and endurance that was needed to create the immense wall all those years ago. We were really lucky (and surprised) to be greeted with basically NOBODY else on the wall when we were there, which was great as we were able to take so many great photos and really take in the view without the crowds of people being in the way.

2. Monte Solaro - Capri, Italy.

When I was on holiday in the Amalfi Coast, I decided I would do a day trip and visit the island of Capri. The boat trip over was an excursion in itself where I learned about different landmarks, grottos and got to swim in the sea. When we arrived in Capri, we had a few hours of downtime to do our own thing so I headed straight to the cable cars I had found online in my research. The cars take you to the summit of Monte Solaro, which soars 589 meters above sea level. Sounds great!... Apart from the fact that the cable cars were the scariest experience of my life! I was too afraid to move a single muscle as I was whisked away in the single seat high above the ground. People who passed me on their way back down must have thought I looked so odd - frozen apart from the occasional mutter to myself about how scared I was! However, once I had disembarked and walked to the viewpoint my breath was taken away. I wanted to stay up there forever and take in the panoramic views which extended across the whole of the island of Capri, the surrounding Bay of Naples and the Amalfi Coast. If you’re a dare devil - this is a must do. Even I would brave those cable cars again to go back here!

1. Christ the Redeemer - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Number 1 on my list has to be Christ the Redeemer in Rio. I have been here 3 times and each time I become so overwhelmed by the spectacular view below me. Of course you have the mighty Christo himself which is something you would never want to miss out on seeing but for me it’s really the view of Rio de Janeiro that I enjoy the most every time. Of course, those that know me know that Rio is my favourite city in the world and I have made some fabulous memories there. But there is something about being on top of Mount Corcovado looking down at the beautiful white buildings that make up the city and the bright blue ocean and sky that really makes you feel like you are on the top of the world - and it gets me each time I’m there! There are a number of ways to get to the top - you can take a tram all the way up which is easier but more expensive and it gets full quickly (so get there early if you want to do it this way). The other option is to take a minibus to the first level and then you would need to buy another ticket for the final minibus to the viewpoint. This way is cheaper but you may be waiting a long time in queues especially if you’re there in the height of their summer or around Carnival time. Top tip - keep checking the weather forecast…. If it’s cloudy, you don’t really see anything! But on a clear day, you are guaranteed to see (in my opinion) the best view in the world!

I hope this list has been helpful and I have inspired you to go and visit some of these amazing views around the world!

Always remember - “When you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing”.

Laura-Ann

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