For travellers, a room with a view is always a treat, and if the view is one of a historical site, that's even a luxury. Here are five properties that give you fantastic views of storied landmarks.
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet
View of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
Housed in a 100 year-old neoclassical-style Turkish prison, the hotel exudes an Old World charm that echoes its surroundings in Istanbul's Old City, complete with an eye-catching yellow façade. The hotel’s highlights include its decadent spa facilities - consisting of the city's most expensive hamam - and its outdoor restaurant, St Sophia Terrace, which overlooks the Marmara Sea on one side and the spectacular Blue Mosque on the other.
Rooms with view: Some of the deluxe rooms on the fourth floor offer views of either Hagia Sophia or the Blue Mosque, albeit only partial. The panoramic view of the historical area is only available from St Sophia Terrace.
Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow
Views of the Kremlin, Red Square and St Basil’s Cathedral
Located at the corner of Balchug Street, the hotel was once home to studios of famous artists such as Kramskoi and Vasnetsov, who painted the Kremlin with the view from their windows.
Rooms with view: The 82 deluxe rooms and all the different types of suites, located on the second to eighth floors, look out to either of the aforementioned landmarks.
ITC Mughal Agra
View of The Taj Mahal
The elegant ITC Mughal Agra is named after the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan who created one of India’s greatest monuments: the Taj Mahal. Located just 2.5km away from the marble wonder, the hotel incorporates similar Mughal architecture style and offers suites named after prominent figures from the Mughal era. The hotel also consists of one of India's largest spas, measuring more than 9,000 sqm.
Rooms with view: Due to the sacred nature of the Taj Mahal, the tomb created for Shah Jahan's wife, the hotel deliberately only has four suites with the view of the monument. A more respectable way to enjoy the Taj is from the hotel's observatory deck - Jharokha-e-Taj.
Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria
View of St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican City
This property was the first in Europe to become a member of Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts’ portfolio, bringing a touch of luxury to the Eternal City. The hotel boasts elegant art pieces and the Grand Spa, which includes two Turkish baths, four swimming pools, a gym with yoga and pilates rooms and two tennis courts.
Rooms with the view: Almost 65 per cent of the rooms at this property overlook the landmark.
Shangri-La Paris
View of the Eiffel Tower
This property, housed in the former home of Napoleon Bonaparte’s grandnephew – Prince Roland Bonaparte – is the Shangri-La group’s first foray into Europe. Located on Paris’ 16th arrondisement, close to Trocadéro and Champs-Élysées, the hotel has retained the mansion’s noble grandeur and offers views of the city's many historical landmarks while providing state-of-the-art facilities. For a Tried and Tested of the property, click here.
Rooms with view: Almost 40 per cent of the hotel's rooms and 60 per cent of its suites offer a view of the Eiffel tower
Alisha Haridasani