In a 2025 study of over 2,000 respondents, over 75% of respondents believed that buildings have at least some impact on their mental health, with nearly one-third reporting a ‘big impact’, and nearly half (49%) reported that interesting buildings make them smile when they walk past. [1]
As the link between buildings and wellbeing continues to be studied, it’s no wonder that skylines have become a focal point for travellers across the world, shaping their experiences in their destinations of choice.
To help those seeking out the architectural thrill of a skyline, we’ve created an index that reveals which cities around the world have the best skylines. We scored the top 100 cities from Skyscraper Center using a weighted scoring system. To ensure a fair comparison, we assigned greater importance to the factors that most strongly shape a skyline’s overall impact.
The cities were scored on:
- The total number of skyscrapers over 150 metres (30%)
- The average height of a city’s ten tallest buildings (25%)
- Nighttime skyline visibility (25%)
- Skyline density (15%)
- The number of award-winning buildings (5%)
Together, these weighted factors assess the height, visibility and design of each skyline to reveal the ones that offer the most memorable experience.
Key findings:
- Shenzhen, China, ranks as the world’s best skyline, achieving a final score of 7.1/10, with a total of 679 skyscrapers over 150m tall.
- China dominates the global skyline landscape, accounting for 60% of the world’s top 10 skylines, including three of the top five cities and the number one-ranked skyline overall.
- New York City leads the way for architectural recognition, with 20 award-winning buildings, the highest number among all cities.
- Montreal, Canada, is the top city skyline to see at nighttime, ranking highest in the nighttime visibility score.
- Dubai leads the world for supertall skyscrapers, with 32 buildings over 300m tall, more than any other city in the top 10.
- Sunny Isles Beach had the highest skyline density with 3.41 buildings per km2.
World’s top 10 best skylines
Whether it’s the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben, tall architecture has a way of etching city skylines into our memories. But the world’s most impressive skylines go far beyond the obvious icons.
Our data-led index ranks the world’s best city skylines so that you can seek out the next best skyline silhouette that you might not expect.
| The World’s Top 10 City Skylines | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | City | Country | Total Number Of 150m+ Skyscrapers | Number of award winning buildings | Buildings Per Km² | Nighttime visibility score out of one | Average height of top 10 tallest buildings | Final Score |
| 1 | Shenzhen | China | 679 | 4 | 0.39 | 0.72 | 418 | 7.1 |
| 2 | Dubai | UAE | 430 | 9 | 0.10 | 0.78 | 526 | 6.9 |
| 3 | Hong Kong | China | 677 | 3 | 0.61 | 0.68 | 347 | 6.7 |
| 4 | New York City | USA | 442 | 20 | 0.57 | 0.38 | 419 | 5.8 |
| 5 | Wuhan | China | 283 | 1 | 0.19 | 0.74 | 381 | 5.2 |
| 6 | Guangzhou | China | 288 | 1 | 0.07 | 0.73 | 371 | 5.1 |
| 7 | Shanghai | China | 286 | 6 | 0.05 | 0.57 | 399 | 5.0 |
| 8 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 277 | 2 | 1.14 | 0.42 | 384 | 4.9 |
| =9 | Tokyo | Japan | 215 | 2 | 0.34 | 0.94 | 276 | 4.8 |
| =9 | Chongqing | China | 218 | 1 | 0.04 | 0.84 | 329 | 4.8 |
1. Shenzhen, China
With a final score of 7.1/10, Shenzhen takes the top spot as the world’s best city skyline. The city records 679 skyscrapers over 150m high (including 196 over 200m and 22 over 300m high) and pairs that with a top-10 average height of 418m, with the tallest being Ping An Finance Center at 599m. [2]
Scoring well for nighttime visibility and with four award-winning buildings, the Shenzhen skyline is an all-rounder for its architecture and beauty. Its skyline density is 0.39 tall buildings per km², keeping the skyline feeling intensely built-up.
2. Dubai, UAE
Probably most famous for its view of the Burj Al Arab at 321m, [3] Dubai ranks second with a 6.9/10 overall. Frequently featured in major films like Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol or Fast and Furious 7, [4] the skyline has 430 skyscrapers over 150m, including 129 over 200m and 32 over 300m. The city also has the highest top-10 average height in the top 10 list at 526m. Dubai also scores highly for nighttime skyline visibility and has nine award-winning buildings. While its skyline density is lower (0.10 per km²), the city’s height and landmark-led silhouette are what drive it so high in the ranking.
3. Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong places third with a 6.7/10 score. It boasts a massive 677 skyscrapers, with 102 over 200m and six over 300m. Its standout skyline density of 0.61 tall buildings per km² helps explain its famously packed, vertical view. Having previously been ranked the #1 tallest city in the world based on the number of 150m+ completed buildings, it’s no shock that it’s appeared high on our best skylines list. [5] The city’s nighttime skyline visibility measures 0.68 out of one, and it has three award-winning buildings. Its top-10 average height is 347m, showing that Hong Kong’s strength lies in its overwhelming wall of high rises.
The Hong Kong skyline can be recognised in films like Godzilla vs Kong and The Dark Knight, with the famous scene where Batman leaps from the Two International Finance Centre. [6]
4. New York City, USA
The New York skyline is etched into pop culture playing the leading character in many movies and series, with the Empire State Building having starred in everything from King Kong to Elf. [7] Perhaps one of the most recognisable skylines, New York City, ranks fourth with an overall score of 5.8/10. It totals 442 skyscrapers (including 101 over 200m and 18 over 300m), and its top-10 average height reaches 419m, its tallest being the One World Trade Center at 546m, the tallest skyscraper in North America, built to commemorate 9/11. [8]
NYC stands out for the most award-winning buildings at 20, the highest count out of all cities. Its skyline density is 0.57 per km², but its nighttime skyline visibility is lower at 0.38 out of one, which drags down its after-dark score compared with the leaders.
5. Wuhan, China
Rounding out the top five, Wuhan scores 5.2/10, driven by strong high-rise volume and strong nighttime visibility. Wuhan scored 0.74 out of one for its nighttime skyline visibility, putting it among the stronger night performers in the top tier. With 283 skyscrapers over 150m, including 73 over 200m and eight over 300m, there are many high rises you can see from day to night.
The Wuhan Greenland Center is the skyline’s tallest tower at 476m, with a distinctive triangular floor plan and wind-proof design. [9] With a skyline density of 0.19 per km² and only one award-winning building, it’s clear that Wuhan sits high in the ranking due to its scale.
6. Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou ranks sixth overall, with a score of 5.1/10. The city is home to 288 skyscrapers over 150m, including 67 exceeding 200 metres and 13 over 300 metres. Its top ten buildings average is 371m in height, giving Guangzhou a powerful but balanced skyline, with the tallest being the Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre at 530m. [10] With a nighttime visibility score of 0.73 out of one and one award-winning building, the city’s skyline combines scale with a growing reputation.
7. Shanghai, China
Shanghai secures seventh place with a 5/10 overall score. The city counts 286 skyscrapers above 150m, including 74 over 200m and nine surpassing 300. Its top-10 average height reaches 399m, placing it among the highest in the index and the world, with Shanghai Tower reaching 632m. [11] While skyline density is lower than Hong Kong or New York (0.05 per km²), Shanghai’s skyline stands out for its landmark-led composition with an average nighttime visibility score of 0.57 out of one. With the Bank of China Tower featured prominently in Mission: Impossible III. [12]
8. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ranking eighth overall, Kuala Lumpur scores 4.9/10. The city has 277 skyscrapers over 150m, including 72 above 200m and six exceeding 300m and is home to Merdeka 118, a 678.9m tall skyscraper [13] and the Petronas Twin Towers at 451.9m. [14] Including this, the city’s top ten buildings average 384m in height. With the highest skyline density in the top 10 at 1.14 buildings per km², Kuala Lumpur offers a well-built-up location. However, the view from these buildings will be difficult to see when the sun goes down with a nighttime visibility score of 0.42 out of one; Kuala Lumpur is one of the poorer nighttime skylines.
=9. Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo ranks joint ninth overall with a score of 4.8/10. The city is home to 215 skyscrapers over 150m, including 38 above 200m and one exceeding 300m. Its top ten buildings average 276m in height, sitting a bit lower than the extreme supertalls in the higher-ranked cities, with its tallest constructed building being the Mori JP Tower at 327.2m high. [15] Tokyo’s skyline density is relatively low (0.34 tall buildings per km²), but a nighttime visibility score of 0.94 out of one helps bring the views to life after dark, just as the original Godzilla films and more modern reboots. [16]
=9. Chongqing, China
In joint ninth place with a score of 4.8/10, Chongqing completes the top 10. The city records 218 skyscrapers over 150m, including 62 above 200m and five over 300m. Its top-10 average height stands at 329m, despite being less dense than other Chinese cities at 0.04 per km². With a nighttime visibility score of 0.84 out of one, Chongqing’s rankings reflect a growing city compared to others in the index.
