New York has six major paid viewpoints, they all cost roughly the same, and they are absolutely not equal. The difference between the best and worst experience here is not height — it is what you can actually see, how much glass is in the way, and whether the deck is designed for looking at the city or looking at yourself.
We ranked all of them on the only things that matter: the quality of the view, the photo you'll get, crowding, and value. Prices below are typical 2026 adult walk-up-to-advance rates and shift with time slot — sunset always costs the most.
Quick comparison
| Deck | Height | Typical price | Open air? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top of the Rock | 850 ft (70th fl) | From ~$40 | Yes, fully open | The classic Empire State + Central Park view |
| SUMMIT One Vanderbilt | 1,063 ft (91st fl) | From ~$44 | Partly (Ascent, Terrace) | Mirrored art-installation photos |
| Edge | 1,131 ft | From ~$36 | Yes, with glass floor | The highest open-air deck feeling |
| Empire State Building | 1,050 ft (86th fl) / 1,250 ft (102nd) | From ~$44 (86th) | 86th yes, 102nd no | Standing on the icon itself |
| One World Observatory | 1,268 ft (100th–102nd fl) | From ~$43 | No, fully enclosed | Harbor, bridges and the Statue of Liberty |
| Skyline Bar / Brooklyn rooftops | 20–30 floors | Cost of a drink | Yes | Seeing the Manhattan skyline instead of standing in it |
The rankings
1. Top of the Rock
- Address
- 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Midtown, Manhattan
- Neighborhood
- Rockefeller Center
- Price
- From about $40; sunset slots higher
- Hours
- Roughly 9 a.m.–midnight, last elevator ~11 p.m.
- Best for
- The best single view in New York
- Highlights
- Three tiers, no glass on the top level, Central Park to the north and the Empire State Building dead center to the south
- The reason it wins is geometry. Top of the Rock sits between Central Park and Midtown's skyline, so you get the two most recognizable New York images from one deck — and the Empire State Building in your photo instead of under your feet. The top tier is fully open with no barriers in your sightline. Add the Beam experience if you want the 1932 construction-worker photo recreation.
2. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
- Address
- 45 E 42nd St, Midtown, Manhattan
- Neighborhood
- Midtown East, next to Grand Central
- Price
- From about $44; Ascent glass elevators cost extra
- Hours
- Roughly 9 a.m.–midnight
- Best for
- A designed experience rather than a plain viewpoint
- Highlights
- Mirrored Transcendent rooms, Air installation, glass-floor Levitation ledges, Ascent exterior elevator, a bar
- SUMMIT is less an observation deck than an art installation with a view attached. The floor-to-ceiling mirror rooms are the most photographed interior in New York right now. Downsides: it's busy, it's the least contemplative of the decks, and you look at reflections as much as the city. Bring or wear something you don't mind seeing repeated infinitely, and note that shoe covers are required on the mirrored floors.
3. Edge
- Address
- 30 Hudson Yards, Manhattan
- Neighborhood
- Hudson Yards
- Price
- From about $36–$42
- Hours
- Roughly 10 a.m.–10 p.m. seasonally
- Best for
- The vertigo experience — a triangular deck jutting into open air
- Highlights
- Glass floor panels, angled glass walls you can lean on, City Climb add-on for climbing the building's exterior
- The highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere and the most physically thrilling. The catch is location: from Hudson Yards you're looking back at Midtown from the far west side, and much of the view is river, New Jersey and the Javits Center. Great sensation, second-tier panorama. City Climb is a genuinely serious add-on and costs several times the base ticket.
4. Empire State Building
- Address
- 20 W 34th St, Midtown, Manhattan
- Neighborhood
- Midtown / NoMad
- Price
- From about $44 for the 86th floor; 102nd floor adds roughly $20–$35
- Hours
- Roughly 9 a.m.–midnight
- Best for
- Standing on the most famous building in the world
- Highlights
- Excellent second-floor museum exhibits, open-air 86th-floor promenade, enclosed 102nd-floor gallery
- The Empire State Building's problem is simple: you can't see the Empire State Building. Everything else is very good — the redesigned museum is the best pre-deck experience of any NYC attraction, and the 86th-floor open-air walkway is genuinely stirring at night. But the view is what other decks get for less money and less waiting, minus the icon. If it's your first trip and it's the building you dreamed about, go anyway; nostalgia counts.
