In a nutshell
- New York now has 6 major observation decks — each with its own character and vantage point over the city. This guide covers all of them.
- We’ve personally visited five of the six platforms, introduce each one in detail, compare them, and share our honest experiences.
- Our top pick is the New York Edge — but you really can’t go wrong with Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building either.
- We also cover free alternatives — including rooftop bars and the best spots to see the NYC skyline from Brooklyn, New Jersey, and the water.
New York Observation Decks at a Glance
There are now six well-known observation decks in New York, each with its own unique character.
We’ve personally visited five of the six NYC observation decks. The brand-new One Times Square Deck is the only one we haven’t made it to yet — but we’ll get there! Before we dive into all six in detail, here’s a quick overview:
| Edge | Empire State Building | One World Observatory | SUMMIT One | Top of the Rock | One Times Square | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost (GA) | 39-79€ | 42-51€ | 37-46€ | 41-46€ | 33-59€ | 24€ |
| Height | 345 meters | 320 meters (86th floor) 381 meters (102nd floor) | 386 meters | 335 meters | 260 meters | 110 meters |
| Location | Hudson Yards | Fifth Avenue | Financial District | One Vanderbilt | Rockefeller Center | Times Square |
| Get Tickets | Get Tickets | Get Tickets | Get Tickets | Get Tickets | Get Tickets | |
| Our Experience | Our Experience | Our Experience | Our Experience | Our Experience | ||
| Explorer Pass | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| All Inclusive Pass | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Sightseeing Flex Pass | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
New York Observation Decks on the Map
For better orientation, we’ve marked all six observation decks in New York on a map. You can also see the Hudson River, the East River, and Central Park.
You’ll notice: aside from the One World Observatory, all the platforms are located in Midtown Manhattan.
Edge New York
What do you need to know? New York Edge is located in the Hudson Yards neighborhood in Manhattan. The platform sits on the 100th floor at an elevation of 1,132 feet — making it the third-highest vantage point in the city. The highlight here isn’t just the sweeping panorama; it’s also the glass floor section where you look straight down onto the streets of New York.
Who is it worth it for? First-time visitors to New York, families with kids, adrenaline junkies, photographers, and architecture enthusiasts
Our experience: Edge is our favorite observation deck in New York — hands down. It combines everything we love: sleek modern design, incredible views of the city and the Empire State Building, and a genuine thrill. The value for money is great too.
Buy Edge tickets on GetYourGuide
Also read our full review:
Empire State Building
What do you need to know? The Empire State Building is an icon. It stands on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and has two observation decks — one on the 86th floor at 1,050 feet and one on the 102nd floor at 1,250 feet. Inside, you’ll also find a cool exhibition, and of course the famous light show after dark.
Who is it worth it for? First-time visitors, families with kids, history and architecture enthusiasts, film and pop culture fans, and anyone who loves New York’s Golden Age.
Our experience: The Empire State Building’s legendary status alone makes it one of the most important must-sees in New York. We’re so glad we went up. The open-air observation deck and the exhibition inside were both genuinely impressive. Sure, it feels a little old-fashioned — but that’s exactly what gives it its charm.
Buy Empire State Building tickets on GetYourGuide
Also read our full review:
One World Observatory
What do you need to know? At 1,776 feet, One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. The observation deck sits at 1,268 feet — you simply can’t go any higher in New York City. That said, the Observatory is fully indoors, so you won’t be stepping outside. To make up for it, there are some really cool interactive experiences alongside the views.
Who is it worth it for? First-time visitors, families with kids, fans of high-tech experiences, anyone also planning to visit the 9/11 Museum & Memorial, and anyone looking for a great indoor activity on a rainy day
Our experience: At One World Observatory, it was above all the incredible height and the breathtakingly wide vista that blew us away. The See Forever Theater — with its film about the construction of the building — was pretty cool too. The one downside: there’s no outdoor area.
Buy One World Observatory tickets on GetYourGuide
Also read our full review:
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
What do you need to know? You’ll find the SUMMIT One observation deck in the One Vanderbilt skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan. At around 1,100 feet, you get a 360-degree view over New York — both indoors and outdoors. There are also two striking art installations and glass balconies that are perfect for photos.
Who is it worth it for? First-time visitors, art lovers and design enthusiasts, photographers, and even seasoned New York visitors looking for a fresh perspective on the city
Our experience: We had an absolute blast at SUMMIT One. The variety of photo spots is seriously amazing! That said, it does get really crowded up there. Your best bet is to time your visit for when fewer people are around — for example, about an hour before sunset.
Buy SUMMIT One tickets on GetYourGuide
Also read our full review:
Top of the Rock New York
What do you need to know? Top of the Rock is the observation deck of the famous Rockefeller Center. It spans three levels reaching up to 850 feet and is also the most affordable platform in New York — and the one with the best view of the Empire State Building.
Who is it worth it for? First-time visitors, families with kids, film and TV fans, and anyone who wants the perfect shot of the Empire State Building
Our experience: Top of the Rock is a tourist magnet — and for good reason. The three levels are really cool and offer a great variety of photo spots. What we love most is that you’re combining a visit to an observation deck with a visit to one of New York’s most iconic buildings.
Buy Top of the Rock tickets on GetYourGuide
Also read our full review:
One Times Square
What do you need to know? One Times Square is the world-famous building right in the heart of Times Square — the one that takes center stage every New Year’s Eve during the Ball Drop. After an extensive renovation, a new visitor center has opened here, featuring an observation deck, a museum, and interactive experiences. The deck offers a 360-degree view directly above Times Square and its glowing billboards.
