The best viewpoints in New York
I know my last post was about the Philippines (hope you checked it out already!), but I’ve decided to turn things around and write about a place that is pretty much the opposite… New York City!
I remember when I was planning my trip to New York. There were soooo many options of amazing places to visit it was pretty overwhelming!
And let me tell you, if like me, you are traveling to New York on a budget, it can be a little complicated to manage it all, since the city can be a bit on the expensive side.
There are several, quite famous viewpoints you can visit in New York.
Empire State Building
The Edge
One World Trade Center
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
Top of the Rock
The prices for these viewpoints will be around 40-60 EUR (most basic ticket). Note that the price can increase depending on the time of the day you intend to visit (sunsets are usually more expensive for example).
Assuming, like me, you are not going to visit all of them, I am going to go into details about which ones I chose, why I chose them, my experience and why I did not choose the other ones.
Top of The Rock
My first visit was to the Top of the Rock. This viewpoint is located on the Rockefeller building, one of the most well known buildings in New York City.
It’s located right on the 5th avenue, close to the beautiful Central Park and the Tiffany’s from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
If you choose to go to the Top of the Rock, you will get an (almost) 360 view of New York City, get access to two patio style floors - yes, it’s an outside deck, and a little Photo area to get your photo taken (extra cost if you want to have the photo sent to you). The cost of the ticket is around 40 EUR (42 USD). You can purchase your ticket here (LINK).
Make sure to arrive early, since there is always a queue to get in (first come first served kind of thing).
Once you validate your ticket, you will be directed to a big elevator, which will take you up to the viewpoint deck.
It’s on the 70th floor, so if you suffer from vertigo, don’t go very close to the edge. It is really really high up! Especially if you are coming from a country that doesn’t have big tall buildings.
Why the Top of the Rock
Why did I choose this one? Well, my main point with this choice was the view. One of the most famous views of New York is actually taken from the Top of The Rock. You might have seen photos with this skyline several times online. One of the big big things about this famous view is one of its neighbours, the Empire State Building. The first thing you see when you step out into the observation deck is the Empire State.
It is also one of the oldest observatory decks in New York, and the whole building is still very art deco-ish.
My experience
I got there pretty early, and was a bit lost at first. I thought you’d go in through the main entrance of Rockefeller center. Nop. A very nice man in a very nice suit promptly offered to help when he saw me and my sister looking a bit lost. He explained that the entrance is actually on the side of the building. So remember. There is a special entrance to the observatory deck.
Once I exchanged my virtual ticket for a physical one, I was immediately sent to the elevator that goes up to the deck. The elevator ride is pretty fun and real quick. the celling is animated and you see some animations about New York and the building’s history.
You arrive to a little always, still inside the building, but with these incredible views. Finally, you go up an escalator and boom. The views you have seen online 289334293 times are finally real and in front of your own eyes.
This was my first observation deck in New York, and it was amazing. The views are incredible and you are suddenly surrounded by the concrete jungle of Manhattan. The deck does not go around all the way, so I wouldn’t say it’s a 360 view, but it’s pretty close!
There is an upper deck which you can also go to.
Overall, it exceeded all expectations and I would love to go back!
The Edge
This was my second viewpoint in New York, and it’s also one of the newest in the city. The Edge is also the tallest, since you go up to the 100th floor to get to the observatory deck. Oh yes… 100 floors. How mad is that???
Funny curiosity, the Edge is the highest observatory deck in the western hemisphere.
The Edge is located in Hudson Yards, right on the other side of the island of Manhattan, so the view you will get here is going to be a bit different. It’s right next to The Vessel.
If you chose to visit The Edge, you will get a 360 view of the whole island (from the outside deck and the inside of the building).
One of the particularities about this place is that the protection glass is angled out, which gives you a sense of falling over the building.
The price for the basic ticket is also around 40 EUR (42 USD), but it can go up depending on the time you choose to visit. You can purchase your ticket here. (LINK).
You can also get the “Premium” Ticket, if you are feeling either brave of insane.
Why? Because you can HANG OFF THE BUILDING!! This ticket can cost around 170 EUR (185 USD), and other than access to the regular observatory deck, you can go up to the top of the building and scale the outside of the building. You can even lean out over the building and hang by the security ropes. (I did not do this, so I can’t really say how it goes).
There is also a little souvenir shop on the 100th floor and a little coffee shop, where you can get something to snack on while marvelling over the views.
The entrance is inside the building. You will get into what looks like a fancy shopping mall. There are several signs instructing where to go. Make sure to get there early because the queue is way crazier than the Top of the Rock.
The ascension is very similar. You go into a big elevator, which also has animations about the city. You go directly up to the 100th floor. You can stay on the inside, or you can go out into the observatory deck.
Again, if you suffer from vertigo, don’t get very close to the edge (of The Edge).
Why The Edge?
I confess this was the one I was more unsure about. But I’m so happy I went with it.
There were some things that made me choose this one instead of the other ones.
First, this observatory deck was on a different location, so the views would be completely different. It’s very close to the edge of the island of Manhattan, which means you will not only see all the big skyscrapers but also the river.
One other point that made me want to go there was the angled glass and the sharp shapes of the deck. Of course, I wanted to snap some photos, so these shapes looked pretty interesting visually.
My Experience
I went there in the morning, and there was a queue already. Was able to wander around a bit in the shopping mall, which was really beautifully decorated for Christmas already.
