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  • The Best Skylines In The World According To Travel Photographers

A skyline forms the fingerprint of a city; a pattern of its buildings between sky and ground. 

Completely unique, each horizon defines its location, from rows of lofty high-rises to centuries-old buildings, and extinct volcanoes to imposing hilltop castles. The ambience and energy of a destination cannot be separated from its backdrop. 

And these cityscapes clearly capture people’s interest, with the hashtag #cityskylines being viewed by over a 66.7million on Tik Tok and the #skyline hashtag being used over 26.7 million times on Instagram. 

So, the team at Unforgettable Travel decided to reach out to travel photographers, World Wanderz, to find out which skylines are their favourites. 

Two friends from Germany, Jano and Oliver, are currently living the dream. Travelling the world and sharing breathtaking images of their experiences, they’ve shared with us their top 10 horizons across the globe.

1. Sydney

“In my opinion, Sydney has one of the most beautiful skylines because of Darling Harbor, the Opera House and the impressive Harbor bridge. Together, with the blue water and skyscrapers in the background, it’s a skyline that people recognise around the world and is a massive draw to the country.”, explains Jano.

While Sydney is already blessed with a magnificent skyline, it is currently undergoing a boom in urban development that is set to elevate its iconic cityscape to a whole new level, with the addition of nine new skyscrapers before 2030. This impressive project includes a $4 billion trio of skyscrapers set to be constructed adjacent to the city’s tallest building, The Crown Tower and make one of the most lavish and luxurious private accommodations in the city.

2. Hong Kong

“Of all the cities in the world, Hong Kong has the most skyscrapers in one place so looking at the skyline at night, with the hills in the background, is absolutely amazing.” explains Oliver. 

“Also, with a cosmopolitan city like Hong Kong, a sunset isn’t normally the first thing that you’d think of but watching the sun set behind the impressive buildings is breathtaking.”

The city is home to the most skyscrapers in the world as of the beginning of 2022, boasting a total of 317 according to Statista. This figure far exceeds its runner-up, the famous concrete jungle of New York which has a comparatively small amount of 257. With limited land available for new buildings and one of the most densely populations in the world, Hong Kong relies on these high-rise buildings to cater for its residents and growing economy.

3. Dubai

“Dubai’s skyline is very impressive, not only because it is home to the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, but because the city and its extraordinary buildings literally come out of nothing in the desert. As you look out at the lofty buildings, you can’t help but think about how drastically this landscape has been transformed in so little time. It’s mind-blowing really!” expresses Jano.

If you’d visited Dubai just 20 years ago, you would have encountered the humble landscape of a small port town amidst miles and miles of sand. However, in the last 20 years, the city has been meticulously reconstructed to form one of the world’s greatest metropolises, complete with the tallest skyline on the planet. This only begs the question, what Dubai will look like in the next 20 years?

4. Bora Bora

Oliver states: “It might not be what first comes to mind when you think of a skyline, but Bora Bora has a landscape that makes it stand out amongst these world metropolises. The South Pacific island has a terrain of imposing mountains that lead down into picture-perfect sandy beaches and an azure-blue sea. Basically, Bora Bora is the epitome of a tropical skyline.”

A popular honeymoon destination, Bora Bora is renowned for its golden sand beaches and blissful blue sea but there is certainly more to the landscape than that. The island’s famous jagged coastline blends into the distinctive black rock of the ancient volcanoes that ascend 2,400 feet above these blissful sandy shores.

5. Istanbul

“Istanbul’s skyline is pretty special because it actually spans both Europe and Asia. And as well as a mix of continents, the skyline combines old and new architecture with historical mosques and modern skyscrapers. The Bosphorus river runs right through Istanbul too, which means that the city is home to some impressive bridges that connect the two continents.” says Jano.

Grand historical buildings paint the picture-perfect image of Istanbul’s skyline, including a 16th-century Suleymaniye mosque that crowns one of its seven hills. The significance of these iconic structures was recently underlined by the controversy that arose from scaffolding being erected near the landmark and compromising the city’s sought-after silhouette. 

6. Zermatt

“Again, stepping away from metropolises, Switzerland’s mountainous town of Zermatt offers a very formidable skyline.” highlights Oliver. “Made up of natural megaliths, the skyline includes the iconic Matterhorn mountain, which is renowned for its near-perfect pyramid shape, and a cluster of alpine chalets in the valley below.”

The Matterhorn, one of the world’s most photographed mountains, soars nearly 15,000 feet above the mountain town of Zermatt, endowing it with the most breathtaking backdrop. While the sight from ground level is nothing short of spectacular, we also recommend heading to the mountaintop to appreciate the area from another striking angle. We offer tours to Zermatt which include a ride along the highest aerial cableway in Europe that climbs 12,700 feet above the iconic mountain.

7. Shanghai

Jano shares, “Shanghai is another city with an impressively cosmopolitan skyline. It is a vision of modern skyscrapers being home to the highest building in China, the Shanghai Tower, and the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower. I’d recommend walking along the Bund, a mile-long stretch of waterfront promenade that offers the perfect view of the city’s impressive buildings.”

A buzzing metropolis, Shanghai is the largest ‘megacity’ in the world with over 24.8 million residents. The sheer size of the Chinese metropolis can be felt by taking a step back to take in its glorious skyline. A dazzling sight, the city’s 127-storey high skyscrapers come alive at night, illuminating the city in a sea of neon light.

8. Rome

“Rome is literally like an open-air museum and behind every corner is another old yet beautiful building with a fascinating history. Because of this, the city has a skyline that is distinguished by the soaring domes of its many churches. Another highlight of its incredible landscape is the Colosseum, which any travel enthusiast could easily pick out of the Roman skyline!” expresses Oliver.

As the heart of the Roman Empire, Rome offers a historic skyline like no other. Stand in the Colosseum which was once filled by crowds of roaring spectators as gladiators battled courageously before gazing up to see the city’s beautiful churches. For the best view of the Eternal City, we recommend taking a trip to Gianicolo Hill to enjoy far-reaching panoramas and an excellent vantage point over the city’s idyllic historical centre.

9. Paris

“When you think of Paris, the Eiffel Tower instantly comes to mind but the city is home to many other eye-catching buildings such as the Notre Dame and the Sacré-Cœur. Along with iconic structures, one thing that really sets this skyline apart from other cities is that there are very few buildings over five stories, which is unlike almost any other major city.” highlights Jano. “This means that Paris’ most iconic buildings stand tall for all to see.” 

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, frequently outshining all of the other Parisian buildings. As well as taking in the stunning UNESCO site from ground level, we recommend venturing to the top to see the city in its entirety and take in all of the other magnificent architecture within the city. The Eiffel Tower is a must-see for anyone visiting France, which is why we include it in all of our tours to the country.

10. Berlin

Oliver explains, “Perhaps not the most breathtaking, but one particularly special skyline is that of Berlin. The history of the city has left it with an eclectic assortment of architecture and many poignant landmarks. One is The Brandenburg Gate, which used to be a symbol of division but now represents unity. The old TV Tower is another important element on Berlin’s skyline, being the tallest building in Germany and a reminder of the once divided city.” 

Berlin is brimming with fascinating architecture. Yet, what makes this v so special is the fact that these buildings are not just aesthetically pleasing, but are incredible symbols of the city’s troubled history. The cityscape tells the story of many different historical periods – from the few surviving medieval structures near Alexanderplatz to the contemporary glass and steel buildings at Potsdamer Platz.

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