The world’s top 5 outdoor cinemas

Outdoor film screenings are one of the best things about summer and cinephiles are spoilt for choice, with venues including a historic Italian piazza and hot tubs on a rooftop in NYC.

Take your pick from our top five.

Moonlight Cinema, Sydney

On an immaculate lawn in Sydney’s Centennial Park, Moonlight Cinema screens a mix of classics and new releases. Nothing beats a balmy summer’s evening enjoying an al fresco movie under eucalyptus trees with kookaburras singing in the background. Simultaneously laid-back and efficient, you’re allowed to bring your own picnic and rug or you can invest in a gold grass ticket, entitling you to a massive bean-bag seat and gourmet food and drink.

The Adge Apartment Hotel has modern apartments only a short drive from both Centennial Park and Sydney Harbour.

Rooftop Cinema Club, London

The Rooftop Cinema Clubbers have really mastered the art of outdoor cinema. They’ve got deck chairs to sink into, blankets, headphones for tip-top sound quality, retro popcorn stands, fairy lights, and artificial grass. Held in a selection of rooftop venues across London, you can choose between various fantastic city views, and the film selection is great, too.

The Hoxton, Shoreditch is one of London’s most fashionable hotels, plus it’s only a few minutes’ walk from Rooftop Cinema Club’s East London venue.

Sotto Le Stelle Del Cinema, Bologna,

In the middle of Piazza Maggiore, Bologna’s main square, this outdoor cinema projects movies every summer. Under a starlit sky, with the 14th-century San Petronio Basilica as a backdrop, the setting is wonderful, entrance is free, and the films are well-chosen. This outdoor cinema is part of the city’s long-established open-air film festival, Il Cinema Ritrovato, so you’ll get a programme ranging from documentaries, silent movies, and restored black-and-white classics to big recent blockbusters.

With all-white decor and a splash of colour, Il Benvenuto a Bologna is a stylish B&B just a short walk from the Piazza Maggiore.

Hot Tub Cinema, NYC

Hot Tub Cinema is a rooftop movie phenomenon that has spread from the UK to Ibiza and the USA. New York City skyline views, plenty of booze, ‘tubside’ snacks, and a movie in a hot tub with friends–a winning combination. There are even waiters on hand so you don’t have to leave the tub to get a beer.

Home NYC has self-catering, spacious accommodation and a garden in central Manhattan.

The Sandbox at Miami Beach Edition Hotel, Miami

‘The Sandbox’ is a special outdoor cinema at the Miami Beach Edition Hotel. Guests are invited to watch a movie in a private sandy space sheltered by palm trees and decorated with lanterns, low-lying beds, and hammocks. Order an exotic cocktail and get comfortable for an exclusive Miami screening under the stars.