Angiogenesis, the process of blood vessel formation, constitutes a critical step during embryonic development, cancer progression and metastasis formation. It also constitutes a key target for anticancer therapies. Over the past 20 years different in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models have been used to understand the fundamental mechanisms of angiogenesis and to test new anti-angiogenic therapies. Here, we review the most important models and discuss their utility in basic and translational research.