In vibrant New York City, where skyscrapers defy the clouds and the city light never fades, discovering the best vantage points is an essential part of the tourist experience. New York’ s observatories offer spectacular and breathtaking views, each with its own character and special features.
Whether it’s the iconic Empire State Building, the chic Top of the Rock, the impressive One World Observatory, or the innovative Edge at Hudson Yards, these observation platforms offer much more than just views; they invite visitors to immerse themselves in the cityscape and culture of the metropolis. By exploring these high points, visitors can not only take in the Manhattan skyline but also understand why New York is nicknamed the city that never sleeps.
The New York observatories in detail
The Edge
Summit One Vanderbilt
Empire State Building
Top of the Rock
One World Observatory
What are the best observatories in New York?
The New York observatory rankings shown in the table are based on a number of key criteria that aim to assess each site not just for its views, but also for the overall experience it offers. Here is an explanation of the criteria used:
- View: this criterion assesses the quality of the panoramas offered by each observatory, taking into account the extent of visibility, the points of interest accessible from the observation platform, and the intrinsic beauty of the views. Observatories such as Top of the Rock and Summit One Vanderbilt stand out in this category for their breathtaking views of the Empire State Building, Central Park and other Manhattan icons.
- Experience: this aspect encompasses everything that surrounds the visit, apart from the view itself. It includes interactive elements, art installations, and unique architectural features that enrich the visit. For example, Summit One Vanderbilt offers an immersive experience with its glass cubes in the void and its mirror-like rooms, while the Empire State Building offers an experience enriched by its museum.
- Value for money: this criterion assesses whether the cost of admission is justified by the quality of the overall experience. It considers both the price of admission and what the visitor receives in return, in terms of views and experience. Summit One Vanderbilt scores highly in this category for offering an exceptional experience at a competitive price.
- Price: this is simply the cost of admission to access each observatory. This criterion is important for visitors planning their travel budget. The One World Observatory, for example, is the most affordable, while the Empire State Building and Summit One Vanderbilt are the most expensive.
Based on these criteria, the final rankings have been drawn up to help visitors choose the observatory that best matches their expectations in terms of views, experience and overall value. The choice of the best observatory will therefore depend on the personal preferences of each visitor in terms of what they value most in their tourism experience.
| Observatories | Summit One Vanderbilt | Empire State Building | the edge | Top of the Rock | One World Observatory |
| View | |||||
| Experience | |||||
| Value for money | |||||
| Price | $ 42 | $ 46 | $ 36 | $ 40 | $ 26 |
| Our rating /10 | 9,5 Excellent | 9 Very good | 8,5 Good | 8,5 Good | 7 Fair |
| Our opinion | The best observatory with a good view of the Empire State Building, Central Park and Bryant Park. Excellent experiences with the glass cubes in the void and the different rooms. | Old but unmissable thanks to its style and history. The experience with its museum is a huge plus. | A very modern building with an incredible terrace offering an incomparable feeling of freedom. The glass bridge is a real plus. | The most beautiful view of the Empire State Building and Central Park, the experience has been greatly improved with the theater and the new attractions. | Only view from the south of Manhattan and of the Statue of Liberty. The experience around the view is very meager. |
1. Summit One Vanderbilt
This is the winner of our rankings, despite the high price tag. Day or evening, it’s a high-flying experience. You’re guaranteed to get a thrill and a wow-factor as soon as you enter the main hall.
Highlights
The views
The suspended glass cubes
The hall of mirrors
The balloon room
Minus
Not included in any pass
2. Empire State Building
The Empire State Building comes in second place both for its place in urban pop culture and for the history it tells through its museum. Scenes from cult films staged just after the museum visit remind us of its weight in culture.
Highlights
The art deco style
A very interesting museum
The central view
Included in all passes
Minus points
The barriers outside prevent you from enjoying an unobstructed view.
3. Edge
The latest skyscraper to come out of the ground in November 2022, Edge is a highly modern building designed with the environment in mind. Beyond its design, it is an enormous balcony suspended in the void, a real architectural feat that gives its visitors an incomparable feeling of dominating the city.
More info
The impressive terrace
The glass platform
Sloping glass walls
Included in many passes
Minus
Reserving a time slot
4. Top of the Rock
Certainly the best view in New York thanks to its central elevated terrace offering a magnificent view of Central Park. On the other side, the view of the Empire State Building is no less splendid. The only downside is the experience, which was non-existent before the arrival of ‘The Beam’ at the end of 2023.
Highlights
View of Central Park
View of the Empire
No obstructions to the view (glass or grille)
Included in many passes
New attractions
Minus
Surcharge for The Beam
Surcharge for SkyLift
5. One World Observatory
The tallest skyscraper in lower Manhattan, the One World Observatory has the merit of offering a view that differs from other observatories thanks to its geographical position. The experience is fairly limited by the simple fact of being able to turn 360 degrees, but it does offer good value for money.
Highlights
View from lower Manhattan
View of the Statue of Liberty
The cheapest
Minus
Very limited experience
The team’s opinion
It’s very difficult to recommend just one observatory during a trip to New York, as the youngest visitors won’t have the same sensibilities as their elders, who may have seen the Empire State Building in films and dream of reaching its summit.
Despite the difficulty, if you have to do just one, we recommend Summit One Vanderbilt.
Have you done several observatories? Feel free to share your favourite in the comments.
