One thing I do in every place I visit: I get a bird’s eye view of the city. If there is a high point in town, a high building, or even better, an observation deck, I head to the top. New York City is especially mesmerizing to see from above, thanks to its unique architecture and island layout, which is why the observation decks are on the list of the ten best New York attractions. But what’s the best observation deck in New York City? Do you even need to go up to an observatory or will a rooftop bar suffice for the best view of New York City? NYC is lucky enough to have not only one, but FIVE observation decks – the newest one, Summit One Vanderbilt opened in October 2021.
Seeing the city from the unique vantage point of the best observatory in New York City helps you to better understand the city’s layout, helps you to understand how New York is set up, where the other boroughs are, and see how close New Jersey actually is. But not just that: it’s a truly memorable experience and it will make you appreciate the grandeur of the Big Apple even more.
As for rooftop bars – there are over 50 rooftop b
I visited the top 3 skyscrapers in New York to see which had the best view — and the winner is clear
Here's our three skyscrapers for today. One World Observatory in the Financial District, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center in Midtown.
GoogleMaps/Screenshot
One World Observatory: Directions / Tickets
Empire State Building: Directions / Tickets
Rockefeller Center: Directions / Tickets
I started my journey at One World Trade Center. 1WTC lets you schedule your tour ahead of time to avoid lines. Security seemed well organized with lots of screening lines.
Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider
There are a lot of ticket options. I opted for the cheapest: $36. The more expensive options just seem to let you skip the line whenever you come.
Screenshot/One World Trade Observatory
There's a lengthy, winding hallway to keep crowds in order on busy days. At least it's visually and architecturally interesting. Like this installation playing a holiday animation and the strange mirror across from it.
Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider
There are a ton of huge elevators so everything moves quickly. At the top, you'll be us
Which NYC Observation Deck is Best?
This post compares the observation decks in NYC to help you choose which one is best for you.
The 5 are the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Trade Center, Summit One Vanderbilt, and The Edge (Hudson Yards).
There's no simple answer to which one is best because a lot depends on your budget, your interests, how much time you have, etc.
We do not rank them, rather we do our best to illustrate for whom each deck is best suited.
We are a group of local NYC tour guides and we are asked our opinions on observation decks on just about every tour we lead.
All of us regularly bring groups to these decks and have experienced the good, the bad, and the unexpected with all five of them.
It's also a popular question in our NYC Travel Tips Facebook group. We share some of our members' tips in the previous travelers' picks section.
And, in this post, we also demonstrate how you can get deals on all 5, so you don’t have to pay full price.
So, without further ado, let's get to it.
TIP: If you are considering a tourist attractions pass, keep in mind the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock are included for free on al
For centuries visitors have flocked to the Big Apple hoping for just a bite of what makes this buzzing metropolis so special. New York City may be on everyone’s bucket list, but this mecca of art Deco-inspired skyscrapers, Broadway, and world-class restaurants doesn’t leave anytime for dawdling. Indeed, it can be daunting to decide which iconic landmarks to hit and which to skip.
Follow along to bring out the dazzling differences of One World Observatory vs Empire Express Building. While both of these mesmerizing attractions offer stunning views of the city, depending on your particular vacation needs and desires you may opt for one over the other.
Classic architecture fiends may not be fit to forgive themselves for skipping out on the majestic lobby and iconic observatories of the Empire State Building.
On the other hand, who can resist the allure of ‘seeing forever’ at One World Observatory? From ethereal Sky Portals made of glass to the romantic appeal of an Empire State rendezvous, there’s no wrong way to exposure the magic of the Municipality that Never Sleeps.
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One World Trade Center vs Empire State Building
Movie lovers, thrill seekers, and the architecture incline
Choosing The Best Observation Deck in New York: A Comparison
When you visit NYC, you have to see the city from one of the five most popular observation decks. Since the Empire State Building is one of the most iconic and popular buildings in the city, I decided to climb the 1,250-foot skyscraper. However, after my first visit to New York City and additional research on the other observation decks to compare them and determine if they were worth a visit, my choice would be different today.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about choosing the best observation deck for your trip and which one I would have chosen based on the information I now have. So let's dive in.
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is one of the most famous and iconic skyscrapers in NYC. What makes it unique is that you can enjoy unobstructed 360° views of the city from both the 86th and 102nd floors. The 86th-floor deck is open-air, while the 102nd-floor deck has enclosed floor-to-ceiling windows, offering an unbeatable panorama stretching up to 80 miles on a clear day.
On a clear day, you can marvel at 360-degree panoramic views of the Hudson River, the East River, New Jer
