Some views are worth going the extra mile for – but have you got the mettle for these spectacular vistas? It might mean braving a glass-bottomed bridge or soaring above snow-crowned peaks in a paraglider, but from New Zealand to Nepal, we've picked the planet's best views for thrill-seekers. Remember to check national and local travel restrictions, plus individual attractions' websites for opening times and any COVID-19 protocols before visiting.

It's hard to decipher exactly what is going on at Summit One Vanderbilt from a photograph alone. This light-and-mirror installation on the 91st floor of One Vanderbilt is a mesmerising and dizzying experience. You'll take an all-glass elevator up to the Transcendence 1 viewing deck, where you can gaze out on the city among panels of mirrors which reflect the view and yourself back at you, and stand above New York in the glass Levitation sky boxes, 1,063 feet (325m) above ground. The 92nd floor contains Transcendence 2, a balcony with views directly down to the chaos of mirror and glass in Transcendence 1.

The views from the Rock of Gibraltar are spectacular, but for the brave there's an even better one available at The Skywalk. This glass-bottomed platform offers a top-down view of Sandy Bay beach and the endless Mediterranean ocean where cargo ships and oil tankers drift in the water. For an added thrill, try walking across the Windsor Suspension Bridge which spans 230 feet (70m) across a deep gorge.

As if the views across Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains, aren't thrilling enough, a glass-floored observation platform offers an even more exciting alternative. Sitting 918 feet (280m) above the Sunwapta Valley, the Skywalk is a horseshoe-shaped walkway with views right down to the pine trees below. In the distance you'll be able to see the North Face glacier, Mushroom Peak, Mount Athabasca and Mount Andromeda.

This is not your average cable car. While in most mountain gondolas you'll find yourself ensconced in the safety of a glass bubble, on the CabriO cableway there's an entirely open-top deck offering no protection from the elements and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and lakes. You can freely walk around the open deck as the car travels the 24-minute journey up to Stanserhorn, a 6,200 foot-high (1,900m) mountain.

Deep glens surrounded by sweeping mossy-green mountainsides and snow-capped peaks make the Scottish Highlands one of the most beautiful places in Britain, and the views from Aonach Eagach ridge are indeed breathtaking. Even more breathtaking, though, is the view when you look down. This one of the narrowest ridges in Britain and so a scramble up here is bound to get the blood rushing. You'll need to be an experienced mountain hiker and scrambler to tackle this, and it's best avoided when wet.

Regularly touted as the world's most dangerous hike, the Plank Walk at Mount Hua (also known as Huashan) is a series of thin wooden planks bolted onto the side of a precipitous mountain in Shaanxi province, China. A harness and rope is required to traverse this terrifying path due to the sheer drop beneath you, but if you fell it would provide little support as the harness covers only your upper body, so it's easy to slip out of. The hike to reach the Plank Walk is just as scary at times, with narrow trails surrounded by steep slopes and very little safety infrastructure. You'll need to be incredibly sure-footed to survive this one.

You don't have to trek all the way to the Arctic Circle to see the Northern Lights. In the UK, you can go in search of the spectacular aurora on a sightseeing flight with Virgin Experience Days. Departing from one of the major airports across England and with an expert astronomer on board, you'll fly for around 25 minutes before the cabin goes dark and your eyes adjust to see the bands of green and purplish light that grace the skies when conditions are right.

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This mammoth bridge is enough to give you goosebumps, glass bottom or not, suspended as it is up to 980 feet (299m) above Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China's Hunan province. But its transparency adds extra thrill and an alternative perspective. You'll drink in views directly down into the dense thickets below, as well as panoramas of the sandstone bluffs all around. Two bungee platforms also opened beneath the pedestrian bridge in 2020.

The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge near Ballintoy was built by salmon fishermen way back in the 18th century and still teeters between grass-covered crags some 98 feet (30m) above the ocean. Crossing the bridge is not for the faint of heart. It sways with the wind, and groans and creaks as you cross its 65-foot (20m) expanse. But the unbridled views out to the ocean are worth the sweaty palms. The rope bridge is closed until 2022 and timed tickets are required for entry due to overcrowding.

