The World's Great Vistas
The overlooks worth the climb, the drive, or the early alarm. 15 places, mapped and ready to build a trip around.
Plan a trip on Trailwind →Cadillac Mountain
United StatesBestJun–OctClimate16–70°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishThe highest point on the North Atlantic seaboard, and for part of the year the first place in the United States to see sunrise.
Cape Point
South AfricaBestNov–MarClimate52–73°FCurrencyZARLanguageZuluCliffs at the end of the Cape Peninsula where the cold Atlantic and warm Indian currents visibly meet.
Cliffs of Moher
IrelandBestMay–SepClimate41–64°FCurrencyEURLanguageEnglishFourteen kilometres of Atlantic cliff rising to 214m. Go at the end of the day when the coaches have gone and the light comes in sideways.
Dead Horse Point State Park
United StatesBestVariesClimate21–91°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishA gooseneck of the Colorado River 600m below, with the whole of Canyonlands behind it.
Glacier Point
United StatesBestJun–OctClimate18–79°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishHalf Dome at eye level, Yosemite Valley 980m straight down, and Nevada and Vernal Falls in the same frame. Road closed by snow much of the year.
Gornergrat
SwitzerlandBestVariesClimate5–48°FCurrencyCHFLanguageGermanA cog railway climbs to 3,089m for a panorama of 29 peaks over 4,000m, the Matterhorn among them.
Haleakala
United StatesBestYear-roundClimate43–61°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishSunrise above the clouds from 3,055m, looking into a volcanic basin big enough to hold Manhattan. Reservation required.
Kjeragbolten
NorwayBestJun–SepClimate19–55°FCurrencyNOKLanguageNorwegianA boulder wedged in a crevasse with a thousand metres of nothing beneath it. Stepping onto it is optional.
Mesa Arch
United StatesBestVariesClimate19–91°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishAt sunrise the underside of the arch catches reflected light and glows orange. Half a mile from the road, and you will not be alone.
Poon Hill
NepalBestVariesClimate21–59°FCurrencyNPRLanguageNepaliA pre-dawn walk to 3,210m for Dhaulagiri and Annapurna turning pink. The most accessible great Himalayan viewpoint.
Preikestolen
NorwayBestMay–SepClimate21–59°FCurrencyNOKLanguageNorwegianA flat 25 by 25 metre platform with a 604m drop to Lysefjord and no railing whatsoever.
Schilthorn
SwitzerlandBestVariesClimate7–45°FCurrencyCHFLanguageGermanRevolving restaurant at 2,970m looking straight at the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. Bond filmed here in 1969.
Table Mountain
South AfricaBestSep–JunClimate37–66°FCurrencyZARLanguageZuluTable Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa.
Trolltunga
NorwayBestJun–SepClimate23–63°FCurrencyNOKLanguageNorwegianAirportBGOA tongue of rock jutting over a fjord 700 m below.
Zabriskie Point
United StatesBestNov–MarClimate48–108°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishEroded badlands that turn gold then blood-orange at sunrise. Ninety seconds from the car park, which is rare for a view this good.