In a city with skyscrapers to spare, what’s the best view you can get in New York City? People have their personal favourites, but there really is no shortage. What’s the right one for you? Read on, and check out the summary at the bottom to compare features, views, and prices!

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Empire State Building

There’s an allure to the Empire State Building that’s hard to ignore. It’s famous for a reason, and made ever popular by continuous television and movies set around, on, or in the building. The Empire State Building is located on 34th and 5th Avenue and looms above the nearby Macy’s. If you’re in the area, you can make a day out of it to enjoy a little shopping and then a rise to the top.

The one downside to going up the Empire State Building is that you’re going to be at the top, which means you won’t get views of the iconic building. It’s in a spot that’s a little further from Central Park, but there’s an argument to be made that going to the top of the Empire State Building is more for the experience than the view.

You can get tickets for the experience here.

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Top of the Rock

Rockefeller Plaza is home to the famous Christmas Tree during December, but the rest of the year, you can ascend to the Top of the Rock at the top of Rockefeller for some of the best views of the city. One of the best reasons to go here is that you get a view that includes the Empire State Building (similar to being in Paris and going up Montparnasse so all your pictures have the Eiffel Tower in them).

An additional view-related benefit of Top of the Rock is the location. Because it’s closer to Central Park, you get a good view without it being obscured. Plus, on top of that, there are glass walls instead of metal grating. That’s a lot better for your view.

For more details on Top of the Rock, visit the website here.

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One World

Situated downtown, this gives you views that are the closest to the Statue of Liberty (closer, but not as close as taking a harbour cruise). It’s also built where the Twin Towers stood, so there’s an element of history to it. It’s perhaps the flashiest presentation as well. Instead of just taking an elevator up, you experience a show before the view is revealed in quite a dramatic fashion.

There’s no outdoor viewing area here though. You stay inside the building the whole time, which also means you might be dealing with some glass reflections for your views. It’s a good option for the Wall Street area, but I personally would opt for one of the other options.

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If you still haven’t had enough views of New York City from above, you can also check out The Edge, which is located at Hudson Yards. They’re also planning to add an observation deck to the Chrysler Building

	Height	View	Price (Basic Ticket)
Empire State Building	86 & 102 Floor Observatories	The best open-air views of Statue of Liberty and the skyline.	86th Floor: $44 102nd Floor: $79
Top of the Rock	70 Floors	Fantastic open-air views of both Empire State Building and downtown, plus Central Park	$42
One World Observatory	102 Stories	Close to Statue of Liberty and Wall Street.	$39
The Edge	100 Stories	Glass floor, seating, and great views from the Yards.	$34 (plus $2 processing fee)

My Top Pick: Personally, I think Top of the Rock is the winner. It’s centrally located so that you get a really great view of Central Park on one side and Empire State Building and downtown on the other. It doesn’t have the metal grating that Empire State Building has. The only downside is missing a view of Liberty Island, but at the height you’re at, you’re not missing much.

Plus, it’s on par with the other prices. Empire State Building has definitely capitalized on its popularity and has increased prices as a result. However, maybe you’ve got a personal favourite! Decide for yourself and leave a comment with your recommendation.

Don’t forget to buy tickets in advance before your New York City trip! For many of these towers, they have limited tickets and timed visits, so don’t leave it up to chance. Click on the links above to buy tickets!

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