New York has five major observation decks, and the right one depends on the view you want. From the Empire State Building you see the rest of the city but not the Empire State itself; Top of the Rock and SUMMIT put it in the middle of your photos, Edge adds a glass floor and an outdoor sky deck 1,100 feet up, and One World Observatory looks over Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. For most first visits one deck is enough: book a timed ticket, and book sunset early, because it is the most popular slot everywhere.
New York observation decks compared: which one to choose
New York observation deck tickets: the five to choose from
All five decks sell timed tickets whose prices vary by date and time of day, with sunset the most sought-after. Prices checked on 15 October 2026; live prices in your currency are shown on each card.
Where available, you can reserve now and pay later. Payment dates and eligibility depend on the experience and the options shown at checkout.
Finding experiences…
Top of the Rock
From $46Three levels on the 67th, 69th and 70th floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the top one fully open-air at 850 feet. Open daily from 8am to midnight, last entry 11:10pm. Add-ons include The Beam, a girder that lifts you about 12 feet for the classic ‘lunch atop a skyscraper’ photo, and SKYLIFT, a platform that rises 30 feet above the deck.
Empire State Building
From $50The 86th-floor deck is open-air at 1,050 feet, with heaters in winter, and the exhibitions on the way up cover the building’s construction and pop culture. Upgrade to the 102nd floor, 1,250 feet up behind floor-to-ceiling glass, or to an express ticket to skip the queues. Open every day of the year; there are no refunds for bad weather.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
From $48Three floors of immersive rooms, including mirrored Transcendence and a Yayoi Kusama work, plus Levitation, glass-bottomed ledges 1,100 feet above Madison Avenue, and an open-air terrace. The Ascent upgrade is an all-glass elevator that climbs the outside of the tower to more than 1,200 feet. Open 8am to midnight, last entry 10:30pm; enter from Grand Central.
Edge, Hudson Yards
From $43On the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards: a glass floor, angled glass walls leaning out over the city and an outdoor deck at 1,100 feet, with immersive light installations on the way up. Flexible-time, sunset and Vessel combination tickets are available. The outdoor deck can close in high winds or lightning; the indoor level stays open.
One World Observatory
From $30Floors 100 to 102 of One World Trade Center, fully indoors, reached by SkyPod elevators that show a time-lapse of the city’s growth in under a minute. Open 9am to 9pm (hours change by season); the late-night option after 8pm costs less. If visibility is poor, the observatory’s own policy lets you come back.
Which New York observation deck is best for you?
If you only visit one New York observation deck
Choose Top of the Rock if you want the classic postcard view: it is the one deck where both Central Park and the Empire State Building fill the frame, its top level is fully open-air, and it stays open until midnight. Choose the Empire State Building instead if being inside the landmark itself matters more to you than seeing it.
Empire State Building or Top of the Rock?
The Empire State Building is the experience; Top of the Rock is the view. At the Empire State you visit an Art Deco icon, its exhibitions and an open-air deck in the middle of Midtown, but the building is missing from your photos. Top of the Rock, 16 blocks north, looks straight at it with Central Park behind you. If you are visiting at Christmas, note that the Rockefeller Center tree and rink cannot be seen from Top of the Rock’s decks.
SUMMIT or Edge?
Both are newer and more theatrical than the classics. SUMMIT, above Grand Central, is the more immersive: mirrored rooms, glass ledges and the optional Ascent elevator, with the Empire State and Chrysler buildings close by. Edge, at Hudson Yards on the west side, is about the drop: a glass floor and an outdoor sky deck facing the Hudson, which makes it a favourite at sunset. For adults with a head for heights, Edge also offers City Climb, an outdoor climb to more than 1,200 feet, for ages 13 and over with an adult.
One World Observatory
Go to One World Observatory if you are spending the day downtown: it looks over Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Bridge, and it is next to the 9/11 Memorial. It is fully indoors, so it works in any weather, but it is further from Midtown than the other four.
Do you need a city pass for the observation decks?
Only if you also plan several museums or a cruise: one deck is enough for most first visits. New York CityPASS lets you choose the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock or Edge among its options, and Go City also includes One World Observatory; neither includes SUMMIT. Add-ons such as the Empire State’s 102nd floor or Top of the Rock’s Beam usually cost extra.
Map of New York observation decks and how to get there
Four of the five decks are in Midtown; One World Observatory is in Lower Manhattan. Times are approximate from Bryant Park, in the middle of Midtown.
Subway to each deck
- Empire State Building (20 West 34th Street): B, D, F, M, N, Q, R or W to 34 St–Herald Sq, or 1, 2, 3, A, C or E to 34 St–Penn Station, about 5 minutes’ walk.
- Top of the Rock (entrance on 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues): B, D, F or M to 47–50 Sts–Rockefeller Center.
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt (45 East 42nd Street): 4, 5, 6, 7 or the Shuttle to Grand Central–42 St; enter from Grand Central or 42nd Street, not the office lobbies.
- Edge (30 Hudson Yards, level 4 of The Shops): 7 to 34 St–Hudson Yards, or A, C or E to 34 St–Penn Station.
- One World Observatory (117 West Street): E to World Trade Center, 1 to WTC Cortlandt, R or W to Cortlandt St, or 2, 3, 4 or 5 to Fulton St.
New York’s five observation decks on the map
1SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
about 5 minFloors 91 to 93 above Grand Central, with mirrored rooms, glass ledges and the Ascent elevator.
2Top of the Rock
about 8 minThree open and enclosed levels at Rockefeller Center, facing Central Park and the Empire State Building.
3Empire State Building
about 10 minThe open-air 86th-floor deck and the glass-walled 102nd floor, open every day of the year.
