In March 2013, the U.N. announced that an estimated 2.5 billion people don’t have access to working toilets, and pledged to halve this number by 2015.

However, for the 4.5 billion people who do have access, it’s a very different story. It’s been estimated that we spend over a year of our lives on the loo. With this in mind, we’ve investigated ten of the best loos with a view.

The London skyline, with its landmark structures and skyscrapers, is one of the most famous in the world. Iconic buildings like the Gherkin and Big Ben rise from the bustling streets, attracting tourists from around the globe. At 306 metres, architect Renzo Piano’s Shard is the tallest building of them all. The 68^th floor of this incredible structure boasts the most exhilarating toilet view in London. Visitors are treated to a breath-taking view of the sprawling metropolis, from a ceiling-to-floor window.

Here’s another loo with an impressive city view. Workers at the Commerzbank tower – the tallest building in Germany – can look out over the rooftops of Frankfurt in this lofty bathroom. The architect of the building clearly had a sense of humour, as the location of the toilet makes it look like users are urinating on the building of Dresdner bank, who were direct competitors when the Commerzbank tower was built. (Commerzbank has since acquired Dresdner, completing the transaction in 2009).

Chinese city Chongquing is home to ‘Foreigner Street’, a theme park devoted to international culture. The park features replica Egyptian pyramids, a smaller copy of Christ the Redeemer, and what is claimed to be the world’s largest public toilet. The sprawling bathroom contains 4 floors, and over 1000 toilets.  If they can take their eyes off the novelty-shaped urinals, the uppermost floor provides guests with a view over the park.

The NamibRand nature reserve is one of the biggest privately-owned nature reserves in Southern Africa. The park is home to a plethora of wildlife, including cheetahs, vultures and jackals. It’s also home to this unusual toilet, which looks out onto a vast, sandy plain.

Kenya’s Meru National Park was made famous by Born Free, the 1960 book and subsequent film about a couple’s efforts to release a lioness into the wild. A luxurious safari lodge, Elsa’s Kopje can be found within the park’s boundaries. Guests are invited to enjoy the facilities, including this incredible bathroom, which comes complete with stunning views over the African plains.

This photo was taken from the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. The first thing you notice is the stunning view. Look closely, and you’ll see the best loo-with-a-view in Africa – a long-drop toilet provided for visitors to Shira Camp. Situated on Kilimanjaro’s Shira Plateau, this toilet sits at a dizzying 3,847m above sea level.

Alcatraz was notoriously difficult to escape – authorities maintain that throughout the facility’s 29-year history, no prisoner ever successfully broke out. Part of the prison’s success was down to constant surveillance – carried out in part from lofty guard towers. One of the towers was equipped with a toilet, providing a 360° view of the surrounding San Francisco bay.

Going to the toilet on the slopes can often be a chilly and unpleasant experience. However, this stunning Alpine view, found in a mountainside bathroom in the Austrian SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser, makes up for the cold. The SkiWelt is Austria’s largest interconnected skiing region, with 279km of runs, 91 cable cars, and a series of breath-taking bathroom views.

Standard aeroplane toilets rarely feature windows. However, they’re slightly more common in business and first-class cabins. This luxurious loo, complete with faux-wood panelling and a porcelain sink, features on some Emirates flights. Not only does this toilet offer far more space than the cramped cubicle most flyers are used to, it also provides flyers with a sensational view of blue skies and drifting clouds.

Hikers are usually reduced to doing their business in the woods. However, park authorities at Montana’s Glacier National Park have thoughtfully provided this toilet for passing ramblers. With over 1,000,000 acres to explore, this loo-with-a-view could be hard to find. Those who are lucky enough to stumble upon it can use the facilities whilst gazing at the vast Agassiz Glacier.

 This article was written  by Ben Wosskow of LoveHomeSwap.com, a leading home swapping site boasting over 48,000 properties across over 150 countries.