5. One World Observatory
- Address
- 117 West St / 285 Fulton St, Financial District, Manhattan
- Neighborhood
- Financial District
- Price
- From about $43
- Hours
- Roughly 9 a.m.–9 p.m., seasonal
- Best for
- Harbor, bridges and Statue of Liberty views
- Highlights
- SkyPod elevator time-lapse ride, floor-to-ceiling glass on three levels, the Sky Portal floor screen
- The tallest of the lot and the only one with a genuinely different view — you look down the harbor at the Verrazzano, the Statue of Liberty and the bridges stacked up the East River. It's fully enclosed, though, and the glass reflects badly for photos after dark. Worth it for the downtown geography; not worth it if you want open air.
6. Brooklyn rooftops (the free-ish alternative)
- Address
- Westlight, 111 N 12th St, Williamsburg; Harriet's Rooftop, 60 Furman St, Brooklyn Heights
- Neighborhood
- Williamsburg / Brooklyn Heights
- Price
- Cost of a cocktail, roughly $20–$26
- Best for
- Seeing the skyline instead of being inside it
- Reservations
- Recommended on weekends
- The honest truth: the best photograph of the Manhattan skyline is taken from Brooklyn. For the price of one drink you get a 22nd-floor terrace facing the entire island. Not an observation deck, but often the better decision.
How they compare on the things people actually ask about
| Criterion | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall panorama | Top of the Rock | SUMMIT One Vanderbilt |
| Best photos of yourself | SUMMIT One Vanderbilt | Edge |
| Best photos of the city | Top of the Rock | Brooklyn rooftops |
| Most thrilling | Edge (City Climb) | SUMMIT (Ascent) |
| Best for families | Top of the Rock | Empire State Building |
| Best rainy-day option | One World Observatory | SUMMIT (indoor levels) |
| Best value | Top of the Rock | Brooklyn rooftops |
| Best at night | Empire State Building 86th | Top of the Rock |
Timing: when to book
- Sunset slots sell out first and cost $10–$20 more. Book 1–3 weeks ahead for weekends.
- Best light for photos is the 30 minutes before sunset through 30 minutes after — the "blue hour" when the city lights come on but the sky still has color.
- Quietest times are the first slot of the morning and after 10 p.m.
- Weather matters more than anything. Below about 3 miles of visibility, a deck is a waste of money. Check the forecast the morning of; most decks allow rescheduling but not refunds.
- Multi-attraction passes (CityPASS, Go City, Sightseeing Pass) can make sense if you plan to do two or more decks plus museums — but doing two decks in one trip is rarely worth it. Pick one, go at the best hour, stay 90 minutes.
Cheaper ways to get a great view
- Roosevelt Island Tramway — 250 feet above the East River for one subway fare. Details in our hidden gems guide.
- Staten Island Ferry — free, 25 minutes, harbor and skyline.
- Brooklyn Heights Promenade and Manhattan Bridge walkway — free, and the best skyline photos in the city.
- Hotel bars — Westlight, The Crown, Ophelia and Harriet's all trade a $22 cocktail for a view worth $40.
- Green-Wood Cemetery's Battle Hill — free, the highest natural point in Brooklyn, with a clear line to Lower Manhattan.
Frequently asked questions
Which NYC observation deck has the best view?
Top of the Rock. It's the only major deck positioned to capture both Central Park and the Empire State Building, which is what most people picture when they imagine the New York skyline.
Is SUMMIT One Vanderbilt worth it?
Yes, if you want the mirrored-room experience and don't mind crowds. It's the most creative attraction of the six. If you mainly want to look at the city quietly, Top of the Rock is better and cheaper.
Which deck is best for photos?
For photos of the city: Top of the Rock, or a Brooklyn rooftop. For photos of you in an unmistakably New York setting: SUMMIT One Vanderbilt or Edge's glass floor.
Is Edge or SUMMIT higher?
Edge's outdoor deck sits at about 1,131 feet, above SUMMIT's 1,063-foot main level. One World Observatory is the highest of all at roughly 1,268 feet, but it's fully enclosed.
Should I do the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock?
Top of the Rock for the view, the Empire State Building for the experience of standing on the icon. If you can only do one and photography matters, choose Top of the Rock.
Are observation decks worth it in bad weather?
No. Below a few miles of visibility you're paying to stand in a cloud. Reschedule if the deck allows it, and spend the day on our rainy day list instead.
What's the cheapest way to get a skyline view in NYC?
The Staten Island Ferry (free) and the Roosevelt Island Tramway (one transit fare). Both beat several paid decks on pure scenery.
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