New York City has many observation decks that give you spectacular views of the city. There is hardly anything more spectacular than standing far above the city streets and looking down over the expansive concrete jungle. Which observation decks there are, which ones are free, and a few insider tips are all included in our list of best observation platforms in NYC.
Further down you will find all 👉 observatories of New York on a map.
By the way: it’s nice when you can enjoy New York already when you wake up. Take a look at my Hotels in New York with a view!
The best Observation Platforms in New York
These are our favorite observation decks in NYC:
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01
One Vanderbilt The Summit – The newest observation deck in New York
Building
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Midtown ManhattanOur Highlight
The New York City skyline is one of the most famous and recognizable skylines in the world. It’s a city filled with skyscrapers and tall buildings. In most recent years, it has been expanding which made way for new observation decks. The newest observation deck is located at the top of the One Vanderbilt Building and is called The Summit. This deck is the second-highest outdoor deck in NYC which follows the Edge and has been open since October 2021.
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02
The Edge Observation Deck – the one with the glass floor
Building
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Hudson YardsOur Highlight
The Hudson Yards observation deck called Edge is New York’s newest and highest open observation deck. It opened in March 2020 and we were there – the view from up here is just sensational, and through the glass floor you can see over 100 floors straight down!
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03
Top of the Rock – The observation deck with the best view over Central Park
Building
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Midtown Manhattan
The observation deck at Rockefeller Center is also known as Top of the Rock. This is definitely our favorite observation deck of the city as it gives you great views of the Empire State Building as well as Central Park. It also allows you to take the typical NYC picture of the Empire State Building standing tall among the other skyscrapers of Central Manhattan, as in the header picture above.
Another advantage of the Top of the Rock observation deck compared to the others is that it is much less crowded thanks to the timed entry system. Instead of waiting in line, you will receive a time to come back when you purchase your tickets. This time management not only makes the observation deck much less busy but it also allows you to cut down on the time spent in the queue waiting to get to the top!
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04
One World Observatory – New York highest platform
Building
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Financial DistrictOur Highlight
The One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere meaning that is the ultimate place for an observation deck. The One World Observatory offers amazing views over the whole of Manhattan, the Hudson and East Rivers and of course the Statue of Liberty.
As one of NYC’s newest attractions the modern building and its observation deck have many amazing features that make this well worth the visit!
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05
Empire State Building – The iconic observation deck
Building
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Midtown Manhattan
With its observation deck on the 86th Floor, the Empire State Building offers the highest open observation deck in New York! Due to the fact that it is not encased in glass or covered with a roof, it is one the most popular observation decks of the city and definitely one of the most spectacular.
Additionally, the Empire State Building has a second observation platform on the 102nd floor that is enclosed and features large panoramic windows.
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06
NEW: One Times Square Viewing Platform
Building
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Theatre District
One Times Square, which is known the world over for hosting the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, just had some huge changes that transformed it into a year-round attraction.
In addition to being the site of one of the world’s biggest New Year’s Eve parties, One Times Square now has a modern-day visitor center, an AR-VR experience, and, even more exciting for visitors to New York, an observation deck in the heart of Times Square.
The One Times Square Viewing Platform will be fully open to the public later this year!
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07
Observation platform in the crown of the Statue of Liberty
Building
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Lower Manhattan
The crown of the Statue of Liberty is very popular with tourists. We have climbed the stairs to the crown ourselves and, to be completely honest, found the experience somewhat overrated. Long wait lines and a small, tight viewing area in the crown did persuade us this was worth the visit.
Our tip: if you want to see the Statue of Liberty up close, take a boat cruise around Manhattan or take pictures from the free Staten Island Ferry. The view from the top of the Statue of Liberty is not that great either, due to being quite a distance from Manhattan most of what you see is water.
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08
Green-Wood Cemetery
Other Attraction
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Park Slope
The cemetery is located about 10 minutes walking distance from Prospect Park. On an area of 1.9 km² there are about 600,000 graves and on the hill Battle Hill you can enjoy a great view of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
Free Observation Decks in New York
Just like everybody else, we love free things at Loving New York. What’s even better is if you can get something for free that you wouldn’t mind paying for. Free observation decks definitely fit into that category! There are two different ways of enjoying great views of New York for free.
1. You have a New York pass
The very popular observation decks on the Empire State Building, the Rockefeller Center (Top of the Rock), the One World Trade Center and the Edge are included in the New York passes. With sightseeing passes, you pay a fixed amount upfront, and can then visit many attractions for free.
It is basically a flat rate for NYC attractions. Take a look at the Comparison of New York Passes. With a pass, you can save up to 60% compared to the cost of purchasing regular tickets individually!
Get personal tips & tricks, specifically tailored to your trip!
We will provide you with individual tips & tricks as you prepare for your trip. How to plan, save money and make sure you experience the most of NYC are only some of the topics covered!
2. You go to a rooftop bar
If you want to enjoy New York high above, another option is to go to one of the many rooftop bars and lounges the city has to offer. Our tip: the rooftop bar 230 Fifth – this bar will give you stunning views of the Empire State Building and is definitely one of our favorite rooftop bars in the city.
You can find the best rooftop bars in New York in my list:
My tip
FREE ROOFTOP VIEWS
You want to enjoy a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline and New Jersey? Visit the Pier 57 rooftop! The access is completely free of charge, and most of the time it’s not crowded at all!
Which observation deck in New York is the best?
That’s a tricky one – each of them is worth visiting. To get a quick overview, I have this comparison for you:
