Beauty is, famously, in the eye of the beholder, but few would deny that these stunning architectural marvels rank among the most attractive structures anywhere. From opulent palaces and soaring modern skyscrapers to fairytale castles, we've ranked what are, in our opinion, the world's most spectacular buildings that draw thousands of tourists every year.
Click through this gallery to discover our pick for the most beautiful buildings on Earth...
Still under construction – it's finally slated for completion in 2026 – Antoni Gaudí’s most celebrated work nevertheless draws millions of visitors to experience its grandeur every year. The elaborate building’s most impressive part is its dramatic Nativity façade, which was created under the personal supervision of Gaudí himself and boasts thousands of intricate carvings related to the birth of Christ.
The interior is equally mind-boggling, as traditional cathedral architecture takes a backseat in favour of undulating curves inspired by nature. Columns resembling tree trunks sprout from across the cathedral floor, which branch into intricate vaults often adorned with vibrant glass. The ceiling is often cited as the building's most impressive feature, and the first thing many visitors do after entering is look up.
Currently undergoing renovations worth tens of millions of dollars after two centuries of Montreal weather and a devastating fire, the Neo-Gothic Notre-Dame Basilica is one of Canada's greatest jewels. The outside is perfectly pleasant, with two symmetrical towers and a rampart-like façade, but it's the glittering interior that's given the basilica its gilded reputation...
The deep-blue ceiling vaults are decorated with golden stars, while the walls are a symphony of carved wood and stained glass. The intricate altarpiece is almost cathedral-like with its arches and spires, and depicts a series of biblical scenes. The basilica is renowned for its acoustics (the renovations have not halted its concert schedule), and remains one of the largest churches in North America.
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It’s not the tallest building in New York City, nor is it the most famous, but the Flatiron building in Manhattan is definitely among the city's most striking. A triangular, 22-storey office block that looks almost two-dimensional when viewed from the side, the building was constructed in the Beaux-Arts style and measures just six feet (2m) across at its narrower end.
Built in 1902 at an astounding rate of one floor per week (once the foundations were laid), it was originally despised by the New York media and deemed the latest monstrosity from the city’s out-of-control construction business. Today, it’s one of the most-photographed landmarks in the Big Apple, and has developed into a beloved symbol of the city.
London’s St Pancras Renaissance Hotel is one of the grandest buildings in the capital. The enormous red-brick Gothic-Revival construction first opened in 1873 as the Grand Midland Hotel, and was described by poet Sir John Betjeman as "too beautiful and too romantic to survive" in the modern era of tower blocks, car parks and concrete.
He was almost right, as the original hotel closed in 1935 and only narrowly avoided demolition. After extensive renovation the building reopened in 2011 as the 5-star St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. Conjoined with St Pancras railway station, you can enjoy its dramatic exterior from the other side of the Euston Road or lap up its luxurious interiors in a suite or at the Booking Office 1869 bar and restaurant.
Often dubbed 'the world's only 7-star hotel' (erroneously, as official rankings stop at five), the Burj Al Arab is one of Dubai’s most iconic structures, and goes a long way to earning its nickname. Resembling a billowing ship's sail, it stands proudly just off the Dubai shoreline and is best seen from Jumeirah Beach at sunset, when the skies turn all shades of pink and orange.
Once inside, the hotel is unquestionably at the high end of high-end. Michelin-starred restaurant Al Muntaha peers out from the 27th floor, offering gloriously panoramic dining, while the award-winning spa has infinity pools to spare. Aesthetically, it's a little more divisive; with gaudy colours and clashing patterns throughout, it has been described as ugly by some visitors.
Designed by famous Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim Bilbao is an artwork in its own right. The sculpture-like structure boasts titanium-clad curves designed to catch the light in different ways as the day progresses, and has been continually hailed as one of the greatest buildings of our time.
The interior is equally undulating and is centred on a large, light-filled atrium which has gorgeous views out over the river and the countryside beyond. There's also the small matter of the gallery's world-class modern art collection, from meditative Rothkos to Puppy by Jeff Koons, the largest flower sculpture on Earth. Visit in summer for the best light, and admire the beautiful exterior when the sun is low in the sky.
