English Corner

At dawn: The Shanghai district of Pudong with the Oriental Pearl Tower. All images: Adobe Stock

The ten most beautiful skylines in the world

These iconic, man-made horizons are instantly recognizable as the defining features of their cities. While towering skyscrapers often captivate, they aren’t a prerequisite for an awe-inspiring skyline. Here, we present the ten most stunning skylines from around the world.

Seattle, USA

Seattle, often referred to by locals as "Jet City" due to its proximity to Boeing's factories, is a dynamic metropolis known for its innovation and industry. In addition to numerous nicknames, the city in the north-west of the USA also has an unmistakable skyline.

The «Space Needle» tower is a real eye-catcher, embodying the city's belief in commercial and technological progress. On clear days, the stunning 4,000-meter Mount Rainier can be seen towering in the background, adding a breathtaking natural backdrop to the city, as viewed from Rainier National Park.

Edelweiss will be adding the city to its flight schedule in summer 2025 (Travelnews reported) and will be flying non-stop from Zurich to the Jet City every Monday and Saturday from June to September.

Hongkong

Hong Kong boasts the highest number of skyscrapers in the world, with 517 towering structures—about 175 more than Shenzen, China, which ranks second. This abundance of high-rises creates an awe-inspiring skyline, further enhanced by the iconic Victoria Harbour, one of the most famous harbors globally, offering a truly unique and breathtaking view.

London, Great Britain

The first skyscraper in London was opened in 1980 and despite its modern skyline, the city's buildings remain relatively low. This is due to a height restriction around the historic St. Paul's Cathedral, in place since 1938. However, the skyline stands out for its quirky architecture. Notable landmarks include "The Gherkin," named for its cucumber-like, twisted shape, the 332-meter-tall "The Shard," resembling a shard of glass, and the "Cheese Grater," which amusingly resembles an oversized kitchen tool.

Frankfurt, Germany

19 of the 20 tallest buildings in Germany are in Frankfurt, and almost 40 buildings in the city measure over 100 meters. At 299 meters, the Commerzbank Tower is the tallest building in the city, although the TV tower is 38 meters higher. There are currently 17 high-rise buildings under construction and 19 more have been announced. The nickname «Mainhattan» is no coincidence.

Florence, Italy

Florence's skyline may be less towering, but it is all the more captivating. The tallest building is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo of Florence, whose dome is over 114 meters high. Next to the cathedral is the Palazzo Vecchio, which also towers over all other buildings at 95 meters high. This timeless beauty makes Florence's skyline truly unique.

Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei 101, the city's iconic landmark, stands an impressive 508 meters tall. Until 2007, it was the tallest in the world. As the name suggests, the building has 101 floors. Traditional Asian values were taken into account during construction, with its structure resembling a tapering bamboo pole, dragon heads adorning the corners, and a façade that echoes the design of an ancient Chinese coin.

Warsaw, Poland

Warsaw is home to the tallest building in the European Union. Including the spire, the Varso Tower reaches a height of 310 meters and offers a viewing platform at 230 meters with a spectacular view of the city. The second tallest building is the Palace of Culture and Science, which was built between 1952 and 1955 on the orders of Joseph Stalin. It reaches a height of 237 meters.

Shanghai, China

Shanghai's cityscape is characterized by the many combinations of different geometric shapes - spheres, prisms or cubes - and has one of the most famous skylines in the world. The largest building in the city, the Shanghai Tower, is also home to the fastest elevator in the world.

Singapore

Singapore is not characterized by the number and height of its skyscrapers, but by the individual and innovative design of each building: the «Marina Bay Sands» resort in Singapore is considered a vantage point for the Singapore skyline, but is itself one of the city's most famous landmarks. The walk-on roof hovers at around 200 meters and makes the city-state's skyline unique. Not to be forgotten is the Singapore Flyer, the third highest Ferris wheel in the world, at a height of 165 meters.

Zurich, Switzerland

From 2011 to 2015, the Prime Tower in Zurich held the title of Switzerland’s tallest building. Standing 126 meters tall with 36 floors, it is located next to Hardbrücke station. While Zurich lacks other significantly tall buildings, the stunning Alpine panorama in the background gives the skyline of Switzerland’s largest city a truly unique and picturesque appeal.

(MLD)