15 Most Famous Domes In The World 2024

From the lovely African beehive huts to modern geodesic ones, domes are marvels of invention and beauty. A dome is an architectural element resembling a sphere’s upper, hollow half. The use of domes is considered a sign of tradition in any nation. From early Mesopotamia to Roman, Persian, and even Chinese architecture, you can find domes in every era. However, the most famous domes in the world today are an important part of religious sites and government buildings. This list of the most famous domes in the world includes domes with epic architecture, and those are of massive size and cultural significance. Read on.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

One of the modern world’s most famous domes sits at the apex of Abu Dhabi’s most iconic landmark, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It’s not just one of the world’s most beautiful mosques but also one of the world’s largest ones. In fact, the capacity is an astonishing 40,000 worshippers. Not just that, but the mosque features a jaw-dropping 82 domes in 7 different sizes. The height of the outer dome is 85 meters (279 feet). Moreover, Lahore’s Badshahi Mosque inspired the dome’s layout and floor plan.

The rest of the mosque is equally inspiring, with its minarets classically Arab and its archways quintessentially Moorish. The mosque also has more than 1,000 columns, 24-carat gold gilded chandeliers, and the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet. Built between 1996 and 2007, Greek and Italian white marble covers the exterior, while you can see Islamic calligraphy on the inside.

Hungarian Parliament, Budapest

The Hungarian Parliament stretches 268 meters (879 ft) in its length along the Danube embankment on the Pest side of the city. Ornamented with white neo-gothic turrets and arches, it forms the most outstanding landmark in Budapest and is one of Budapest’s top things to do. The unique interior design includes huge halls, over 20 km (12.5 mi) of corridors, and a 96-meter-high (315 ft) central dome. The dome’s height,x built in Renaissance Revival style, symbolizes the year 896 – the settlement of Hungary. Interestingly, a red star sat atop the dome during the People’s Republic of Hungary era. It was removed in 1990 after the fall of communism.

Putra Mosque, Malaysia

The Putra Mosque is the principal mosque of Putrajaya in Malaysia. Construction of the mosque began in 1997 and was completed two years later. The pink-domed Putra Mosque is constructed with rose-tinted granite and can accommodate 15,000 worshippers at any one time.

What’s more, it has as many as 9 domes, with the height of the outer dome being 50 meters (160 ft). Hence, it’s one of the world’s most famous domes. However, what makes it special is that the dome also has a 116-meter-high (381 feet) minaret, making the mosque’s minaret the world’s third tallest. Furthermore, one of its most distinctive features is the fact that it’s patterned with white and pink granite tiles. The pink might seem a bit too much, but the stained-glass windows contrast nicely with the color variances.

The basement wall of the mosque resembles that of the King Hassan Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco.

Gur-e Amir Mausoleum, Samarkand

One of the most significant architectural ensembles of the medieval East, the Gur-e Amir Mausoleum, has sat in the southwestern part of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, since the beginning of the 15th century. The mausoleum is the final resting place for the conqueror Timur (Tamerlane), who’s buried along with his sons, grandsons, and even his teacher.

One of the most striking features of Gur-e Amir (Persian for “Tomb of the King”) is the gorgeous azure-blue fluted dome atop the mausoleum. The 12.5-meter-high (41 ft) dome features white spots and deep rosettes, with the heavily ribbed fluting giving the cupola a stunning appearance. In fact, the dome, the minarets, and the main portal were refurbished in the 1950s. The single-dome octagonal structure is also the perfect example of Central Asian architecture during the Timurid times.

Shah Mosque, Isfahan

Isfahan in Iran has many fantastic things to see and do, but none is as jaw-dropping as the Shah Mosque (or the New Abbasi Mosque or Royal Mosque). It’s regarded as one of Persian architecture’s masterpieces. In fact, the dome of the Shah Mosque is the tallest in Isfahan, reaching an outer height of 53 meters (74 ft). The mosque was the crown jewel of the grand program of making Isfahan the capital of the Persian empire at the turn of the 16th century. It has 3 domes, of which the largest dome has interesting reflective and acoustic properties at the central point beneath it.