Just an hour from Lisbon lies one of Portugal’s – and indeed the world's – most colourful palaces. This gorgeous hilltop complex was built in the 19th century on the ruins of an old monastery by King Ferdinand II as a summer palace for the royal family. It showcases an eclectic mix of architectural styles, from Neo-Gothic to Neo-Islamic.
Most of all, the palace was grand and romantic, and was described as "the most beautiful thing I've ever seen" by composer Richard Strauss. It was turned into a museum after the abolition of the monarchy in 1910, and the last queen of Portugal spent her last night there before going into exile. Get the best views from the nearby Castle of the Moors or the peak of Sintra Hill before exploring its opulent interior.
Probably the most famous castle in the world, Neuschwanstein is about as fairytale as it gets. But it wasn't built in the Middle Ages – instead it was constructed in the 19th century to deliberately resemble the towering fortresses of years gone by. Adorning a steep hill in southwest Bavaria, Germany, the spectacular structure inspired the design of the castle in Disney's Sleeping Beauty.
Inside, opulence abounds throughout its many rooms and music halls. Some are carved from wood, while others are painted with colourful murals. The best view of its exterior is from the Queen Mary’s Bridge in Marienbrücke, and, if you want to avoid the crowds inside, take the last tour of the day when most visitors have left.
Thailand is dotted with incredible temples but none are so stunning as Wat Rong Khun, an entirely white temple that's a modern reconstruction of an older temple that was left to ruin. Unusually, it’s privately owned and is more of an artwork than a religious place. Work is still being done on the temple, which is not expected to be fully finished until 2070 or beyond.
Full of dark symbolism, as you enter the temple a sea of grappling white hands representing human desire reach up from the floor, and its interior walls are decorated with politically motivated murals depicting demons and Western idols including Michael Jackson, the Terminator and Superman. Visit early in the morning to avoid the inevitable crowds.
The second tallest building in Iceland, the Hallgrimskirkja church towers over this mostly low-rise capital city. It took 41 years to build and its design is inspired by the natural shapes and forms created by thick lava when it cools. Named after poet and national treasure Hallgrimur Petursson, the church was inaugurated in 1986 – the 200th anniversary of Reykjavík's city status.
Rising into the sky like two lines on a graph, the church boasts a sparse beauty and looks almost ominous when night falls. The sci-fi vibe continues into the interior, which is an eerie but appealing minimalist white throughout. See it at its most ethereal at sunrise or sunset, and don’t miss the view from the clock tower.
The original cost estimate for the Sydney Opera House was AU$7 million (£3.5m/US$4.5m), and construction was supposed to take four years. By the time it was completed, it had cost an estimated AU$102 million (£51m/US$65m) and taken 14 years, but given its status as an international tourist sensation and a symbol of its city and country, we'd guess that most Australians aren't too bothered.
Its sensuous white curves are coated with approximately one million roof tiles, and were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. Cooled with seawater taken directly from the harbour, the building is a marvel of modern engineering and has hosted a lot more than just operas down the years. In 1980, Arnold Schwarzenegger won his final Mr Olympia body-building title in the concert hall.
Eight stories high, this vivid reconstruction still soars above the skyscraper-lined streets of Osaka – a collage of faded-green roof tiles, whitewashed triangles and golden lining. First built in the 16th century, the structure marked the pinnacle of Japanese castle-building until it was struck by lightning and burned to cinders in 1665. The modern castle was rebuilt in 1931.
Now a museum as much as a fortress, the castle looks particularly splendid at night, when upturned spotlights see its walls shine brightly against the dark sky. Surrounding the keep is a series of defensive structures, and the site's two-and-a-half million annual tourists can wander among turrets, baileys, gatehouses and walls. May is peak season in Osaka, so visit in autumn for still-pretty-good weather and fewer crowds.
