New York City, Paris, and Chicago are famous for their incredible skylines. From the new World Trade Center to the Willis Tower, these towering landmarks have become synonymous with the success and history of cities in which they were built. We’ve gathered 25 world famous skylines below. We’ll give you a photo and a hint. Think you know your city skylines? Test your knowledge with this quiz and find out.
This South American capital city is home to the presidential palace called the Casa Rosada.
Argentina’s capital city, Buenos Aires, is known for its vibrant nightlife and club scene. This city is home to the first metro system in all of Latin America and contains over 700 bookstores — the most bookstores per capita than any other city in the world.
This Asian metropolis is home to a giant communications and observation tower designed after the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The Tokyo Tower in the Shiba-Koen district is a bright white and orange highlight in the Tokyo skyline that gets painted every five years. Aside from the giant tourist attraction, Tokyo is the world's largest metro and has more neon signs than any other city in the world.
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Known as one of the most romantic cities in the world, this European city, nicknamed the "City of Lights," is home to the "Mona Lisa."
The "Mona Lisa," which calls The Louvre home, is just one of the many famous attractions Paris has to offer. Paris is just as famous for its attractions as it is its food, with delicacies like duck, crepes, l'escargot, and even frog legs.
Related: Cheap or Free Things to Do in Paris
Home to the Space Needle, this rainy West Coast city saw the first Starbucks.
Seattle is famous for so many things. From being home to the Seattle Seahawks to the Pike Place Market, which is a hub for Seattle's local food and drink scene. The band Nirvana also built a following in Seattle (after starting out in Aberdeen), which helped establish the local grunge scene.
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Home to the only wonder of the ancient world still standing, this African city has a famous river that runs through the metropolis.
Cairo is a fascinating blend of past and present. Egypt is home to 20 of the most famous universities in the world and has brought the world many inventions, including the 365-day calendar, the sundial, and makeup to name a few.
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This city is home to some of the worlds greatest theater, bagels, and has one of the most recognizable skylines in the world.
Known as the capital of the world, the Big Apple, and the City That Never Sleeps, NYC is a magical city with a rich and vibrant history. NYC is so recognizable, in part, because it has been the backdrop for some of the most famous movies and TV shows, from "West Side Story" to "Friends."
This coastal European city has had many architectural styles in its history, from Roman-era buildings to medieval structures, but it is best known for its Modernista architecture or Catalan Art Nouveau.
With one of the most famous football clubs in history, Barcelona has produced some of the most famous names in soccer, including Ronaldinho, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi. From stunning architecture and fine dining to world-class athletes and beautiful beaches, it’s no wonder an estimated 12 million people visit the city each year.
This vibrant city is home to the Parque Central Towers, some of the tallest buildings in Latin America.
Caracas is an intricate blend of modern city and calming nature. It is surrounded by mountains on the outskirts, but has many beautiful, modern buildings in town, including the National Pantheon of Venezuela, Plaza Bolivar, and Plaza Francia. Caracas is also believed to be the birthplace of several famous foods including arepas, pabellon criollo, tequenos, and pan de jamon.
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Home to The Colosseum, this city is built around its ruins, which draw in millions of visitors each year.
Rome is famous for many things, from art and architecture to food and faith. Tourists flock from all over the world to experience the history, ruins, pasta, and pizza. Today Rome has more than 250 fountains, over 900 churches, and is the most visited city in Italy.
This skyline features a pickle-shaped skyscraper called 30 St. Mary Axe and nicknamed "The Gherkin," a giant Ferris wheel, and perhaps the world's most famous clock.
Like New York, London is so recognizable because it has been on screen quite often, appearing in the James Bond series, "Harry Potter," and "Spider-Man: Far From Home". Although the city has a bad rap for how often it rains, it actually only rains about 8-12 days per month.
Known for the Christ the Redeemer statue, this landmark is the highlight of this city's skyline.
This Brazilian city is easiest to see from the famous Sugarloaf Mountain. With a population of some 6.75 million, Rio was Brazil's first capital and is also known for the Sambódromo Marquês de Sapucaí, a parade area created for Carnival.
Although buildings in this city legally generally cannot be taller than 130 feet, a couple of national monuments stand out in this skyline.
Home to the president of the United States, Washington has many iconic buildings in its city. From the Washington Monument, which towers above the rest of the skyline, to the Capitol Building, this American city is full of history.