The best skylines to see at nighttime
Some city skylines come to life when the sun goes down. Using our nighttime skyline visibility score, which accounts for artificial brightness and light pollution, we’ve listed the top ten skylines with the best views after dark. These are the cities to visit if you’re someone who judges a city by its evening silhouette.
| Rank | City | Country | Nighttime visibility out of one |
| 1 | Montreal | Canada | 1.00 |
| 2 | Goyang | South Korea | 0.98 |
| 3 | Pyongyang | North Korea | 0.97 |
| 4 | Liuzhou | China | 0.96 |
| 5 | Tokyo | Japan | 0.94 |
| =6 | Zhuhai | China | 0.92 |
| =6 | Lanzhou | China | 0.92 |
| 8 | Guiyang | China | 0.91 |
| 9 | Taguig City | Philippines | 0.89 |
| 10 | Kunming | China | 0.88 |
Montreal, Canada, takes the top spot as the best nighttime skyline, scoring full marks (1/1). The city is home to only 25 tall buildings over 150m, with seven over 200m and none over 300m. The few skyscrapers are then accentuated by the four-beam beacon, Place Ville Marie, that brings the architecture to life. [17]
Goyang, South Korea (0.98) and Pyongyang, North Korea (0.97) follow close behind, where lower levels of artificial brightness help keep the view from the skyline sharp and clearly defined at night.
Notably, Tokyo is the only top 10 overall city that ranks in the top nighttime views, showing how rare it is for a major city to balance scale with clear nighttime visibility, too.
Methodology
To identify the world’s best skylines, we created a data-led index comparing a list of global cities with buildings 150m+ from the Skyscraper Center and analysing five key metrics.
Each metric was normalised to allow fair comparison between cities of different sizes, then combined using weighted scoring to calculate an overall skyline score.
Cities were assessed based on:
- The total number of skyscrapers over 150 metres (30%)
- The average height of a city’s ten tallest buildings (25%)
- Nighttime skyline visibility (25%), accounting for artificial brightness and light pollution (with higher brightness reducing visibility)
- Skyline density (15%), measures the concentration of tall buildings relative to the city area. It is calculated as: Skyline Density = Total number of tall buildings/ City area (km²). Total number of tall buildings: Count of buildings above a chosen height threshold (e.g., 100m or 150m). City area (km²): Total land area of the city.
- The number of award-winning buildings (5%)
Artificial brightness data was inverted so that clearer night skies scored more highly, while the city area was used to calculate skyline density. These contextual metrics were not scored independently. Together, this approach balances scale, density, design and night-time clarity to highlight skylines that deliver the strongest visual impact.
Sources
[1] Taylor and Francis, ‘Building and Appearance and Wellbeing’, 2025
[2] Skyscraper Center, ‘Ping An Finance Center’, 2025
[3] Citrine Compass, ‘Dubai Skyline’, 2025
[4] Film and Furniture, ‘Dubai Locations’, 2023
[5] Skyscraper Center, ‘Hong Kong’, 2025
[6] Time Out, ‘Hollywood Movies Set in Hong Kong’’, 2024
[7] May Cause Wanderlust, ‘50 Movies Set in New York City’, 2024
[8] Skyscraper Center, ‘One World Trade Center’, 2025
[9] Skyscraper Center, ‘Wuhan Greenland Center’, 2025
[10] Skyscraper Center, ‘Guangzhou’, 2025
[11] Skyscraper Center, ‘Shanghai’, 2025
[12] eChinaCities, ‘Shanghai on Film’, 2025
[13] Skyscraper Center, ‘Merdeka 118’, 2025
[14] Petronas Twin Towers, 2025
[15] Skyscraper Center, ‘Tokyo’, 2025
[16] Spotlight on Film, ‘Films set in Tokyo’, 2024
[17] MTL.org, ‘Montreal City Lights’, 2025
