Today we’re taking a look at fifty beautiful examples of city skyline architecture. Some images are captured at night, some in the day, and some in twilight. There’s plenty of inspiration for any urban, city photograph project!

Why Shoot a City?

There are hundreds of beautiful city skylines in the world. Some take their beauty because of the architecture itself, while others are complemented by their natural surroundings. In either case, the way a photographer chooses to capture a particular skyline has just as much impact on the final image as the skyline itself. Even a less-than-stellar skyline can be a work of art in the hands of a skilled photographer.

Below are fifty great skyline photos. There’s a mix of daytime, nighttime, and twilight shots. Some have extensive post-processing while others do not. Not all are professionally taken—it’s obvious some are simply snapshots—but they all capture the essence of the city they feature. Some are taken from odd angles, and while some may argue that they’re not traditional skyline shots, they still have a similar look and are worth inclusion.

Please feel free to share links to your favorite city skyline photos in the comments.

San Diego Skyline 2 by WouteR

Tower Bridge & Skyline – London, England by Trodel

Skyline – Hong Kong, China by Trodel

The lighting and long expsoure time here really make the lights of the city stand out and create an almost ethereal look.

Jakarta Skyline Part 2 by yohanes budiyanto

Richmond Skyline and James River by taberandrew

Don’t disregard the foreground when taking a skyline photo. The river and trees turn what might have been a very ho-hum photo into something more special.

Louisville Skyline by The Pug Father

A Night View of Skyline of Portland, Oregon by Curt Deatherage

Toronto Skyline by ChoudhrySaab

The Living Skyline by kennymatic

Shanghai Pudong Skyline by pamhule

New York Skyline by wwarby

Skyline – Paris, France at Night by Trodel

Singapore Skyline by redeye^

Skyline – San Diego, California at Night by Trodel

Manhattan Skyline (Panorama) by Francisco Diez

Skyline. by Sarah Jane

Hong Kong Skyline by das farbamt

New York City Skyline by ajagendorf25

SF Skyline by angeloangelo

Weather patterns, like the fog here in San Francisco, can often add extra depth and interest to your photos. The tower in the background appears larger than it actually is since its base is obscured.

Frankfurt Skyline by icarus_shift

Seattle Skyline with Mount Ranier From Kerry Park Stitch by Walakazoo

Sydney by Corey Leopold

Sydney Skyline by jemsweb

Seattle Skyline by papalars

New York Skyline by geoftheref

New York Skyline Sunset 2 by thenails

City of Gold – Hong Kong by Dennis Wong

From the North Shore by kennymatic

Dark City 2 by fehlart

Another fantastic example of how weather can really add depth and interest to a photo.

City of Lights by paul (dex)

Good Morning Toronto by purplepick

Puget Sound Just Before Dawn by joiseyshowaa

Boston Back Bay at Night by Werner Kunz

Chicago HDR 1 by dielotr

The Needle & Rainier by papalars

California San Francisco by Benjamin Rossen

Southbank Waiting 12 by Looking Glass

Sunset Skyline by Sienar

Just Beautiful by gyverchangphotos

Calgary Skyline by LipBomb

Buenos Aires – Night Pano by lrargerich

Saint Paul from Mounds Blvd by StArHaCkT

I Still Call Rialto Home by

Hong Kong Island Light Show by calloutLOUD

Brisbane Skyline at Night by slord

Skyline – New York City, New York at Night by Trodel

New York City Skyline by hyunlab

City Skyline by jordanpermenter

The skyline itself stands out more here because of the expanse of sky above it.

The Skyline by ecksunderscore

San Fransisco by TenSafeFrogs