Fernsehturm, Berlin
Eddie Gerald/Alamy
Granted, the world is full of crazy-looking, Sputnik-inspired TV towers, but the 1,207-foot-tall concrete shaft that the East Germans planted in Berlin’s Alexanderplatz in 1969 has an especially curious history; it allowed East Germans to see, among other things, the city on the other side of the Wall—although longtime Berliners swear that the interpretive maps up top used to depict West Berlin as a blur.
Observe This: To make the elevator ride down more of a challenge, stop in at the “highest bar in Berlin” and try the 360 Cocktail: Smirnoff vodka, Triple Sec, Gordon’s Dry Gin, vanilla syrup, lime juice, and cranberry juice. —Karrie Jacobs
Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai
China Images/Alamy
The Jin Mao, 234 feet shorter than its neighbor, the Shanghai World Financial Center, looks like a supersize pagoda. Its 88th-floor observation deck offers roughly the same stunning urban panorama as you can get at the tower across the street, with one key difference. The Jin Mao Skywalk also offers a view inward, into the tower’s uniquely vertiginous atrium, to the hotel lobby 32 stories below. This spiraling interior view has been known to make even the hardiest observation-deck enthusiast weak in the knees.
Observe This: Jin Mao Tower management is contemplating capping the atrium with a glass floor for added vertigo. —Karrie Jacobs
Ushiku Daibutsu, Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Mai Kawashima
How many Buddhas have observation decks in their chests? When it was finished in the mid-’90s, this 400-foot-tall depiction of Amitabha Buddha was the world’s tallest bronze statue. It’s about $9 to take the elevator 22 floors up for a look at the surrounding countryside from within the Buddha of Infinite Light. Now that’s a divine view.
Observe This: If you plan to take public transportation, be sure to visit early. The last bus leaves at 4 p.m. —Jeff Koyen
Aurland Lookout, Norway
Todd Saunders
It may look like an oversize bowling alley designed by Ikea’s masters of minimalism, but this observation deck is in Norway, not Sweden. The “truncated bridge into mid-air” thrills visitors with a breathtaking view of one of the west coast’s largest fjords. Specifically commissioned to showcase Norway to visiting tourists, the Aurland Lookout—opened to the public in 2006—has quickly become one of the country’s iconic (and most-lauded) structures.
Observe This: The edge-of-the-earth sensation is heightened by the clear-glass barrier at the overlook’s edge—and the handrail that continues down toward the forest’s floor, nearly 2,000 feet below. —Jeff Koyen
Torre Jaume I, Barcelona
Martin Wippel
Many visitors to Barcelona take the Port Vell tram to Montjuïc for a picturesque view of this lovely Mediterranean city. But savvy passengers know to get off along the way—inside the Torre Jaume I aerial lift pylon. At one time the world’s tallest such structure in the world (think: ski lift tower, but set in the middle of a major city), Torre Jaume I served as a lookout and machine-gun post during the Spanish Civil War. Today, it has one of the best bird’s-eye views of Barcelona.
Observe This: A one-way tram ticket costs about $13. Begin or end your trip at Torre San Sebastian, a smaller support tower that includes a restaurant at its top. —Jeff Koyen
Clingmans Dome, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Isaac Cogdill
Not only is Clingmans Dome the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it’s also Tennessee’s top peak and the second-highest apex east of the Mississippi. In theory, this overlook affords 100-mile views across seven states. But even the park service admits you’re unlikely to be that lucky: on most days, air pollution limits the view to just 22 miles. It’s still glorious.
Observe This: Clingmans Dome is open throughout the year, but the access road closes from December 1 to May 31. Visitors are still welcome to hike or cross-country ski to the overlook. —Jeff Koyen
The Space Needle, Seattle
Tim Holcombe
When it comes to iconic skylines, few cities have benefited from a single structure as much as Seattle has from the Space Needle. Good thing it offers a truly magnificent overlook of the Pacific Northwest’s most vibrant city. Sure, you’ll be lucky to see anything more than nearby buildings and the street below, thanks to Seattle’s famously overcast skies, but what a view nonetheless.
Observe This: Head straight to the observation deck—the Needle’s revolving restaurant, SkyCity, is famously hated by Seattleites. —Jeff Koyen
The Tyrol Overlook, Mount Isidor, Austria
Courtesy of LAAC Architects
Most observation decks rely on their precarious positions to thrill visitors. At nearly two miles above sea level, Austria’s Tyrol Glacier certainly has the height. And this mountaintop viewing platform is also completely open to the elements, which can be harsh. So bundle up: it’s a 10-minute hike to the overlook, after a cable-car ride. If the platform reminds you of the Winter Olympics, that’s no accident. The firm that designed it also works on ski jumps.
Observe This: The overlook is covered by snow for all but the warmest summer months. That doesn’t mean the deck is closed. It’s just more precarious—and more thrilling. —Jeff Koyen
Stratosphere Tower, Las Vegas
Francis & Francis Photography
In typical Las Vegas fashion, the Stratosphere Casino offers more than just gambling thrills. High atop this 1,149-foot-tall observation tower (America’s tallest), three amusement park–style rides whip up, down, and around—all in the open air. If you’re looking for something less intense, but no less picturesque, book a table at Top of the World, the Stratosphere’s 360-degree revolving restaurant 800 feet above street level. Then, head up to Level 107 lounge for cocktails—and the best view of Sin City.