4Edge, Hudson Yards
about 20 minAn outdoor sky deck and glass floor on the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards, next to the High Line.
5One World Observatory
about 20 min by subwayFloors 100 to 102 of One World Trade Center, beside the 9/11 Memorial.
Best time to visit a New York observation deck
Sunset is the most popular time at every deck, so book it well ahead or go earlier in the day, when it is quieter.
- For sunset, choose a slot well before the sun goes down, so you see the city in daylight, at dusk and lit up.
- Late evening is calmer: Top of the Rock and SUMMIT stay open until midnight.
- Check the forecast for cloud: the Empire State Building gives no refunds for weather, while Top of the Rock lets you reschedule and One World Observatory lets you return if visibility is poor.
- Edge’s outdoor deck and Top of the Rock’s Beam and SKYLIFT can close in high winds.
New York observation deck rules: bags, clothing and children
Travel light: none of the five decks has a cloakroom or lockers for large bags.
- Luggage and large bags are refused everywhere; SUMMIT allows nothing larger than a standard backpack, and One World Observatory sets a maximum of 25 × 17 × 9 inches.
- At SUMMIT, wear trousers, shorts or tights on the mirrored and glass floors; stilettos, work boots and cleats are not allowed. A non-reflective path is available.
- Tripods and professional camera stands are not allowed at Edge, Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building.
- Children 5 and under go free at the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock and SUMMIT; at Edge, young children are free too, and under-12s must stay with an adult. Under-17s need an adult at One World Observatory.
New York observation deck accessibility
All five decks are wheelchair accessible by lift. At Top of the Rock, SKYLIFT takes wheelchairs but The Beam does not; SUMMIT has a limited number of wheelchairs to borrow, and its Ascent elevator is designed for equal access.
Mistakes to avoid at New York observation decks
The classic mistake is choosing the Empire State Building for a photo of the Empire State Building: you need another deck for that.
- Leaving sunset tickets to the last minute. They are the first to sell out.
- Wearing a short skirt or dress at SUMMIT’s mirrored floors without tights or shorts.
- Bringing a suitcase on the way to or from the airport. There is nowhere to leave it.
- Going up on a day of low cloud without checking your ticket’s weather policy.
- Expecting to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree from Top of the Rock. It is not visible from the decks.
New York observation decks FAQ
Which is the best observation deck in New York?
For most first-time visitors, Top of the Rock: its open-air top level shows Central Park and the Empire State Building in one view, and it is open until midnight. Choose the Empire State Building for the landmark itself, SUMMIT for mirrored rooms and glass ledges, and Edge for a glass floor at sunset.
Which New York observation deck is the highest?
One World Observatory and the Empire State Building’s 102nd floor both look out from about 1,250 feet, behind glass. The highest outdoor deck is Edge, at 1,100 feet.
Is Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building better?
Top of the Rock has the better view, because the Empire State Building is in it; the Empire State Building is the better experience if you want to be inside the landmark, with its exhibitions and open-air 86th floor.
What time do New York observation decks close?
Top of the Rock and SUMMIT close at midnight (last entry 11:10pm and 10:30pm), Edge currently at 10pm and One World Observatory at 9pm. The Empire State Building’s hours change through the year, usually closing at 10 or 11pm.
What should you wear to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt?
Trousers, shorts or tights are best, because several floors are mirrored or glass. Stilettos, work boots and cleats are not allowed.
Are children free at New York observation decks?
Children aged 5 and under go free at the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock and SUMMIT with a paying adult, and Edge also admits young children free. One World Observatory does not publish a free age.
What happens if it is cloudy?
It depends on the deck: the Empire State Building gives no refunds for weather, Top of the Rock lets you reschedule, and One World Observatory lets you come back if visibility is poor. Edge’s indoor level stays open when the outdoor deck closes.
How long do you need at an observation deck?
According to the ticket listings, about 45 to 90 minutes at the Empire State Building, an hour at Top of the Rock, 90 minutes at Edge, two hours at One World Observatory and one to three hours at SUMMIT.
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We checked the facts on this page against these sources on October 15, 2026. Prices and times can change, so confirm them when you book.
- Empire State Building: 86th floor observation deck (esbnyc.com)
- Empire State Building: 86th and 102nd floor observation decks (esbnyc.com)
- Empire State Building: hours of operation (esbnyc.com)
- Empire State Building: ticket policies (esbnyc.com)
- Empire State Building: observatories and exhibits (esbnyc.com)
- Empire State Building: map and directions (esbnyc.com)
- Rockefeller Center: Top of the Rock observation deck and FAQ (rockefellercenter.com)
- Rockefeller Center: map and directions (rockefellercenter.com)
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: visit (summitov.com)
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: tickets and hours (summitov.com)
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: ticket packages and experiences (info.summitov.com)
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: what is Ascent? (info.summitov.com)
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: recommended dress code (info.summitov.com)
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: bags and coat check (info.summitov.com)
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: location and entrances (info.summitov.com)
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: accessibility (summitov.com)
- Edge: FAQs (edgenyc.com)
- Edge: visit (edgenyc.com)
- Edge: City Climb (edgenyc.com)
- Edge: getting here (edgenyc.com)
- One World Observatory: plan your visit (oneworldobservatory.com)
- One World Observatory: the experience (oneworldobservatory.com)
- One World Observatory: SkyPod elevators (oneworldobservatory.com)
- New York CityPASS (citypass.com)
- Go City New York: attractions (gocity.com)
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From prices are indicative. Choose your date and confirm availability, cancellation terms and the final total on the booking page. * Ratings and reviews are collected by Viator and Tripadvisor.
* “What travellers say” summaries are written with AI from recent reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor, covering every star rating (October 2026).