Since the entire mosque features a full palette of seven colors of blue, the dome is much the same. So much so that similar blue domes began popping up all over the city, appearing like glittering turquoise gems reflected in the light of the sun. In fact, travelers heading on the Great Silk Road could see them from miles away! Unsurprisingly, it’s one of the most famous domes of all time.

Reichstag, Berlin

The Reichstag is a fitting example of Berlin’s weird mix of the old and new. The original building was constructed in 1884 and fell into disrepair during the Second World War. Later, restoration happened after reunification, with the ethereal and strikingly modern glass dome added to it, designed by Sir Norman Foster.

The massive glass dome offers 360-degree views of the surrounding cityscape and is open to the public. You can reach the top by climbing two steel spiraling ramps that’ll remind you of a double helix. Finally, a central mirrored cone in the dome directs sunlight into the structure, allowing you to see the workings of the chamber. The best bit? The glass dome is energy efficient and environmentally friendly. This futuristic, transparent design was Germany’s effort to move away from the shadow of Nazism and move towards a democratic future. To date, it’s one of the world’s most impressive parliament buildings.

St. Paul’s Cathedral, London

St Paul’s is an architectural masterpiece, and its dome is a landmark of the London skyline. This structure has housed a cathedral since 604 AD. The present cathedral was built between 1675-1710 after the Great Fire of London destroyed its predecessor in 1666. Its dome, which is surrounded by the spires of Wren’s City churches, stands at 85 meters (278 ft), making it London’s tallest building between 1710 and 1963. In fact, the dome is still one of the finest and highest in the world and one of the most famous domes ever.

But what makes it special is that it’s a double-shelled dome, separating the heights of the inner and outer domes. So, you’ll find that the inner dome stands at 69 meters (225 feet). Moreover, a brick cone sits between them, supporting both the outer dome’s timbers and the weight of the ornate stone lantern rising above it. The architect Sir Christopher Wren drew inspiration from Michelangelo’s St Peter’s Basilica dome.

St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome

St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is not just one of the top things to do in Rome but also an amazing feat of architecture and art and one of the city’s most beautiful buildings. It is the world’s largest Basilica of Christianity, nested into the heart of the Vatican city. The indigenous St Peter’s Basilica was constructed by the will of Emperor Constantine around 320 AD. For about a thousand years, the Basilica grew and thrived, but it was also the theater of pillage in the barbarian hordes. The cornerstone for this sanctified structure was laid on April 18, 1506.

With an outer diameter of 42 meters (138 ft) and a height of 136 meters (447 ft), the dome here is one of the world’s largest. In fact, its height made it among the Old World’s tallest buildings, and it’s still the world’s tallest dome. Furthermore, it has greatly influenced church architecture in Western Christianity.

If you’re visiting the city, this St. Peter’s Basilica Tour with Dome Climb is perfect for you.

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), Florence

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is not only Florence’s religious center but also the city’s most recognizable attraction and is home to the world’s largest masonry dome. Occupying the Piazza del Duomo in the heart of the city, this massive Gothic cathedral was built in the late Roman times between the 4th and 5th century A.D.

Filippo Brunelleschi designed and built the magnificent dome, which is one of the world’s most famous domes. Meanwhile, the great artist Giotto partly designed the campanile during the 14th century on the former site of the Roman church Santa Reparate.

The dome remains the largest brick dome to date and is the world’s first octagonal dome and rises to 114.5 meters (375.7 ft) high, along with the lantern design that makes it so distinctive. Interestingly, the dome did not appear on the structure until the 15th century, after which it became the characteristic of the Renaissance dome.

Great Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh

In the state of Madhya Pradesh, Sanchi is India’s most important Buddhist sanctuary and complex. The site comprises palaces, temples, monolithic pillars, and monasteries. Of them all, the Great Stupa is the most popular monument at Sanchi. It is also the oldest stone structure in India, and the great Mauryan emperor Ashoka commissioned it in the 3rd century B.C.E.

