New York Observation Decks: Which Views Are Worth It

The last few years have brought a wave of new observation decks in New York, setting off a competition between them that has made them a lot more fun.

They stopped being just platforms for looking at the Manhattan skyline and turned into amusement parks in the sky.

To try to win the race, every observation deck in New York started offering inventive immersive experiences to draw us in.

So which is the best observation deck in New York? The truth is it depends on what you want to do and how much you plan to spend.

To help you decide, here is everything you need to know to visit the 5 best observation decks in New York.

Quick guide to New York's observation decks

1️⃣ Summit One Vanderbilt: the most modern observation deck in New York.

2️⃣ Edge at Hudson Yards: the highest open-air platform in Manhattan.

3️⃣ One World Observatory: the observation deck in New York's tallest building.

4️⃣ Top of the Rock: the classic New York observation deck, at Rockefeller Center.

5️⃣ Empire State Building: the observatory that is a New York icon.

Which is the best observation deck in New York?

New York is one of the cities in the world with the most observation platforms perched atop the famous skyscrapers of Manhattan.

Taking in the city's skyline from one of the 5 observation decks in New York is one of the can't-miss things to do in NYC. Each deck offers a different experience and a different angle on the city, and I hope you get to visit them all.

That said, going up the observation decks in New York takes time, because these are heavily visited Manhattan attractions where lines are the norm.

Tickets to New York's observation decks are also expensive. I have been visiting them little by little, one per trip, and then I go back for repeats 😉.

So it is common to have to pick just one. Keep reading to see which one appeals to you most (click on each observatory for all the information and recommendations for your visit):

1. Summit: the One Vanderbilt observation deck

I'll start this list with the newest observation platform in New York: Summit at One Vanderbilt. It is the deck everyone is talking about, so you have probably seen a photo on your feed of someone you know reflected infinitely in its mirrors.

This deck sits on the top floors of One Vanderbilt, the fourth tallest building in New York, built right next to Grand Central Terminal.

Going up to Summit is a must! There is a reason it is the most visited new attraction in New York. Why? Because it sits in the heart of Manhattan, with panoramic views of the city from every angle.

It also has something no other deck offers: an immersive experience set in space. Read why you should go up to Summit.

2. Edge: the Hudson Yards observation deck

Edge is also a new New York observatory, opened in 2019. It is the deck at 30 Hudson Yards in Hudson Yards, one of New York's trendiest neighborhoods.

Its claim to fame is being the highest open-air observation deck in New York. From its wide terraces you will hear the city and feel the wind on your face.

This platform juts out 20 meters from the side of the building and has a section of clear glass floor for looking straight down. Vertigo!

Edge is just steps from The Vessel, the climbable monument of endless staircases that also serves up different views of Manhattan, the Hudson River and New Jersey.

Tickets to Edge are included in the New York Sightseeing Pass, the only tourist pass with access to four NYC observatories: Edge, the Empire State, Top of the Rock and One World.

If you take my advice and decide to see all of New York's observatories, it is a great idea to buy the Sightseeing Pass on the official site, since you will save a lot on tickets.

3. One World Observatory: the highest observation deck in New York

Another must-visit is the One World Trade Center observatory, the tallest building in New York, built where the Twin Towers once stood as a symbol of a city that does not back down.

It gives you an excellent perspective on Downtown Manhattan, though from behind thick windows, since the deck is fully enclosed.

One World Observatory is also one of the most visited observation decks in New York, so it is important to book your tickets well ahead. That locks in your entry time and saves you precious time waiting in line to buy them.

4. Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center (my pick!)

The Top of the Rock observatory is the deck at Rockefeller Center. It is a classic visit in one of the most quintessentially New York spots there is.

I'll admit it is my favorite and I always want to go back up. It sits in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, where New York's most important skyscrapers come together.

Plenty of people think it is the best place to see Manhattan (I'm one of them, ha). It is spacious and its terraces are open-air.

Best of all, you get the famous Empire State face to face, plus the new Summit deck at One Vanderbilt. You will also enjoy the view of enormous Central Park through the sky-high towers of Billionaires' Row.

Admission to Top of the Rock is included in the most popular discount tourist passes. Buying one is a smart move to save on ticket prices and fit in more observatories (the tickets are pretty pricey).

To pull in more visitors, Top of the Rock opened The Beam, a steel girder that rises 4 meters above the deck, recreating the experience of the workers in the famous 1932 photo.

Now you can recreate that moment with friends or family, safety harnesses included, for $25 each 💰.

5. Empire State Building

I've saved the Empire State for last. It is the classic New York observatory, the one with the most history, movies and pop culture references behind it. It is an art deco gem that will transport you to another era, and you should visit it too! (Remember that with the Sightseeing Pass you can get into every observation deck except Summit.)

It's smaller and less comfortable, but it's an icon and I recommend visiting it. It sits right in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, so you'll hear the sounds of the city and feel the sea breeze.

Admission to the Empire State observatory is included in the City Pass, the most affordable tourist pass and the only one that lets you go up the Empire State by day and by night for the same price.

Other observation points in New York

You can enjoy New York from above, but also from viewpoints outside Manhattan, which give you a complete perspective on one of the most famous skylines in the world.

The most popular spots to take in the Manhattan skyline are the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. But there are plenty of other wonderful viewpoints in New York that see far fewer visitors, and I'll tell you about them below:

1. Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Bridge Park, located beneath the famous Brooklyn Bridge, offers the best views of Manhattan.

At sunset, crowds gather on its granite steps to watch the city lights start to flicker on. Simply beautiful.

2. Brooklyn Heights

In Brooklyn Heights, the most elegant neighborhood in Brooklyn, you'll find the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

It's a long overlook from which you'll see the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty and the skyline of lower Manhattan in all their glory.

At sunset, plenty of people show up to watch the lights of Manhattan come on.

3. Governors Island

Governors Island is a small island south of Manhattan, and since 2021 you can visit it year-round (it used to open only in spring and summer).

It's a prime spot for photos of lower Manhattan.

4. Roosevelt Island

From Roosevelt Island, a neighborhood in the middle of the East River, you can see both Manhattan and Queens.

To get to Roosevelt Island, I recommend taking the Tram, the only aerial cable car in the city. You'll fly over buildings, highways and the East River itself, right alongside the Queensboro Bridge.

You'll get good views all along the island, but my recommendation is to walk to either end, where you'll find parks with spectacular Manhattan views: Four Freedoms Park to the south and Lighthouse Park to the north.

5. Gantry Plaza State Park: a Manhattan viewpoint in Queens

From Gantry Plaza State Park, a modern park in Queens stretching along the East River waterfront, you can take in Manhattan at your own pace, right under the vintage Pepsi-Cola sign.

6. New York viewpoints in New Jersey

There are several Manhattan viewpoints in New Jersey, across the Hudson River, that I recommend visiting.

Some are in Jersey City, just one stop away on the PATH train that connects NY with NJ. Others you can reach with a quick ferry ride, and there are several great places to look out at Manhattan along the Hoboken waterfront. In the post on New York viewpoints in New Jersey I go over all the details.

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So, which of New York's viewpoints are you going to choose? It's up to you, New York, New York…