One World Trade Center

The One World Trade Center is the tallest skyscraper in the western hemisphere began construction in April of 2006. Although it was completed in 2013 but wasn’t opened until November 3, 2014. The building is the 4th tallest in the world coming in at 1,776 feet tall, a direct nod to the year of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. It was the world’s tallest building from 1931 to 1967. Construction began on March 17, 1930, and was completed a little over a year later on April 11, 1931. Coming in at a height of 1,250 feet, and with its antenna included 1,454 feet, it is a symbol of New York and everything that the Empire State stands for.

Petronas Towers

The Petronas Towers are some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring towers in Malaysia. Construction began on these twin towers on March 1, 1993, and was completed 3 years later on March 1, 1996. These towers were the tallest in the world from 1998 to 2004. Coming in at 1,483 feet at the top, these towers are a must-see if you ever plan on taking a trip to Kuala Lumpur.

Leaning Tower of Piza

The Leaning Tower might be one of the most well-known buildings in the world. Although it isn’t a jaw-dropping skyscraper-like some of the other towers on the list, thousands of people come to Italy every year to see this work of art that has been standing for several hundred years. Construction began in 1173 and wasn’t completed until 1372. The tower began to lean during the construction because of the soft ground that could not support the weight of the structure.

Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building on the list and in fact is the tallest building in the world! Construction began on this tower on January 6, 2004, and was opened 6 years later on January 4, 2010. The building comes in at a whopping 2,722 feet tall and with a cost of a cool 1.5 billion dollars. The tower will probably hold the title of the world’s tallest building for many years to come.

Shanghai Tower

The Shanghai Tower is the largest skyscraper in China coming in at 2,073 feet dominating the skyline of Shanghai. Construction started on November 29, 2008, and was completed on September 6, 2015. Costing nearly 2.5 billion dollars this skyscraper is a jaw-dropper aesthetically and currently is the second tallest building in the world.

Space Needle

The Space Needle is one of the most recognizable towers in the world. It serves as an observation platform for visitors to get a view of the beautiful Seattle skyline coming in at 518 feet on the top floor. Construction began April 17, 1961, and was opened on April 21, 1962, just in time for the 1962 World’s Fair.

Ryugyong Hotel

There aren’t many reasons to go to North Korea these days, but the Ryugyong Hotel would be an interesting site to see. Coming in at 1,082 feet this building has had many setbacks in its construction. Its construction began in 1987 and although the main structure was finished five years later in 1992 when construction was halted after an economic downturn, the building still remains unopened today.

Mercury City Tower

One of the most aesthetically interesting towers from the Moscow skyline is the Mercury City Tower. Coming in at 1,112 it’s one of the tallest buildings in Europe. Construction began in 2009 and the building was topped out in November of 2012 costing around 1 billion dollars to complete.

Tuntex Sky Tower

The Tuntex Sky Tower is a massive structure located in Taiwan that began construction in 1994 and was finished in 1997. Standing 1,140 feet tall this building is standing mostly empty after many of the businesses that occupied it left from 2000-2010.

Kingdom Centre

The Kingdom Centre is the third tallest building in the world with a hole in its structure. Construction began in 1999 and was finished in 2002 costing 453 million dollars.

Bahrain World Trade Center

The Bahrain World Trade Center is a set of twin towers that gain a place on this list for being the first towers to incorporate wind turbines in their construction. Standing 787 feet tall and costing about 150 million dollars the construction began on these towers in 2004 and was finished in 2008.

Al Hamra Tower

The Al Hamra Tower is a skyscraper in Kuwait standing 1,358 tall costing about 500 million dollars to complete. Construction started in 2005 and was completed in 2011. Its interesting shape provides an artificial shade that protects the residents from the hot summer heat.