10 Famous Observatories You Can Visit: Astronomical Sites Around the Globe
On June 22, 2025, the Royal Observatory Greenwich turns 350! As the place where the Prime Meridian was born, it helped shape how we measure time and space – and, in many ways, how we live today. So to celebrate this iconic observatory’s big birthday, we’re taking you on a tour of 10 amazing observatories around the world. Some are cutting-edge research centers, others are historic landmarks, and all of them are perfect for space lovers and curious travelers alike. Don’t forget – a handy stargazing app like Sky Tonight can help you follow the stars at every stop.
Contents
- 🇬🇧 Royal Observatory Greenwich, London, United Kingdom
- 🇮🇹 Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory, Florence, Italy
- 🇿🇦 South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town/Sutherland, South Africa
- 🇮🇳 Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, India
- 🇯🇵 Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory, Ishigaki Island, Japan
- 🇦🇺 Siding Spring Observatory, Australia
- 🌺Maunakea Observatory, Hawaii, US
- 🇺🇸 Lowell Observatory, Arizona, US
- 🇨🇱 Paranal Observatory, Atacama Desert, Chile
- 🇪🇸 Teide Observatory, Canary Islands, Spain
- Why are observatories built in remote places?
- 10 famous observatories: bottom line
🇬🇧 Royal Observatory Greenwich, London, United Kingdom
- Location: 51°28′N 0°00′E
- Altitude: 68 m
- Website: rmg.co.uk (Greenwich); the-observatory.org (Herstmonceux)
The Royal Observatory Greenwich (ROG), the oldest observatory on this list, was founded in 1675 by King Charles II. On June 22, 2025, it will celebrate its 350th anniversary. It is famous for marking the world′s Prime Meridian (longitude 0°00′00′′).
Located on a hill in Greenwich Park, the observatory offers a panoramic view of the River Thames. In the 17th century, its location near London was fine for astronomers, but by the 20th century, light pollution forced a move to Herstmonceux, 70 km southeast of Greenwich. Today, the Greenwich site is primarily a museum where visitors can enjoy exhibitions, stand on the Greenwich Meridian Line, and watch shows at London′s only planetarium. The site at Herstmonceux is now called the Observatory Science Centre. While it doesn't conduct scientific research, it hosts stargazing events using historical telescopes.
🇮🇹 Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory, Florence, Italy
- Location: 43°45′N 11°15′E
- Altitude: 180.4 m
- Website: arcetri.inaf.it
The Arcetri Observatory was built in 1869 to house the Amici telescope, the largest refractor of its time (283 mm). It is located on Arcetri Hill, near Villa Il Gioiello, the residence of Galileo Galilei from 1631 to 1642.
The observatory is equipped with research instruments, including telescopes for optical and infrared observations. Visitors can use telescopes during both daytime and nighttime guided tours. By day, you can observe the Sun′s photosphere, sunspots, and solar chromosphere, while at night, you can view stars and planets. The observatory also offers opportunities to observe cosmic rays and natural radioactivity with the cloud chamber.
🇿🇦 South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town/Sutherland, South Africa
- Location: 33°56′S 18°28′E (headquarters); 32°22′S 20°48′E (major telescopes)
- Altitude: 1,798 m (SALT)
- Website: saao.ac.za
The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) was established in 1972 when the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, and Johannesburg Observatory merged. It is home to the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), the largest optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere (9.2 m).
The SAAO headquarters is located in Cape Town, on the site of the former Royal Observatory, while the main research telescopes are in Sutherland, about 370 km away. Both facilities are open to visitors. Cape Town offers open nights twice a month, with guided tours and stargazing using the 120-year-old McClean telescope. In Sutherland, you can book day tours of the research telescopes, including SALT, or enjoy a 90-minute stargazing session with two dedicated visitor telescopes.
🇮🇳 Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, India
- Location: 26°55′N 75°49′E
- Altitude: 220 m
- Website: jantarmantar.org
In the 18th century, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II built five astronomical observatories in northern India, all called Jantar Mantar. Four of these observatories can still be found in Delhi, Varanasi, Ujjain, and Jaipur, while the fifth one in Mathura was demolished in the 19th century.
The Jaipur observatory is the most elaborate of all, featuring 19 astronomical instruments used to measure time, predict eclipses, track stars, and determine planetary positions. It also boasts the world′s largest stone sundial and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unlike modern observatories, it contains no fancy telescopes; instead, it features massive stone structures used by astronomers three centuries ago, offering a unique glimpse into the history of astronomy.
If a trip to India isn′t in the stars right now, you can still explore the key astronomical milestones in a fun and quick way! Our infographic, featuring cartoon characters, will guide you through the history of astronomy from antiquity to the modern day.
🇯🇵 Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory, Ishigaki Island, Japan
- Location: 24°22′N 124°08′E
- Altitude: 182 m
- Website: nao.ac.jp (global version); murikabushi.jp (Japanese version)
The Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory is located near the Tropic of Cancer. 84 of 88 constellations can be seen here throughout the year, including the Southern Cross. Also, it is home to the 105 cm Murikabushi Telescope, the largest in Okinawa.
The observatory offers a facility tour and a 3D digital universe tour in the Space Theater. Additionally, stargazing parties are held on weekends and public holidays, offering views of the Moon and planets through the Murikabushi telescope.
🇦🇺 Siding Spring Observatory, Australia
- Location: 31°16′S 149°03′E
- Altitude: 1,165 m
- Website: rsaa.anu.edu.au
The Siding Spring Observatory was built in 1974, some 500 km away from Sydney. It hosts the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) – the largest optical telescope in Australia (3.9 m).
