The most beautiful skyscrapers worth visiting are the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center in New York, the Petronas Twin Towers and Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, the Shanghai Tower and Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai, The Shard in London, the CN Tower in Toronto and Tokyo Skytree. Most of them have an observation deck you can visit. Below you get the height, the best viewpoint and a tip for each one.
The 10 skyscrapers worth visiting at a glance
- Burj Khalifa, Dubai: 828 m, the tallest building in the world. Decks on levels 124, 125 and 148.
- Empire State Building, New York: 1,454 ft (443 m) with its antenna. Open-air deck on the 86th floor.
- One World Trade Center, New York: 1,776 ft (541.3 m). Observatory on floors 100 to 102.
- Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur: 451.9 m, two matching towers from 1998.
- Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo: 634 m, the world's tallest free-standing broadcasting tower.
- The Shard, London: 309.6 m, the tallest building in Western Europe.
- CN Tower, Toronto: 553 m, with the EdgeWalk around the outside at 356 m.
- Shanghai Tower, Shanghai: 632 m, the third tallest building in the world.
- Merdeka 118, Kuala Lumpur: 678.9 m, the second tallest building in the world.
- Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai: 468 m, the TV tower with stacked spheres in Lujiazui.
Heights for buildings follow the Council on Tallest Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), which keeps the official ranking. Strictly speaking, Tokyo Skytree, the CN Tower and the Oriental Pearl Tower are towers, not skyscrapers, but they are among the most beautiful towers in the world, and their views are just as good.
The most beautiful skyscrapers in the world worth visiting
1. Burj Khalifa (Dubai, UAE)
The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world at 828 m, with 163 floors. It was completed in 2010 and designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, according to the CTBUH. It towers over Downtown Dubai and you see it from far across the city.
- Viewpoint: the At the Top observation decks on levels 124, 125 and 148, says Visit Dubai.
- Tip: book a timed ticket in advance, and pick a slot around sunset if you want both day and night views.
2. Empire State Building (New York, USA)
The Art Deco Empire State Building opened in 1931 as the world's tallest building. It stands 1,454 ft (443 m) including its antenna and was built in just 410 days, according to the building's official facts page.
- Viewpoint: the open-air deck on the 86th floor (1,050 ft) and the enclosed deck with floor-to-ceiling windows on the 102nd floor (1,250 ft).
- Tip: the 86th floor is the classic spot for photos of the Manhattan skyline.
3. One World Trade Center (New York, USA)
One World Trade Center rises to a symbolic 1,776 ft, a reference to the year of American independence, and is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. It opened in 2014 and was designed by David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, as the World Trade Center site explains.
- Viewpoint: One World Observatory on the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors. You go up in the SkyPod elevators, and on a clear day you see up to 45 miles in every direction (One World Observatory FAQ).
- Tip: buy tickets online in advance. Planning a bigger trip? See our 14 day USA itinerary.
4. Petronas Twin Towers (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
The Petronas Twin Towers are two matching 451.9 m towers with 88 floors each, completed in 1998 and designed by Cesar Pelli & Associates, according to the CTBUH. Their matching shapes and the bridge between them make them one of the best looking skyscrapers in the world.
- Viewpoint: visits to the towers are by ticket, so check the official Petronas Twin Towers website for the current tour and times.
- Tip: come back after dark, when both towers are lit up.
5. Tokyo Skytree (Tokyo, Japan)
Tokyo Skytree is 634 m tall and was built in 2012 as the world's tallest free-standing broadcasting tower. Guinness World Records certified it as the world's tallest tower on 17 November 2011. Nikken Sekkei designed it, and its elevators reach the first deck in about 50 seconds (Tokyo Skytree specifications, outline).
- Viewpoint: the Tembo Deck on floors 340 to 350 and the sloping Tembo Galleria, which climbs from floor 445 to floor 450.
- Tip: combine it with Asakusa, which is close by. Our Japan trip planner helps you fit it into your route.
6. The Shard (London, UK)
The Shard is 309.6 m (1,016 ft) high and is Western Europe's tallest building. It has 95 storeys, and its exterior is covered by 11,000 glass panels. Renzo Piano designed it as a "vertical city" of offices, a hotel, apartments and restaurants (The Shard: facts).