Observe This: For one $27.95 ticket, thrill-seekers can brave all three rides—then catch their breath on the outdoor observation deck. —Jeff Koyen
The Infinity Room at House on the Rock, Spring Green, WI
Courtesy of The House on the Rock
Once a regional curiosity, the House on the Rock has become an American road-trip favorite thanks to its eccentric attractions (which include the world’s largest carousel and an anatomically incorrect nautical exhibit). For vista-seekers, the real draw is the Infinity Room, an enclosed, pointed platform whose 3,200 windows provide a gorgeous view of the surrounding forest. Why “Infinity”? The room starts at a comfortable 30 feet wide, but tapers to just one inch at the end. When you stand at the entrance, the optical illusion is unnerving.
Observe This: HOTR, as it’s known, includes a resort, restaurant, and spa. You’ll need a relaxing massage if you dare to explore every exhibit at this eccentric American classic. —Jeff Koyen
Tour Montparnasse, Paris
Elena Rossini
Eiffel Tower too crowded? Oui, oui, monsieur. For a spectacular, open-air view of Paris without the crush of camera-happy tourists, head to the top of France’s tallest skyscraper, the 59-story Maine-Montparnasse Tower in the 14th Arrondissement. While the modern building itself won’t win any design awards, visitors to the 56th floor’s restaurant and observation deck are treated to gorgeous 25-mile views of the city.
Observe This: Endear yourself to Parisians by saying the Tour Montparnasse offers the best view of Paris—precisely because you can’t see the much-loathed building. —Jeff Koyen
Holtriem Windpark, Westerholt, Germany
Reinhold Goehlmann
There are many energy-generating wind turbines in the world, but few offer viewing opportunities for intrepid climbers. Here, in this small village 100 miles northwest of Bremen, inside one of the wind park’s 210-foot-tall towers, panorama junkies can climb 297 stairs for an unsurpassed view of northern Germany. The coolest part? Feeling the whoosh of the massive 100-foot-long blades as they swing past, just yards away on the other side of the glass.
Observe This: One former tour guide warns that children may be frightened by the turbine’s noise—and the tower’s tendency to sway in the wind. —Jeff Koyen
Calgary Tower, Calgary, Canada
Jessica Eiden Smedley
Like Seattle’s Space Needle, the Calgary Tower is a now-retro-cool product of 1960s modernism. Built to celebrate Canada’s centennial in 1967 (and to spur an urban renewal project), the tower remains Canada’s second-largest building (after Toronto’s CN Tower). For more than 30 years, visitors have zipped up the high-speed elevator for a panoramic view of Alberta’s largest city—then enjoyed lunch at the Sky 360 revolving restaurant.
Observe This: Don’t miss the glass floor that extends from the deck’s north side. Control your agoraphobia for a view of downtown—620 feet directly beneath your feet. —Jeff Koyen
Jubiläumswarte Lookout Tower, Vienna
Walter Knoll
Not unlike lighthouses in the U.S., Europe’s lookout towers have devoted fans who obsessively catalogue the structures and share their “wish lists.” Some are modest brick buildings that date back centuries. Others, like this gem on Vienna’s outskirts, are decidedly modern—and, to the untrained eye, perhaps even ugly. But climb up this tower’s 183 winding steps for a view of Vienna (1,500 feet above sea level), and you may become a fan of these often overlooked overlooks.
Observe This: Admission is free, but the observation deck is closed during winter. —Jeff Koyen
The Skybridge at Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
istock
A new observation deck in Tower 2 of Kuala Lumpur’s iconic, ultramodern Petronas Towers provides the best view of this bustling city. It’s even better than the view from the Skybridge, which connects the twins at levels 41 and 42. The price of admission varies according to taste. Though no longer free, the basic Skybridge ticket is just $1; you’ll spend a few dollars more to reach the top. For $110 per person, the premium package includes a meal at the exclusive Malaysian Petroleum Club.
Observe This: The KL Tower’s observation deck is billed as being higher. That’s technically true, but only because KLT sits on a hill. If you have time for just one sky-high view, opt for Petronas. —Jeff Koyen
Vienna Donauturm, Vienna
WoodyStock / Alamy
Whereas similar 1960s-era structures were built in conjunction with World’s Fairs and national celebrations, the Vienna Donauturm was erected as part of…a horticultural expo (the 1964 International Viennese Gardening Show, to be exact). Today, the Donauturm is Austria’s tallest freestanding structure—and one of the world’s tallest towers. After a speedy 35-second elevator trip to the observation deck, visitors can gaze out on this cosmopolitan capital city from both open-air and glass-enclosed overlooks, nearly 500 feet high in the sky.
Observe This: Also thinking about a cruise on the Danube and a spin on the giant Ferris wheel? Combination tickets are on sale at the tower’s shop. —Jeff Koyen |