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If you go to Lisbon then go to Sintra. It's less than an hour out of Lisbon on a suburban train. Climb the hill to the Moorish castle. It's a different world, and the view is beyond stunning.
Regular trains from Sete Rios station or Entrecampos station (Estação Rossio closed at time of writing). Journey time is less than an hour
This 'climb' is good fun but massively overpriced. Prices start at $165 and you'll find yourself signing your life away on insurance waiver forms, donning silly blue jumpsuits, participating in safety drills and eventually climbing up, chained to the side lest you fall off! It has to be said that the 'climb' (more of a gentle stroll) comes as bit of an anticlimax. The view from the top is amazing, but a lot of places in Sydney offer fabulous views for free!
Offers surely the most beautiful view in any city in the world. In order to reach it you must walk through the indescribable beauty of the Botanical Gardens, where you are invited to "hug the trees". Walk through paths lined with stunningly coloured plants and trees with birds and other wildlife wandering free. When you reach Mrs Macquarie's Chair, the view of the Opera House framed by the Harbour Bridge with the glistening transparent waters of the harbour is directly in front of you.
Royal Botanical Gardens
Take the Manly Ferry. This is the best and cheapest way to see the harbour. Manly itself has the best beaches.
Everyone who goes to Sydney raves about the beaches at Bondi and Manly and rightly so - they are iconic Sydney beaches.
Yet any trip to Sydney would not be complete without a visit to Cronulla Beach in Sydney's south. This is a beach in wide-scape with something for everyone.
The northern part (known locally as Wanda Beach) is a haven for surfers, fishermen, kite-flyers and groups of young lads who simply want to impress the hordes of bikinied blondes who gather there for the sake of being impressed.
The southern part is the elevated end of Cronulla, adjacent to The Royal National Park, and it's a spot where families picnic in the parks high above the beach.
In between these two points is Cronulla central - where the beach meets the restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and cinemas. By day a place for families to enjoy a stroll along the boardwalk and, after dark, a gathering place for the beautiful people of southern Sydney.
Plane-spotters will also enjoy fabulous views of aircraft landing at, and taking off from, Sydney's Mascot Airport from all parts of Cronulla Beach.
Parking can be a problem. Visitors staying in the Central Business District of Sydney are best advised to take the train to Cronulla from Martin Place (platform 2), Town Hall (platform 4) or Sydney Central (platform 25). Trip time about 50 minutes each way for just a few quid return. A taxi will cost about 20 pounds each way.
Head out to the Indian Ocean beaches at Cottesloe (15 mins on train from Perth) and go to the Blue Duck overlooking the beach. Time it late afternoon and sit on the outdoor terrace with a mango daiquiri and something simple to eat from the extensive menu (the potato wedges are great!). If you've timed it right you'll be able to watch a stunning sunset over miles of glorious beaches. A second mango daiquiri will prove to you life doesn't get much better than this!
The Blue Duck
Cotteslo Beach
Train from Perth to Cotteslo (also a bus but not sure of the number - train is easiest I think)
www.blueduck.com.au
Google map: tinyurl.com/nqe2vn
A simple pleasure. A 'chair' in the sandstone at the end of the Domain peninsula on the harbour. It was carved out by convicts for the Governor's wife in the early 19th century since she enjoyed the spot. Here she would sit enjoying the view (or wondering why she didn't marry that guy who got a job in Paris...). A shady resting place with extraordinary views. Take a load off.
Follow the path along Farm Cove east of the Opera House.
Spend an hour or two soaking up the sights and sounds of Sydney by taking a trip on a ferry. It doesn't matter if you don't get off and simply return to Circular Quay.
You'll begin to appreciate the beauty of the world's largest natural harbour, see some amazing sights, properties, even more amazing boats and yachts, and might even end up somewhere interesting.
Ferries run from Circular Quay over to Manly, Rose Bay, Watson's Bay, and through the inner harbour all the way upp to Parramatta.
Melbourne is one of the few cities left in the world with its original tram network and we are lucky to have some of the original tram cars (modernized for safety and comfort) turned into high-class travelling restaurants. These dark burgundy coloured trams can be seen negotiating the roads of Melbourne at lunch times and dinner times daily.
