14 world-famous city views you can see from your sofa

The steps leading up to the basilica of Sacré-Coeur on Montmartre have spectacular views over the French capital – hence the eternal swarms of visitors looking for a bit of Paris magic.

No surprise that the view from the UK’s tallest building is pretty amazing. From here you can see practically all of London’s major sights, from Tower Bridge and the Tower of London to St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Eye.

From this hill high above the city – a popular spot for sunsets – Barcelona lies spread out before you. The bunkers you can see here are relics from the Spanish Civil War.

Lion Rock, so called because from certain angles it looks like a crouched big cat, looms over Hong Kong. The panorama from the top is impressive, but it’s a famously difficult hike to tackle – so save your legs and check it out online instead.

Constructed in the seventeenth century, this fort was part of a defensive ring around Jaipur in northern India. Now it’s a popular spot for surveying the sprawl of the city.

A raised square on the south side of the Arno River, Piazzale Michelangelo provides dreamy views of Florence’s skyline, which has hardly changed in centuries. Make sure to zoom in on the Duomo and the Palazzo Vecchio.

There’s no shortage of skyscraper views in NYC, but the double aspect at Top of the Rock – looking downtown towards the Empire State and uptown towards Central Park – makes it feel properly in the centre of things.

The view from the top of this hundred-storey skyscraper (formerly known as the John Hancock Center) is one of the best in Chicago. From the observation deck you get sweeping views of the skyline as well as Lake Michigan.

The OCBC Skyway lets you get up close to the iconic supertree structures at Singapore’s Gardens By The Bay, as well as giving you a good look at the city’s lush greenery and impressive architecture. Spot the Marina Bay Sands hotel, with its three towers topped by an infinity pool and restaurant complex.

The dramatic plateau of Table Mountain is one of South Africa’s most recognisable landmarks. You can hike or ride a cablecar up to the top for incredible views over Cape Town – or, for now, check out this beautiful sunset online.

Cristo Rei, a statue of Christ blessing the city of Lisbon, stands on the south side of the Tejo Estuary. An 18-metre-high viewing platform here give visitors unbeatable views of Portugal’s capital city and its enormous 25 de Abril suspension bridge.

This popular viewing point is the place for incredible views of L.A., stretching away towards the Pacific Ocean. Or turn inland to see the iconic Hollywood sign on the mountainside.

The jagged, heavily fortified bulk of Castel Sant’Elmo dominates Naples’s skyline. It’s a trek to climb, but the reward is possibly the finest view of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius – and it’s yours for free online.

Rising almost 400 metres above the harbour below, this famous peak is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a two-leg cablecar journey to the top, with incredible views of Rio de Janeiro below on both parts of the journey.