Which Is The Best Observation Deck In New York City?
5th - One World Observatory
The One World Observatory is the highest observation deck in the city located on the 102nd floor, 1,268 ft tall, this observation deck kicks off the list at number 5. The observation deck gives you a great view of the Statue of Liberty and the Hudson River, however, due to other taller buildings in the area you may find it harder to see things such as the Brooklyn Bridge. The reason it is 5th on my list is purely location. Being located in lower Manhattan it's a pain to get to, it is also a great distance away from the more iconic buildings such as the Empire State and the Chrysler Building. I'm not saying don't do it however if you want the iconic city views you see in the pictures, then an observation deck in midtown will be better for you.
4th - Edge
Edge is the tallest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere. It is located in the Hudson Yards area, right next to the iconic honeycomb structure (The Vessel). This was a very tough call to put in 4th because of how good the views are. However, something has to go 4th, so it's Edge. Being located in Hudson Yards, it is out of the way and slightly quieter than 3-1 on this list and has great views of the Empire State Building, but that's about it, you'll struggle to see Central Park or the Chrysler Building from this observation deck which is one of the reasons it's 4th on the list. Another reason is that it isn't for the faint-hearted. The deck extends from the building (as shown in the below image) with what looks like no supports and is entirely outdoors, with a glass floor. Anyone afraid of heights should stay clear of this attraction.
3rd - Top of The Rock
Widely regarded as having the best views of the Empire State Building and Central Park, Top of the Rock is the first observation deck that I am going to say you should do! Located in the Rockefeller Center, this observation deck is the lowest in the city. In my opinion, that is a perk; you feel surrounded by the concrete jungle, and so many buildings are in your eye line. The observation deck consists of 3 floors, two of which are outside and one inside. The inside floor is where the cafe, seating area and mini shop are located, the elevators also take you to this floor, and to get to the outside decks, there are escalators. Top of the Rock is the only observation deck where you can get clear views of Central Park and is also the observation deck that is centrally facing the Empire State Building.
2nd - Empire State Observation Deck
Many people say "don't go up the Empire State because you can't see the Empire State from the Empire State." I disagree. I think you must do this observation deck and you should do it at night. Being the most central observation deck in the city, it is a must do attraction you can see all 4 sides of manhattan by walking in a circle, well square. I did this at night on my first day there and wow, it blew me away. It is one of the busiest observation decks and the secuirty area, is an absolute nightmare but once your through there, there is so much to look at, from learning about how it was built to meeting King Kong this observation deck really is one of the best in the city.
1st - Summit One Vanderbilt
Summit is more than an observation deck; it's an experience like no other, and that's why it ranks number 1 on my list. Spanning three floors, Summit has some of the best views in all of the city. You can experience rooms with mirror artwork or silver chrome balloons floating around the room while you gaze at the incredible view of the city. This observation deck is the most immersive all and that is why it is also the hardest to get reservations for. If you are planning on going you need to be booking at least 2 weeks in advance to guarantee you can visit the observation deck.
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