Winning tip: Skajo, Freiburg, Germany
I had a couple of hours to spend in Freiburg while my bike was being repaired, but no energy left to sightsee. The guy at the cycle shop suggested I visit Skajo rooftop bar, in the old centre of Freiburg. Skajo provided a cooling breeze, cold beer and a delicious charcuterie platter. All-round views saved my legs while giving me a snapshot of this lively city, from a close-up of the magnificent cathedral, right out to the surrounding green hills and the beginnings of the Black Forest. Scents from the flower market drifted up, mingling with the strains of buskers in cathedral square. Bliss!
fionachaillier
Park, Lisbon
This is the top level of a car park in Bairro Alto that has been turned into a garden terrace. Park is not the easiest place to find and you do wonder if you are in the right place as you’re walking through an eerily quiet multistorey car park covered in graffiti, but the views over the city and the River Tagus are totally worth it. The terrace is covered in plants so you feel cut off from the hustle and bustle below. We visited in the evening and an impromptu dance-off between break dancers provided some lively entertainment. Excellent selection of beers and good simple food.
Miles Wilson
Frank’s Cafe, Peckham, London
In south-east London the opening of Frank’s Cafe is the official sign that summer is here. Go for the novelty (the bar is on the top floor of a car park behind Peckham High Street and features contemporary sculptures) and stay for the epic urban sunset views. Arrive after 5pm and you’ll be surrounded by locals getting their post-work fresh air fix. If the weather turns a bit British don’t panic – there are plenty of restaurants on lower levels and you can retreat to the Peckhamplex below for bargain £5 cinema tickets. Peckham Rye station (on the Overground and Thameslink) is almost opposite.
Sam Wallis
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Guardian Travel readers' tips
Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage
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Konak Cafe, Istanbul
Sit on the Konak Cafe rooftop bar’s terrace you will see the Golden Horn replete with Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. The Asian and European shores are both visible, separated by the sparkling Bosphorus and two bridges are in sight – the Ataturk suspension bridge across the straits and the Galata road bridge lined with fishermen, which leads to the old city. Glance back to see the Galata Tower face on and close up. Service is friendly and prices reasonable. And make sure you visit the charming fin-de-siecle drawing room at the entrance to the cafe.
charlibey
La Pedera, Barcelona
Antoni Gaudí’s architectural masterpiece, La Pedera, a flight of modernista fancy, has a secret rooftop bar that allows you to avoid the crowds of the day and enjoy the stunning skyline in peace, all while listening to jazz. Buy a ticket to one of its rooftop concerts, arts and lighting shows (€34) and get a short guided tour through the building, to the jewel in the crown, the rooftop; a switchback of terraces and iconic chimney stacks, looking like sentries of helmeted warriors. On arrival, a glass of cava is proffered, included in the price. Numbers are strictly controlled, so you never feel crowded. As sun turns into night, delicate strip lighting guides visitors across the undulating space. Music, sunset and views, all with a glass or two of wine, in an otherwise noisy and busy city, are worth seeking out.
Derrick Fish
The Nebotičnik, Ljubljana, Slovenia
The Nebotičnik (Slovenian for ‘Skyscraper’) was the tallest building in Yugoslavia when it opened in 1933, but these days is just an unassuming 13-floor tower block – one that just happens to house a rooftop cafe bar with the best views in the city. The terrace offers a 360-degree panorama that takes in the medieval streets of Ljubljana’s old town overlooked by the magnificent castle on one side, to the foothills of the Julian alps on the other. The perfect place for coffee and cake, or a cocktail at sunset.
ID2361667
Rinascente, Palermo, Sicily
Photograph: S Deith
The Vucciria market area is classic Palermo – fish stalls, vespas, creative graffiti and second world war-damaged palazzi. On the edge is Piazza San Domenico, where the church houses the tomb of Giovanni Falcone, the famous anti-mafia judge killed by the mob. Adjacent is the Rinascente department store’s serene rooftop bar, with views of the square and cloister but also across the city to the Madonie mountains. Cocktails cost €8, freshly-squeezed juices €4. It’s open until 12am on Fridays, but 8.30pm on other days.
S Deith
Art-Cafe, Tblisi
After entering what seems like an abandoned club cloakroom through an unmarked door, climb the stairs to find the Art-Cafe Home rooftop. With comfy sofas, a chilled vibe and friendly locals, this bar is the perfect place to enjoy standard cocktails with a distinctly Georgian twist (cha-cha, a Georgian equivalent of grappa, features heavily). Best of all, it is a great spot to view the eclectic architecture of Tbilisi – the medieval fortress, crumbling Soviet houses and enormous modern constructions.
James Fawcett
360 Bar, Budapest
Budapest is famous for its ruin bars but look up above leafy Andrássy út and you’ll find 360 Bar. Head here for sundowners and marvel at the skyline, including the magnificent neo-gothic style Fisherman’s Bastion against a mountainous backdrop. There is a wide selection of drinks, with cocktails from about £5, bottled beers from £1.90 and an americano is about £1.30. It attracts a young crowd with DJs playing deep and progressive house. It is a perfect place to relax after exploring the city.
jbridge90
Locavore Bar, Västerås, Sweden
The Locavore Bar is on the 18th floor of the Steam Hotel in this central Swedish city. It is in a former power station and now a gleaming and stylish example of Scandinavian chic. With views over the lovely Lake Malaren, the third largest fresh-water lake in Sweden, this bar is stylish luxury of a rare kind. Its own steam beer costs 75 krona (about £6.30), so this is not for the budget traveller. Gleaming chandeliers in the dining room give way to magnificent views at the top, and there are stunning sunsets. Sit back and witness the young locals ski and skate their way across a frozen wilderness.
Pat Greenwell