Some of the most beautiful sites to visit are communities on cliffs. These extraordinary buildings that defy gravity are situated on steep hills, gaze out over sparkling oceans and mix human creation with the raw power of nature. Every cobblestone alley, sunny terrace and cascading view tells a story of daring and skill that has been passed down through the years.
If you want to go to places that really push the limits of “living on the edge”, pack your bags and get ready to see some of the most amazing cliffside settlements in the world, from Italy’s Amalfi Coast to Greece, Spain and beyond.
Positano, Italy
Positano sits majestically on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, seeming like a watercolor painting that has come to life. The colorful buildings that flank the limestone cliffs and lead down to the turquoise ocean make this one of the most photographed coastlines in the world.
The flow of life in Positano is what makes it special, not just how beautiful it is. Along the winding alleyways are lemon trees, boutique stores and beach cafés where people sip espresso while the waves crash below. The smell of the sea breeze mixes with the smell of freshly baked focaccia and every turn offers a new postcard scene.
Tip for travelers: Go in late spring or early fall when the people are smaller and the sea is warmer. You can rent a scooter or a car to see secret coves or trek the Path of the Gods (Sentiero dei Dei), a famous trail that gives you high vistas of the coast that appear to defy gravity.
Santorini, Greece
Santorini is famed for more than simply its sunsets, it’s a dreamlike cliffside place above the Aegean Sea. The whitewashed domes and cobalt rooftops of Oia and Fira are built on the remains of a volcanic caldera, making the area one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean.
The towns on this island are examples of Cycladic architecture that can resist the test of time and earthquakes. Every feature feels otherworldly, from infinity pools that stare out over azure waters to twisting stairways cut into volcanic rock.
Have a romantic supper with a view of the caldera, visit ancient ruins in Akrotiri, and drink local wine made from volcanic soil. From the cliffs of Oia, you can see the sun set over the sea. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Ronda, Spain
Ronda, a mountainside city in Andalusia that sits above a 390-foot-deep chasm, is one of the few sites in Spain where history and drama come together. The El Tajo canyon divides Ronda into two parts. The beautiful Puente Nuevo Bridge, which was built in the 18th century, connects the two halves. It looks like it is floating in the air.
Walk around Ronda’s Old Town, where Moorish and Spanish styles come together. Go to old bullrings, drink local sherry and look out over the rough cliffs that inspired writers like Hemingway and Orson Welles.
Ronda is different because it combines natural beauty with living culture. It’s not a museum piece; it’s a lively village that still beats to the rhythm of Andalusia.
Bonifacio, Corsica
Bonifacio is the place to go if you’ve ever wanted to see a medieval castle on a cliff over the sea. This French cliffside town sits at the southern tip of Corsica. Its white limestone cliffs make it look like it’s floating over the Mediterranean.
There are pastel buildings, artisan stores and cafés in the Old Town’s small streets that have vistas that go on forever. The sea below looks like liquid glass, as the cliffs descend steeply into turquoise bays.
Walk up the King of Aragon Stairway, which is a staircase carved right into the rock face and feel the intensity of the winds that sculpted this area. Bonifacio is a photographer’s dream and a must-see on every trip to a French island.
Meteora, Greece
Meteora is one of the strangest places on Earth, where spirituality and geology come together in a scene that looks like it came out of a fantasy movie. The Thessalian plain is home to hundreds of meters-high rock pillars and on top of these natural spires are monasteries that have been there for hundreds of years. They look like they are floating between heaven and earth.
The Meteora monasteries are among the most amazing buildings in history. They were built by monks who wanted to be alone and at peace. People can climb, trek or even go on organized photographic tours to see their magical beauty today.
Seeing the sunrise here, when the golden light touches the sandstone towers, is something you’ll never forget.
Castellfollit de la Roca, Spain
Think of a whole community that is balanced on a narrow basalt ridge made by two rivers and old lava flows. Castellfollit de la Roca is one of the smallest and most amazing villages in Catalonia.
The dwellings here are formed of volcanic rock and look like they are part of the cliff. Walking through its cobblestone alleyways is like stepping into a time capsule from the Middle Ages, with views that go on forever across the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone.
When the sun sets and the sky turns pink and orange, the whole hamlet looks like it’s floating in the air. This is a photographer’s dream and a sign of how adaptable people are.
Manarola, Italy
All five villages of Cinque Terre are beautiful, but Manarola is the most dramatic because of its steep cliffs. Colorful houses perched on rocky cliffs drop down into the Ligurian Sea, making a rainbow of colors that is the perfect example of coastal Italy.
The waves set the pace of life here. Fishermen fix their boats, residents drink wine at beach bars while tourists get lost in narrow lanes that smell like sea salt and pesto.
Take a beautiful walk along the Via dell’Amore (Path of Love) that connects Manarola to Riomaggiore. This is the best way to see the romantic side of Italy’s cliffside shore.
Azenhas do Mar, Portugal
Azenhas do Mar is a small seaside community that looks like it grew out of the cliffs. It’s only a short drive from Lisbon. Its whitewashed homes drop down to a natural ocean pool surrounded by pounding waves from the Atlantic.
This town is still one of Portugal’s most underappreciated seaside gems. People can eat fresh seafood at restaurants on the edge of cliffs, witness sunsets that light up the sky and take some of the most Instagrammable photos in Europe.
Wadi Tiwi, Oman
If you go outside of Europe, you’ll find one of the most amazing cliffside communities in the Middle East: Wadi Tiwi in Oman. This old village is surrounded by spectacular gorges and emerald-green ponds. It mixes desert scenery with lush palm oases.
Stone dwellings built on cliffs and terraces reveal that people have lived in harmony with nature for hundreds of years. The rough rock, turquoise water and green plants make it a unique and memorable place to visit for both adventurers and photographers.
Furore, Italy
Lastly, Furore is Italy’s best-kept secret. It’s a “village that doesn’t exist” because it doesn’t have a town square like other villages have. Instead, it stays on the cliffs of a tiny fjord that runs between Amalfi and Praiano.
There are colorful houses all over the high rock walls and the stairways that connect them don’t appear to make sense. The Fiordo di Furore is a hidden beach with green waters surrounded by tall rocks.
It’s a calm, mysterious and completely beautiful area where you can really get away from the contemporary world.
When you go to these places, take your time. Take some time to walk, breathe and talk to people who live there. Stay in small hotels carved into the cliffs, try local wines and take pictures of the sun rising that make you forget about time.
The actual magic of these towns isn’t just in how they look, it’s in how they make you feel little in the greatest manner possible, humbled by the beauty of nature and human craftsmanship.