The 10 BEST Panoramic Views of European Cities (+ Where to Find Them!)
I’m a firm believer that cities are best viewed by all angles. Every time I visit a new city, I love to wander around and roam the streets and explore what the city has to offer (and, of course, people watching). But I also love viewing it from above. There’s something about seeing all of the buildings and colors from overhead that give you a whole new perspective of a place. European cities in particular are even more beautiful from a panoramic bird’s-eye view, with their winding webs of streets and beautiful old buildings. So that’s why I had to share the best panoramic views of European cities that I’ve seen to date!
Whether it’s climbing flights of stairs, hiking up a hill, or taking a cable car, I always try to find some way to see a city from above if at all possible. It clears my head and shows a city in a whole new way. Plus, aerial views are always so damn pretty (even though pictures never really seem to do them justice).
Sure, climbing up stairs or a mountain is killer (I will NEVER forget my throbbing calves after climbing to the top of the Notre Dame in Paris), but the breathtaking views from above are ALWAYS worth the trek in the end. I have yet to regret making my way up steep stairs or a steep hill for a panoramic view of a city. And sometimes, you’ll even get lucky and realise a city has a cable car or funicular, meaning you don’t have to do any physical exertion to get some amazing views!
Here are some of my favorite panoramic and aerial views of cities around Europe, and how to see them for yourself!
Strasbourg, France
View from the Cathedral of Notre Dame
Strasbourg is truly a fairytale, and it looks even more magical from the rooftop platform of the city’s Notre Dame Cathedral. The church offers 360º views of this gorgeous city’s winding streets and historic rooftops. This is the typical panoramic view of an old European city – a postcard-worthy view of old, winding streets and red/brown rooftops.
To get up to this viewpoint, you’ll have to take a spiral staircase 330 steps to the top. The burning calves are worth it though for the breathtaking views. On a clear day you can even see the Black Forest (in Germany).
You can find more information on going up the tower of the Notre Dame Cathedral of Strasbourg here.
How to get there
Strasbourg old town isn’t that big, and the Cathedral is a very prominent feature. So chances are, you’ll be passing the Cathedral on foot at some point during your visit! If not, you can take the Tram A or D and get off at stop ‘Langstross Grand’Rue’
Price
Adult: €8
Child: €5
Children under 5 or disabled visitors: Free
Groups over 20 people: €5/person
Students under 18 years old: €5
Schedule / Opening Hours
April to September: Everyday from 9:30AM – 1:00PM and then from 1:30PM to 8:00PM
October to March: Everyday from 10:00AM – 1:00PM and then from 1:30PM to 6:00PM
Closed on New Year’s Day, Christmas day, and May 1st.
Also, be aware that last entrances are 45 minutes before closing!
Reykjavik, Iceland
View from Hallgrímskirkja Church
Even though this isn’t your typical European city panoramic view with old, winding streets, it’s still worth mentioning! I mean, look at that rainbow of color! For a small fee you can climb up the 73m high tower of the uniquely austere Hallgrímskirkja Church (try saying that 5 times fast) to see this lovely view of the colorful buildings and houses of Iceland’s capital city. There’s even an elevator which makes it an easy and accessible view for all visitors!
You can find more information about the Hallgrímskirkja Church here.
How to get there
The church is located in Hallgrímstorg, in Central Reykjavik. Reykjavik is relatively small and very walkable, so just like with the Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg, there’s a good chance you’ll already be passing it on foot! If not, you can reach the church with Buses 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15.
Price
Adult: ISK 1300 (~€9)
Children 7-16: ISK 200 (~€1.40)
Children under 7: Free
Seniors 67+, disabled visitors, and students: ISK 1000 (~€7)
Schedule / Opening Hours
April to October
Church: Every day from 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Tower: Every day from 9:00AM – 4:30PM
May to September
Church: Every day from 9:00AM – 9:00PM
Tower: Every day from 9:00AM – 8:30PM
The tower is closed Sundays from 10:30AM – 12:15AM for mass.
Porto, Portugal
View from the Gaia Cable Car
The Gaia Cable Car is located on the Gaia side of the banks of the Douro River, right across from Porto, and offers AMAZING aerial views of Porto Old Town. From the cable car you can see the beautiful river, Luis I Bridge, and the old town/Ribeira district of the city (the most photogenic area, if I do say so myself) with its array of red roofs and historic churches.
The cable car ride only lasts about 5 minutes and each cable car can hold up to 8 people. So make sure you get a spot next to the window to get the best views!
You can find more information about the Gaia cable car here.
How to get there
Reaching the cable car is really easy! You can take the Porto metro to the ‘Jardim do Morro’ station which is right next to the entrance of the cable car station. Or, you can cross the Luis I bridge on foot from Porto to Gaia and the station will be nearby once you get off the bridge and turn right.
