Imaging methods have become indispensable for the diagnosis and follow-up of giant cell arteritis and Takayasu's arterititis, in addition to physical examination and laboratory parameters. The choice of method is predominantly determined by clinical presentation and localization of the vascular territory to be examined. Furthermore, aspects of radiation protection, contrast media intolerance and other contraindications, as well as the varying costs of the different procedures need to be considered. This article reviews the clinical and morphological features of primary large vessel vasculitides which are fundamental to the identification of the disease and the assessment of inflammatory activity using imaging modalities. Angiography is the gold standard for the evaluation of stenotic lesions and can be combined with interventional treatment. Vessel wall thickening as a defining diagnostic criterion is outlined only by cross-sectional imaging. In addition to MR angiography, MRI techniques in particular enable vizualization of inflammatory processes in central as well as in peripheral arteries.