Presiding serenely over Dubai’s skyline, the Burj Khalifa has dominated the cityscape since its completion in 2010. Soaring 2,177 feet (828 meters) over Burj Lake—home to the Dubai Fountain—this supersized scraper is the world’s tallest structure and a favorite photo stop on Dubai guided tours. While its exterior is spectacular, its observatory views steal the show. Absorb the sweeping panoramas from Levels 124 and 125 or upgrade to visit Level 148, the world’s highest observatory.

The Burj Al-Arab hotel remains one of Dubai’s signature landmarks, despite its 1999 opening making it a relative antique in the city’s architectural arsenal. Rising 1,053 feet (321 meters) from a purpose-built island, this 5-star hotel is renowned for its palatial interiors and high-end eateries. Admire its spinnaker shape with a Dubai sightseeing pass; alternatively, lap up its extravagance over afternoon tea in its towering atrium or during dinner at one of its world-class restaurants.

If there was ever a building that pushed the boundaries, even for Dubai, the Museum of the Future is it. Overlooking the rushing Sheikh Zayed Road, this stunning, stainless-steel ovoid is carved with swooping Arabic calligraphics that are not only striking but form the windows of its shining facade. Inside, exhibitions envisage life, society, and technologies in 2071, immersing you in possibilities both thrilling and scary.

Another in the long list of Dubai architectural landmarks, the Dubai Frame more than warrants a visit. Standing like a giant picture frame in Zabeel Park near Bur Dubai, it boasts a glass Sky Bridge that links its two towers and offers sky-high views over old Dubai one way and new Dubai the other. Use the frame as a backdrop for your photos during a tour of Dubai’s highlights; or prebook entry to cross its bridge and explore its tower exhibitions independently.

Hidden amid the sea of modern architecture in Dubai, Jumeirah Mosque is often overlooked due to its traditional looks and suburban location near Jumeirah Beach. That said, the medieval-inspired design of this 1979-built mosque makes it one of Dubai’s most beautiful, with highlights including an intricate main dome, ornate minarets, and a calligraphy-adorned hall.

Rising imperiously from the outer ring of the Palm Jumeirah—Dubai’s artificial, palm-tree-shaped archipelago—Atlantis, The Palm is a staple of Dubai landmark tours. For good reason: Its peach-hued heft, spire-topped towers, and central Arabian archway lend it a Disney®-esque look which, combined with its Aquaventure Waterpark and ocean-themed Lost Chambers Aquarium, makes it a serious crowd pleaser.

Atlantis The Royal does everything on a grand scale. Its architecture is no exception: angular blocks stacked high on the Palm Jumeirah’s perimeter. One of the newest additions to the top architectural sites in Dubai, this postmodern colossus is only now appearing in Dubai tour itineraries. That said, guided excursions that visit the neighboring Atlantis, The Palm serve up views of the Royal as a matter of course. Better yet, book a yacht cruise to cast your eyes over it from the Persian Gulf.

You can’t scan the skyscraper forest around Dubai Marina without screeching to a visual halt at the Cayan Tower. Pivoting on its axis along its full 1,004-foot (306-meter) height, this is the world’s tallest twisting tower—a feat achieved by rotating each of its 75 stories in turn during construction. Stroll the Dubai Marina Walk to comprehend its full top-to-toe twist, or check it out on a high-speed boat tour.

Overlooked by many city tours and Dubai architecture guides, the O-14 Base is one of Dubai’s offbeat creations. Plum on the banks of the Dubai Water Canal—dhow and yacht cruises take you right past it—this 22-story commercial block is nicknamed the “Swiss Cheese” or “Cheese Building” for the 1,300 holes in its outer wall, a design feature that makes it stand out amid the surrounding geometric phalanx.