Italy

The 10 Best Panoramic Views of European Ciities + Where to Find Them

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!

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Sunset at the Florence Duomo

Sunset at the Florence Duomo

Sunset at the Florence Duomo

Florence is a must-visit destination for anyone visiting Italy. There’s so much to see and do there, yet it’s not huge and overwhelming. It’s a city of art, architecture, and Italian history. I’ve been twice, and each time was absolutely floored by it’s beauty.

One of my personal favorite things I did in Florence was visiting the famous Florence Duomo. It’s properly known as The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore and is the main cathedral in Florence. I’m a huge fan of churches, and Italian churches just can’t be beat! And my favorite thing about this Gothic Cathedral is the facade. I’ve been to Florence twice. The last time I was there, I was able to visit the Florence Duomo as the sun was setting. Visiting the the church at any time of the day is definitely one of the best things to do in Florence, but visiting at sunset was extra special!

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Florence and Venice in 72 Hours

Florence and Venice in 72 Hours

Florence and Venice in 72 Hours

My first time visiting Europe was when I studied abroad after freshman year of college in Innsbruck, Austria. It was the most amazing 6 weeks of my entire life. It was what really started my obsession with traveling. During my time in Innsbruck, we only had classes Monday-Thursday mornings. So, as soon as the final bell rang (OK, there was no actual bell, this is just figurative) we would head to the Innsbruck train station to hop on a train to other countries for the weekend. Most weekends, we would focus on one place – some of my weekends were spent in Prague, Amsterdam, London, etc. Well, one weekend we decided to take on the heaping task of seeing TWO fantastic cities in a little over 3 days – Florence AND Venice.

How could we cram in two beautiful Italian cities in just 72 hours? Here’s how it went down.

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5 Reasons why Cinque Terre is the Absolute WORST.

5 Reasons Why Cinque Terre is the Absolute WORST

5 Reasons why Cinque Terre is the Absolute WORST.

Is Cinque Terre, the iconic cluster of 5 islands along the Italian Riviera, worth visiting? “Cinque Terre” translates to “The 5 Lands,” and consists of five small villages, which are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Its a popular tourist destination AND a UNESCO World Heritage site.

And it is just THE worst. Here’s why.

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