By Sara Wiseman
I know you’re super busy in your travels and studies abroad. I know it’s super exciting visiting all of the tourist attractions, all of the night clubs and all of the fantastic cafes. I also know you need to shut up and listen. What you’re doing can’t compare to the breathtaking views these vistas have to offer. Here are my top five of the most fantastic lookout points in Europe.
- Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)
Ahh oui oui, La Tour Eiffel. Gorgeous. If you visit Paris and don’t visit the Eiffel Tower, you’re an idiot. I’m sorry for losing my temper back there but it’s true and I won’t apologize. Now that we’re past that, here’s the scoop. Gustav Eiffel gave us a beautiful gift and aside from the the interesting historical and cultural aspects of the Tower, it also offers the most rewarding view of the city.
You can pay to use the elevators to travel to the tippy top or you can save some money and climb 704 stairs to the second floor. In my opinion, it’s not necessary to fork over extra cash to get a great view of Paris. You’ll fall in love either way, guaranteed.
- Piazzale Michelangelo (Florence, Italy)
Piazzale Michelangelo and the Duomo of Florence often compete for the best vista. Let me tell you, I think Michelangelo is superior and here’s why: I’m a lazy, lazy woman intolerant of most sweaty strangers.
In the heat of the day you can choose to stand in a boiling hot line of perspiring homosapiens, climb hundreds of stairs in a narrow hallway and take your turn seeing Florence. Or you can walk outdoors to a roomy piazza with free entry, crack open a bottle of wine, chill and take time to absorb a truly great view of Florence, Firenze (if you will).
This view is gorgeous any time of day but really shines at sun down.
- Gianicolo Hill (Rome, Italy)
Rome is a bustling city dripping in ancient history. It can be difficult to take it all in from the streets as you stare up at the Colosseum or Pantheon. Taking a step back to admire a view of Rome as a whole can give you an entirely new perspective.
All of the traffic and honking and commotion falls mute at Gianicolo Hill. To the west of the Tiber River, the hill offers the greatest view of a city that rose to rule the known world.
- Mount Tibidabo (Barcelona, Spain)
The Catalonian city of Barcelona is a raging good time. Seriously, raging. A nonstop party with a flow of music and drinks that don’t stop until sunrise, Barcelona can intoxicate you. And if the booze and sun didn’t already do it, the view of Barcelona from Mount Tibidabo is also intoxicating.
Take the time to visit this point for the greatest panorama of this legendary city.
- Anacapri (Capri, Amalfi Coast, Italy)
I know what you’re thinking. Which one of these has the most bangin’ cover photo to offer? Here, children, lies the answer: Anacapri.
Located high upon the island of Capri, lies all of your greatest social media dreams. After hopping off of the chair lift, you can practically smell the Likes, the Retweets and the Instagram followers. Now, I’m not a scientist, but I’m pretty sure that’s why Anacapri was invented.
The colors of the blue waters, the white sailboats and the brightly colored flowers that pepper the cliff-side are phenomenal.
