Some of the most beautiful buildings in the world can be found in Europe. From the ancient Romans to present-day modern marvels, Europe is known for boasting the best in the world. These modern buildings have shaped some of the most iconic skylines around the globe, and they’re not slowing down anytime soon. Here are the 25 largest buildings that you can find in Europe.
Torre Cespa

Madrid has some of the tallest buildings in Europe.
©Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.com
Back in 2008, the Torre Cespa was topped out in Madrid, Spain, reaching a height of 815 feet. That’s 248.3 meters! The modern building helps bring together the classic look of Madrid with a splash of something new. Downtown Madrid appears to be getting bigger and bigger.
Torre de Cristal
Also in Madrid, Torre de Cristal followed a similar path as Torre Cespa, opening up in 2008. However, this building takes home the cake as the largest in Spain, rising to a total of 817 feet (249 meters). This is the tallest building in Spain, and combined, these two buildings help Madrid start getting towards the modern downtown look.
Messeturm
Our first trip to Germany takes us to the Messeturm building. Built in Frankfurt all the way back in 1990, this building helped bring a new skyline look to Frankfurt. Topping out at 842 feet (256.5 meters), this building was once the tallest in Europe, up until 1997.
City of Capitals: Saint Petersburg Tower
Don’t be confused by the name as this building is in Moscow, Russia. The City of Capitals is a group of buildings in downtown Moscow that are named after the two capitals of the country, with this one being Saint Petersburg. Built back in 2010, this building tops out at 843 feet (256.9 meters).
Commerzbank Tower
The building that overtook the Messeturm back in 1997 is the Commerzbank Tower. Also built in Frankfurt, the Commerzbank Tower added 8 extra feet to take the title of Europe’s tallest building, topping out at 850 feet, which is 259 meters.
Istanbul Sapphire

Downtown Istanbul at night.
©Resul Muslu/Shutterstock.com
The first building from Turkey has arrived on the list, as back in 2010, the Istanbul Sapphire was officially opened up. The building stands at an enormous height of 856 feet (261 meters) and helps add to the beautiful skyline of Istanbul.
Triumph Palace
Opened back in 2005, Triumph Palace was the building that would hold the title of Europe’s tallest for a few years. The beautiful building was build in Moscow and stands at a dazzling height of 866 feet (264.1 meters).
Naberezhnaya Tower C
The building that would take the title back in 2007 as the tallest in Europe for three years is Naberezhnaya Tower C. This building is very close to the City of Capitals in Moscow, and stands at a height of 881 feet (268.4 meters).
22 Bishopsgate
Now we enter London and their amazing skyline with 22 Bishopsgate. The sleek looking building in downtown London was opened back in 2020, jumping to a height of 912 feet (278 meters). This building is also the second tallest in the United Kingdom and London, with the tallest still to come on this list.
Grand Tower

Downtown Moscow at sunrise.
©Sergey Dzyuba/Shutterstock.com
A common theme amongst this article is buildings in Moscow, and Grand Tower is no different. Standing at an astounding height of 930 feet (283.4), this building was recently finished back in 2022, as Moscow seems to have an ever growing skyline.
Skyland Istanbul: Tower 2
We have our first tie in terms of building heights. This and our next building stand equally as tall. Granted, they’re meant to be twins, as they both were opened in Istanbul in 2017 and both stand at a height of 932 feet (284 meters). But for listing purposes, there’s one thing that sets them apart.
Skyland Istanbul: Tower 1
The twin to Skyland Istanbul: Tower 2 matches everything with its twin, other than the amount of floors. Skyland Istanbul: Tower 1, has 65 floors, while Tower 2 has 64. Aside from that, it opened in 2017 and stands at the same height of 932 feet (284 meters).
Capital Towers: River Tower
Instead of twins for these next three, we have triplets. One more business center in Moscow has decided to have a set of buildings that are similar to each other. River Tower stands at a height of 968 feet (295 meters) and was opened recently in 2022.
Capital Towers: City Tower
The next in the set of triplets is City Tower. City Tower has all of the exact same features as River Tower, even the same amount of floors, so you could have these in any order. Both have 67 floors, are 968 feet (295 meters) tall, and were opened in 2022.
Capital Towers: Park Tower
The last in the set of triplets is Park Tower. While Park Tower shares the same height of 968 feet (295 meters) and being opened in 2022 like the previous two buildings, it has 70 floors.
City of Capitals: Moscow Tower
We have reached the top 10. The other tower in the City of Capitals in Moscow is the Moscow Tower, reaching a height of 990 feet (301.8 meters). This tower opened back in 2010 and held the title of tallest building in Europe for the next two years.
Neva Tower 1
Another incredible tower located in downtown Moscow is Neva Tower 1. Opened back in 2020, this tower edges the Moscow Tower by one foot, making it a height of 991 feet (302 meters). In this tower, you’ll find loads of office space.
Eurasia
What a surprise! Another building from Moscow cracks this list. Eurasia was opened back in 2015 and is the first building on this list to be taller than 1,000 feet. Eurasia stands at a towering height of 1,013 feet (308.9 meters).
The Shard