- Viewpoint: The View from The Shard on floors 68 to 72, 244 m above the city, with views of up to 40 miles on a clear day.
- Fun fact: a fox was found on the 72nd floor near the end of construction. Staff named it Romeo.
7. CN Tower (Toronto, Canada)
The CN Tower is 553 m (1,815 ft) tall and opened to the public on 26 June 1976. It was the tallest freestanding structure in the world until Dubai's Burj Khalifa passed it in 2009 (CN Tower history).
- Viewpoint: the Main Observation Level, the 360 Restaurant, and The Top, 33 storeys higher than the Main Observation Level.
- For thrill seekers: the EdgeWalk takes you around the outside of the tower at 356 m, strapped to a harness. Guinness World Records certified it in 2011 (CN Tower EdgeWalk).
8. Shanghai Tower (Shanghai, China)
The Shanghai Tower is the tallest building in China and the third tallest in the world at 632 m, with 128 floors. It was completed in 2015 and designed by Gensler. Its twisting shape makes it one of the coolest skyscrapers in Asia (CTBUH).
- Viewpoint: its observatory sits at 562.1 m, the highest of all ten places in this list.
- Tip: the tower stands in the Lujiazui district, like the Oriental Pearl Tower, so you can see both in one day.
9. Merdeka 118 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Merdeka 118 is the second tallest building in the world at 678.9 m, with 118 floors. It was completed in 2023 and designed by Fender Katsalidis. It has gone by several names, including KL118 and Menara Warisan Merdeka, and the CTBUH now lists its official name as Menara Merdeka Maybank (CTBUH).
- Viewpoint: the CTBUH lists an observatory at 494.2 m. Check that it is open to visitors before you plan your day around it.
- Tip: Kuala Lumpur has two of the ten skyscrapers in this list, so you can see Merdeka 118 and the Petronas Twin Towers on one trip.
10. Oriental Pearl Tower (Shanghai, China)
The Oriental Pearl Tower is a 468 m TV and observation tower, completed in 1995 (CTBUH). With its stacked spheres, it is one of the most recognisable towers in the world and a symbol of the Lujiazui skyline in Pudong.
- Viewpoint: the observation levels inside the spheres.
- Tip: for photos of the whole Lujiazui skyline, look across the Huangpu River from the Bund.
Stay online on your skyscraper trip
Ticket QR codes, maps, ride apps and sharing the view from the top all need mobile data. Roaming from your home plan can get expensive, and you can't rely on Wi-Fi in the street. A travel eSIM gives you data as soon as you land. Install it at home before you fly with our eSIM installation guide, and check that your phone is on our list of eSIM compatible devices.
Heading to Dubai, New York or Kuala Lumpur? These plans give you 10 GB for 7 days, enough for a city break.
UAE, USA and Malaysia plans shown · data-only eSIMs, no phone number · More plans on our UAE, USA and Malaysia eSIM pages
Visiting Tokyo, London or Toronto instead? Pick the plan for your trip below.
Japan, UK and Canada plans shown · data-only eSIMs, no phone number · More plans on our Japan, UK and Canada eSIM pages · Going to Shanghai? See our China eSIM · Find the eSIM for your destination
FAQs
What is the most beautiful skyscraper in the world?
It's a matter of taste. Our picks are the Burj Khalifa, the Petronas Twin Towers, the Empire State Building and the Shanghai Tower, and the Burj Khalifa is the most famous as the tallest building in the world.
What is the tallest building in the world?
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, at 828 m. Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur is second at 678.9 m, and the Shanghai Tower is third at 632 m, according to the CTBUH ranking.
Which skyscraper has the highest observation deck in this list?
The Shanghai Tower, with its observatory at 562.1 m. The Burj Khalifa's highest deck is on level 148.
What is the tallest building in the USA?
One World Trade Center in New York, at 1,776 ft (541.3 m). It's also the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
Do I need mobile data to visit these skyscrapers?
Not to get in, but it helps. Many tickets are timed and sent as QR codes, and you'll want maps to get there. A travel eSIM is the easiest way to stay online abroad.
