Most Iconic Landmarks in the World

The wrought-iron lattice tower built for the 1889 World’s Fair, once derided by critics, is now the definitive symbol of Paris and of romance itself. Ride the lifts to sweeping panoramas of the boulevards below, or watch from the Champ de Mars as it sparkles with thousands of lights after dark.

This colossal copper figure holding her torch aloft above New York Harbour has welcomed arrivals to America for over a century, a gift from France and an enduring emblem of freedom. Ferries carry visitors to Liberty Island, where, with a reservation, you can climb the spiral stairs to the crown.

Arms outstretched atop forested Corcovado mountain, this immense art-deco statue of Christ watches serenely over Rio de Janeiro. Reached by a charming cog railway winding up through the Tijuca rainforest, the summit offers one of the world’s great city panoramas, taking in Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana and the shimmering Atlantic.

The billowing white shells of this waterfront masterpiece have made it the instantly recognisable emblem of Sydney and of Australia. Perched on a headland beside the great steel Harbour Bridge, it hosts world-class opera, ballet and concerts, and a guided tour reveals the daring engineering behind those sail-like roofs.

The tallest building in the world pierces the Dubai sky at over 828 metres, a gleaming, tapering spike of glass and steel visible for miles. High-speed lifts whisk visitors to observation decks near the summit for vertiginous views, while at its base the choreographed Dubai Fountain dances each evening.

The great clock tower rising above the Houses of Parliament is the enduring symbol of London, its resonant chimes broadcast worldwide. Officially the Elizabeth Tower, its ornate neo-Gothic pinnacle and four-faced clock overlook the Thames beside Westminster Bridge. Recently restored to its original colours, it once again gleams above the crowds.

Painted in its distinctive international orange, this graceful suspension bridge sweeping across the windy entrance to San Francisco Bay is one of the most photographed structures on the planet. Walk or cycle its span for views of the skyline, Alcatraz and the Marin headlands, or watch the fog swallow the towers.

These twin steel-clad towers soaring above Kuala Lumpur held the title of world’s tallest building for six years and remain the symbol of modern Malaysia’s ambition. A double-decker sky bridge links them partway up, an observation deck offers panoramic views, and after dark the towers glow spectacularly above KLCC park.

Antoni Gaudi’s astonishing, still-unfinished basilica has been slowly rising over Barcelona for well over a century, its organic spires and fantastical facades unlike any other church on Earth. Inside, forest-like columns branch toward the roof and daylight pours through walls of stained glass in shifting rainbow colours.

The soaring art-deco spire that crowned New York’s skyline in 1931, and reigned as the world’s tallest for four decades, remains the quintessential American skyscraper. Observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors deliver classic sweeping views over Manhattan’s grid, spectacular by day and dazzling after dark.

This freestanding marble bell tower’s famous tilt, caused by soft, unstable ground during its long construction, has turned a structural flaw into one of the world’s best-loved landmarks. Climb the spiralling internal staircase, worn smooth and noticeably slanting underfoot, for a lopsided view over the terracotta rooftops of Pisa.

At 634 metres, this futuristic broadcasting tower is the tallest structure in Japan and offers dizzying observation decks, including a glass-floored section, high above the sprawling capital. On clear days the view reaches all the way to the distant, snow-capped cone of Mount Fuji, while below the city spreads to the sea.

This audacious hotel of three curving towers topped by a vast boat-shaped SkyPark has become the defining image of modern Singapore. Its rooftop infinity pool and public observation deck float some 200 metres above the bay, overlooking the futuristic Supertrees of Gardens by the Bay and the nightly Spectra show.

Dominating the Toronto skyline, this slender concrete tower was the world’s tallest freestanding structure for over three decades. A glass floor and observation decks give vertiginous views over the city, Lake Ontario and distant Niagara, while the truly fearless can strap in for the EdgeWalk, a hands-free stroll around the open rim.

One of the largest mosques in the world, this dazzling white-marble masterpiece in Abu Dhabi gleams with gold, floral inlays of semiprecious stone and the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet beneath vast crystal chandeliers. Reflecting pools mirror its 82 domes and minarets, which glow softly under a lunar-inspired lighting scheme.

This grand basalt triumphal arch on the Mumbai waterfront was built to commemorate a royal visit and later became, poignantly, the point from which the last British troops departed India. Facing the Arabian Sea, it buzzes with vendors and departing ferries to the cave temples of Elephanta Island.

The flat-topped mountain rising straight above Cape Town is the natural landmark that defines the city, often draped in a swirling white tablecloth of cloud. A revolving cable car, or a strenuous hike up Platteklip Gorge, carries visitors to a summit plateau carpeted with unique fynbos plants found nowhere else.

With its cluster of glowing pink spheres strung along a soaring concrete shaft, this retro-futuristic television tower is the unmistakable icon of Shanghai’s dazzling Pudong skyline. Glass-floored decks and a revolving restaurant offer sweeping views across the Huangpu River to the historic Bund, truly magical when the waterfront lights up.

This distinctive granite peak rising sheer from the sea at the mouth of Rio de Janeiro’s harbour is scaled by a glass-walled cable car in two dramatic stages. From the top, the views over the city, its curving beaches, Guanabara Bay and distant Christ the Redeemer are spectacular.

London’s most famous bridge combines twin Victorian neo-Gothic towers with a clever bascule roadway that still lifts to let tall ships pass along the Thames. A high-level glass walkway strung between the towers offers dizzying river views, while the engine rooms below reveal the steam machinery that once raised the spans.