The Windy City has several spots with incredible downtown panoramas, but 360 Chicago's experience is reserved for daredevils. At more than 1,000 feet (305m), TILT! sees eight fearless visitors cling onto the handles provided as the floor-to-ceiling windows slant outwards and hang at an angle over the city. Visitors are granted uninterrupted views directly downwards, over the Magnificent Mile's soaring skyscrapers and beyond.

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Those who dare to bathe in this naturally-formed infinity pool are at the behest of Mother Nature. It sits at the top of Zambia's monstrous Victoria Falls and offers unrivalled panoramas of the cascades, which crash over 355 feet (108m) into the chasm below. Devil's Pool is accessed via Livingstone Island, and expert guides will accompany you as you enjoy a thrilling swim towards the edge of the falls. Note that the pool is only open for a short window each year, usually from mid-August to January, when water levels are at their lowest.

The view from Norway's Trolltunga, a dramatic tongue of rock that juts out some 3,609 feet (1,100m) above sea level, is staggering – all snow-patched crags and deep-blue waters. While many attempt to reach this natural platform each year, it's not a task that should be undertaken lightly. The entire hike, which leaves from Skjeggedal village, is more than 17 miles (27km) there and back, and ascends to dizzying heights. Take extra caution once you reach Trolltunga itself, and if you're less confident, book onto a guided tour.

The famed flat peak of Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town is a breathtaking view in itself – but ascending this South African peak via cableway and, even better, abseiling back down, offers an entirely new perspective. Abseil Africa will guide you on a staggering descent from more than 3,000 feet (914m) above sea level. From the top – and on your way down if you dare – you can drink in views of the pointed Twelve Apostles rock formations and the Atlantic Seaboard.

Shanghai is known for its forest of skyscrapers and the pointed Jin Mao Tower is one of the most recognisable. Just gazing up at this 1,378-foot (420m) juggernaut is enough to give you vertigo, but those with a steely stomach can try its teeth-chattering Skywalk too. Accessed via the sightseeing floor at level 88, the Skywalk is a rail-free, glass-bottomed ledge running around the outside of the building, which visitors can walk along while attached to a safety harness. You'll be rewarded with jaw-dropping views across China's second city which include the photogenic Oriental Pearl Tower.

New Zealand has little shortage of epic vistas, but this one is sure to get your heart pumping. A short drive from Nelson, a city in New Zealand's South Island, you'll find the Cable Bay Adventure Park, whose experiences team daring pursuits with dazzling panoramas. The park's Skywire is a four-seater tandem zip line that breezes over the forest canopy at almost 1,000 feet (305m), granting views over both Cable Bay and Delaware Bay. Keep an eye out for Mount Taranaki, which sometimes reveals itself on a cloudless day. 

The rust-red rocks of Arizona's Grand Canyon top many a bucket list – and for good reason. Carved out by the Colorado River, the canyon is famed for its striking buttes and dramatic ravines, all of which love the camera. For a birds-eye view and a hefty dose of adrenaline, take to skies with Paragon Skydive which offers tandem skydiving experiences over the natural wonder. To scale the fear factor down just a notch, take to the Grand Canyon's Skywalk instead.

Forget a stairway to heaven, it's the Stairway to Nothingness that will truly give you your kicks. The Dachstein glacier in Styria, Austria is popular with skiers and snowboarders, but the views are epic all year-round. Ride a gondola up then step out on to a dizzying suspension bridge and the Stairway to Nothingness: 14 steps downwards to a suspended ledge with stunning mountain panoramas, 1,312 feet (400m) high. Daily glacier reports provide an update on conditions and the resulting availability of these attractions.

Bolivia's Yungas Road is bleakly nicknamed Death Road and it's not hard to see why. The road joins capital La Paz with the town of Coroico, beginning at more than 15,000 feet (4,572m), then sloping gradually downwards. Conditions are treacherous in parts and much of the road is less than 10-feet (3m) wide, with a fierce drop that's sadly claimed numerous lives. Despite the very real dangers, hardy cyclists still follow the route for the views across the Andes and the Amazon rainforest.