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As I’m writing, I’m actually planning my own week end in my hometown Vienna, Austria. Travel preparations for myself and my family always include a mix of sights popular with first time visitors, and my very personal favourites, like this itinerary:

1. Saturday Morning – Naschmarkt

Provided you start your tour on a Saturday, head straight for Naschmarkt, Vienna’s historic food and flea market. The flea market is only open on Saturdays, and the whole of Naschmarkt is closed on Sundays.

The green cast iron food market stalls, where Austrian, Serbian, Bosnian, Croat, Turkish, and Polish sellers praise excellent meat, cheese, fruit & vegetables, spices, vinegar specialities, sweets and regional produce, are around 100 years old. As you head for the flea market, watch out for the Art Nouveau buildings of Otto Wagner at Linke Wienzeile, glazed with red poppies, gold leaf laurels and roof top statues of ethereal females.

Have lunch at Café Drechsler, a Viennese institution at Linke Wienzeile, opposite Naschmarkt, serving modern Viennese cuisine to the cool sounds of the café’s own CD compilations.

2. Saturday Afternoon – Historic City Centre

The old town is a UNESCO world heritage site, and the main hunting ground for Vienna Austria travel freaks and luxury shoppers. Set your sightseeing expectations high, especially when it comes to medieval and baroque architecture. Start by orbiting the city centre on Ringstrasse boulevard, taking a 30 minute ride on the Vienna Ringtram, a historic tramway adapted with audio guides for travelers. Highlights of the city centre are Kärntner Strasse leading to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Graben and Kohlmarkt, leading to the Imperial Palace (Hofburg). Factor in some time to visit a Vienna coffeehouse – Café Hawelka, Café Griensteidl and Café Prückel are among my personal favourites. If the weather nice, have your coffee at Kleines Café on Franziskanerplatz, a hugely romantic square.

3. Saturday Evening – Musical Event

Whether you are into classical or contemporary music, opera or theatre, Vienna is a sweet spot. You may be lucky enough to bag rare tickets for a concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra or you visit one of Vienna’s four opera houses, or attend a small jazz or e-music session at a local venue. My tip: Book the classical music events in advance so you don’t need to rely on tourist concert tickets sold in the street.Have a nice Viennese dinner at kitsch-free Plachutta or Oesterreicher im MAK.

4. Sunday Morning – Fine Arts For Brunch

Start Sunday morning with fine art at either the Museum of Fine Arts or the Museumsquartier opposite. The first hosts a wonderful collection of classical art, mainly Renaissance and baroque, where as Museumsquartier is best known for its Modernist and contemporary museums, such as the Leopold Museum and MUMOK. Brunch among art treasures at Gerstner’s, right under the Museum of Fine Art’s marble cupola upstairs.

Alternatively, enjoy a more contemporary setting at Hill’s MUMOK, or lunch surrounded by 1950ies chic at Café Leopold.

5. Sunday Afternoon – Schonbrunn Palace And Gardens

You can’t afford to miss out on Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, our number one tourist attraction. It is less than 15 minutes by underground from the centre and fits into even tight week end sightseeing schedules.

The baroque summer residence of the Habsburgs is another UNESCO World heritage site. Unless you are a palace fanatic, take the small tour through the lovely interiors. Then, stroll through the gardens, via the Palm House, up the hill to the Habsburgs’ authentic Tyrolean farmhouse/restaurant Tiroler Haus, and to Gloriette Café. If you go during Easter and just before Christmas, make sure you visit the seasonal markets in front of the palace.

About the Author: Barbara Grüll-Cação is a native Viennese. She runs Vienna Austria travel site Vienna Unwrapped . Having lived in and around Vienna for 30 years, she regularly visits the city from London, where she now lives and works. On Vienna Unwrapped, Barbara shares her knowledge as a native, a former local, and a frequent Vienna traveller with you.

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In 1940-1950s the natural lake Reschensee (lake Resia) was dammed up by 22 meters for electricity generation. Because of this 70% of the population were forced to emigrate or move away, almost 200 houses and farms were destroyed and people who decided to stay lived in temporary barracks for two years. Bell tower of church of Curon Venosta is everything left above water level.

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