Price
Adult: €7 one way / €10 roundtrip
Child: €3.50 one way / €5 roundtrip
Family (2 adults + 2 children): €22.50 roundtrip
Schedule / Opening Hours
There’s different opening hours for low season, mid season, and high season. During high season (late April to late September), the cable car is open every day from 10AM to 8PM.
You can find more information about the opening hours here.
Salzburg, Austria
View from the Hohensalzburg Castle
Ahhh, a lovely panoramic view of the beautiful town of Salzburg that requires absolutely zero physical excursion?! We LOVE to see it! Fabulous views of Salzburg and the surrounding mountains can be easily accessed by riding the Festungsbahn funicular to the top of the historic Hohensalzburg Castle – one of the most popular attractions in Salzburg! This funicular has been in operation since 1892 (that’s over 130 years!) and travels a total distance of 198.5m to the castle in under 60 seconds. It really couldn’t be easier to get these amazing views, and this is a must-do when visiting Salzburg! I went in the winter, so it was so beautiful seeing all of the snow-covered roofs and wintery mountains in the distance. This is a panoramic view that you’ll remember forever!
If you’re lucky, you may even be visiting on a day that the fortress is hosting a concert or event that you can stay to enjoy! You can find a calendar of events the fortress is hosting here.
You can find anything else you need to know about the Festungsbahn funicular here.
How to get there
There are several bus options that will all drop you within <15 minute walk to the Festungsbahn funicular.
From Salzburg Main Station, take Line 22 to ‘Herbert v. Karajan Platz,’ Lines 3, 5, 6, or 25 to ‘Haltestelle Rathaus,’ or Line 1 to ‘Hanuschplatz‘
Or if you’re coming from Salzburg Sud, take Lines 3, 7, or 8 to ‘Mozartsteg‘
And you can reach it from Salzburg Airport by taking Line 2 to ‘Mirabellplatz‘
Price
The ticket for the funicular also includes entrance into Hohensalzburg Fortress
Adult: €3.50 one way / €5.50 roundtrip
Children 6-14: €1.30 one way / €2.10 roundtrip
Seniors: €2.40 one way / €3.70 roundtrip
Groups > 10: €3.00/person one way / €4.90/person roundtrip
And best of all – Dogs are allowed!
Schedule / Opening Hours
The funicular runs every 10 minutes. The opening hours depend on the time of year
January to March, November: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
April, October, and December: 9:00AM – 8:30PM
May, June, and September: 8:30AM – 8:30PM
July and August: 8:30AM – 9:30PM
It’s even open Christmas Eve from 9:00AM – 7:00PM and New Year’s Eve from 9:00AM – 5:00PM
You can find anything else you need to know about the Festungsbahn funicular here.
Paris, France
View from the Notre Dame Cathedral
Now when you think of bird’s eye panoramic views of European capital cities, there is none more iconic than view of Paris from above. This may be my personal favorite panoramic viewpoint that I’ve experienced so far. So much so, that I’ve already discussed it extensively on this blog! Unfortunately the tower still closed indefinitely following the devastating Notre Dame fire in 2019, but hopefully it will eventually reopen in all its glory, and not have lost any of the magic.
Getting to the top of the Notre Dame tower involves climbing a very narrow, very spiral stone staircase a whopping 422 steps to reach the top. So, don’t do the climb if you’re in high heels or you’re claustrophobic. Thankfully, there is a book/gift shop in a high-ceiling stone chamber a little past the halfway mark, which is a good excuse to stop for a rest. And trust me, you’ll be thankful for the rest because this was a long ol’ climb up.
By the time I got to the top, I was pumping sweat and my calves were THROBBING. But honestly, I cannot stress how WORTH IT this view is.
You’re up close and personal with gargoyles, chimeras, ancient belfries and stunning 360º view of the heart of Paris. The best part is that you can really admire the gothic architecture of the building and really see the details up close. We spent a lot of time up there really taking in every angle, nook, and cranny. I felt like I was in the Hunchback of Notre Dame, which I was OBSESSED with when I was younger.
How to get there
The Notre Dame is literally in the heart of Paris. So, it’s really well connected with public transport.
The Metro station closest to the Cathedral is ‘Cité‘ on Metro line 4. You’ll see the Notre Dame as soon as you get off the metro here.
You can also take RER B or C to ‘Gare De Saint-Michel Notre Dame‘ which drops you on the banks of the River Seine. Then, you’ll just have to walk across the beautiful Pont Saint-Michel bridge to reach the cathedral.
Price
Unfortunately the church and towers are closed at the moment because of the 2019 fires. But when I visited, it was €8.50 for an adult ticket, with student/senior/group discounts offered.
