Discover 8 hotels on top of cliffs and mountains most breathtaking in the world

When it comes to lodging and what makes a hotel truly spectacular, a cliffside setting is hard to beat. There can be little doubt, then, that some of the most stunning properties are situated atop cliffs and mountains.

Impressive views, whether of the ocean, mountain or valley, combined with enviable locations give these hotels a power to leave them among the most coveted travel accommodations in the world.

“Cliffside properties tick the boxes for everything you want in a hotel stay,” says Josh Alexander, consultant at Protravel, a New York City travel agency.

“They are romantic, private and generally very luxurious. Literally and figuratively, you feel on top of the world.”

From Dominica and Big Sur to the Amalfi Coast and Santorini, here are some of the most stunning, awe-inspiring and enviable cliff top hotels in the world:

Secret Bay, Dominica

On the pristine Caribbean island nation of Dominica, this all-villa boutique resort is perched atop a high rise amidst lush rainforest and overlooking the ocean. All units have kitchens, indoor and outdoor living areas, and plunge pools.

There are ocean views from almost everywhere on the property, including the open-air restaurant and treehouse-style spa. Guests can enjoy countless activities on land and at sea – including lionfish hunting, diving on Champagne Reef and hiking the longest trail in the Caribbean.

Ross Blvd Portsmouth, Dominica; +1 833 916 0833

Angama Mara, Kenya

Perched 300 meters above the Maasai Mara, Angama Mara sits on the edge of the Great Rift Valley and offers views of the plains that stretch on and on. The name of the camp was inspired by the Swahili word for “suspended in the air”.

The site was also the location for the 1985 film “Out of Africa”. foot. Amenities include a photo studio, gym, an art gallery, a 12-metre long swimming pool and a studio where local Maasai women deliver bespoke items.

Angama Mara: Suswa Mara Triangle, Kenya; +254 730 630630

Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Formerly a monastery dating back to the 17th century, the family-run Monastero Santa Rosa sits on the side of a cliff overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Gulf of Salerno. With 20 rooms, it has an infinity pool, five levels of landscaped gardens filled with bougainvillea, a Michelin-starred restaurant and several outdoor pavilions.

The spa is the best on the Amalfi Coast and offers treatments using local herbs and plants, while the picturesque towns of Amalfi, Positano and Ravello can be reached in 20 minutes by car or boat.

Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa : Via Roma, 2, 84010 Conca dei Marini SA, Italy; +39 089 832 1199

Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection, Santorini, Greece

Perched high above the caldera of Santorini, in the village of Imerovigli, in the northwest of the island, the white Grace Hotel is the ideal place to enjoy the most captivating sunrises and sunsets of the Aegean Sea.
The property features an ocean-view Champagne lounge, a beautiful infinity pool, an upscale Mediterranean restaurant, and a yoga and pilates studio. For a little extravagance, travelers can book the two-bedroom villa, which has a spacious outdoor terrace with a private pool, as well as a private spa area with a heated indoor pool.

Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection : Imerovigli 847 00, Greece; +30 2286 021300

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Nizwa, Oman

Rising 6,000 feet above sea level on the curved edge of a gorge, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar – Arabic for “green mountain” – overlooks Oman’s rugged mountain landscape. It’s an area that Prince Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales visited in 1986 to see the dramatic beauty first-hand.

The resort has 115 rooms, a cliffside infinity pool, six restaurants and lounges, and a spa with hammam. Guests can hike through the valleys, gaze at the stars, go mountain biking or visit ancient mountain villages and nearby historic sites.

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort : No 110, Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Nizwa 621, Oman: +968 25 218000

Reid’s Palace, Madeira, Portugal

Perched on a rocky bluff above the port of Funchal, Madeira, Reid’s Palace, a Belmond hotel, is surrounded by ten acres of subtropical gardens and offers expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean from each of its 158 rooms.

One of the resort’s three pools sits at the base of the cliff and features a sea-level platform so guests can jump right into the ocean. The Italian restaurant also overlooks the sea and is an especially picturesque spot to savor the island’s sunset.

Belmond Reid’s Palace: Estrada Monumental 139, 9000-098 Funchal, Portugal; +351 291 717 171

Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Ireland

Located on the south east coast of Ireland in the fishing village of Ardmore, the aptly named Cliff House Hotel sits on the edge of a cliff overlooking the expanses of Ardmore Bay and beyond.

The Well by the Sea spa offers guest rooms and an after-treatment relaxation area that appears to float above the bay.

The property’s excellent Michelin-starred restaurant serves contemporary Irish cuisine, and the hotel makes a great base for exploring nearby villages, as well as Cork city, less than an hour’s drive away.

Hotel Cliff House : Middle Road, Dysert, Ardmore, Co. Waterford, P36 DK38, Ireland; +353 24 87800

Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California

In remote Big Sur, Post Ranch Inn, a favorite getaway for Hollywood’s who’s who, sits 1,200 feet above the Pacific Ocean.

Guests can look forward to the sight and sound of crashing waves, breathtaking sunsets and a relaxed atmosphere where days are filled with scenic walks, relaxing by the pool or enjoying a spa treatment (which takes place mid of the forest). Dining in the property’s glass-enclosed Sierra Mar restaurant is an experience akin to floating in the sky.

Post Ranch Inn, 47900 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920; +1 831-667-2200