Contemplating the Big Apple from above is a real pleasure. For this reason, knowing which are the best viewpoints in New York is an essential task when planning a visit to this iconic city in the United States.
The list of the best viewpoints in New York includes both the new and the classic, as each one offers a different perspective. From the Empire State to The Summit, passing through the Rockefeller Center or The Edge, all are worth a visit, at least once in a lifetime.
At CONOCEDORES.com® we have compiled a list of the best viewpoints in New York, so that readers can identify them and select priorities on their next trip.
Empire State
It is difficult to add something that has not yet been said or written about this viewpoint, perhaps the most emblematic of New York. Not only does it offer great views, but it is itself a symbol of human engineering and its possibilities.
The Empire State is an Art Deco-style skyscraper with more than 90 years, it has 102 floors and 381 meters high. It is the classical observatory of NY and with more history, movies and references in tow.
The entrance to the Empire State Observatory is included in the City Pass, the cheapest tourist pass and the only one that allows you to go up to the Empire State during the day and at night for the same price.
Top of the Rock
The Top of the Rock observatory, located in the iconic Rockefeller Center, is one of the classic visits in New York. It is located in the heart of Midtown, where the most important skyscrapers in the city converge.
Many people think that it is one of the best views because you can see, at a very short distance, the traditional Empire State, as well as the new Summit viewpoint.
Sunset is a time chosen by many visitors to get to this viewpoint, since the pink and purple colors in the sky offer a great setting for the view, as well as for photos on social networks.
In addition to the viewpoint, the visit includes other experiences, including possible admission to a theater, which shows a short documentary on the history of the building, and an interactive multimedia exhibition.
The Edge
Opened in 2019, it is the observatory of the 30 Hudson Yards building in Hudson Yards, a fashionable neighborhood in New York. It holds the title of being the highest open-air viewpoint in New York.
The Edge has one of the most unique designs of any observation deck, with a glass floor and angled glass walls. Furthermore, it protrudes from the edge of the building and appears to be suspended in midair.
The far end of the platform is a small, triangular place big enough for only one person, so when people stand there, they claim to be on top of the world.
As an additional element, The Edge is meters from The Vessel, the penetrable monument of infinite stairs that also offers different views of Manhattan, the Hudson River and New Jersey (currently closed).
The Summit
Located in the One Vanderbilt building, it is the last of the viewpoints to open to the public (it did so in 2021).
The design of this aerial platform combines elements of the city and nature, incorporating the highest urban alpine meadow in the world, interactive art galleries and a three-zone observatory.
One Vanderbilt is the fourth tallest building in New York City, at 93 stories and 1,397 feet tall. Regarding the observation deck The Summitis located on the 73rd floor, 368 meters above the ground.
One World Observatory
It is located in One World Trade Center, the tallest building in New York, built on the site of the Twin Towers. The observatory offers an unbeatable perspective of Downtown Manhattan, although behind thick windows as it is a completely closed viewpoint.
The total height of the observatory is 540 meters, or 1,776 miles, corresponding to the year the United States Declaration of Independence was signed. This makes it not only the tallest building in New York, but also the tallest in the Western Hemisphere.
The place has other attractions and exhibits. Among them is Horizon Grid, a multimedia installation made up of 145 screens displaying memorabilia from famous visitors to the place. There’s also an immersive theater that simulates aerial views of the city and the Sky Portal, a circular glass platform that displays real-time images of the street 100 stories below.