They present a very high level of dining with the only restriction being the number of choices for each course (the kitchen and the cooking facilities on board are restricted in size obviously).
You travel behind tinted glass sightseeing Melbourne whilst enjoying your meal with a glass of wine. A booking is essential.
The trams leave and return to the terminus in South Melbourne opp. the western end of the Crown Casino, cnr Clarendon and Normandy Sts Southbank
New obsesrvatory deck (opened November 1 2005) on the top of the Rockefeller Center. Amazing views of the park, bridges and, of course, the Empire State building! Well worth it and wait times to get in are currently considerably shorter than the Empire State as it's new and still being publicised.
Rockerfeller Center (nearest station is 47-50 Rockefeller Center)
Lasted three hours, costs about the same as the Statue of Liberty trip. We had the same views of the statue plus toured the rest of Manhattan. No x-ray/search as per Statue of Liberty and Empire State so much more enjoyable and relaxed.
It leaves from pier 83, which is right next to the air and space display and concorde so all in all great value plus you don't get the disappointment of finding out after the security etc to get to the Statue of Liberty that you can now only go up the base not the actual statue.
Absolutely stunning twin towers. Go during the day and there is a free guided tour and then again at night to see the towers lit up! There is also a shopping centre, cinema and restaurants at your disposal.
Junction of Jalan Ampand and Jalan P. Ramlee
Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
Just look for the towers you can't miss them!
It's an amazing place and well worth the walk around.
The entry fee gets you in and you pay extra to go the Armoury and Treasury sections but well worth it. Free is the view of the Bosphorus from the rear battlements of the palace. Along with the mosques, the spice market and the grand bazaar, Topkapi is a must see in Istanbul . I was amazed!
close to Sirkeet railway station
and a short walk away from the Grand Bazaar, St Sophia, Sultanahmet mosque
and the Hippodrome
Great place to visit on a sunny day as you can look over the harbour and there is a great selection of bars & restaurants (tends to be the chains).
Brighton
A peak of over 3,000m offers magnificent, uninterrupted views of the city and the altiplano beyond. A colonial church, a restaurant and splendidly tacky vending stalls await you at the top. Take the cable car or funicular railway from the station at Carerra 2E 21-48. (It’s worth taking a taxi this far, as the surrounding neighbourhood is not the safest to wander around on foot.)
You can walk up, too. It takes an hour, but is only recommended on Sundays when the volume of locals making the pilgrimage to the shrine at the top is sufficient to deter the thieves and muggers who otherwise might try to relieve individuals of their possessions.
Literally the best restaraunt/bar you will find in Tokyo (nay the world), and it's on the 42nd floor atop of the Mori Atago building.
Great atmosphere and the best view of Tokyo you'll get over Lobster (recommend at night).
Atago Green Hills, Kamiyacho
www.ystable.co.jp/restaurant/xexatago
Fantastic views over Paris from the roof. Take the lift to the 6th floor and stairs up to the roof. The cafe on the 6th floor is very good value too.
Galeries Lafayette
l40 Boulevard Haussmann
Basically Tokyo-on-sea, a big slab of reclaimed land in Tokyo bay where you can go and chill out, eat/drink/shop, enjoy sea breezes, even go to the (artifical) beach! There are stunning views of Tokyo (especially at night), and it's one of the few places in Tokyo where you can enjoy the great outdoors. There's a massive ferris wheel for even better views and you can even rent a dog to walk!! One of the best things about it though is the journey there - it's worth going just to enjoy the monorail ride across the enormous Rainbow Bridge.
Yuirkamone monorail from Shimbashi. A one-day ticket gives unlimited travel on the monorail all day for around £7.
For an unparalleled view of Tokyo try the Mori building at Roppongi Hills. Unlike the Metropolitan Building it costs 1,500 yen but it's bang in the centre so the views are much better. Included in the price is the art gallery, which puts on some wacky shows.
Exit Roppongi station, turn right and it's the first enormous building you see on the left, maybe 300 metres away.
Marseille icon. Sits up on the hill, overlooking the city and the sea. Notre Dame offers spectacular 360 degree views of Marseille.
Take bus number 60 from the Vieux Port.
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