Europe's most spectacular clifftop hotels

Amazing hotels on the edge of incredible cliffs, high above gorgeous blue waves, by the water’s edge – this is Citizen Femme’s hotlist of Europe’s most spectacular clifftop hotels.

We have made it quite simple, just pick your terrace, and get booking. So here is our list of favourite clifftop properties. Enjoy the read and we can guarantee you will enjoy the view.

‘Views’ is your main word here. Though understated, the Bellevue Dubrovnik provides a calm and serene atmosphere to a backdrop of panoramic sea views, as well as bedrooms sea views overlooking the tranquil Miramare bay. The hotel’s semi-private beach is one of its trump cards, reached by lift. And you don’t have to move too far when lunchtime comes around as the sun beds are tended by waiters who will serve you dishes from a locally-inspired menu. It is in close proximity (15 minute walk or quick bus ride) to Dubrovnik’s charming medieval Old Town with cobbled streets and pavement cafes, now a UNESCO heritage site, should you fancy a stroll and touch of exploration.

The 220 sq.m spa and wellness area is a delightful sanctuary for both relaxing and working out. The spa consists of an indoor freshwater swimming pool, Jacuzzi whirlpool, relaxation zone, two treatment rooms, a VIP treatment room for two (with a private Jacuzzi), a fitness studio (with both cardio and strength equipment), a Turkish bath and Finnish sauna, and theme showers that can be set to hot or cold, depending on your preference.

Top tip: Dine at the Beach Restaurant Nevera, where you can enjoy a menu of Dalmatian and Mediterranean cuisine influenced by flavours from Asia and the Western Pacific. Choose a spot either on the terrace, above the beach, or in a secluded man-made cave.

Not quite on a rooftop, but perched on the waterfront in the French Riviera town of Juan-les-Pins, Hotel Belles Rives is brimming with the glamour of the roaring twenties, a little gem that has been in the Estène family since 1929. Beautifully restored by owner Marianne Estène-Chauvin, it pays homage to the glamorous Riviera lifestyle Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald created when Scott wrote “Tender is the Night” here.

This legendary Art Deco mansion comes with sweeping sea views from rooms with impressive balconies. Spend time on the private beach and enjoy balmy evenings in the piano bar with dining by the water’s edge recreating the chic elegance of those bygone days.

Top tip: On your retreat, make sure to treat yourself to an indulgent massage in one of the private Cabanas on the beach or take a Valmont beauty treatment at the Belles-Rives Beauty Corner.

The epitome of Mediterranean chic.

The savvy travellers heads here. Echoing the style and the concept of a luxury house, the interior design is derived by the charm of the elements that can be found by the coastline: the light and the colour of the sea, an artful revival of the classic style, crisp white and navy furnishings, bringing the borderless Mediterranean sea to your room. Situated in Capri, the island is reachable either by hydrofoil, ferry or helicopter. Private boat transfers may also be easily arranged by the hotel’s concierge.

Some rooms have small balconies facing the sea, and the penthouse suite comes with a long private terrace with a panoramic view of the Gulf of Naples.

Take a good book and pair of sunglasses and bask on the gorgeous swimming pool terrace. When, and if, you’re tired of this, head to Capri town, a 15 minute drive, with its wealth of swanky boutiques and glittery nightlife.

Top tip: Ask the concierge to arrange boat trips around the island and the Amalfi coast.

Until the 1960s when the island’s airport opened, guests would arrive at the hotel by boat and be carried up the cliffs in hammocks on poles strung between the shoulders of two men. It’s a much easier commute now to reach this iconic hotel, but it still attracts the elite.

The 163-room Belmond Reid’s Palace is set within rich gardens, perched dramatically on a clifftop, a short drive from the centre of Funchal. Awash with antiques and period touches, this traditionally elegant property has lost little of its original 19th Century elegance. Stunning sea views throughout the hotel, as well as an oceanfront spa, three swimming pools and direct access to the water.

All rooms at Reid’s Palace include a balcony, a minibar with complimentary drinks and complimentary in-room movies. Play a match on the tennis courts, or enjoy some al fresco dining offered by the French-inspired Brisa Do Mar, while the Villa Cipriani serves classic Italian dishes.

Top tip: Stretch out in the sun. And simply, relax.

What must you do? Afternoon tea on the terrace, its their speciality.

Ibiza’s original five-star hotel, Hacienda Na Xamena, which opened on the north coast in the halcyon days of the early Seventies, is one you cannot gloss over. It’s an emotional experience.

The focal point is the setting, enclosed within pine trees atop a cliff 180 metres above the sea. There’s no immediate beach to descend to (the nearest is a 10-minute drive away); but you are surrounded by a series of palms, plants and cascading pools. Although not in the middle of the thumping nightlife in San Antonio and Playa d’en Bossa, you are only a half-hour drive away should you feel the urge.

From each luxurious room and suite, you can admire the surrounding nature, turquoise blue sea, the wild cliffs and unforgettable sunsets, each offering a Jacuzzi, terrace or balcony.

The hotel offers an amazing spa, and outdoor Thalasso therapy area with eight interconnecting lagoons complete with spectacular sea views . The spa facilities in La Posidonia, are named after the protected seaweed that grows around Ibiza.

Enjoy breakfast on the terrace at the By the Pool restaurant, and dinner at Eden Restaurant. Show-cooking will keep you entertained as well as live music, DJ performances and chill-out music in the Lounge.

The Hacienda Na Xamena is more than somewhere to sleep, its the place in Ibiza you return revitalised and refreshed.

Top tip: Take your massage in the bamboo hut which faces the sunset to the west.