Summit One Vanderbilt Observation Deck New York

You've probably seen a friend's photo on social media, reflected infinitely in the mirrors at Summit, the new New York observatory that's much more than impressive panoramas. Keep reading and you'll see why going up to Summit is a must.

The One Vanderbilt observation deck competes with the other observatories in Manhattan with an immersive concept full of light, mirrors that endlessly reflect skyscrapers and visitors, art installations, glass elevators, music, coffee and cocktails on its open-air terrace. Sounds good, right?

It gets harder and harder to decide which of the New York observation decks to go up. If you can, go to all of them, each has its own charm and you'll see different angles of the city and its surroundings.

After visiting them all, my conclusion is that YOU HAVE TO GO UP TO SUMMIT, no question. It's one of the new attractions in New York everyone is talking about, and with good reason. Here's why.

Reasons to go up to Summit

Summit sits between the 91st and 93rd floors of this new Midtown Manhattan skyscraper which, at 1,401 feet tall, ranks fourth among the tallest buildings in New York.

One Vanderbilt was built next to Grand Central Terminal, and in October 2021 Summit, its observation deck, opened. As I mentioned, it's much more than views: there are interactive experiences, contemporary art, a glass elevator that climbs the outside of the tower and cocktails hundreds of feet in the air.

360º panoramic views of Manhattan

Since it's located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, you get perspectives on the city from every angle.

To the east you'll see iconic Manhattan skyscrapers up close, like the Chrysler Building and the MetLife, both in Midtown East.

When you look toward downtown Manhattan, you'll enjoy the commanding Empire State, another big star of the Summit experience.

You'll see how this beloved New York skyscraper becomes just one more visitor among the hundreds of reflections in the mirrors of the central hall of the One Vanderbilt observation deck.

If you look closely, at the southern tip of Manhattan island you'll spot One World Trade Center, the tallest building in New York.

To the west you'll make out iconic Midtown West spots like Bryant Park, the New York Public Library, Bank of America Tower and, in the distance, The Edge, the other newest observatory in Manhattan, at Hudson Yards.

And there are views of Uptown Manhattan too, where the tall towers of Billionaires' Row stand out, with enormous Central Park behind them.

Mirrors and light: Air

I started by telling you about the incredible views you'll get from SUMMIT, but as I said, the One Vanderbilt observatory is more than views. The idea is to impress your senses, deconstruct the space and make you part of it.

That's exactly the goal of the Air installation by artist Kenzo Digital, which you'll interact with the moment you step onto the 91st floor.

There you become part of an infinite space created by reflections from mirrors set at different angles. Your own reflection blends into the Manhattan skyline!

If you visit Summit in the morning, when there are fewer people, you'll have the whole space to take photos. But if it's crowded, no big deal: the reflections get even more interesting and there's always a little spot to take photos, even on the floor.

If you go up at sunset, the play of light and reflections is even more dramatic, and at night the stars of the show are the lights of the Manhattan skyscrapers.

A few tips up front:

1. Wear pants, everything reflects! 😂
2. Wear comfortable shoes, since you'll be walking on mirrors (at the entrance they give you fabric covers so you don't dirty the installation).
3. If you visit Summit during the day, bring sunglasses, the light is blinding (they'll lend you sunglasses at the entrance if you need them, but with COVID and all, wearing someone else's glasses makes me a little squeamish).

The balloon room

Once you manage to leave the great mirrored hall on floors 91 and 92, and it's genuinely hard, the reflections are hypnotic, you'll keep playing with light and reflections in a couple more rooms. In the first, you'll see reflections on metallic droplets on the floor.

Then you'll literally play with reflections in a room full of silver helium balloons, kept in constant motion by air currents strategically placed around the room and by the visitors, who instantly start batting them around.

If you're traveling with kids, good luck getting them out of this room!

Glass boxes: Levitation

On the 92nd floor is Levitation, two glass platforms jutting out from the side of One Vanderbilt at 1,063 feet, where you can walk out and see the city under your feet.

They're very small spaces and there's a long line to get in. I've read comments from other travelers saying it isn't really worth the wait, since they only let you stay a couple of minutes and mainly so a SUMMIT photographer can take a photo they'll later try to sell you 🤨.

I didn't make it because it was my turn to ride the glass elevator, Ascent. So I have an excuse to go back.

Glass elevators: Ascent

When my turn came to get into one of the two transparent elevators that climb the outside of Summit, my expectations were sky high. On paper it sounds spectacular, which is why I decided to pay the extra $20 they charge for the experience.

After riding it, I wasn't that impressed. The views are just as good as those from any other angle of the huge observatory.

On top of that, a lot of people get in at once. I ended up in the second row and could barely see anything. And through the transparent floor, what you see is the 93rd floor terrace, not the city far below.

If I were you, I'd save those twenty dollars. That's already half the price of another observatory, or a cocktail at the bar with views over the city 😉.

If you still want to ride the elevator and see whether you have better luck than I did, remember to buy a ticket that includes it, since this ride isn't part of general admission.

93rd floor terrace: Après

After all that excitement, it's well worth having a drink with views over the city on Summit's open terrace on the 93rd floor.

There's music playing and nobody makes you leave, so you can rest with the city at your feet for as long as you like.

Tips for visiting SUMMIT

There are fewer people in the morning

Tickets to the observatory are sold for specific entry times, so if you want to explore without feeling rushed, go early in the morning, when there are fewer visitors.

The best views are at sunset

The most spectacular views are without a doubt at sunset, and those time slots cost $10 more. But that's also when it's most crowded.

My advice: book the time slot right before sunset and wait it out, haha. There's so much to do at Summit that time flies, and nobody is going to make you leave early.

Wear pants

As you already know, there are mirrors everywhere, reflecting every angle of your body, so if you'd rather not end up in someone's candid photo, wear pants 😉.

You can't go up in heels

Don't even think about wearing your tallest stilettos on the day of your visit. They're not allowed, since apparently they damage the mirrored and glass floors.

Bring sunglasses if you go during the day

The light bounces hard off every surface of the observatory and will blind you at times, so bring a good pair of sunglasses. If you don't have any, they'll lend you a pair at the entrance, but personally I prefer my own.

How long a visit to Summit takes

To walk through all 3 floors of Summit and take a ton of photos, you'll need between an hour and a half and two hours.

Add in the time you'll spend in the security line and waiting for the elevators up and then down, and plan on about 3 hours total.

If you want to stay up there longer, no problem at all, since nobody will pressure you to come down.

How to get to Summit

There are two ways to get to Summit:

1. In the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal, look for the underground Vanderbilt Passage, which takes you straight to the observatory entrance.
2. Enter the One Vanderbilt lobby directly from the street at 45 East 42nd Street, between Vanderbilt and Madison avenues.

Closest subway

Grand Central station, lines 4, 5, 6, 7.

Summit hours

Wednesday and Thursday 1 pm to 8 pm

Friday and Saturday 9 am to 10 pm

Sunday 10 am to 8 pm

How much does it cost to go up to Summit?

Ages 13 and up US$ 45.73

Ages 6 to 12 US$ 39.20

Under 5 free

Remember that the ticket including the Ascent elevator costs 20 dollars more.