We all love a sunny beach holiday, but it’s 2019 and we’re all about capturing experiences. In a world where we’ve become fully focused on aesthetics, we don’t mind settling on the Maldives for a pretty awesome view that can be uploaded straight to Instagram for all of our followers to see.
With the help of David Laing, who are double glazing in Newcastle specialists, we take a look at some of the best viewing points from around the world.
Eiffel Tower, Paris
The Eiffel Tower has become a cultural icon and is one of the most recognised sculptures in the world. Designed by Stephen Sauvestre between 1887 and 1889, the observation tower attracts millions of visitors each year — making it one of the most-visited paid monuments in the world.
Standing 324 metres tall, the tower has three levels for visitors to explore, which includes restaurants, shops, an immersion show (CinEiffel), a museum-like passageway and a champagne bar right at the top. Although the top of the tower is closed off for renovations until 1st February 2019, it’s estimated that you can see 42 miles away on a clear day.
Opening Times: 9:30am to 11:45pm (Monday to Sunday)
Address: 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France
Suggested Duration: 2-3 Hours.
Observation Deck Ticket Prices: Admission depends on age and desired lift/staircase use but go up to €25.50.
Website: toureiffel.paris
The Empire State Building, New York City
Located in the centre of Midtown Manhattan, The Empire State Building offers 360° views of New York City. With a height of 443 meters and two observation decks, no trip to the Big Apple would be complete without a tour of one of the most famous buildings in the world.
Completed in 1931, it’s currently the 28th tallest skyscraper in the world, meaning that you’ll definitely be able to experience new heights on your visit; the building was even the first to have more than 100 floors. As well as this, there are 73 elevators and around 6,500 windows – as a result, anyone who’s working in this office building will have an incredible view. It’s been estimated that you can see up to 200 miles on a clear day!
Opening Times: 8:00am to 2:00am (Monday to Sunday)
Address: 20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001, USA
Observation Deck Ticket Prices: Admissions depend on age, day/night bookings, tour type and floor access but can go up to $185 for VIP experiences.
Website: esbnyc.com
Stratosphere, Las Vegas
Everyone dreams of going to Vegas, and the only hotel on your list should be the Stratosphere. Located north of the iconic Las Vegas Strip, this is home to the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States at a height of 350.2 meters!
As Vegas is surrounded by mountains, you can pretty much see all of the valley, which makes it a worthwhile trip to the top. What makes this tower even more interesting is that the restaurant at the top of the tower rotates 360° — and you can even sky dive from its peak!
Opening Times: Open 24 hours
Address: 2000 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89104, USA
Observation Deck Ticket Prices: Admission prices can vary on time of booking.
Website: stratospherehotel.com
The Shard, London
The view from the Shard is the best in London. Known as the highest viewpoint of the capital, the viewing platforms are on floors 68, 69 and 72. The platform offers visitors the chance to see for up to 40 miles. Whether you’re attending to see the city from new heights, to experience on-top-of-the-world yoga classes or for exclusive events, you won’t be disappointed!
The building itself is a 95-storey skyscraper and stands at 309.7 meters. With construction starting in 2009 and practical completing achieved in 2012, it’s fair to say that this is one of the most iconic buildings in the world and has fully integrated itself into British culture.
Opening Times: This depends on season
Address: 32 London Bridge St, London SE1 9SG
Observation Deck Ticket Prices: Child tickets are £19.95, and adults are £24.95.
Website: the-shard.com
Burj Khalifa, Dubai
The Burj Khalifa is the tallest structure and building in the world and is the poster-child of Dubai — an innovative architectural haven. With a total height of 829.8 meters, 163 floors and 57 elevators, there are a few packages to choose from when it comes to the observation decks.
You’ll be privileged to 360° views of Dubai once reaching the top and can enjoy a personalised tour from a Guest Ambassador. There’s even an outdoor terrace at 555 meters! Once you’re done taking in the scenes, head to the SKY lounge for some refreshments!
Opening Times: 8:00am to 3:00pm then between 3:30pm and 6:00pm. This can change depending on seasonality.
Address: Burj Khalifa, 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd, Dubai
Observation Deck Ticket Prices: Can depend on time and age, but roughly around 499.76 AED (£105.70).
Website: burjkhalifa.ae
Image at the very top of the article credit: banset/Bigstock.com
