There are few things more inspiring that the panoramas offered from the top of the highest structures in the world, manmade or otherwise. Here, Bespoke offers up the best views in the world.
• Dachstein Skywalk, Austria
At 2,700 metres above sea level, you’re already at quite an elevation. When you then factor in the sheer, 250-metre drop onto the mountain as well, it begins to dawn on you that Dachstein’s Skywalk is a fairly exposed place to take in the scenery. Perched on an outcrop in the Austrian Alps, the Skywalk offers stunning Alpine views amidst some of the best skiing and hiking country in Europe. Just remember to wrap up warm.
• Stegastein Viewpoint, Norway
The Stegastein viewpoint overlooks the town of Aurlandsvangen from a height of 640 metres. Looking like an Ikea-inspired ski-jump, the Stegastein offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, forests and lake. The award-winning viewpoint was designed by Todd Saunders and Tommie Wihelmsen and is one of the most popular tourist sites in Norway. While it looks as if you could walk off the edge quite easily, there is in fact a protective sheet of glass to prevent accidents.
• Grand Canyon, USA
The Grand Canyon is perhaps the most famous location on this list. The result of erosion by the Colorado River, the Canyon was one of the US’s first national parks in 1919 and is home to some spectacular scenery. Reaching over a mile deep at some points, the Canyon offers spectacular views, for those brave enough to suspend themselves over the jagged, rust-coloured rocks. The sight of the river over a mile below you is a truly awesome spectacle.
• Langkawi Sky Bridge, Kedah
A sinuous pedestrian bridge, some 700 metres above sea level, the Sky Bridge is suspended above lush, verdant forest. The air is filled with the calls of wild birds and mountains stretch in every direction. At 125 metres in length, the bridge winds between two mountaintops on one of the larger islands on the archipelago of Kedah in Northwestern Malaysia. Amazingly, all this is achieved with a solitary column as support, meaning that guests are afforded a perfect view of this incredible locale.
• Griffith Observatory, USA
Los Angeles’ Griffith Observatory sits on the south-facing slopes of the Hollywood Hills, overlooking Tinseltown and is home to striking views of one of the most famous cities in the world. The Observatory itself was built in the late 1800’s following a donation of cash and land by a Mr. Griffith in 1896 and has helped people star-gaze ever since. The views of LA are best appreciated at night when the city comes basks in a kaleidoscope of coloured lights.
• Burj Khalifa, Dubai
The Middle East’s entry on this list is Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. Completed in 2009, the key architectural feature of downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa is a symbol of the UAE’s success. The tallest manmade object in the world, it is a testament to man’s ingenuity and skill when it comes to engineering. Towering over its neighbours at 828 metres in height, looking out from the upper floors of the Burj reveals what feels like the entire Emirate below you.
• Sears Tower, USA
Chicago’s Sears Tower is the tallest building in the US. At 442 metres tall, the 102-storey building was named after Sears, Roebuck & Co., the largest retailer in America in the 1960s and 70s. The skydeck, from where visitors can view all of Chicago, is located 412 metres above the street and is one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations. The building is currently owned by a group of private investors and is home to the offices of any number of corporations.
• Tyrol, Austria
The mountains in Austria’s Tyrol region are part of the largest continuous ski area in the country. The mountains themselves offer some of the most incredible views in Europe. The highest mountain in the area is the Ortler, at 3,905 metres above sea level. With stunning views of fur-covered mountains and expansive snow fields, the Ortler boasts striking views and is remarkably accessible, sitting as it does close to Austria’s most popular ski resorts.
• Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur
The tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Towers are famous the world over as a result of their striking design and interconnecting walkway. Designed by architects César Pelli and Djay Cerico, the Towers were completed in 1998 after seven years of construction. Standing at almost 452 metres including the antennae on the roof, the Towers were the tallest buildings in the world when opened for use. Currently the premises of a wide number of international firms, the Towers helped put Kuala Lumpur on the map.
• Eureka Skydeck, Australia
The Southern Hemisphere’s highest public viewing platform, Melbourne’s Eureka Skydeck serves up breathtaking panoramas of the Australian city. Situated on the 88th floor of the Eureka Tower, the Skydeck includes a three-metre-square glass cube that projects out from the side of the building 300 metres above Melbourne. The feeling of stepping out onto a pane of glass 300 metres above a bustling city has to be experienced to be believed.
• The House on the Rock, USA
Jutting out 66 metres over lush forests, the Infinity Room at the House on the Rock in Wisconsin forms a suspended walkway that showcases the forests of Iowa County like nothing else. Built by architect Alex Jordan, Jr. to prove a point to a rival, The House on the Rock was opened to the public in 1959. The infinity room is its most unique feature, resembling a spinnaker arranged horizontally, the room is an incredible testament to the stubbornness of man.
• Stratosphere, USA
Part of a casino complex in Las Vegas, the Stratosphere tower stands a little over 350 metres tall. Located on the famous Las Vegas strip, the tower was completed in 1996 and has been constantly updated. The latest plan is for a ride featuring a controlled bungie jump to be opened on the top of the building, participants will be able to fall for around 260 metres in total. Stratosphere is the only building on the list that allows for adventurous pursuits.
