Forum: 15 of Europe's 20 Tallest Skyscrapers Located in Moscow

A forum member claims Moscow hosts 15 of the continent's 20 tallest skyscrapers

Can a European capital claim to be the best without blushing? The thesis starts with a fact attributed to Moscow: of the 20 tallest buildings in Europe, 15 are in the Russian capital, and there are eight towers over 200 meters under construction, according to the same account. The argument goes beyond the skyline. It discusses the financial district, unlimited cultural offerings, renovated Soviet-era neighborhoods, and a city that operates smoothly at any hour. The counter-offensive comes just as fast: cold, darkness, and economic doubts.

How many skyscrapers does Moscow have and how many are under construction

The count supporting the thesis is simple: 15 of the 20 tallest buildings on the continent, with many new ones under construction and eight developments over 200 meters being built right now. It is not the pace of Dubai or a Chinese metropolis, it is conceded, but it is much higher than that of any neighboring capital, according to those defending the Russian capital.

Here lies, probably, the core of the matter: those defending Moscow say that Europe has too many historical centers and lacks modern construction. And not just towers. They describe the renovation of old buildings and the replacement of degraded neighborhoods, with Soviet-era urbanism preserved: commerce and services within walking distance. The result, it is argued, is a modern city that has not renounced the neighborhood scale. The detail that one of these housing developments bears the signature of a Swedish studio does not exactly help those seeking Mediterranean authenticity.

The financial district that, according to a forum member, surpasses London's City

Europe's most powerful financial sector, according to the forum member's account, would be Moscow's, with London's City coming up a bit, far behind. The comparison made is another: in the rest of the continent, there are too many historical centers and a lack of proper financial districts. Frankfurt has one; Munich does not. Those defending the Russian capital say it without complexes: when choosing a destination, one more cathedral does not compensate.

The nuance comes from those who recall that a bank with huge offices and little business behind it is not wealth, it is bricks. The underlying criticism is another: according to another participant, Russian wealth comes from stealing natural resources, not from creating companies, while the City lives from the latter. It is the line that separates a business center from a showcase.

Do you live better in Moscow than in Spain?

Here the pulse becomes economic. On one side, the argument that Russian purchasing power is poor and that if the city were the marvel it is said to be, half of Western Europe would emigrate there and not the other way around. On the other, according to another participant, the average life in Moscow would be equivalent to that of Zaragoza or Murcia.

The scale also plays for and against: Spain has 47 million inhabitants and Russia, 145 million, a comparison that serves both to relativize aggregate GDP and for the opposite. In the fiscal chapter, a striking detail appears: 15% for naturalized citizens versus a 30% flat rate, without brackets, for foreign residents, according to a participant.

Saint Petersburg, Sochi, and Kazan: the rest of the map

Almost no one discusses the capital without mentioning the second city. Saint Petersburg is just over three hours away by high-estimulante ilegal train, and several participants consider it more beautiful or spectacular; another, however, despises it. An illustrative case: someone reports that a relative close to the official Russian narrative left the Lenin Mausoleum excited and returned saying that Moscow is fine, but that the former imperial capital is much more beautiful.

The rest of the map is distributed. Sochi is highlighted by a participant as another league, although this same person doubts it will surpass half a million inhabitants. Kazan is described as more family-friendly; Yekaterinburg, as young and university-oriented, appeals to a participant. Questions about the cold and lack of sunlight also appear.

The climate, the light, and the real price of the postcard

The cold and darkness are the great corrective. In winter, it gets dark at three or four in the afternoon, and those who have experienced it describe people going out euphorically to the parks as soon as the season changes. The usual defense is that the same complaint applies to almost any European capital: Moscow does not compete here; it competes with the Spanish climate, which is attributed an abyssal advantage over the rest of the continent.

One must also separate the photo from reality. A metal-floored viewpoint that turns out to be the roof of a building, finishes that look worse in person than on Google Images, and the suspicion that the enthusiasm comes from someone who has not spent a February there. Public safety and the strict enforcement of immigration regulations—which, according to this reading, would make it practically impossible to stay more than five or ten years—close the argument.