Best Views in the World with Photos

St. Paul's from Waterloo Bridge, London, United Kingdom

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Waterloo Bridge, which has been around in various guises since the early 19th century and has inspired all manner of songs and poems, is cannily situated on a bend of the Thames that affords one of the best views in London. Looking east toward the city, St. Paul’s Cathedral (the dome of which recalls the U.S. Capitol) sits like a graceful dowager queen in the midst of cranes and skyscrapers.

"The Tower Bridge"

"Tower Bridge By Kamran Razzaq"

Istanbul, Turkey skyline from the Bosphorus strait

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The Bosphorus strait, which runs squarely through the middle of Istanbul, famously divides Europe and Asia. Both sides of the city slope down to the water like an urban valley. The view from Galata Bridge includes several of the city’s incredible mosques, whose graceful domes and towering minarets are the stuff of fairytales.

"suleymaniye"

"Kizkulesi, Istanbul"

Phang Nga Bay, Phuket, Thailand

This remarkable bay between the island of Phuket and the Thai mainland is dotted with hundreds of tall limestone formations that rise hundreds of feet from the sea. Ten thousand years ago, you could walk among these towers; now only their tops are visible, like the skyline of a sunken city.

"Interior of Hollow Island"

"Interior of Hollow Island"

Kowloon, Hong Kong
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Hong Kong Island is clustered with dizzying neon-lit skyscrapers, and the view from the Kowloon Peninsula across Victoria Harbour is straight out of a science-fiction film. This dense urban scene is especially impressive every evening at 8, when it promptly erupts into a laser light show.

"Victoria Peak looking toward Kowloon"

"100_0786"

Grand Canyon AZ
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People come from all over the world to take in this vista, which at sunset resembles an impressionistic painting brought to life. Hopi Point, on the West Rim Drive, extends far out into the canyon and is an excellent vantage point among many. Try to visit during the shoulder seasons of April-May and September-October, when the weather is milder and the park is less crowded.

"hole in the wall"

"north Kaibab trail"