Ostankino Tower, Moscow

Ostankino Tower is currently the tallest free-standing structure in Europe and 11th tallest in the world. Standing 540.1 metres (1,772 ft) tall, Ostankino was designed by Nikolai Nikitin and was built to mark the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. Construction began on the tower in 1963 and was completed in 1967.

The tower has 3,544 stairs, an elevator that can take 13 people to the top of the tower in less than a minute, and weighs 55,000 tons. An average 0.2 million people visit the tower observatory each year.

A fire in 2000 almost caused the demise of the tower and resulted in its restaurant, the rotating and glass-walled Seventh Heaven, to remain permanently closed. In addition, three people died in the fire. A fire in 2007 resulted in less damage and no casualties.

Fearless visitors will enjoy the glass floor. What makes a trip to the tower worth the wait is being able to see Moscow in its entirety. It is also one of the favorite locations for base jumpers. The tower is breathtaking when viewed in the nighttime light.

Why You Should Visit:
You won't get any higher in Moscow unless you're in an airplane.

Tip:
Be prepared for airport-level security, including a check of your original passport(s).
Children are allowed starting 7 years and they also do need identity documents.
As with all tall structures, check the weather forecast first: bad weather means bad views.
For an even more interesting visit, take the technical tour (additional cost) where you can go inside the interior of the tower structure to see how it is constructed.