5 observation decks
The skyline, from up top — every deck worth the ticket price. Clear days sell out; book ahead if the forecast looks good.
Empire State Building
Opened in 1931, the Empire State Building reigned as the world's tallest building for nearly 40 years until the World Trade Center surpassed it in 1970.
Reserve a timed-entry slot in advance and expect an airport-style security screening; visibility isn't guaranteed and the building doesn't refund for cloudy or hazy days.
Top of the Rock
The deck debuted in 1933 but closed in 1986; the modern Top of the Rock reopened in 2005 after a renovation that added lengthened elevator shafts and a new entrance.
Book a timed slot ahead, since the deck sells out at popular hours, and treat sunset visits as the most crowded window of the day.
One World Observatory
Built atop the original World Trade Center site, its SkyPod elevators reach the 102nd floor in under a minute — the highest indoor observation deck in New York City.
Reserve a timed entry online, pass through security screening similar to an airport, and know that haze or low cloud ceilings can significantly limit the view regardless of season.
Edge
Edge's cantilevered outdoor terrace juts 80 feet from the tower on the 100th floor, making it the highest OUTDOOR sky deck in the Western Hemisphere when it opened in 2020.
Because it's an open-air deck, wind, rain, or fog can close sections or blur the view, so check conditions before you book and expect crowds to build toward evening.
SUMMIT
Rather than a conventional view deck, its top floors house "Air," a permanent mirrored art installation by Kenzo Digital spanning over 30,000 square feet of reflective glass, opened in 2021.
The mirrored installation is partly an art experience rather than a pure viewing platform, so book ahead and expect the space to feel most crowded in late afternoon.