A skyline view of London.
©RAW-films/Shutterstock.com
The tallest building in the United Kingdom has arrived. This one was built from the ground up in London back in 2012. The Shard stands 1,016 feet (309.6 meters) off the ground and completes the downtown London skyline.
Varso Tower
Warsaw, Poland has entered the mix of tallest buildings. The skyscraper that makes the Warsaw skyline so recognizable stands at a height of 1,017 feet (310 meters). Opened back in 2022, this building has the claim of being the tallest building in the European Union.
Mercury City Tower
We have officially entered the top five tallest buildings in Europe. Coming in at number five is Mercury City Tower. Shockingly, this building also is in Moscow. Completed back in 2013, this building took the cake as the tallest in Europe with a height of 1,112 feet (338.8 meters). However, it would only hold the title for a few years.
Neva Tower 2
We’re going to stay in Moscow for a while longer as we hit the fourth tallest building in Europe, Neva Tower 2. Completed back in 2022, Neva Tower 2 holds the title of the tallest residential building in Europe. It stands at a height of 1,132 feet (345 meters) and adds to the amazing Moscow skyline.
OKO: South Tower
Keeping the trend of tall buildings in Moscow going brings us to OKO: South Tower. Completed back in 2016, this building held the title of the tallest in Europe for a short period of time. The building stands at a height of 1,162 feet (354.2 meters) and just about rounds out the Moscow skyline.
Federation: East Tower
We have now reached the mention of the two tallest buildings, both of which are in Russia. Federation: East Tower is in Moscow and quickly took the title of the tallest building in Europe from OKO: South Tower. Federation: East Tower stands at a height of 1,226 feet (373.7 meters) but isn’t the tallest in Europe… anymore.
Lakhta Center

Lakhta Center in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
©Pavel Talashov/Shutterstock.com
The tallest building in Europe is in Russia, but not in Moscow. Lakhta Center opened up in 2019 in Saint Petersburg Russia, taking away the claim that Moscow had the tallest building in Europe, and even Russia. When it opened up, Lakhta Center was built to a height of 1,516 feet (462 meters). It stands over tall and proud over the rest of Europe.
Rank | Name | Open | Height ft (meters) | Location |
25 | Torre Cepsa | 2008 | 815 (248.3) | Madrid |
24 | Torre de Cristal | 2008 | 817 (249) | Madrid |
23 | Messeturm | 1990 | 842 (256.5) | Frankfurt |
22 | City of Capitals: Saint Petersburg Tower | 2010 | 843 (256.9) | Moscow |
21 | Commerzbank Tower | 2005 | 866 (264.1) | Frankfurt |
20 | Istanbul Sapphire | 2010 | 856 (261) | Istanbul |
19 | Triumph Palace | 2005 | 866 (264.1) | Moscow |
18 | Naberezhnaya Tower C | 2007 | 881 (268.4) | Moscow |
17 | 22 Bishopsgate | 2020 | 912 (278) | London |
16 | Grand Tower | 2022 | 930 (283.4) | Moscow |
15 | Skyland Istanbul: Tower 2 | 2017 | 932 (284) | Istanbul |
14 | Skyland Istanbul: Tower 1 | 2017 | 932 (284) | Istanbul |
13 | Capital Towers: River Tower | 2022 | 968 (295) | Moscow |
12 | Capital Towers: City Tower | 2022 | 968 (295) | Moscow |
11 | Capital Towers: Park Tower | 2022 | 968 (295) | Moscow |
10 | City of Capitals: Moscow Tower | 2010 | 990 (301.8) | Moscow |
9 | Neva Tower 1 | 2020 | 991 (302) | Moscow |
8 | Eurasia | 2015 | 1,013 (308.9) | Moscow |
7 | The Shard | 2012 | 1,016 (309.6) | London |
6 | Varso Tower | 2022 | 1,017 (310) | Warsaw |
5 | Mercury City Tower | 2013 | 1,112 (338.8) | Moscow |
4 | Neva Tower 2 | 2020 | 1,132 (345) | Moscow |
3 | OKO: South Tower | 2015 | 1,162 (354.2) | Moscow |
2 | Federation: East Tower | 2016 | 1,226 (373.7) | Moscow |
1 | Lakhta Center | 2019 | 1,516 (462) | Saint Petersburg |
The photo featured at the top of this post is © scaliger/ via Getty Images
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.