If "seeing the night view" is on your must-do list for New York, then "which observatory should we go to?" is probably the most common dilemma for every traveler. From the classic Empire State Building to the incredibly futuristic SUMMIT One, NYC offers a huge variety of high-altitude experiences—so how do you actually choose? In this guide, we've compiled the five major observatories in New York, giving you an in-depth comparison of their viewing angles, overall experience, ticket prices, and photo opportunities. If you're trying to find the perfect observatory for your trip, you definitely won't want to miss this!

New York Travel Info

★ [Transport] Hop-On Hop-Off Bus | Car Rental
★ [SIM Cards] US/Canada/Mexico SIM Delivery | US eSIM
★ [Tickets] Attraction Passes | American Museum of Natural History | Vessel | 9/11 Memorial & Museum
★ [Family] Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum | Central Park Zoo | LEGOLAND New York
★ [Observatories] SUMMIT One Vanderbilt | Top of the Rock | Edge | Empire State Building
★ [Broadway] Harry Potter and the Cursed Child | The Lion King | Aladdin
★ [Guide] NYC Family Attractions | 5 Major Observatories Guide | Target Must-Buys

Table of Contents

★ Empire State Building Observatory
★ Top of the Rock Observatory
★ SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
★ Edge Observatory
★ One World Observatory
★ Quick Comparison Table of the 5 Observatories
★ Map of the 5 Observatories

★ Empire State Building Observatory

☆ Location: 20 W 34th St., New York | Map Link
☆ Hours: Varies daily, check official website
☆ Tickets: Official Site | Klook | New York CityPASS | New York Go City

Completed in 1931, the Empire State Building is New York's most iconic landmark. It has made countless appearances in classic movies and TV shows like An Affair to Remember, You've Got Mail, King Kong, and Sleepless in Seattle. When we visit the Empire State Building, we always get that magical, surreal feeling of "Wow, we are really in New York."

Tickets to the Empire State Building Observatory include access to the 2nd-floor museum, which brilliantly showcases the building's construction process, 1930s New York streetscapes, an interactive King Kong exhibit, and its architectural history. The exhibits are rich and incredibly story-driven, making it the most comprehensive historical and cultural experience of all the NYC observatories!

Up on the 86th floor, the open-air observation deck offers spectacular views of Midtown Manhattan, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, and One World Trade Center. The Empire State Building combines history, atmosphere, and storytelling in such a unique way—standing up there, you're not just taking in the view, you're immersing yourself in the history of New York itself. Many travelers even say, "You haven't truly been to New York until you've visited the Empire State Building."

However, there is one obvious downside: you can't see the Empire State Building itself while you're standing inside it! If that's a dealbreaker for your photos, we highly recommend checking out Top of the Rock or SUMMIT One instead!

★ Top of the Rock Observatory

☆ Location: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York | Map Link
☆ Hours: ☆ Tickets: Official Site | Klook | New York CityPASS | New York Go City

"Top of the Rock" is the famous observatory located on the 67th, 69th, and 70th floors of Rockefeller Center. While its height is slightly lower than some of the newer observatories in the city, its viewpoint is arguably the absolute best for capturing the Empire State Building! If you want that classic, postcard-perfect shot of the Empire State Building soaring over the New York skyline, Top of the Rock is absolutely the place to go.

Plus, the location is unbeatable. Down at street level, the golden Prometheus statue in Rockefeller Plaza is an iconic NYC landmark in its own right. In the winter, the plaza transforms into New York's most dreamy ice-skating rink, and during November and December, adorned with the spectacular Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, it becomes one of the most festive spots in the entire city! The surrounding area is also fantastic for exploring—Times Square and Fifth Avenue are just steps away, and the legendary American toy store FAO Schwarz is practically right next door!

★ SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

☆ Location: 45 E 42nd St, New York | Map Link
☆ Hours: Daily 9am-12am
☆ Tickets: Official Site | Klook

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is without a doubt the trendiest, most Instagram-worthy, and most interactive of all five major observatories in New York right now! Not only does it offer breathtaking 360-degree views of the city, but you also get a phenomenal, close-up look at the Empire State Building.

The observatory cleverly utilizes transparent glass and mirrored reflections to create an incredibly futuristic landscape! There's even a whole room filled with floating silver balloons—scattered on the floor and drifting through the air. It's an amazing space where adults can snap gorgeous photos and kids can have an absolute blast! If you're feeling brave, you can step out onto the transparent glass floor boxes 1,100 feet above Madison Avenue to look straight down at the city streets—or (for an extra fee) ride the world's largest glass-bottomed exterior elevator even higher!

The diverse and immersive design of SUMMIT One completely redefines the traditional observatory experience. If you get the chance, you absolutely have to experience it for yourself!

Quick tip: If you're planning to wear a skirt or dress, definitely remember to wear shorts underneath, because the mirrored floors will expose everything! Also, keep in mind that the transparent floors and suspended designs might be a bit too thrilling for some young kids, so factor that in if you're traveling as a family!

📌 Recommended Reading: 【New York】Ultimate Guide to the Top 10 Must-Visit Spots in Grand Central Terminal

★ Edge Observatory

☆ Location: 481 8th Ave, New York | Map Link
☆ Hours: Mon-Thu 9am-10pm | Fri-Sat 8am-10pm | Sun 8am-7pm
☆ Tickets: Official Site | Klook | New York CityPASS | New York Go City

The massive, triangular, suspended observation deck known as "The Edge" stands at a staggering 1,131 feet (about 345 meters) tall, making it the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. Standing out on this enormous protruding platform genuinely makes you feel like you are floating right above New York.