Schedule / Opening Hours
The interior and towers of the church are closed to the public indefinitely while renovations/repairs are under way. However, there is a group of volunteers offering free, 1-hour tours of the exterior of the Cathedral! I would definitely recommend still going to visit the Notre Dame, even just to see the outside of the church. It truly is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. You can find out more about those free tours here.
You can also go inside the “Crypte archéologique d l’île de la Cité”, located right in front of the Notre Dame, to see layers of Paris’s history.
You can keep up with the progress of the repairs and renovations of the Cathedral here.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
View from the Old Town Walls
Talk about old, ancient, and historical. I mean, it’s giving KING’S LANDING. You can’t get more Old Europe than Dubrovnik Old Town, hence why it’s protected by UNESCO. So obviously, the aerial views are to DIE for. Walking the walls that enclose Dubrovnik’s Old Town, you’ll see amazing views of Lovrijenac Fortress, medieval towers, and centuries-old forts all the way out to the Adriatic Sea. This is another example of a quintessential European city panoramic view, with a tangled maze of old, stoney streets and a blur of red roof tops.
It can take 1-3 hours to walk the whole length of the walls, depending how many times you’ll stop and stop for photos (trust me, you’ll want to take a LOT). But, be warned, it can be freakin HOT up there as there’s really no shade from the beating Croatian sun and heat. So I would recommend going right when it opens or before it closes. That way, it’s not as hot or as crowded. Also, you’ll need to follow traffic and walk counterclockwise. If not, you may get turned around at checkpoints.
How to get there
The main entrance into the city walls is outside of Pile Gate. Once you arrive to Pile Gate, go down the steps to Stadun (the main street in Old Town) and on the left-hand side you’ll see the steps up to the city walls, right between Pile Gate and Crkva Svetog (St. Savior Church). You’ll see signage for a ticket kiosk. Although this is the main entrance, it is also the one with the most steps, and the steepest steps.
If you want fewer steps, you can use the other entrance at Ploče Gate, near St. Luke’s Fort. Lastly, there’s another entrance at St. John’s Fort at the Old Harbour.
Top tip: Make sure to check the schedule of cruise ship arrivals to Dubrovnik and try not to go while the cruise ships are docked if you can avoid it. You’ll have a much more enjoyable experience without the crowd of the cruise ships.
Price
Adult: €35
Children 7-18 and Students (with Croatian Student Cards, ISIC, or European Youth Cards): €15
Children under 7: Free
Unfortunately, everything within the Dubrovnik City Walls is quite expensive, especially when compared to the rest of Croatia. The prices for the entry tickets are high compared to other aerial viewpoints on this list. However, it’s worth mentioning that the ticket not only includes access to the path along the walls, but also entry into the Fort of St. Lawrence, Minčeta Tower, Fort Bokar, and an archeological museum inside Gornji Ugao Tower. Plus, your ticket is valid for 72 hours, so you don’t have to try to rush and visit ALL of these sites the day you bought your ticket.
However, I would highly suggest buying the Dubrovnik Pass! It’s a great cost saver if you’re planning staying in Dubrovnik for a few days. It’s the same price as the City Walls entry fee and it includes everything that that ticket includes, as well as entrance to Dubrovnik’s major museums and bus tickets.
You can find out more about the Dubrovnik pass here.
Schedule / Opening Hours
April and May: 8:00AM – 6:30PM
June and July: 8:00AM – 7:30PM
August and September: 8:00AM – 6:30PM
October: 8:00AM – 5:30PM
November to March: 9:00AM – 3:00PM
Edinburgh, Scotland
View from Calton Hill
OK well Scotland’s not technicallyyyyy in Europe because #Brexit, but this panoramic view was too pretty that I just had to include it as a “kinda” European city! Although Arthur’s Seat is known for having a great aerial view of Edinburgh and is super popular with tourists, I actually preferred the view of Edinburgh from Calton Hill.
This spot is great for panoramic views of both Old Town and New Town Edinburgh, especially at sunrise or sunset! For the best views, climb 143 steps up to the top of the hill and Nelson Monument.
How to get there
If you start at Princes Street and walk east, then pass by St. Andrew’s house, you’ll find a small roundabout. That will take you to the entrance of the Old Royal High School, and then just past that you’ll reach the entrance of the hill. Just to note, unfortunately there is no disability access.
Price
Seeing Edinburgh from the top of Calton Hill is FREEEE baby! However, you do have to pay an entrance fee into the Nelson Monument, which is at the top of Calton Hill.
Schedule / Opening Hours
Calton Hill is free and open to the public 24/7. The popular times are generally from 10:00AM – 4:00PM. Getting up the hill and exploring could take up to 3-4 hours. The best time to visit would be anytime between October and March
Florence, Italy
View from Piazzale Michelangelo
When it comes to bird’s-eye views, Florence may have some of the most panoramic viewpoints of any city in Europe, including the Duomo, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and Palazzo Vecchio to name a few. But my personal favorite is the view from Piazzale Michelangelo. This plaza is at the top of a hill south of Florence’s city centre, and has bronze replica’s of some of Michelangelo’s most famous works (hence the name) – most notably, the Statue of David.