One of the world’s most famous landmarks, the Palace of Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to experience its notorious opulence and luxury. There's a tremendous amount to explore, from the sumptuous Hall of Mirrors to the enormous landscaped garden estate, so you’ll want to plan your visit carefully.
Initially a royal hunting lodge, Versailles was turned into the palace we see today by the titanic figure of Louis XIV. Nicknamed 'the Sun King', Louis's extraordinary 72-year-and-110-day reign makes him history's longest-serving monarch, and Versailles benefitted hugely from decades of patronage. By the time of his death in 1715, the still-unfinished Palace of Versailles was already perhaps the grandest palace of its age.
Cologne Cathedral is an awe-inspiring sight – and it really ought to be, since its builders honed its arches and spires over an astonishing 632 years. Construction began way back in 1248, but was repeatedly disrupted by war and financial difficulties, and ground to halt completely in the 16th century thanks to the upheavals of the German Reformation. A medieval wooden crane was left symbolically abandoned atop one of its towers.
Only in the 1840s did work resume – still guided by designs laid out centuries before. Finally finished in 1880, Cologne Cathedral was worth the wait, and has since been widely celebrated as perhaps the greatest Gothic-style masterpiece on Earth. Briefly the world's tallest building upon completion, the cathedral's studded façades still dominate the city skyline – and draw more than six million tourists a year.
One of the world’s most precariously placed monasteries, Paro Taktsang (better known as the Tiger’s Nest) perches tentatively on a cliffside in the upper Paro valley in Bhutan. The elegant structure is built around a cave in the cliff face that is said to have been used by Guru Padmasambhava for meditation in the 8th century. Legend has it that he flew to the cave on the back of a female tiger.
Today the sacred site is a must-see for more intrepid travellers – and it makes you work for it. High in the Himalayas – 10,240 feet (3,120m) high, to be exact – the monastery is only accessible on foot via a four-and-a-half-mile (7km) uphill hike, though you can take a pony to the cafeteria en route, which has the best views of the complex and valley.
A breathtaking stalwart of the Milan skyline, the Duomo’s history spans more than six centuries of worship. The cathedral’s construction began back in 1386 at the peak of Gothic design, but was not truly completed until the mid-20th century. Over the decades, a succession of Italy's greatest architects, engineers and artists worked on the magnificent structure. Even Leonardo Da Vinci sketched some designs for a proposed domed tower, though they never made it off his drawing board.
Fabulously elaborate, the Duomo remains the fifth-largest church on Earth and is adorned with an astonishing 3,400 gargoyles and statues. If you're looking to avoid the crowds then your best bet is to go in the early morning or on a weekday, when the cathedral is at its quietest. Or stop by at sunset to see the iconic spires against the backdrop of the beautiful Italian dusk.
Dedicated to his late wife, Shah Jahan’s Taj Mahal is beautiful not only for its mesmerising marble façade. Their love story is one of bittersweet tragedy: Mumtaz Mahal ('the Jewel of the Palace') died while giving birth to their 14th child, so the emperor vowed never to marry again and promised he would build her the finest mausoleum ever seen.
It took around 20,000 workmen approximately 20 years to build the Taj Mahal, with the last marble slab finally laid in 1648. An urban legend holds that Shah Jahan was so determined that no future monument should ever rival the mausoleum's beauty, that he removed the hands of every single one of the labourers that toiled at the site. Visit in the relatively quiet early hours, when the building takes on a pink hue.
There are two very distinct ways to experience Mont-Saint-Michel, a stunning abbey perched atop a tiny island in northwest France that's our pick for the most beautiful building in the world. First, you could visit at high tide, when the delightfully symmetrical structure is reflected dreamily in the surrounding sea. Second, you could visit at low tide, when the island is surrounded instead by an ocean of sand.
The island is still reachable at high tide thanks to a causeway unveiled in 2014, while low-tide visitors should be wary of wandering the sands – the tides come in very rapidly and there are quicksand dangers, so avoid the bay unless you're with an experienced guide. Legend has it that the abbey was built in AD 708 on the orders of the archangel Michael, and it became a centre of pilgrimage and learning in the Middle Ages.
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