15 incredible city skylines at night that you'll want to add to the bucket list
World's best city skylines at night including Paris, Singapore and Liverpool - we take a look at our favourite ones
There’s something especially magical about a city skyline as daylight fades to dusk and the twinkling lights come on.
Whether you're after a romantic stroll through Paris, want to explore the vibrant nightlife in Tokyo, or just want to see the sights in London, it can make a city break feel particularly enchanting.
Then of course, it makes for some glorious photo opportunities - extra points for a waterside location which adds shimmering reflections. (A full moon can also be a wonderful bonus).
We take a look at our top 15 favourite night skylines around the world - check out the list below...
(Feeling inspired to visit? Always check the latest FCDO advice for your chosen destination as travel restrictions may apply during the pandemic).
1 of 15 Singapore
Marina Bay dazzles in the dark with the Marina Bay Sands hotel, ArtScience Museum and Singapore Flyer observation wheel your social-media musts.
(Image:Getty Images)2 of 15 Hong Kong
The grand dame of the pack with its fabulous Symphony of Lights daily show, where 42 skyscrapers are illuminated to a soundtrack. Head to Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront or a harbour ferry for the best views.
(Image:Getty Images)3 of 15 Budapest
Hungary’s fine capital straddles the River Danube, with Széchenyi Chain Bridge and the Parliament of Budapest particularly captivating as night falls.
(Image:Getty Images)
4 of 15 Paris
The City of Light truly lives up to its name as night falls. Find a high point and drink it all in. C’est magnifique!
(Image:Getty Images)5 of 15 Chicago
Officially it’s called Cloud Gate but to locals, the highly polished Millennium Park stainless steel sculpture by British Indian sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor is “The Bean”. On reflection, it’s brilliant.
(Image:Getty Images)6 of 15 Tokyo
Japan’s paean to neon is spellbinding from high up. If your budget permits, see it from the super-luxe 52nd floor New York Grill & Bar in the Park Hyatt hotel.
(Image:Getty Images)
7 of 15 Los Angeles
Downtown in the City of Angels looks absolutely heavenly after the sun has set over the Pacific Ocean. The seemingly endless lights reveal the sheer scale of this vast conurbation.
(Image:Getty Images)8 of 15 Baku
The capital of oil-rich Azerbaijan gets a look in for the striking Flame Towers, a trio of skyscrapers which (unsurprisingly) symbolise fire. They house apartments, offices and a swanky Fairmont hotel.
(Image:Getty Images)9 of 15 Liverpool
Pier Head waterfront on the River Mersey is dominated by the glorious early 20th-century Three Graces – the Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building, with Liverpool Cathedral in the background. A hugely popular spot for tourists with a Beatles statue too. You’ll Never Selfie Alone here.
(Image:Getty Images)
10 of 15 Toronto
Great neighbourhoods, great food, great shopping, great sights – and the Lake Ontario skyline is great after dark too. It’s a great city by the Great Lakes.
(Image:Getty Images)11 of 15 London
Old meets new perfectly by the River Thames with the 126-year-old Tower Bridge and The Shard, which opened in 2013 and at 1,016ft is the UK’s tallest building.
(Image:Getty)12 of 15 Shanghai
The modern, multicoloured skyscrapers of Pudong soar above the Huangpu River, opposite the historic Bund. The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel has an amusing 70s-feel train which links them.
(Image:Getty Images)
13 of 15 Edinburgh
The 338ft Calton Hill is your go-to for the classic, sweeping vista of the illuminated Balmoral Hotel, The Mound, North Bridge and the brooding Edinburgh Castle.
(Image:Getty Images)14 of 15 Rome
The weight of centuries hangs heavy over the River Tiber in Rome. The best spot has the AD134 St Angelo Bridge in the foreground and magnificent St Peter’s Basilica behind, an architectural stripling at a mere 394 years old.
(Image:Getty Images)15 of 15 Sydney
When you’ve got the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, Circular Quay ferries and the Central Business District skyscrapers, you’ve got city night skyline gold.
(Image:Getty Images)