Once I validated my ticket, I went into a huge elevator which went up to the 100th floor in a jiffy. On the way up, the elevator turns into a big tv and displays some images about the island of Manhattan. Once you get off the elevator, you go into a big hallway, where the windows go all the way to the ceiling. You have the option to go out into the deck or not.
It’s a bit scary because of how high up you are, but super worth it. The deck is surrounded by security glass, which hangs out of the building, giving you a sensation of falling over. I got a little dizzy once, when I tried to touch the glass and felt my body tilting forward towards the edge. It felt like I was going to fall head first off the building.
There are also two areas of the deck where the floor is glass, and you can see the streets and buildings 100 floors below you. It was also a bit scary to walk over it (you don’t have to, I just wanted to).
Photography wise, if you are going with the idea of creating content, here’s some advice. Go in the late afternoon, or during a cloudy day. I went in the early morning, trying to avoid the midday sun. But when I got up there, the sky was blue and the sun was shinning with all its might. This means that some of my photos got ruined due to the reflections on the glass.
The views from this one are also pretty amazing and you see iconic buildings like the New Yorker.
I admit this observatory deck was amazing, super exceeded my expectations. A must go. Although, next time, I think I’ll rather pay a bit more and go at sunset!
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
This was the last observation deck I visited in New York City, and I don’t think you can really call it a deck, since most of it is inside the building. But, spoiler alert, this was my favorite out of the three.
The SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is located right next to the Grand Central Station, in the One Vanderbilt building.
The entrance to the observation deck is through the Central Station. It is a bit confusing depending one where you are coming from, but there are some signs around explaining how to get there.
Unlike the other two, this is more of an interactive experience rather than just a place with pretty views.
The price for the basic ticket starts at 44 EUR (47 USD) and can go up depending on the time you choose to visit. You can purchase your ticket here. (LINK).
You will pass through several rooms with different art installations, which you will be able to interact with, while overlooking the whole city. This is one of the particularities about the SUMMIT.
Little tip, if you intend on wearing a skirt, I would advise you to wear shorts or tights underneath. One of the rooms, the main one, is fully mirrored, including the floor.
In order to go up to the SUMMIT, you will also be asked to wear some protective plastic covers on your feet.
Unlike the other two, you watch a small movie about the construction and the idea behind the building before going up to the observatory.
Once the big elevator takes you up to the 93rd floor, all you have to do is follow the neon lights and the soothing sounds.
Why the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
I have to say, there was one thing that immediately caught my eye when I was researching all the viewpoints of the city: The ball pit room!
After you explore the mirrored room, which is incredibly beautiful as well, you end up going into the ball pit room! This is a mirrored room, with ceiling to floor windows on one side, full of silver balloons. The room is full of machines with air, which make the balloons fly around the room.
In addition, the main room itself is also pretty beautiful and uncommon from any other place you might see in New York.
My experience
All I can say about this place is: WOW. I decided to go at the end of the day, around 6pm, which means that the sun was about going down.
At this time, the queues were insane. It took me around 10 minutes to pass security.
After passing security, I was told to follow some people into a dark room. This is where we watched a small movie about the construction of the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt.
Once the movie is over, you are asked to take a photo. This photo taken on the main entrance would later be digitally altered to make it look like it was taken on the observatory upstairs. You can even choose the time of day. Honestly, I am not a fan of this kind of thing, especially if I am expected to pay. At least have a photographer up there taking the photos like in the Top of the Rock. Just my option of course.
Finally, before going to the big elevator, you are asked to cover your feet with these little plastic protections. Felt like I was a surgeon going to surgery!
As soon as I arrived to the 93rd floor, the sunset was about to go so there was still some light, but the buildings around us were already ilumianted. Honestly, it was the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen. The main room is mirrored, full of neon lights around it. At night, all you see is reflection, colors and the views. It was pretty hard to find a window free to snap some photos honestly. There were a lot of people inside.
In total there are quite a lot of rooms, each with their own “thing”. The ball pit, the mirrored room which has two floors, a room with some weird droplet thingies on the floor, a different room where you see your face in a cloud projection, an area where the floor is also glass, etc. It is only at the end, upstairs, where you find the bar, that you are able to go out into a small deck/balcony. There is also a small souvenir shop before going down to the exit.
If I had to choose just one of these three, this one would be it. The views are absolutely immersive, I love how interactive it is, you see all the real famous buildings like the Empire State and the Chrysler tooo close. I really recommend it here!
Why not the others?
You might be wondering why I left out the One World Trade Center and the famous Empire State Building.
I’ll start with the Empire State Building. When I was choosing places to visit, I knew I wanted to see the famous New York skyline. However, if I had chosen to go to the Empire State Building, I would have missed a key component of the skyline I was looking to see… The Empire State building! Because of this, I decided I would rather see it in front of me, than being on it myself.
If you are interested in visiting, you can purchase your ticket to the Empire State Building here. (LINK)
In regards to the One World Trade Center, I have to say, first and foremost, it’s a beautiful building, and probably the tallest building in New York (it actually is, the observatory is up on the 102nd floor).
First, one of the things that put me off about this one was there is no outdoor deck. It is very similar to the SUMMIT, just without the art installations. The One World is right on the corner of Manhattan, so the views are a bit different. You get to see the river, the Brooklyn bridge, and even the Statue of Liberty. Honestly, it just felt a bit meh comparing to the other and what they had to offer.
If you are interested in visiting, you can purchase your ticket to the One World Trade Center here. (LINK)
But if you’ve ever been to any of these two, I would love to know your experience and to know if you think it was worth it!
Thank you for reading!
I hope this helped you plan your New York City trip!
Leo
xx
