Most Famous Skylines in the World: 17 Cities You Must Visit for Iconic Skyscrapers
Which Middle Eastern city made the cut? Any guesses?
From NYC to Dubai, some of the most unforgettable cities boast the most famous skylines in the world. It is that X-factor – that inexplicable blend of culture, innovation, tech and deep pockets – that results in one eye-catching skyscraper after another, fashioning the image of city for the rest of the world.
But the world’s most famous skylines are more than just collections of buildings placed close together: They’re the façades of entire cities, the front doors to many of the earth’s most vibrant metropolises. It’s these man-made horizons that often offer the first impression to visitors and imbue a sense of home to returning locals. But what exactly makes a skyline famous? One that is immediately recognisable? Those that are the most harmonious? The cities with the greatest number of individually striking buildings? The answer, is of course, some collection of all of the above. Like when discussing most aesthetic disciplines, visual examples are far more powerful than description will ever be. To that end, AD has rounded up 17 of the world’s most beautiful skylines, covering notable favourites like New York City and Shanghai as well as some lesser-known stunners that deserve more acclaim. Which Middle Eastern city made the cut? Any guesses?
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Photo: Frank Peters1/17Manhattan, New York City
New York City’s skyline, particularly Manhattan’s, has truly earned the adjective iconic. Its buildings offer a visual history of the five-borough metropolis, featuring Art Deco classics like the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building and modern marvels like One World Trade Center. Making it even more striking is the collection of smaller skylines that appear around it, including Jersey City and Downtown Brooklyn, all connected by some of the world’s most beautiful bridges.
Photo: DuKai photographer/ Getty Images2/17Hong Kong
Many have argued that Hong Kong’s skyline is not one of the most beautiful in the world, but rather the most beautiful. Featuring densely packed high rises contrasted with Victoria Peak, the view is particularly special at night when the city lights bounce off of the harbor water.
Photo: Aerial Views/Getty Images3/17Chicago, Illinois
Hugging the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago is the third most populated city in the United States. The Midwest metropolis is made famous by many striking supertalls, such as Willis Tower, Vista Tower, and Marina City.
Photo: Johnny Greig/Getty Images4/17Dubai, UAE
If you’re a fan of contemporary design, perhaps no city is better to visit than Dubai. It’s home to some of the world’s most innovative and futuristic buildings like the Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in the world and the metropolis’ crowning jewel.
Photo: TommL/Getty Images5/17Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is without a doubt one of the most vibrant and culturally rich cities in the world. It’s no surprise that its skyline is equally energetic. The Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower, two supertall constructions used for telecommunications and observation decks, are beacons in the city and great locations to take in the rest of the skyline.
Photo: Matteo Colombo/Getty Images6/17Perth, Western Australia
The capital of Western Australia, Perth sits at the convergence of the Swan River and southwest coast. Undulating bridges add a dynamic quality to the cityscape and include stunners such as the Elizabeth Quay Pedestrian Bridge, seen here, and the Matagarup Bridge.
Photo: Scott E Barbour/Getty Images7/17Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
If a city’s skyline includes one of the most spectacular structures of from the 20th century, it certainly deserves a spot on the list of the world’s most beautiful. Despite not being a skyscraper, the Sydney Opera House undoubtedly defines the waterfront horizon and offers visual contrast to the high rises behind it.
Photo: Comezora/Getty Images8/17Shanghai, China
Shanghai has one of the most recognisable skylines in the world thanks to buildings like the Shanghai Tower, which houses the fastest elevators in the world. The marriage of architectural and a geometric forms, such as spheres, prisms, and cubes, makes the view even more dynamic and visually intriguing.
Photo: Tomatoskin/Getty Images9/17Singapore
Singapore’s skyline does not get its beauty from the sheer number of high rise buildings on its horizon, but rather from the unique and innovative quality of each. Moshe Safdie’s Marina Bay Sands and WilkinsonEyre and Grant Associates’s Gardens by the Bay, seen here, are such examples, which demonstrate contemporary influence and were crafted to provide a distinctive image for the waterfront.
Photo: Deejpilot/Getty Images10/17Bangkok, Thailand
MahaNakhon in Bangkok appears almost pixelated, as if it’s materialising right in front of its viewers eyes. It’s this building in conversation with other beauties, such as Rosewood Bangkok and the Central Embassy, that make the Thai skyline so compelling.
Photo: DuKai photographer/Getty Images11/17Tianjin, China
One of China’s 17 megacities (those with a population over 10 million), Tianjin’s skyline is made even more intriguing by the large Ferris wheel that straddles the Hai River. Named the Tianjin Eye, the ride is built over the Yongle Bridge and offers incredible views.
Photo: SL Photography/Getty Images12/17Panama City, Panama
Though often overlooked in favor of more famous skylines, Panama City has certainly earned its place on this list. The ultramodern towers that make up the city’s downtown are exciting and creative. F&F Tower, which appears to twist as it climbs higher into the clouds, is one of the most special buildings in Latin America.
Photo: chain45154/Getty Images13/17Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Petronas Towers designed by César Pelli in Kuala Lumpur are the tallest twin towers in the world. Designed in a postmodern style and drawing inspiration from Islamic architecture, the mirror sky-highs are defining additions of the Kuala Lumpur skyline. Of course, they’re not the only ones, the city has 241 skyscrapers including Merdeka 118, the second tallest building in the world.
Photo: aiisha5/Getty Images14/17Seattle, Washington
It only took 400 days to build the Seattle Space Needle, one of the most spectacular landmarks in the United States. With the city’s other towers, the needle appears like the peak of a mountain, which juxtaposes beautifully with Mount Rainier in the background.
Photo: Henryk Sadura/Getty Images15/17Milwaukee, Wisconsin
If it’s not Chicago, the Midwest is often overlooked. But as Milwaukee so effortlessly demonstrates, this is a mistake. While on the smaller-side compared to some on this list, its proximity to Lake Michigan and buildings by heavy-hitters like Santiago Calatrava make it one of the prettiest in the United States.
Photo: Manfred Gottschalk/Getty Images16/17Auckland, New Zealand
You’ll find New Zealand’s tallest structure, the Sky Tower designed by Moller Architects, in Aukland. Here, guests can take in 360-degree views of the city’s skyline from above it. You may also spot a collection of superyachts docked in Viaduct Harbor.
Photo: mdmworks/Getty Images17/17Toronto, Ontario
No review of the world’s most beautiful skylines is complete without mention of Toronto. The tall, sleek profile of the CN Tower next to the sinuous Rogers Center is a captivating juxtaposition in a forest of other skyscrapers.