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The imposing limestone crags rising from Thailand's Railay Beach offer some of the best rock climbing in the world, and with it some incredible views. Bolted climbing routes criss-cross many of the rock faces, which provide panoramas of powder-white crescents, turquoise waters and dense forest below. Local climbing outfitters such as the long-standing King Climbers and Hot Rock Climbing School have experiences for beginners and advanced climbers.

Walking atop Sydney Harbour Bridge is on many a travel wish list, but you still need a stomach for heights to take on this famous climb. The ascent to the bridge's summit will take you 440 feet (134m) above sea level. You'll be walking for around three hours and you'll need to tackle more than 1,300 steps. Nervous climbers will be glad to hear that you're latched to the bridge the whole time. Sweeping views of Sydney, from the fabled Opera House to Darling Harbour, reward you for your efforts.

Zipflyer is among the steepest zip lines in the world, dropping its riders almost 2,000 feet (600m) at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour (161km/h). You'll have two precious minutes to enjoy the view as you're catapulted through the air for just over a mile (1.6km). This vertigo-inducing experience is located close to the Nepalese city of Pokhara and brave riders can drink in panoramas of the Himalayas, including the mighty Machapuchare mountain.

Ruling over Yosemite Valley at almost 5,000 feet (1,524m), Half Dome is one of America's most famous peaks. While some are content to drink in the view from the national park's many hiking trails, others have their sights set on the summit. The Half Dome hike should take around 12 hours (for a round trip), and the final 400-foot (122m) push to the top is via a series of metal cables built into the rock face. Along the way you'll see Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall, and you can look over the expanse of Yosemite's green-flecked mountains from the very tip.

Not all bridges are created equal and this one in Malaysia's Langkawi archipelago is one of the world's finest. Hovering over acres of verdant forestland, the bridge is suspended over 2,000 feet (610m) above sea level. Instead of beating a straight path across the canopy, the structure swings out in a curve so visitors are rewarded with shifting jungle panoramas. For the truly lion-hearted, a glass-bottomed gondola also operates here.

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The pretty resort of Interlaken is postcard-perfect Switzerland, and is a haven for skiers and winter walkers. Come summer, one of the best ways to experience Interlaken is from the sky. Paragliding Interlaken has been taking visitors to new heights since 1990. A driver will take you up the Beatenberg mountain, from where you and your pilot will take off. You'll have up to 20 minutes in the air to marvel over the mighty bluffs (Interlaken is surrounded by Eiger, Jungfrau and Mönch) and the green valley below.

The death-defying Nevis Swing, operated by AJ Hackett Bungy, claims the title of New Zealand's most famous swing experience. But the lesser-known Ledge Swing, also of the AJ Hackett family, is the one that grants the most awesome views. You'll take the Skyline Gondola to reach the base, and from here swing 1,312 feet (400m) above Queenstown, taking in the sapphire waters of Lake Wakatipu. The swing requires you to self release, so you'll need an extra rush of courage before you finally take flight.

Climbing Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro is a hugely taxing feat, both physically and emotionally, and takes a great deal of preparation. But still thousands of daring travellers attempt the ascent each year. Kilimanjaro is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, reaching 19,340 feet (5,895m) at its highest point, so unsurprisingly the vistas are out of this world. For the most part your view will be a blanket of clouds, interrupted only by blue sky and the occasional pointed peak breaking through the white covering.

If you're prone to vertigo, look away now. The name of this attraction alone should be enough to give you jitters. Step into the Void is located at the summit of the Aiguille du Midi mountain in France's Chamonix region and is reached by a scenic cable car. It takes the form of a glass box (including a glass floor) at a teeth-chattering altitude of 12,605 feet (3,842m). You'll feel as if you're walking on air as you admire the craggy mountains, including Mont Blanc, and the toy-like resort town below.

Visitors to Rio de Janeiro are spoiled for views, from the pristine sands of Ipanema Beach to the great mass of Sugarloaf Mountain. Hang gliders circling overhead are also a common sight and, if you can brave the heady heights, it's well worth trying. There are numerous operators available but Asa Delta comes highly recommended. You'll push off from the beautiful bluff of Pedra Bonita and soar across to the golden strand of Pepino Beach.