The observatory is closed to the public at night, but during the day, you can enjoy a hands-on astronomy exhibition, shop for souvenirs, grab a bite at the café, and get to the visitor gallery to see the AAT – an impressive four-storey construction holding a 16-tonne ceramic glass mirror.
🌺Maunakea Observatory, Hawaii, US
- Location: 19°49′N 155°28′W
- Altitude: 4,205 m
- Website: maunakeaobservatories.org
The Maunakea Observatory is located higher than all the other observatories on this list. Sitting on Hawaii′s tallest mountain, Maunakea offers some of the clearest skies for observation, free from humidity and turbulence.
This site holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for Native Hawaiians, so certain activities, such as camping, fires, and bringing pets, are strictly prohibited. In addition to respecting the land, visitors should also prepare for the physical challenge of high-altitude travel. The summit sits at an elevation where oxygen levels are about 40% lower than at sea level, making altitude sickness a real risk. To acclimate safely, it′s strongly recommended to stop at the Visitor Information Station (VIS) located halfway up the mountain.
The VIS offers a variety of daytime activities, including scenic hikes, educational exhibits, and a gift shop. In the evenings, guests can experience breathtaking sunsets and enjoy naked-eye stargazing enhanced by laser-guided astronomy talks. While public telescopes aren′t available every day, they are set up during monthly stargazing events – a treat for skywatchers. Interestingly, due to the reduced oxygen at the summit, your vision may actually be less sharp than it is at lower elevations. In fact, many visitors find they can see more stars from the VIS than from the summit itself.
🇺🇸 Lowell Observatory, Arizona, US
- Location: 35°12′N 111°39′W
- Altitude: 2,210 m
- Website: lowell.edu
Featured on TIME′s list of the 100 best places to visit, Lowell Observatory is known for its excellent public activities, as well as its contribution to science with the Lowell Discovery Telescope, known as the “Swiss Army Knife of Telescopes” for its versatility.
Visitors can use various telescopes to view the Sun (until dusk) or the night sky (from dusk to close), enjoy planetarium shows, and look through the historic Clark telescope once used by Lowell himself, or through the 24-inch Dyer Telescope installed in 2020. Fun fact: You can even have a wedding at the observatory!
🇨🇱 Paranal Observatory, Atacama Desert, Chile
- Location: 24°37′S 70°24′W
- Altitude: 2,636 m
- Website: eso.org
Perched atop Cerro Paranal, the Paranal Observatory is the largest optical and infrared observatory in the Southern Hemisphere. It is home to some of the world′s most powerful telescopes, including the famous Very Large Telescope (VLT), which is one of the most productive astronomical facilities out there – only the Hubble Space Telescope outshines it!
Every Saturday, the observatory offers free guided tours; however, please book in advance, as spots are limited. The tour kicks off at the Visitor Centre with an engaging exhibition on the wonders of astronomy. Then, you′ll hop on a bus that′ll take you up the mountain to the top, where you′ll get to step inside one of the massive telescopes. Finally, you′ll visit the iconic Paranal Residencia, which has been home to the observatory′s scientists and engineers since 2002. Note that it′s not open to the public for booking.
🇪🇸 Teide Observatory, Canary Islands, Spain
- Location: 28°18′N 16°30′W
- Altitude: 2,390 m
- Website: iac.es
The Teide Observatory is located on Mount Teide, whose summit (3,715 m) is the highest point in Spain. The first telescope on the site was set up in 1964 and was used to carry out pioneering studies of the zodiacal light. Nowadays, it is the largest solar observatory in the world.
The observatory hosts Open Days annually and offers private and group visits. Visitors will get an introduction to the importance of the Canary Islands′ skies, the observatory′s telescopes, and the various projects of the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands. During the visit, you′ll participate in a workshop on astrophysics, observe sunspots and solar flares through specialized solar telescopes, and explore the interior of a night telescope, learning about its operations and fascinating history.
Why are observatories built in remote places?
As you may have noticed, modern observatories are often located far from cities, typically on remote mountaintops or in vast deserts. But why is that? The main reason is the need for dark, stable, and clear skies – conditions that are hard to find near urban areas due to light pollution, humidity, and atmospheric turbulence. If you′re a backyard astronomer or an astrophotographer, this matters to you too. To measure how dark and stargazer-friendly your sky is, experienced observers use the Bortle Scale – a nine-level scale that ranks sky quality from inner-city brightness (Class 9) to pristine wilderness darkness (Class 1). Want to know where your sky stands? Check out our infographic to see how the Bortle Scale works and find tips for making the most of your stargazing sessions.
10 famous observatories: bottom line
While all of the observatories featured in this list are iconic, they vary greatly in both purpose and age. Some, such as the Maunakea and Paranal Observatories, are cutting-edge scientific facilities that continue to advance astronomical research with state-of-the-art instruments. Others, such as the Royal Observatory Greenwich and Jantar Mantar, stand as historical landmarks, offering a fascinating window into the early days of celestial observation and the ingenuity of early astronomers. Then there are observatories that bridge both worlds – places like the Lowell and Arcetri Observatories, where centuries-old heritage coexists with ongoing research and educational outreach.
Whether you′re drawn to modern scientific breakthroughs or the wonders of astronomy′s past, this guide offers something for every kind of stargazer. So pack your curiosity, maybe a telescope, or even an astronomy app like Sky Tonight to guide your view, and go explore the stars!
