–
What are the different observatories in New York?
To discover New York, it is absolutely necessary to take a little height at the top of a building. You will have the choice since New York now has 5 observatories:
- The Empire State Building, the pioneer of New York observatories, located south of Midtown.
- The Top of the Rock, reopened in 2005 in the heart of Rockefeller Center, in the middle of Midtown.
- the One World Observatory, opened in May 2015 at the top of the One World Trade Center tower.
- The Edge, opened in March 2020 west of Midtown, in the Hudson Yards neighborhood.
- One Vanderbilt The Summit, opened in September 2021 atop the One Vanderbilt Tower, east of Midtown.
Entrance for each of them costs a good thirty euros: nearly 40 € for the Empire State Building and The Summit, 36 € for the One World Observatory, the Top of the Rock and The Edge. In the end, this represents a small budget, especially if you are traveling with several people. So what to do? Should we do all three or choose only one? The answer is straightforward: I strongly advise you to make the effort and offer yourself at least 3 of them, in order to benefit from 3 different views.
View
Each observatory offers you a unique view, due to its location in Manhattan:
- From the Empire State building, you will truly be in the heart of Manhattan with, on one side, the Financial District skyline in the background and, on the other, Midtown with certainly the traditional view of the Chrysler Building. I must say that I go up there just for that: to see the spire of the Chrysler Building turn orange then red at sunset. The observatory has a small outdoor terrace, very busy, which will allow you to hear the sounds of the city below. For photographers, the terrace will allow you to take photos through the gates, without reflection from the windows.
- From the Top of the Rock, the view is also magical! It’s quite simple: the view of the Empire State Building from the Top of the Rock is the most beautiful you can have. You will see the building from the bottom up, closely, with the Financial District skyline in the background. North side, you will also have a nice view of Central Park, very close. The icing on the cake: you can walk around several terraces spread over 3 levels. Another advantage: the highest terrace allows you to take photos above the protective glass of the previous levels. Convenient for photos without any reflection.
- The One World Observatory occupies the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors of the One World Trade Center tower. You will then enjoy a great dive over the Financial District, the southern tip of Manhattan and New York Bay as well as a more distant view of Midtown, with the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building on the horizon. Please note: this observatory does not offer any outdoor terrace but this is perfectly offset by the views. The One World Observatory is perched on top of America’s tallest tower and you’ll touch the sky!
- The Edge offers a completely new view since it is offset on West Manhattan. You will therefore enjoy the row of buildings in Midtown and a side view that allows you to appreciate the New York skyline and the nearby Empire State Building. The Edge also overlooks the Hudson River like no other observatory.
- The Summit occupies the top floors of the One Vanderbilt Tower, a tower that adjoins Grand Central Terminal station in the heart of Midtown. The tower is the 2nd tallest office tower in New York City and the view is bound to be spectacular. You will gaze up at the Chrysler Building and enjoy a breathtaking view of southern Manhattan, with a perspective slightly shifted to the left of the Top of the Rock.
The experience
Each observatory has its history and its setting. Each of them will leave you with an unforgettable memory, and not only for its sight:
- The Empire State Building impresses with its grandiose Art Deco style. From the entrance hall, you will feel the prestige of the place and the strength of this monument which symbolizes New York. Remember New York State nicknamed itself “the Empire State”! Visiting the observatory of the Empire State building is to discover the history of the Big Apple and of this race to the height. Recently, the Empire State Building also has a surprise in store for you in the elevator. The monument also houses a formidable museum which tells the story of the construction of the building. Also expect to come face to face with King Kong!
- The Top of the Rock will seduce you with its pleasant outdoor terraces, with wooden benches that invite you to spend hours contemplating the city. A place that allows you to admire the city while resting. The Top of the Rock is also much less crowded than the Empire State Building and you will always find a little piece of peaceful terrace, just for you.
- The One World Observatory is the newest and the elevator ride is a highlight you will remember !!! I do not say more about the other surprise that awaits you at the top. Everything is done for the show! The history of this tower, which rises in place of the former twin towers of the World Trade Center, is also fascinating.
- The Edge embodies a new generation of ever more spectacular observatories. In addition to the view, you will be able to walk on a glass embedded in the floor and measure your vertigo! The very shape of the platform, which comes out of the building to leap into the void, challenges the laws of physics.
- The Summit follows the same vein as The Edge with again a great spectacle experience. For example, you can take a fully glazed elevator, giving you the impression of floating above New York. Another fully glazed room offers you an impressive face to face with New York. Unfortunately, many of these experiences are optional, which adds to the price of the initial ticket.
My tips for visiting the observatories
- Obviously, doing the 5 observatories requires a small budget, at a rate of around 40 euros per observatory. To avoid leaving 120 € per person just for 3 observatories, my advice is to book a Pass in advance, for example the City Pass which includes, in particular, entry to the Empire State Building and the Top of the Rock. This will prevent you from paying the full price at these two observatories and you will only have to pay the entrance to One World Observatory separately.
- If you want to do more, opt for the Explorer Pass or the New York Pass which includes entry to the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory, and The Edge. To find out the differences between each, read the New York Pass Comparison.
- And if your budget is absolutely super tight and there really only needs to be one left, then I’ll go ahead and tell you to visit… the Top of the Rock. Why ? Because it is the one that will offer you the view of the most New York monuments and its outdoor terraces will allow you to linger for hours at the top. But it would be a shame not to discover other observatories. Even if you go to New York and pay for a plane ticket and hotel nights, I really encourage you to make that little extra effort that you will remember: if you will quickly forget the flights or the color of the walls of your house. hotel room, the views from these 5 exceptional places will remain etched in your memory forever!
Internet users’ opinions
- Virginie mahieu : « I did all three in mid-July and, honestly, the Top of the Rock was the most enjoyable. The Empire State is crowded and with the barriers it’s less nice, the One World is nice but inevitably glazed and the Top of the Rock is vast, we can well walk around, it’s on three levels and the third is unprotected, great for photos and I found the view of Central Park and the Empire great. The One World elevator is just pure happiness though. “
- Killdexter Seb : « Totally agree. Having done the 3 in June. The best… The top of the rock! “
- Nadège Dtw : « Top of the Rock, for me it’s the best !! Empire monitoring. The One World Trade Center is impressive… Especially from below! “
- Veronique bernardot : « The 3 are to be done, 3 same views of New York but different heights and distances. “
–