There are incredible observation decks in NYC from where you can enjoy a view of the city.
New York City is a gorgeous city with a lot of skyscrapers and if you go to the top of one of these, the views are spectacular. Some of these have indoor viewing areas with floor-to-ceiling windows, and at some, you can enjoy a view while being outside.
From an observation deck at the tallest building of the city to one that was designed as an immersive art experience, this guide includes the best observation decks in New York City you shouldn’t miss out on!
Best Observation Decks in NYC
Top of the Rock
Highlights: You can see many iconic parts of the city from here, including Central Park, and the building has both indoor and outdoor decks with the highest level being on the 70th floor Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
Top of the Rock is an observation deck that you can find at the Rockefeller Center, which is a skyscraper in the Art Deco style that was built in the year 1933.
Top of the Rock has three levels, and there are both indoor and outdoor decks. From there, you can enjoy a panoramic, unobstructed view of the city. The building has a height of 850 feet and the highest level on the 70th floor of the building.
From Top of the Rock, you’ll be able to look in all directions and see some of the most iconic parts of New York City. For example, you can see the Empire State Building from this place, as well as Central Park and many other landmarks.
When you are at this place, you can do “The Beam Experience”, which is an experience through which you can recreate the iconic 1932 photo of 11 workers that were having lunch on a steel beam.
The original photo was taken during the construction of the Rockefeller Center. During the experience, you’ll sit on a steel beam while wearing a safety belt, and this beam is then lifted to recreate the photo.
When visiting the observation deck, you can also take a tour of the Rockefeller Center during which you can learn about the art and history of the building.
In addition to that, Rockefeller Center is home to the studios of NBC, and it is possible to do “The Tour at NBC Studios” at the building.
Going to Top of the Rock is also one of the best date ideas in New York City.
Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
Edge
Why you should go to Edge: Edge is the highest outdoor sky deck in the city, it has angled glass walls, and there’s a glass floor Neighborhood: Chelsea
Edge is an observation deck in New York City that you can find at Hudson Yards.
This is the highest outdoor sky deck in the city and the Western Hemisphere, and it has a unique design. The sky deck is suspended in the air, which makes it possible to look in all directions. From Edge, you’ll be able to see most of Manhattan, as well as the Hudson River, the East River, Brooklyn, and many of the city’s most famous places.
The sky deck has angled glass walls and there’s also a glass floor, which makes it possible to look down 100 stories.
You can also do the “City Climb” experience at Edge. During this experience, you’ll wear a harness and climb a staircase on the outside of the skyscraper. In addition to that, you’ll lean out while being attached to the building and look down.
While enjoying the view at Edge, you can get a glass of champagne.
Each visit to the observation deck also includes a free digital photo.
Edge is also great if you’re looking for things to do at night in New York City as it’s open till 9 PM. The view of the lights of the city is amazing when it’s dark outside.
Address: 30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
Why you need to visit SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: This observation deck, which has floor-to-ceiling windows, was designed as an immersive art experience Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is an observation deck that you can find on top of the tallest skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan called One Vanderbilt.
This skyscraper has a total height of 1,401 feet. It is the fourth-tallest building in the city and opened in 2020.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is open every day of the week from 9 AM to 12 AM, with the last entry at 10:30 AM. A visit to the observation deck takes about 60 to 90 minutes.
The deck was designed as an immersive art experience, and SUMMIT One Vanderbilt combines art, architecture, and technology.
SUMMIT has floor-to-ceiling windows that allow you to get a panoramic view of the city. You’ll be able to look in all directions. In addition to that, there’s also an outdoor area.
If you want to get an even better view, you can do the “Ascent” experience during which you ride the largest external glass-bottomed elevator in the world.
Besides incredible views, you can see beautiful works of immersive art by Kenzo Digital at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt.
When you visit this place, it is recommended to bring sunglasses, as the materials of the building make the spaces very bright. You should also keep in mind that some types of shoes are not allowed as they can damage the flooring of the building.
Address: 45 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017
One World Observatory
Great to know: This observation deck is located at the tallest building of the city and you can find the deck on the 100th, 101st, and 102nd floor Neighborhood: Financial District
One World Observatory is an observation deck that you can find on the 100th, 101st, and 102nd floors of the One World Trade Center, which is the tallest building in the city.
You can go to this place to enjoy panoramic views of the city from the tallest point of New York City. From One World Observatory, you’ll be able to see the whole city, including some of its most famous landmarks. On a clear day, you can look as far as 45 miles.
In addition to that, you can find various multimedia experiences on the observation deck that are fun. For example, you can find the “Horizon Grid” at One World Observatory, which is a 145-screen presentation of some of the most iconic places that you can see from the observatory.
One World Observatory is open every day of the week, but its hours change seasonally. Good to know is that if bad weather causes zero visibility, you can come back on another day.
You can also find the One Dine Restaurant at the observation deck. At this restaurant, you can have delicious high-quality, seasonal food for dinner while enjoying a view of the city at the same time.
There’s also an extensive list of signature cocktails that you can choose from.
Address: 117 West St, New York, NY 10007
Observatories at the Empire State Building
Why you should go here: The Empire State Building has an outdoor observatory on the 86th floor and an indoor space with floor-to-ceiling windows on the 102nd floor Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
The Empire State Building is one of the most famous buildings in New York City. You can find it in Midtown Manhattan and it has a total height of 1,454 feet. When the building was constructed it was the largest building in the city.
The Empire State Building is great if you want to visit observation decks in NYC as it has two observatories, which you can find on the 86th and 102nd floors of the building.
On the 86th floor, there’s an outdoor area from where you can enjoy spectacular views. You can also find binoculars here, through which you can zoom in on the city below you.
From the 86th floor, you can ride a glass elevator to the 102nd floor, where you can find an indoor space with floor-to-ceiling windows that allow you to get a 360-degree of the city. From up here, you can get an even better view of the city’s landmarks.
You can also find various interactive exhibits at the Empire State Building through which you can learn about the building’s history, including its construction.
There are also various other types of exhibits. For example, you can see the “Kong” exhibit where you can see the hands of the giant gorilla Kong from the 1933 King Kong movie.
Address: 20 W 34th St., New York, NY 10001
The Crown of the Statue of Liberty
Great to know: After climbing 162 stairs, you can see a beautiful view of the skyline of Manhattan from here Where to find it: Liberty Island
One of the city’s most well-known landmarks of the city, the Statue of Liberty, is a great place to go if you want to enjoy a view of the city. The Statue of Liberty is a colossal sculpture of the Roman goddess of liberty called Libertas that you can find on Liberty Island.
The statue dates back to the year 1865 and has a total height from the ground to the torch of 305 feet.
The figure wears a crown on her head, and you can go inside the crown of the statue, which is an observation deck, to enjoy a beautiful view of the skyline of Manhattan. The crown is a small space and has small windows.
You can only access the crown by climbing 162 stairs and there’s no elevator.
Keep in mind that there’s a limited number of tickets for a visit to the crown each day. You’ll need to make an advanced reservation online before your visit to the statue if you want to go to the top.
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NYC Observation Decks Tips
You’ll need an advanced reservation for several of the observation decks in New York City, but even if this is not needed, sometimes there are benefits to making an advanced reservation, such as a discount.
When deciding which one of these six you want to visit, I recommend using the map that I added to this article. This makes it easier to plan your day if you also plan on seeing other sights in the city.
Observation Decks in New York City Map
This was my list of the best observation decks in NYC. I hope you liked these places!