Famous Clocks Around the World: 15 Timepieces Worth Traveling For

Clocks are not just timekeeping devices. They are monuments to human ingenuity, symbols of civic pride, and some of the most recognizable landmarks on Earth. From medieval astronomical marvels to modern atomic-precision installations, here are 15 famous clocks worth visiting.

Big Ben (London, UK)

Officially named the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster, Big Ben is probably the most famous clock in the world. Completed in 1859, the clock tower (renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012) stands 96 meters tall. The clock mechanism weighs 5 tons, and the Great Bell (Big Ben itself) weighs 13.7 tons and produces the iconic E-natural chime. The clock is famously reliable despite surviving German bombing raids during the Blitz. During World War II, the clock faces were dimmed but the bell continued to chime, becoming a symbol of British resilience. The accuracy of the clock is adjusted by adding or removing pre-decimal pennies on the pendulum, each penny changing the clock's rate by 0.4 seconds per day.

Prague Astronomical Clock (Prague, Czech Republic)

Installed in 1410, the Prague Astronomical Clock (Prazsky orloj) is the oldest astronomical clock still in operation. Mounted on the southern wall of the Old Town Hall, it is a mechanical marvel of medieval engineering. The clock displays Babylonian time, Old Bohemian time, German time (modern CET), the positions of the Sun and Moon, the zodiac, and a calendar dial. Every hour, a procession of the Twelve Apostles appears in two windows above the clock face, accompanied by figures representing Vanity, Greed, Death, and Lust. Legend holds that the clockmaker, Master Hanus, was blinded by Prague councilors to prevent him from building a similar clock for another city. In retaliation, Hanus supposedly damaged the clock mechanism so severely that it took a century to repair.

The World Clock (Berlin, Germany)

The Weltzeituhr (World Clock) at Alexanderplatz in Berlin was unveiled in 1969 during the GDR era. It is a 10-meter-high rotating cylinder that displays the current time in 148 cities worldwide. The names of the cities are engraved on aluminum plates that rotate, with the current time displayed above each name. The World Clock became a popular meeting point for East Berliners, and after the fall of the Berlin Wall, it was restored and remains one of the city's most visited landmarks. The clock was constructed from scrap materials from the demolition of the Berliner Stadtschloss (Berlin City Palace), giving it a symbolic layer of meaning: time built from the ruins of history.

The Cosmo Clock 21 (Yokohama, Japan)

The Cosmo Clock 21 in Yokohama, Japan, is the world's largest Ferris wheel clock. Standing 112.5 meters tall, the clock face on the hub of the Ferris wheel reaches 100 meters in diameter and is clearly visible across Tokyo Bay. The giant digital display shows the time and lights up in spectacular patterns at night. The clock was originally built for the 1989 Yokohama Exposition and, when constructed, was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world (a title it held until 1992).

The Doomsday Clock (Chicago, USA)

Not a traditional clock, but perhaps the most significant timepiece of the 20th and 21st centuries. Maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists at the University of Chicago since 1947, the Doomsday Clock represents how close humanity is to global catastrophe (midnight). The clock was set at 7 minutes to midnight when created, reflecting the threat of nuclear war. As of 2026, it stands at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been, reflecting the combined threats of nuclear weapons, climate change, and disruptive technologies. It is not a real clock you can see ticking, but it is arguably the most important metaphorical clock in human history.