The Best Hotels For Truly Spectacular Views

Sitting atop the Helshoogte Pass, the Delaire Graff Estate enjoys the sublime scenery of the Cape Winelands as its backdrop. Through vast windows and from exceptional terraces, botanical gardens and swimming pools, gaze out over the Stellenbosch valley towards Table Mountain. Captivating from dawn to dusk, the villa’s dramatic views also serve as a picture-perfect setting to taste the estate’s award-winning portfolio of wines.

Part of National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World, Mashpi invites guests to “watch the greatest show on Earth” from the cloud forests of Ecuadorian Chocó, a phenomenal biodiversity hotspot. Within glass walls and from wraparound open-air terraces, this is full immersion in the rainforest’s astounding array of flora and fauna, thanks to its privileged plateau, 950 meters above sea level. Furthermore, Mashpi’s commitment to sustainability, community and conservation of the ecosystem is at the core of its practices, ensuring that research and education are used to preserve and build a better future for the rainforest.

Imbued with serenity and surrounded by majesty, Amanjiwo, at the foot of the Menoreh Hills in Central Java, overlooks Unesco World Heritage Site Borobudur, the 9th-century Buddhist monument. There is no shortage of beauty and spectacle at this peaceful palatial resort – from the volcanic landscape and ancient architecture to the far-reaching rice fields – but particularly resplendent is enjoying the sunrise over the largest Buddhist temple in the world.

With one of the most iconic backdrops in the world, Le Sirenuse sits in the heart of the steep cliffside village of Positano, serving an unparalleled vista from its Amalfi Coast perch. Virtually every corner of the hotel boasts magnificent views over the storied town and its bay – which is just as majestic at night as it is under the beaming southern Italian sunshine. Sipping the signature Le Sirenuse cocktail (an exquisite blend of gin, lemon, maraschino and champagne) on its poolside terrace is the very definition of la dolce vita…

Enjoying the effortlessly cool locale of the Lower East Side, The Ludlow serves a far-reaching perspective of Downtown New York. Lots of the rooms enjoy impressive outlooks over the city, but aim high in one of the dizzying Loft suites, or the Penthouse for unparalleled terrace views and a bathtub in the sky.

The Blue Lagoon’s otherworldly setting – think ancient lava fields, rugged volcanic outcrops and ethereal waters – is best soaked up from the site’s mystical, mineral-rich geothermal pools, which are made even more magical if you’re lucky enough to experience them under the Northern Lights. While the spectacle of the area does attract a crowd, Retreat Hotel’s locale on a private extension of the lagoon allows for a more secluded experience. When you manage to pull yourself from the panorama, the subterranean spa, carved into an 800-year-old exposed lava flow, provides an atmospheric spot for rejuvenation.

High on the hillsides of the Anse Chastanet estate, rooms (or ‘sanctuaries’) at Jade Mountain offer a unique perspective of the stunning southwestern coastline, with their open-plan, near-panoramic designs. The fourth walls are absent so that guests can revel in an unobstructed vista of the Pitons and the Caribbean Sea from anywhere in their room, but the view is perhaps best enjoyed from the private infinity pools on the glorious terraces.

The Taj Lake Palace hotel is often referred to as a mirage in the middle of Udaipur’s Lake Pichola. Dating back to 1743, the marbled masterpiece encompasses ornate gardens, cascading fountains and elaborate courtyards. But it is the breathtaking scenery of the Aravalli and Machla Magra Hills that is a particularly special sight to behold.

Situated amid a wild and secluded forest on the Plose mountain in the Dolomites, Forestis offers unobstructed views of the mountain range from its vantage point of 1,800 meters above sea level. Channeling the immensity of its astonishing surroundings, floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the spa hotel allow nature to saturate the minimalistic interiors. Whether the mountains are snow-covered in winter or vibrant with blossom and birdsong in spring, the scenery is never underwhelming.

Hovering over the Indian Ocean, Joali is a quintessential Maldivian paradise on Muravandhoo island in the midst of the Raa Atoll – one of the largest and deepest atolls in the world. From this unparalleled position, guests can contemplate the magic of its marine life, with the villa views spanning from the picturesque gardens to the creamy sands and into the shimmering waters.

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