
As the largest city in the United States, New York City is one of the most diverse and vibrant cities in the world, recognized by many as the center for global media, culture, fashion art, and finance. The city was founded in 1624 by settlers from the Dutch Republic and has since grown into “the city that never sleeps”.
While almost every style of architecture exists in New York City, the metropolis is most well known for its skyscrapers, both in historical styles such as Neoclassical and Art Deco and in their varied contemporary expressions. The first building to bring the world's tallest title to New York was the New York World Building, in 1890. Later, New York City was home to the world's tallest building for 75 continuous years, starting with the Park Row Building in 1899.
The following list showcases 30 iconic modern and contemporary buildings that will provide a good starting point for your first visit to New York City, including 10 must-see landmarks and 20 contemporary attractions from renowned architects such as Foster + Partners, BIG, Heatherwick Studio, David Chipperfield, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Santiago Calatrava and Herzon & de Meuron.
Must-See Iconic Buildings
Seagram Building / Mies van der Rohe

Chrysler Building / William Van Alen

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum / Frank Lloyd Wright

TWA Terminal / Eero Saarinen

Empire State Building / Shreve, Lamb and Harmon

Flatiron Building / Daniel Burnham

New Art Museum / SANAA

550 Madison Avenue (formerly AT&T Building) / Philip Johnson and John Burgee

New York City High Line / James Corner Field Operations, Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Apple Store Fifth Avenue / Foster + Partners

New Attractions
One World Trade Center / Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

World Trade Center Transportation Hub / Santiago Calatrava

3 World Trade Center / Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners

The Shed, a Center for the Arts / Diller Scofidio + Renfro

10, 30, 55 Hudson Yards / KPF

MoMA Expansion / Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Little Island Park / Heatherwick Studio + MNLA

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt / KPF

Vessel Public Landmark / Heatherwick Studio

111 West 57th Street / SHoP Architects

The Whitney Museum of American Art at Gansevoort / Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Cooper Robertson

Moynihan Train Hall / Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

56 Leonard Street / Herzog & de Meuron

VIΛ 57 West / BIG

Hunters Point Library / Steven Holl Architects

520 West 28th / Zaha Hadid Architects

The Smile Residential Building / BIG

Jewelbox Housing the Restored Jane's Carousel / Jean Nouvel

Spring Street Salt Shed / Dattner Architects

The Bryant Tower / David Chipperfield Architects

You can visit our list of City Guides here.