Auckland has the Sky Tower, New York has the Empire State - buildings dominate the lists of things considered the most important landmarks and tourist attractions all over the world.
There are entire communities that spend hours online discussing the icons in detail, while at the same time tourists travel huge distances to see some of these structures in real life.
Here are ten buildings that are definitely worth the travel time to get there:
Burj Khalifa, Dubai
Without a doubt, this building has to top the list, purely for the fact that it's the tallest in the world. From the bottom, it's hard to comprehend just how far away the top of the building is. Standing at 828m, it's almost three times the height of Auckland's Sky Tower.
CMG Headquarters, Beijing
Nicknamed the 'Pants Building' by some, this structure is home to China's CCTV broadcasting company. Its unconventional appearance makes it well worth a visit.
Taipei 101, Taipei
Combining modern design and height with the Taipei's traditional architectural style, Taipei 101 has become famous around the world. Its New Year's Eve fireworks displays are broadcast internationally.
Rockefeller Centre, New York
New York is like a degustation menu for building lovers. Over the centuries, the city has been home to numerous 'world's tallest buildings'; but the beauty of Rockefeller Centre is not only in its history, but it's also one of the best spots to view the other amazing skyscrapers of New York.
One World Trade Centre, New York
The history of this location doesn't need to be revisited, but the area around the base of this relatively new building does a great job of mixing the memories of the past with a sense of looking forward to a more peaceful world. There's so much to do here, from the 9/11 memorial museums to the amazing interactive lift which shows a timelapse of New York from before people had arrived through to the current day as you are taken 541m up into the sky.
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
I've been fascinated with this building ever since I first laid eyes on it. While not the tallest in the world, it's undeniably an engineering masterpiece. Made up of three separate towers with the 'Sky Park' feature on top, some say it looks like a skateboard on top of three towers, but designer Moshe Safdie said the look was inspired by stacking playing cards.
Elephant Building, Bangkok
Known as the Elephant Building for obvious reasons (once you see it, you can't unsee it), the Chang Building in the Thai capital is something I've only recently been made aware of - and I'm in love with it. If a building can be cute, then this one ticks that box.
Hudson Yards Vessel, New York
The newly constructed Vessel is an 'interactive artwork' essentially made up of stairs and platforms providing different vantage points to overlook the precinct. There aren't too many tourist attractions around that consist just of stairs, but this one is proving popular for good reason.
Morpheus Hotel, Macau
It's easy to see why architect Zaha Hadid has so many fans in the building industry with creations like this - google her name and you'll quickly see how her designs jump out and demand your attention. Hadid died in 2016, but amazing buildings like this one mean her legacy will live on.
The Gherkin and The Shard, London
The Brits love to give wacky nicknames to their buildings and these are two of the most well-known. The Shard is the tallest building in London and, unsurprisingly, gets its name from resembling a shard of glass. At the top, visitors can enjoy a glass of champagne while observing the view up the River Thames. Nice and close by is the Gherkin, which needs no explanation at all. Now officially called 30 St Mary Axe, the building was completed in 2004. A member of the design team recently told the media he would "do things differently" if they were to design the building again.
Which buildings would you add to the list? Let us know in our Newshub Travel Facebook group.
