Top 10 Best City Skylines

At one point in history, the sun never set on the United Kingdom – alright, the British Empire of the 19th and early 20th centuries if you want to be precise. And while the British Empire has since shrunk, its pride and joy, London, remains as majestic as ever. The city’s financial district boasts gorgeous modern structures, such as the Leadenhall Building and 30 St Mary Axe, while the London Bridge, Big Ben, and the Palace of Westminster remind viewers of London’s historic beauty. Introduced on the last day of 1999, the London Eye Ferris wheel gives this city one final piece of flair that secures its spot on this list.

We bet you weren’t expecting to see a Canadian city on this list. A humble country, Canada’s not typically known for being flashy, but Vancouver’s mix of humility and confidence creates a remarkable skyline. Set on a vertical downtown landscape, towering structures like One Wall Centre, the Marine Building, the Harbour Centre, and the stunning Living Shangri-La skyscraper are all visible as they paint the sky. With the North Shore Mountains overlooking the city and serving as a backdrop, Vancouver will take your breath away with its sheer magnificence.

Arguably the most up and coming city in the world, Dubai boasts the world’s tallest building: The Burj Khalifa. It’s the focal point of the city, standing 2,722 feet, and is among the most interesting structures in the world. The Khalifa, however, is not the only beautiful tower in town. Dubai also has amazing buildings like the Burj Al Arab, the Marina Torch, the Cayan Tower, and the Almas Tower. The list goes on. Depending on your point of view, the city either wonderfully captures the Persian Gulf or the equally captivating Arabian Desert. Regardless of your view, the Dubai skyline is sure to amaze.

While the near constant rain may not be everybody’s cup of tea, Seattle’s skyline is up there with the best. Justifiably, Seattle’s iconic Space Needle is the first structure to garner attention. However, there are more outstanding structures that deserve praise. The Smith Tower, Columbia Center, Municipal Tower, 1201 Third Avenue, and Rainier Tower all add to this city’s gorgeous skyline. And speaking of Rainier, Seattle is set just in front of the powerful and majestic Mount Rainier, giving this skyline the amazing backdrop it deserves.

Here’s a city that earned its way on to this list with creativity points. A slew of unique buildings characterize this skyline. While the Marina Bay Sands resort and Singapore Flyer Ferris wheel sit by the bay, introducing viewers to the city with incredible flair, it’s the city’s hidden gems that truly captivate. Structures like the Ole Scheeren’s The Interlace apartment building complex, One Raffles Place, Parkview Square, and the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay all deserve individual praise. Together, they make this city glow and stand out as one of the most beautiful in the world.

A midday look at this skyline may make you wonder what it’s doing on this list, but let the sun set and you’ll realize just what’s so special about this city. LED Orbs light up Seoul’s skyline and bring to life its stunning towers. Visually stunning skyscrapers like Samsung Tower Palace Three, the Mok-Dong Hyperion Towers, and the N Seoul Tower help this city stand out. Mount Namsan adds a little natural beauty to the vista as well. Capping off the skyline are the under-construction Parc1 Tower and the Gangnam District’s Trade Tower, which add creative flair to Seoul that is the envy of other cities.

Perhaps the most intelligently designed city in the world, every building in Tokyo’s skyline is built to withstand the severe earthquakes the country frequently experiences. As such, unique buildings such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Tokyo Skytree, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, and Shinjuku Park Tower are both beautiful and safe. During the day, Mount Fuji serves as a gorgeous backdrop to the skyline, while at night the city turns on its signature neon lights to create a mesmerizing blend of colors. We can’t imagine why Godzilla would ever try to wreck this incredible place.

Unquestionably one of the most iconic skylines in the world, the Big Apple’s array of classic skyscrapers grabs the number three spot on this list. The buildings in this skyline are among the most well known in the world, including structures like the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, and 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Once containing the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers, it now proudly boasts One World Trade Center, otherwise known as the Freedom Tower. Crowning this city is the Statue of Liberty, a historic symbol of the American dream that New York City stands for.

Although it’s been around since the 7th Century, Shanghai looks like a city from the future. LED lighting gives the city a signature futuristic look that makes it stand out from others on this list. The Shanghai Tower is the tallest structure, standing 2,073 feet, while others like the Shanghai World Financial Center, the Jin Mao Tower, and Shanghai Wheelock Square complement each other with powerful yet elegant designs. Standing out as the city’s crown jewel is the Oriental Pearl Tower though, which shines brightest at night, drawing all eyes toward Shanghai.
 
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- San Francisco, USA
- Toronto, Canada
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Gold Coast, Australia
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The number one spot on our list goes to the city that has it all: quantity, quality, and creativity. Hong Kong’s skyline works on every level. It has the world’s largest collection of buildings over 500 feet tall, yet does not seem over crowded. Skyscrapers like the International Commerce Centre, Bank of China Tower, Two International Finance Centre, Central Plaza, and The Center blend seamlessly to paint one fluid picture. At night, every building in thecity glows with different colors and reflects off Victoria Harbour, which add to the amazing imagery and secure Hong Kong’s skyline as the best in the world.

Do you agree with our list? Which city’s skyline do you think is best in the world? For more captivating top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.