Be warned, there are some tacky stalls selling tacky souvenirs up there, but just ignore them and focus on the views – because they’re totally worth it. And although the view from here is gorgeous all day long, but it’s especially postcard-worthy at sunset.
How to get there
Although Piazzale Michelangelo is accessibly by taxi or public transport, I recommend walking to the top to make the most of the whole experience. It’s about a 20-minute (uphill) walk from the heart of Florence.
To get to Piazzale Michelangelo on foot from the city centre, you have a few options:
- Climbing up the stairs that start at Piazza Poggi. Coming from Piazza San Niccoló head up the hill and keep left and you’ll go up a long flight of stairs.
- Walking Via Michelangelo from Piazza Ferruccio for 2kms
- Doing a light 3-km hike from the exit of Boboli Gardens which goes along Viale Machiavelli/Via Galileo
- Walking up the panoramic route starting at Porta San Miniato and climbing up the Scalea del Monte alle Croci and Scalinata del Monte alle Croci.
Price
Seeing this gorgeous aerial view is completely FREEEEE!
Schedule / Opening Hours
Open 24 hours! It does get busy at sunset though, so make sure to get there about an hour before sunset to get a good spot!
Innsbruck, Austria
View from Stadtturm Watchtower
ANOTHER city in Austria makes the list! What can I say? Austria is seriously gorgeous. And this aerial view of Innsbruck is one of my favorite panoramic views of any city in Europe. Also, I studied abroad for 6 weeks in Innsbruck when I was in college and it was the best 6 weeks of my whole life, so Innsbruck will always have my heart. And just like the view of Salzburg I talked about above, the bird’s eye view of Innsbruck provides not only stunning views of the colorful, wonderful city, but also of glorious mountains in just chilling in the background. #Casual
To see one of the best views of the city, head up the 133 steps to the top 360º observation deck of the 31m-high Stadtturn City Tower, smack dab in the middle of the Alstadt (Old town) of Innsbruck. From the top of the tower you’ll be able to see the medieval streets and colorful buildings of the city, as well as the Nordkette mountains and the Inn river. Plus, you’ll also have a great view of the Goldenes Dachl (Gold Roof), the city’s most famous building.
How to get there
Innsbruck’s city centre is small and super walkable. The city tower is located on Herzog-Friedrich Straße and it’s only a 10-15 minute walk from Innsbruck’s central train station.
Price
Adult: €4.50
Children 6-15: €2.00
Seniors over 60/Students: €3.00
Family (2 adults + Child 6-15): €9.00
Combination ticket (Stadtturn Watchtower + Goldenes Dachl Museum + City Museum): €8.40
or, it’s FREE with the Innsbruck Card!
Schedule / Opening Hours
June to September: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
October to May: 10:00AM – 5:00PM
Prague, Czech Republic
View from the Garden on the Ramparts
Prague is another European city that has some of the most iconic European panoramic views, with its red roofs and maze of streets. The Zahrada na Valech, or Garden on the Ramparts, is one of the three gardens that make up The South Gardens at the southern wall of the gorgeous Prague Castle. It runs just below most of the southern wall of the castle and offers amazing views of Prague’s cluster of red roofs in Lesser Town, including a great view of St. Nicolas of Mana Strana church, from its central terrace. The gardens span half a kilometer long, so walking along the length of the garden will offer slightly different, yet allllll equally beautiful, views of lesser town.
How to get there
There are several ways to reach the Garden on the Ramparts, and all of the south-facing gardens that are part of the Prague Castle complex.
The first is by tram. There are several tram stops nearby all on line 22, but there are different options for how much walking you want to do. The ‘Pražsky hrad’ (Prague Castle) stop on line tram No.22 is closest – only 5 minutes away from the 2nd Courtyard of Prague Castle. There are other tram stops you can take that offer a scenic walk to the gardens, some more strenuous than others. You can find out about all the available routes here.
You can also take Metro Line A to stops ‘Malostranská’ or ‘Hradčanská’.
The gardens can also be approached from the New Castle Stairs via the Paradise Garden, from the Old Castle Stairs from the Opys viewpoint, or from the Bull’s Staircase from the castle’s third courtyard next to Vladislav Hall. There is also an entranc on Valdstenjnska Street 12-14.
Price
It is FREE to visit the Prague Castle gardens during castle opening hours!
Schedule / Opening Hours
The gardens are opening every day for most of the year, except in the winter from November to February.
March and April: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
May, June, and September: 10:00AM – 7:00PM
July and August: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
October: 10:00AM – 4:00PM
