Do you live on the edge? Then don’t miss this selection of the best cliffs in the world to inspire your adventures!
If you enjoyed our picks for some of the world’s most impressive landscapes, then you’re going to dig this return to Mother Nature’s stunning gifts—this time in the form of cliffs so dramatic they will give you goosebumps. These cliffs, dispersed throughout Europe and beyond, are true natural spectacles.
1. Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
In Ireland, the infinite green landscapes will make your heart sing from day one. However, when you discover the Cliffs of Moher, your heart just might explode. The Emerald Isle’s most-visited natural attraction is located on Ireland’s west coast at heights that reach 702 feet. It’s no surprise that the impressive Cliffs of Moher served as the backdrop for movies such as ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ and ‘The Princess Bride’. They also make for a nifty day trip from Dublin.
2. The Zumaia Flysch, Spain
The Basque Country has a (formerly) less-trodden coastal area that will leave you speechless. The Zumaia Flysch, which you might recognize from Game of Thrones, is a geological formation that extends from Zumaia to Deba and consists of rock strata that conceals centuries of history. Thanks to the flysch’s large diversity of marine flora and fauna, the area was declared a protected coastal biotope in 2009. Hiking the routes around the cliffs of Itzurun is an unforgettable experience!
3. Albandeira Arch, Portugal
The Albandeira arch is a rock formation that is an emblem of the Algarve, located in southern Portugal, and, surprisingly, it is not super popular as it is difficult to access. If you’re a brave adventurer who wants to give it a go, the end result is priceless–watching the sunset from here will take your breath away.
4. Étretat Cliffs, France
The cliffs of Étretat are an essential stop on any route through the French region of Normandy. If you complement this with a visit to the nearby town of Honfleur, you have the perfect day-long excursion amongst the picture-perfect landscapes of the Albâtre coast, which inspired legendary artists such as Claude Monet and Gustave Courbet. The cliffs of Étretat’s highlight is the natural arch known as “the eye of the needle.”
5. Ronda, Spain
Impressive cliffs are not only found on the coast. This is proven by the cliff of Ronda—a Malagan town of Celtic origin that sits atop a spectacular precipice 394 feet above the El Tajo gorge. The iconic New Bridge constructed in 1793 connects the old and the new parts of the city.
6. Preikestolen, Norway
Preikestolen, also known as the Pulpit, is a rock platform located about 1,970 feet above the Lysefjorden fjord in the south of Norway. Its creation dates back more than 10,000 years, and it is said that the Vikings used it to perform sacrifices. Times have changed, and today it is the Nordic country’s most-visited natural attraction and a veritable Instagram darling. That being said, it’s not the place for acrophobe ‘grammers.
7. Vixía Herbeira Cliffs, Spain
Located in Galicia, Spain’s Vixía Herbeira Cliffs are some of continental Europe’s tallest. At a height of 2,018 feet, the views from the top, and especially from the 18th-century lookout called Garita de Herbeira, are awe-inspiring. Once a coastal surveillance point, today this breathtaking area is more of a place for a mystical experience.
8. Cliffs of Dover, United Kingdom
The southeast coast of the United Kingdom is home to the majestic Cliffs of Dover, 360-foot tall limestone formations. These iconic white cliffs facing the namesake strait have appeared in various movies and British songs. Their significance, in fact, dates back to old times when they were the last things travelers saw from their boats. With multiple paths to explore, we recommend taking the lighthouse route from where, on a clear day, you can see France.
9. Kjerag, Norway
Also in Norway, Kjeragbolten is a rock suspended between rock walls that you have most likely seen on social media at some point. It is found in Kjerag, a mountain located in the Lysefjord fjord, 3,280 above an abyss. Are you brave enough to take a picture there?
10. Cliffs of Bonifacio, France
The white limestone cliffs of Bonifacio in south Corsica, make up one of the Mediterranean island’s most stunning landscapes. With the old city (Ville Haute) at the top of the cliff protected by a fortress, the magic that emanates through this enclave makes it one of Corsica’s most-visited places. The Lavezzi Islands, known amongst divers for offering an exceptional seabed, are located nearby.
11. Cape Formentor, Spain
Cape Formentor is an emblem of Majorca. Located at the northernmost point of the Balearic island at the end of the Tramuntana mountain range, the panoramic views from the Creueta viewpoint will captivate you. The Pollensa Bay will be off to one side and the cliffs to the other, framing a picture that becomes even more enchanting with the pastel colors of the setting sun.
12. Bunda Cliffs, Australia
We leave Europe to explore some of the most beautiful cliffs elsewhere. We fly to the other side—specifically, to the south of Australia—to discover the Bunda Cliffs. Not only is its length (more than 62 miles) and its height (as tall as 394 feet, that ends the great plain called Nullabor Plain) fascinating, but on top of that, these cliffs are a great lookout point for spotting whales between June and October.
13. Drakensberg Amphitheatre, South Africa
The Royal Natal National Park of South Africa is home to the Drakensberg Amphitheatre or the Dragon Mountain—the most symbolic natural attraction in the country. This basalt cliff near Tugela Falls is one of the tallest in the world.
14. Vermillion Falls, United States
The Vermillion Cliffs extend along 111,197 acres between the states of Arizona and Utah constituting a magnificent example of impressive sandstone rock cliffs that reach 2,953 feet high. A remote place of reddish tones and canyons, Paria Canyon is of particular note for its original rock formations such as the wavy and almost psychedelic Wave, to which a certain number of people are granted access every year.
15. Kalaupapa Cliffs, United States
Hawaii’s island of Molokai is home to coastal cliffs that form part of the Kalaupapa National Historical Park and from where you can absorb the state’s incredible tropical landscape. Precisely because of the presence of these cliffs, the peninsula where they are located hides a murky history: it was once a leper colony and a prison island for about 100 years.