LAKHTA CENTRE, ST PETERSBURG, 462 metres: Completed in 2019, this is Europe’s tallest building and the world’s most northern skyscraper. A mixed use structure, it will become the HQ of energy giant Gazprom. Objections that it would overshadow St Petersburg's historic centre saw it moved far outside the city to the coastal Lakhda district, overlooking the Baltic sea. It was originally designed by Edinburgh-based RMJM, which also worked on Dubai's DIFC and Abu Dhabi's leaning Capital Gate tower. AFP
SKYLAND RESIDENTIAL AND OFFICE TOWERS, ISTANBUL, both 284 metres: The twin towers take our joint ninth place. Completed in 2017, they are the tallest in Istanbul, which now has the second highest number of buildings over 150m after Moscow. The mixed- use complex features a hotel and conference centre, while the residential tower features over 800 residences. Nicole Tung / Bloomberg
CAPITAL CITY MOSCOW TOWER, MOSCOW, 301 metres: Moscow dominates much of our list. Capital City Moscow Tower is part of the 'City of Capitals', a high-rise complex in the Russian capital's business district. Moscow Tower was the tallest building in Europe on completion in 2009 and sits next to the 256 metre St Petersburg Tower. Andrey Rudakov / Bloomberg
EURASIA TOWER, MOSCOW, 308 metres: The seventh tallest building in Europe ranks just 141st in the world. Completed in 2014, Eurasia Tower includes 20 luxury apartments, a hotel, shops and is part of cluster of high rise buildings that includes the Federation Tower and OKO complex. Alamy
THE SHARD, LONDON, 309 metres: Rising on the south bank of the Thames, Renzo Piano’s distinctive design has as many detractors as admirers for its impact on the London skyline. Opened in 2012, The Shard has featured in Spider-Man: Far From Home and an episode of Dr Who. To give a sense of scale, it is 11 metres shorter than Dubai's 320 metre Burj Al Arab. Tolga Akmen / AFP)
MERCURY CITY, MOSCOW, 338 metres: Once Europe’s tallest building when it was finished in 2013. Clad in copper coloured reflective glass, it was designed to collect melting snow for water use as an environmental measure. Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg
NEVA TOWERS, MOSCOW, 345 metreds: Still only partly completed, the complex of two skyscrapers will eventually include the shorter Tower 1, at 302 metres when finished, making it Europe’s eighth tallest building. The site was originally intended for the Russia Tower, a Norman Foster design that would have been 612 metres, but which was cancelled after the 2008 financial crisis. AFP
OKO RESIDENTIAL TOWER, MOSCOW, 354 metres: Short for Ob"yedinonnyye Kristallom Osnovaniya, the abbreviation is also the Russian for “eye”. Part of a complex that includes the 254 metre South Tower. The North Tower, completed in 2015, has a rooftop skating rink that is Europe’s highest. Alamy
FEDERATION TOWER, MOSCOW, 373 metres: People slide along a zipline over the Moskva river in front of Moscow's financial district, with Federation Tower in the centre. Construction began in 2005, but the financial downturn meant it was not completed until 2017. The original design included a spire that would have taken the height to 450 metres, but this was dismantled before completion. AFP
LAKHTA CENTRE, ST PETERSBURG, 462 metres: Completed in 2019, this is Europe’s tallest building and the world’s most northern skyscraper. A mixed use structure, it will become the HQ of energy giant Gazprom. Objections that it would overshadow St Petersburg's historic centre saw it moved far outside the city to the coastal Lakhda district, overlooking the Baltic sea. It was originally designed by Edinburgh-based RMJM, which also worked on Dubai's DIFC and Abu Dhabi's leaning Capital Gate tower. AFP
SKYLAND RESIDENTIAL AND OFFICE TOWERS, ISTANBUL, both 284 metres: The twin towers take our joint ninth place. Completed in 2017, they are the tallest in Istanbul, which now has the second highest number of buildings over 150m after Moscow. The mixed- use complex features a hotel and conference centre, while the residential tower features over 800 residences. Nicole Tung / Bloomberg
CAPITAL CITY MOSCOW TOWER, MOSCOW, 301 metres: Moscow dominates much of our list. Capital City Moscow Tower is part of the 'City of Capitals', a high-rise complex in the Russian capital's business district. Moscow Tower was the tallest building in Europe on completion in 2009 and sits next to the 256 metre St Petersburg Tower. Andrey Rudakov / Bloomberg
EURASIA TOWER, MOSCOW, 308 metres: The seventh tallest building in Europe ranks just 141st in the world. Completed in 2014, Eurasia Tower includes 20 luxury apartments, a hotel, shops and is part of cluster of high rise buildings that includes the Federation Tower and OKO complex. Alamy
THE SHARD, LONDON, 309 metres: Rising on the south bank of the Thames, Renzo Piano’s distinctive design has as many detractors as admirers for its impact on the London skyline. Opened in 2012, The Shard has featured in Spider-Man: Far From Home and an episode of Dr Who. To give a sense of scale, it is 11 metres shorter than Dubai's 320 metre Burj Al Arab. Tolga Akmen / AFP)
MERCURY CITY, MOSCOW, 338 metres: Once Europe’s tallest building when it was finished in 2013. Clad in copper coloured reflective glass, it was designed to collect melting snow for water use as an environmental measure. Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg
NEVA TOWERS, MOSCOW, 345 metreds: Still only partly completed, the complex of two skyscrapers will eventually include the shorter Tower 1, at 302 metres when finished, making it Europe’s eighth tallest building. The site was originally intended for the Russia Tower, a Norman Foster design that would have been 612 metres, but which was cancelled after the 2008 financial crisis. AFP
OKO RESIDENTIAL TOWER, MOSCOW, 354 metres: Short for Ob"yedinonnyye Kristallom Osnovaniya, the abbreviation is also the Russian for “eye”. Part of a complex that includes the 254 metre South Tower. The North Tower, completed in 2015, has a rooftop skating rink that is Europe’s highest. Alamy
FEDERATION TOWER, MOSCOW, 373 metres: People slide along a zipline over the Moskva river in front of Moscow's financial district, with Federation Tower in the centre. Construction began in 2005, but the financial downturn meant it was not completed until 2017. The original design included a spire that would have taken the height to 450 metres, but this was dismantled before completion. AFP
LAKHTA CENTRE, ST PETERSBURG, 462 metres: Completed in 2019, this is Europe’s tallest building and the world’s most northern skyscraper. A mixed use structure, it will become the HQ of energy giant Gazprom. Objections that it would overshadow St Petersburg's historic centre saw it moved far outside the city to the coastal Lakhda district, overlooking the Baltic sea. It was originally designed by Edinburgh-based RMJM, which also worked on Dubai's DIFC and Abu Dhabi's leaning Capital Gate tower. AFP