Related: Best Free or Cheap Things to Do in Washington, D.C.
This historic skyline looks like a trip to the past, located on an island just a short flight from Miami.
Home to some of the most colorful buildings and vibrant vintage cars, Havana’s architecture is similar to that of Spain. Known for its cigars, dances, and rum, Havana has become a major tourist attraction for Americans in recent years, though Trump-era restrictions remain in effect.
The largest city in Northern Ireland, this city was recently the backdrop for Kenneth Branagh's Oscar-winning film.
Belfast is home to Ireland’s tallest building, Obel Tower, which is 27 stories high. Obel Tower's top floor contains the Observatory Bar, making it the tallest bar in the country as well. You may also notice seahorses located around the city, as that is the symbol of the city.
This city is located along the Danube River and boasts eight major bridges.
The eight bridges on the Danube connect Buda and Pest. The city is known for being the Spa Capital of the World, thermal baths, and its famous underground caves.
Also known as the Golden City, this West Coast city is known for its cable cars and being the backdrop for the show "Full House."
Also famous for the Golden Gate Bridge, being a tech hub, and its seafood, San Francisco is a jack of many trades. San Francisco is also quite famous for its steep and winding roads, which make the perfect backdrop for tourist photos.
Known as the City of Canals, this city is known for its picturesque architecture, river running through the city, and the Anne Frank house.
Famous for its red-light district, art museums, and the Amstel River, Amsterdam draws in millions of tourists each year for its unique tourist experiences. Many Americans love to visit because of the cannabis sold at local coffee shops (though tourists may soon be banned from those shops).
This skyline boasts one of the world's tallest towers, the St. Regis hotel, First Canadian Place, and the Scotia Plaza, and is famous for its ice-cold winters.
The CN Tower is Toronto’s tallest structure and features the CN Tower's Skypod and has the highest observation platform in the Western Hemisphere, the Edgewalk — which holds the Guiness World Record for being the world's highest external walk on a building.
This skyline features a mix of colonial architecture and Chinese influence, as well as a giant Ferris wheel.
The nation of Singapore is made up of 64 islands, and its capital is a city of man-made waterfalls. Known as one of the world's greenest cities, Singapore is home to more than 2,000 native vascular plant species and boasts numerous parks and gardens.
Known as Europe’s oldest capital, this skyline features ancient ruins built for a goddess and many outdoor performance venues made of wood and stone.
Named for the goddess Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, Athens is Greece's most densely populated city. Home to more than dozens of theater halls, Athens was also a major hub for theater and is considered the birthplace of comedy, tragedy, and satire as theatrical genres.
This skyline features the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the John Hancock Center.
Located on Lake Michigan, Chicago is famous for the Bean, the Magnificent Mile, and the Chicago Riverwalk. Foodies flock to the Windy City to try deep-dish pizza, pierogi, and Chicago-style hotdogs.
This city is home to over 100 pubs and the tallest building in this skyline is Capital Dock, which stands at 259 feet tall.
Dublin is famous for its pubs and party scene, but has also been home to four Nobel prize winners and is one of six UNESCO cities of literature, hosting numerous book festivals each year. Dublin is also home to Phoenix Park, the largest enclosed park in any European capital city. In fact, it’s five times bigger than Hyde Park in London.
Related: 30 Free Things to Do in Ireland
This skyline would be incomplete without its Fernsehturm (TV tower), which stands at over 1,200-ft tall, created by architect Hermann Henselmann.
Germany’s capital city is known for its many museums including the Dahlem Museum, the Museum of Arts and Crafts, and the Egyptian Museum to name a few. Berlin is also a major hub for arts and cultural festivals like the Karneval der Kulturen (carnival of cultures), Jazzfest Berlin, and Berliner Festspiele.
This city is known for its Aztec history and was the backdrop for the Day of the Dead parade scene in the James Bond film "Spectre."
Mexico City boasts more than 100 museums, including the Frida Kahlo house. Culturally rich, this city is also known for the Xochimilco Floating Gardens, the 22-foot tall Angel of Independence Statue, and its street-food scene.
This African city is home to the Giraffe Centre and Britam Tower, which stands 656 feet and is the third tallest building in Africa.
With a population of more than 4.3 million, Nairobi is a metropolis often called the green city under the sun, seamlessly blending city and nature. This city also borders Uhuru Park, one of the most famous parks in all of Kenya.
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