The best observation decks in New York
New York City has many observation decks that give you spectacular views of the city. There is hardly anything more spectacular than standing far above the city streets and looking down over the expansive concrete jungle. Which observation decks there are, which ones are free, and a few insider tips are all included in our list of best observation platforms in NYC.
Contents
The Best Observation Platforms in New York
| Name | One World Observatory | Empire State Building | Top of The Rock | Statue of Liberty-crown |
| Building | One World Trade Center | Empire State Building | Rockefeller Center | Statue of Liberty |
| Claim to fame | Highest observation deck in New York | NYC’s most famous observation deck | Best view of NYC, Empire State Building & Central Park | Observation deck in the water |
| Image |  |  |  |  |
| Location | Lower Manhattan | Midtown | Midtown | Liberty Island (Lower Manhattan) |
| Opened | 2015 | 1931 | 1936 | 1886 |
| Observation deck elevation | 381 m | 320 m | 259 m | 93 m |
| Open floor(s) of observation deck | – | 86th Floor | 70th Floor | – |
| Floor(s) with panoramic windows | 100th – 102nd Floor | 102nd Floor | 67th and 69th Floor | – |
| Our Insider Guide | Read Insider Guide to One World Observatory | Read Insider Guide to Empire State Bldg. | Read Insider Guide to Top of the Rock | Read Insider Guide to Statue of Liberty |
| Hours of operation: | daily 9 am – midnight | daily 8 am – 02:00am | daily 8:30 am – midnight | daily 8:30 am (first ferry) |
| Last Elevator | 11:15 pm | 1:15 am | 11 pm | 6:45 pm (last ferry) |
| Included in the New York passes? |  |
See Comparison |
See Comparison |  |
| Tickets | BUY | BUY | BUY | BUY |
Free observation decks in New York
Just like everybody else, we love free things at Loving New York – even better is if you can get something for free that you wouldn’t mind paying for. Free observation decks definitely fit into that category! There are two different ways of enjoying great views of New York for free.
You have a New York pass
The very popular observation decks on top of the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center (Top of the Rock) are included in the New York passes. With these sightseeing passes, you pay a fixed amount up front, and can then visit many attractions for free. It is basically a flat rate for NYC attractions. Take a look at the Comparison of New York passes – with a pass, you can save up to 70% compared to the cost of purchasing regular tickets individually!
Get personal tips & tricks, specifically tailored to your trip!
Our New York expert Moritz will provide you with individual tips & tricks as you prepare for your trip. How to plan, save money and make sure you experience the most of NYC are only some of the topics covered!
You go to a rooftop bar
If you want to enjoy New York high above, another option is to go to one of the many rooftop bars and lounges the city has to offer. Our tip: the rooftop bar 230 Fifth or Spyglass – both will give you stunning views of the Empire State Building and are definitely some of our favorite rooftop bars in the city.
You can find the best rooftop bars in New York in my list:
Our favorite observation decks in NYC
One World Observatory at One World Trade Center
The observation deck on top of the One World Trade Center is one of the newest attractions in the Big Apple. The so-called One World Observatory opened in May 2015 and offers spectacular views over Manhattan at a height of 381 meters. This makes the One World Observatory the highest observation platform in the city, meaning the views are nothing short of spectacular.
More about observation platform One World Observatory
Empire State Building Observation Deck
With its observation deck on the 86th Floor, the Empire State Building offers the highest open observation deck in New York! Due to the fact that it is not encased in glass or covered with a roof, it is one the most popular observation decks of the city and definitely one of the most spectacular. Additionally, the Empire State Building has a second observation platform on the 102nd floor that is enclosed and features large panoramic windows. Tickets to get to the 102nd floor cost an additional $19 (this is not worth it in our opinion – the extra floors do not necessarily give you a better view!).
More about the observation deck at the Empire State Building
Observation platform at New York Rockefeller Center
The observation deck at Rockefeller Center is also known as Top of the Rock. This is definitely our favorite observation deck of the city as it gives you great views of the Empire State Building as well as Central Park. It also allows you to take the typical NYC picture of the Empire State Building standing tall among the other skyscrapers of Central Manhattan, as in the header picture above. Another advantage of Top of the Rock compared to the others is that it is much less crowded thanks to the timed entry system. Instead of waiting in line you will receive a time to come back when you purchase your tickets. This time management not only makes the observation deck much less busy but it also allows you to cut down on the time spent in the queue waiting to get to the top!
More about the observation platform Top of the Rock
Observation platform in the crown of the Statue of Liberty
The crown of the Statue of Liberty is very popular with tourists. We have climbed the stairs to the crown ourselves and, to be completely honest, found the experience somewhat overrated. Long wait lines and a small, tight viewing area in the crown did persuade us this was worth the visit. Our tip: if you want to see the Statue of Liberty up close, take a boat cruise around Manhattan or take pictures from the free Staten Island Ferry. The view from the top of the Statue of Liberty is not that great either, due to being quite a distance from Manhattan most of what you see is water.
More about the Statue of Liberty
One World Observatory
Visiting the One World Trade Center is a very special experience, not only does the...
The Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is arguably the most renowned skyscrapers in New York and one...
Top of the Rock Observation Deck
The Top of the Rock observation deck is one of the most popular attractions in New...
Visiting the Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty, also known as Lady Liberty, is a universal symbol of freedom....
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