In fact, UNESCO also recognized it as a World Heritage Site in 1989. The large hemispherical dome, actually known as the “chhatra,” contains the relics of Lord Buddha in the center chamber. It rises to 16.46 meters (54 ft). It sits on a high circular drum accessible via steps and was originally meant for circumambulation.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

Built by Emperor Justinian in 537, the Hagia Sophia, now the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, is a former Greek Orthodox Church. It was the world’s greatest cathedral for more than nine centuries, becoming an imperial mosque when the Turks took the city in 1453. After that, it was converted into a museum in 1935, finally becoming a mosque again in 2020. It’s mostly the Hagia Sophia dome that makes the structure so world-famous. The structure is built using Roman brick and ashlar and is 33 meters (108 ft) in diameter.

But what makes it so distinctive is that it’s the world’s largest interior space and amongst the very first to have a full pendentive dome. The dome, which rises to 55.6 meters (182 ft), rests on a magnificent arcade of 40 arched windows. They reflect the light everywhere in the interior of the nave, making the dome look like it’s floating, making it one of the world’s most famous domes.

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Isfahan

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is one of the architectural masterpieces of Safavid Iranian architecture, standing on the eastern side of Naghsh-i Jahan Square in Isfahan, Iran. It is one of the smaller mosques in the area, designed to be used solely by the royal family. But, the dome of this majestic jeweled mosque is widely considered one of the world’s great masterpieces of Islamic architecture. Rising to 32 meters (105 ft), the dome’s exterior is richly covered in tiles. Interestingly, it doesn’t sit exactly behind the entrance space due to the presence of the pashnah, an L-shaped connecting vestibule between the entrance and the hall. It solves the problem of the mosque’s gateway not being in the direction of the qibla (direction towards the Kaaba of Mecca).

Taj Mahal, Agra

The Taj Mahal stands majestically on the banks of River Yamuna. This immense mausoleum of white marble is a symbol of love and romance. It reigns supreme as one of India’s most recognizable and iconic images and is one of the incredibly beautiful world heritage sites. Its delicate minarets, gracefully curved archways, and onion-shaped dome will make you wonder at its grandeur. The massive dome reaches a height of 44 meters (144 feet) and is a prime example of Islamic architecture. On the inside, the vaulted ceilings boast a gorgeous carved honeycomb pattern. Finally, four smaller, similar domes flank the bell-shaped dome at its four corners, making it one of the most famous domes in the world.

Dome Of The Rock, Jerusalem

Built in the seventh century, the Dome of the Rock is an impressive, iconic, gold-topped shrine. It sits on Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, is its most famous Islamic site, and is one of the top things to do in Jerusalem. The structure was initially completed in 691 CE at the order of Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik during the Second Fitna. It’s also the oldest surviving example of Islamic architecture, and its golden dome has long been praised for its breathtaking beauty. The dome’s interior has marble, faience, and mosaic decor, while the dome itself rises to a height of 20.48 meters (67.2 ft). Meanwhile, the dedicatory inscription in the Kufic script has the date that the dome is believed to have been first completed.

United States Capitol, Washington DC

The United States Capitol sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall and is one of the top things to do in Washington, DC. It’s among the nation’s most symbolically important and architecturally impressive buildings. It has housed the House of Representatives and Senate meeting chambers for two centuries. The dome of the Capitol building did not appear until the 1850s, and it took a total of 11 years to put the dome atop the building. The dome, which rises 88 meters (288 ft) high, is built from cast iron rather than stone. Moreover, it’s the second dome on the structure, having been commissioned and built in the 19th century. Besides the fact that the dome actually has an inner and outer dome, visiting it is highly restricted and is only offered to select Congress members and their guests.

Facts About The Most Famous Domes In The World:

The dome’s popularity is tied to its symbolism. It embodies the sky, which has played and still plays a powerful part in world mortuary and celestial traditions.
When it comes to the most famous domes in the world, none is more famous than the Pantheon, which was constructed by the pioneers of modern architecture, the Romans. They first fully realized a dome’s architectural potential, which culminated in the Pantheon. That said, they failed to discover a proper handling of the pendentive, the device that’s essential to placing a dome over a square compartment.