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This picturesque suspension bridge is located in the park of the same name in North Vancouver. It dates right back to 1889, hovering 230 feet (70m) above the Capilano River and spanning 450 feet (131m) across evergreen treetops. If that's not enough adrenaline for one day, the park also has the Cliffwalk and the Treetops Adventure attractions – both allow visitors to pass through the upper reaches of the reserve's lush canopy.

Rising to a formidable 13,435 feet (4,094m), Mount Kinabalu is part of Malaysia's Crocker Range and the Mountain Torq via ferrata (an organised and protected climbing route) allows travellers to climb it. Crossing the mountain's Panalaban rock face, the route is touted as the highest via ferrata in the world. It reaches 12,388 feet (3,776m) at its highest point and those who dare to look down will enjoy spectacular views of the forest-cloaked crags below, as well as a fluffy layer of clouds. You'll travel with an expert guide and the route can be tackled by beginners with a good fitness level and a head for heights.

Currently holding the title for the world's longest zip line, the Jais Flight attraction boasts over 1.7 miles (2.7km) of zip wire. You'll begin your flight 5,511 feet (1,680m) above sea level, sweeping above the rugged Jebel Jais mountains in the UAE's Ras Al Khaimah. Despite the zip line reaching speeds of up to 93 miles per hour (150km/h), the experience lasts around three minutes so there's plenty of time to enjoy the view.

This unique viewing platform is a sight in itself. Located in the gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle in the scenic town of Merana, the structure was designed by Italian architect Matteo Thun. It juts out above the gardens, which are renowned for their rich array of plants and stunning mountain setting, and is intended to resemble a pair of binoculars. The structure is also partly transparent, giving visitors the hair-raising illusion that they're 'floating' above the land below. Trauttmansdorff is closed from December through March.

While Costa Rica is famed for its zip lines, Sky Adventures offers a different way to explore the country's treetops. The Sky Tram takes travellers to the highest point of mountainous Monteverde or Arenal, depending on your location. You'll travel up to the top of the peaks, gaining some 745 feet (227m) in elevation as you slice through the cloud- or rainforest. At the final viewpoint in Arenal, you can spot the lake below; at Monteverde, you'll be able to look across the Gulf of Nicoya.

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The Eureka Skydeck sits in Melbourne's Eureka Tower, around 935 feet (285m) above the ground. The deck itself has 360-degree views of Victoria's state capital, but those with nerves of steel can experience The Edge. It's a glass cube (floor and all) that extends right out from the Skydeck and hovers above the city. Come after sunset, when Melbourne's cluster of skyscrapers look all the more magical.

A via ferrata climbing route, operated by Natura Vive, traces a swathe of Peru's Sacred Valley, allowing visitors to scale some 1,300 feet (396m). Force yourself to look down and you'll see the rushing waters of the Urubamba River and a patchwork of green farmland. For an added adrenaline rush, you can choose to travel back down using the six zip lines. Or, for the ultimate overnight adventure, stay at Skylodge, a series of glass capsules clinging to the valley walls at more than 1,000 feet (305m).

"Way up there, way out there" is the apt strap-line for this spine-tingling attraction in Toronto. The Edgewalk is touted as the city's highest experience, located on the roof of the CN Tower's 360 Restaurant, 1,168 feet (356m) above the ground. You'll be strapped into a safety harness then taken outside where you can walk the perimeter of the tower, one of the world's tallest free-standing structures. From here, look down on the city's skyscrapers, from First Canadian Place to striking Scotia Plaza, and marvel at the ant-like cars and people below.

Because observation decks are just too common these days, Edge at 30 Hudson Yards in New York City has come up with a new way of seeing the city from the top of a skyscraper: you can literally climb to the building's peak. Don your helmet, harness and a rather fetching blue jumpsuit, before being led by instructors up to the Western Hemisphere's highest outdoor sky deck. The most daring of you can get strapped in and lean right over the edge to feel the wind of the city, with no barrier between you and the hair-raising view.

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