The 10 Best Views in Europe

The 10 Best Views in Europe

Looking across the cityscape of a metropolis that has existed since ancient times. Gazing in awe at one of nature’s most fascinating creations. Or immersing yourself in the stunning scenery of the European countryside.

Wherever you travel in Europe, you’re guaranteed to enjoy breathtaking views (and countless photo opportunities). These are our picks for the 10 best views in Europe. Believe us – it wasn’t easy to choose!

1. Notre Dame: Overlooking Picturesque Paris

Spend some time with Notre Dame Cathedral’s iconic gargoyles – these lucky statues get to enjoy incredible views of Paris all day, every day. You’ll have to settle for just an hour or two, but that’s plenty of time to see the sights and take some excellent photos.

The cityscape is delightful to behold from this high angle, with visual highlights including the Seine River and the Eiffel Tower in the distance.

2. Mount Srđ: Overlooking Dubrovnik

Travellers adore Dubrovnik’s terracotta roofs and exquisite old city walls. While time spent in town is never wasted and the wall walk is a must-do, the ideal vantage point for admiring the city’s unique aesthetic is actually on Mount Srđ. This slope looms protectively over Dubrovnik and provides visitors with one of the best views in Europe.

3. Mount Etna

Mount Etna is one of Sicily’s most fascinating attractions. Standing at the top and looking down into the crater provides you with a visual experience unlike any other in Italy. From here, you’ll also love the views of the sparkling coastline below.

Did you know? Italy is home to 3 active volcanoes, and Mt Etna is one of them.

Discover more interesting facts about Italy.

4. The Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus)

As you may have guessed from its English name, the German alpine retreat of Kehlsteinhaus is situated quite high up and provides spectacular sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. The journey to Kehlsteinhaus begins with a winding road and ends with a ride in a grandiose brass elevator.

This building is also commonly known as Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest, as it was presented to Adolf Hitler as a 50th-birthday present. This piece of trivia adds to the historic interest of the location.

5. The Matterhorn

Sitting on the border between Switzerland and Italy, the Matterhorn is one of the continent’s most awe-inspiring mountains. No matter what angle you look at it from, this 4.4-kilometre-high peak provides incredible views of the surrounding countryside.

Our favourite place for admiring the Matterhorn is the resort town of Zermatt, which sits in the mountain’s glorious shadow. We stay here for 4 nights on our Swiss Winter Wonderland Tour.

6. Aiguille du Midi

A lot of the views on this list are at great heights, but this one really isn’t for the faint-hearted. The cable car to the summit of this French alp has the steepest vertical ascent of any cable car in the world. But the amazing mountain views from the panoramic observation platform are well worth the trip!

7. The Bell Tower: Overlooking St Mark’s Square in Venice

There’s a lot to see and do (and eat!) in Venice. But you simply must save time in your itinerary to ascend the bell tower in St Mark’s Square. The way the city looks from up here is incredible.

8. Spanish Steps in Rome

Whether you’re looking up from the bottom or looking down from the top, every end of the Spanish Steps presents a gorgeous scene to enjoy (and take pictures of). The fountain at the base is the Fontana della Barcaccia, the centrepiece of the Piazza di Spagna. At the top of the stairs, you’ll find the Trinità dei Monti church. É bella!

9. Dom Luis Bridge: Overlooking Porto’s Old Town

A stroll across this iconic bridge in Porto provides you with stunning views of the River Douro and the cityscape on either side. In particular, you’ll be treated to a lovely aerial angle for admiring the city’s Old Town suburb of Ribeira.

10. Guinigi Tower: Overlooking Lucca

You could say that Tuscany has several of the best views in Europe – and you wouldn’t be wrong. But our favourite picturesque scene in this region has to be the view from the top of Guinigi Tower. Those quaint red roofs of Lucca and the lush countryside in the distance… just stunning.

Natural or manmade. Cityscapes or countryside. One thing is for sure: some of the best views in Europe are found when you get up high! What’s the most wonderful scene you’ve spied in Europe? Tell us about it on Facebook and follow us to see more fantastic photos like these ones in your newsfeed.