New York has five big observation decks, and they’re all good. The question is which one is right for your trip. They differ less in height than in what you see, what the experience feels like and how it fits your route. Here’s how they compare.
| Deck | Area | Outdoor? | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top of the Rock | Midtown (Rockefeller Center) | Yes, open-air terraces | Classic skyline + Central Park | Sunset slots sell out |
| Empire State Building | Midtown (34th St) | Yes, 86th floor deck | Icon status, history exhibits | Longest lines; you can't see it in the view |
| SUMMIT One Vanderbilt | Midtown East (Grand Central) | Partly (outdoor terrace) | Photos, mirrors, art installations | Mirror floors (wear trousers); busy weekends |
| Edge | Hudson Yards (West Side) | Yes, sky deck + glass floor | Thrills, sunset over the Hudson | Further from other sights |
| One World Observatory | Lower Manhattan | No, indoor | Downtown + harbour views, 9/11 day | Glass can reflect at night |
Prices change with time slot and season, so we don’t list them here. Expect a premium for sunset slots and add-ons.
Top of the Rock: best all-round view
Top of the Rock sits on 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Its big advantage is the view itself: south to the Empire State Building and the Lower Manhattan skyline, north over the full length of Central Park. The terraces on the top floors are open-air, with no glass in the way on the highest level. Combine it with St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Fifth Avenue and the Rockefeller Center plaza.
Check Top of the Rock tickets (affiliate link, opens in new tab)Empire State Building: the icon
The Empire State Building is the one everyone recognises. Before you reach the open-air 86th-floor deck, you walk through exhibits on its construction and pop-culture history. You can add the 102nd floor for a higher, enclosed view. The catch: you can’t see the most famous building in New York when you’re standing on it, and lines can be long. Express tickets exist if your time is tight.
Check Empire State tickets (affiliate link, opens in new tab)SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: the experience
SUMMIT is less about the view and more about the experience. You’ll find mirrored rooms, art installations and an outdoor terrace, right next to Grand Central Terminal. It’s great for photos and on a rainy day. Practical tip: the floors are mirrored, so wear trousers or shorts rather than a skirt. Sunglasses help on bright days.
Check SUMMIT tickets (affiliate link, opens in new tab)Edge: the thrill
Edge at Hudson Yards is an outdoor sky deck that juts out from the building, with a glass floor panel and angled glass walls you can lean on. It faces west over the Hudson, so it’s spectacular at sunset. Pair it with the High Line, which ends right there. For the brave there’s an add-on outdoor climb (City Climb). Check its age and weather rules.
Check Edge tickets (affiliate link, opens in new tab)One World Observatory: the downtown view
One World Observatory is at the top of One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. It’s indoors, behind glass, with views over the harbour, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn and Midtown in the distance. It makes most sense on the same day as the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and the Statue of Liberty ferry.
Check One World tickets (affiliate link, opens in new tab)Using a city pass?
Most of these decks are included in at least one of the big city passes. A pass only saves money if you’d visit enough of the included attractions anyway. See our CityPASS vs Go City comparison for an honest way to do the maths.
Free alternatives
You don’t have to pay for a great view. The Staten Island Ferry is free and passes the Statue of Liberty with the downtown skyline behind you. A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset gives you one of the best skyline views in the city.