Its 100th-floor vantage point offers incredibly expansive views, allowing you to easily spot multiple landmarks like the Hudson River, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and One World Trade Center. A large section of the platform features a glass floor—looking straight down at the bustling NYC streets from a suspended, transparent deck is definitely a much more thrilling experience than your standard observation deck!

With its jutting platform, glass floor, and angled glass walls, The Edge not only lets you experience the sensation of "floating in mid-air," but it also makes for exceptionally dramatic photos. It's the perfect choice for travelers who love photography and a little adrenaline rush!

The Edge is located in Hudson Yards, an area known for its ultra-futuristic architecture. So, in addition to checking out the observatory, you can admire the surrounding buildings and easily plan an itinerary that includes the High Line, Little Island, Chelsea Market, and the Intrepid Museum!

★ One World Observatory

☆ Location: 117 West St, New York | Map Link
☆ Hours: Daily 9am-9pm
☆ Tickets: Official Site | Klook | New York Go City

One World Trade Center is a deeply symbolic building, reconstructed on the original World Trade Center site following the events of 9/11. It stands as a powerful beacon of rebirth. If the Empire State Building is "Classic New York," One World Trade is the "Rebirth of New York."

Taking the elevator up to the observatory is an experience in itself—it whisks you up to the 102nd floor in just 47 seconds, all while playing an immersive time-lapse animation of New York's skyline evolving over hundreds of years. Many people consider this the absolute best elevator ride in all of NYC!

Beyond the incredible elevator, the entire observatory feels incredibly modern. The interactive circular screens inside allow you to touch and learn about every building in sight. If you love a sleek, high-tech vibe, One World Observatory is an excellent choice.

Located at the southernmost tip of Manhattan, it is the only observatory that offers a complete, sweeping view of the Midtown skyline, the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, Jersey City, and the convergence of the Hudson and East Rivers. It is brilliant for travelers who want to photograph the harbor! Plus, as the tallest observatory in New York, the field of vision is tremendously wide—on a clear day, you can see incredibly far.

However, do note that One World Observatory is entirely indoors with no outdoor deck. This is fantastic for staying out of the wind and rain on bad weather days, but if you're looking for an open-air viewing and photography experience, you might want to look at one of the other observatories on our list!

★ Quick Comparison Table of the 5 Observatories

	Empire State Building	Top of the Rock	SUMMIT	Edge	One World
Height	86th Floor (Upgrade to 102nd available)	67th, 69th, 70th Floors	91st to 93rd Floors	100th to 101st Floors	100th-102nd Floors
Indoors / Outdoors	Indoors + Outdoors	Indoors + Outdoors	Indoors + Outdoors (Mainly Indoors)	Indoors + Outdoors (Mainly Outdoors)	Indoors Only
Pros	The building itself is a classic; aside from the views, you can tour the Empire State's history exhibits.	Excellent viewing angles + the most classic New York skyline view seen on postcards.	The newest observatory experience; perfectly blends artistic installations with highly interactive elements.	Stunning suspended outdoor platform design, glass floors, and transparent barriers + expansive views with fantastic sunset angles.	The absolute best angles for photographing the Statue of Liberty, the riverfront, and Brooklyn Bridge + incredibly high-tech exhibits.
Cons	You can't see the Empire State Building itself.	Observatory height is relatively lower.	Very crowded, higher ticket prices, and not included in city passes.	Outdoor deck can be very cold and windy in winter.	No outdoor deck + located farther away from Midtown.
Best For	Travelers seeking a classic NYC pilgrimage and history/culture buffs.	Photography enthusiasts and anyone wanting to shoot the Empire State Building within the classic city skyline.	Travelers looking for a trendy, immersive experience who love taking Instagram-worthy photos.	Thrill-seekers, photography lovers, and travelers wanting the perfect sunset shots.	Travelers who want views of the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge + a warm, indoor backup plan for rainy days.
Ticket Price	About USD 44–80 (varies by time/floor)	About USD 42–70	About USD 39–73 (higher during peak/evening)	About USD 36–73	About USD 39–63
CityPASS	✔️	✔️	❌	✔️	❌
Go City	✔️	✔️	❌	✔️	✔️
Nearby Attractions	Madison Square Park + Flatiron Building	Times Square + Fifth Avenue	Grand Central Terminal + NY Public Library	Hudson Yards + The High Line + Intrepid Museum	9/11 Memorial & Museum + Twin Towers Memorial Pools + World Trade Center Station (The Oculus)

★ Map of the 5 Observatories

To sum up how to choose between New York's five major observatories: If viewing angles are your top priority and you want to see the Empire State Building, then Top of the Rock and SUMMIT are your best bets. If you want a closer look at the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge, you can't go wrong with One World Observatory. If you're craving the adrenaline rush of "standing in the sky" outdoors, The Edge is the undisputed winner! And if you love the city's history, the Empire State Building remains an unbeatable classic.

If you have the time and want to visit more than one, we highly recommend choosing two observatories with entirely different perspectives (such as Top of the Rock + The Edge) for a much richer experience rather than picking just one! You can use our map above to get a sense of their general locations and see how they might fit into your own New York itinerary!

If you're interested in more New York attractions, or want to know everything you need to prepare for a trip to the Big Apple, check out this comprehensive guide Cherry put together for us: 👉🏻 【New York Travel Guide】35 Must-Visit Attractions Map, Transport & Safety, and Itinerary Planning

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