Who is it worth it for? Anyone who wants to truly experience Times Square from above, photographers, families, and visitors looking for a central and unique vantage point over one of New York’s most iconic spots — and of course, anyone who has already ticked off the other decks in New York.
Buy One Times Square tickets on the official website
The Vessel New York
The Vessel is a massive, climbable sculpture in the Hudson Yards neighborhood of New York City, right next to the New York Edge.
It looks like an oversized honeycomb, made up of 154 staircases that spiral upward with nearly 2,500 steps in total and plenty of platforms where you can stop and soak in the views.
From the top, you can see the Hudson River, the skyscrapers of Manhattan, and the buzz of the neighborhood below.
Admission isn’t free, though. You’ll pay $10 per person, and you can buy your ticket online.
Helicopter Tour Over New York
Seeing New York from the air is something truly special — and honestly, once you’ve done it, you’ll want more. After visiting all the observation decks, the only logical next step for us was a helicopter ride. And wow, it delivered.
Flying over New York by helicopter tops every observation deck and is an experience you won’t forget.
Sound like your kind of thing? Check out our detailed review of the best helicopter tours over New York City:
Helicopter Tour New York: Top Operators and Our Experiences
Rooftop Bars in New York
Great views of the NYC skyline aren’t just found at the classic observation decks — the city’s rooftop bars deliver some seriously impressive panoramas too. And there’s no shortage of those in New York.
Many hotels in New York have their own rooftop bars for guests, which are sometimes open to the public as well.
We stopped for a drink at the rooftop bar of the 50 Bowery Hotel in the Bowery neighborhood, right on the border with Chinatown. The views were phenomenal, the vibe was really great, and there’s no dress code.
50 Bowery Hotel with Rooftop Bar on Google Maps
More Great Rooftop Bars in New York City
- The Heights at the Arlo Nomad Hotel
- Top of the Strand on the 21st floor of the Marriott Vacation Club Pulse
- Refinery Rooftop at the Refinery Hotel
- 230 Fifth Rooftop Lounge
- Brass Monkey
- Salon de Ning at the Peninsula Hotel
Also read our other tips for free activities in New York:
Views of the New York Skyline
Some of the best views of New York don’t come from above at all. Make a point of seeing the Manhattan skyline from the water or from the opposite shore — it’s a completely different experience.
There are several ways to do this, and we’ll give you a quick rundown in this section.
View of Manhattan from Brooklyn
One of the most beautiful vantage points for looking at Manhattan is in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The viewpoint is very close to the Brooklyn Bridge, so you can easily combine both in one outing.
Viewpoint and photo spot at Brooklyn Bridge Park on Google Maps
Especially at sunset, the view of the southern tip of Manhattan is simply breathtaking. There are plenty of great spots along the East River, so it’s well worth going on a little exploring session.
We’ve written up everything else worth discovering in Brooklyn here:
Brooklyn: Attractions and Our Best Tips
View of Manhattan from New Jersey
Almost as stunning as the view from Brooklyn is the view from the other direction. New Jersey sits on the opposite bank of the Hudson River and is especially worth the trip for early risers.
Since you’re looking east toward Manhattan from Jersey, the sun rises directly behind the skyline — making for some seriously dramatic photos.
View of Manhattan from the Ferry
For us, seeing the Manhattan skyline from the water is simply part of a perfect New York visit. There are plenty of ferries connecting Manhattan to the other boroughs, each offering its own scenic perspective.
Staten Island Ferry
Our favorite is the view from the Staten Island Ferry. The ferry is free, as it primarily serves commuters traveling between Staten Island and Manhattan.
During peak hours — between 6:00 and 9:30 AM and between 3:30 and 8:00 PM — the ferry runs every 15 to 20 minutes.
Outside of those times and on weekends, it runs every 30 minutes. The ride takes about 25 minutes. You board at Whitehall Terminal at the southern tip of Manhattan.
We recommend taking the ferry outside of rush hour, as it can get really crowded during peak times.
All passengers must disembark in Staten Island — unfortunately, you can’t stay on for the return trip.
Circle Line Cruises
The Circle Line boat tours are absolutely worth doing. These are classic sightseeing boats that circle Manhattan and loop around the Statue of Liberty.
There are several routes available. Our favorites are the two-hour classic boat tour with live commentary and the Harbor Lights cruise.
Check out all six top boat tours in New York here
The boat tours are also included with most New York passes. Find out which pass might be worth it for you in our article New York Pass Comparison.
Our Verdict: Which New York Observation Deck Is Worth It?
That was a lot to take in — so here’s our honest summary of what we genuinely recommend and what isn’t an absolute must:
- New York Edge: Our absolute favorite observation deck in New York!
- Empire State Building: A total must-see — if only because the building itself is an icon
- One World Observatory: Great if you want to reach the top of the tallest building in NYC
- SUMMIT One: The most modern deck and hugely popular on social media — though we found it too crowded
- Top of the Rock: Just like the Empire State Building, it’s an icon — and a must for us
- The Vessel: Nice enough, but not that high up, and at $10 comparatively pricey
- Helicopter tour: Absolutely mind-blowing, but definitely not a budget option
- Rooftop bars: A really cool alternative to the typical observation decks
- Skyline views: The overlook from Brooklyn is an absolute highlight. New Jersey is more of a photographer’s thing
- Boat tour: The Staten Island Ferry is worth it for the simple reason that it’s free. Other boat tours make a great add-on
- One Times Square: Still on our list to check out ourselves
