Summit is located on the One Vanderbilt, in the heart of Manhattan, next to Grand Central station. It is is a new, innovative destination that combines unparalleled vistas, curated multi-sensory experiences and cutting-edge technology to offer an unprecedented guest experience spanning art, nature, and design. It is produced by SL Green with the immersive art experience designed by Kenzo Digital and interior design by Snøhetta.

The observatory – when you decide to open a new observatory in a city with another four ones, you need to be creative. Whoever conceived the Summit knew this and there are so many experiences that, in some of them, the views are even secondary – but they are still incredible. The observatory starts on the 91st floor and has 4 floors.

The experience – in addition to spectacular views of Midtown and Downtown – no observatory is as close to the Empire State Building as Summit – you still have views of Central Park and the iconic Chrysler Building. Summit has several experiences: Transcendence, which is a huge, mirrored room where every corner you look at provides a different view of the space. Mirrors on the walls, floor, and ceiling create an incredible sense of infinity; Levitation, fully transparent glass skyboxes that jut out of the building and suspend guests 1,063 feet above Madison Avenue; Ascent, two all-glass enclosed elevators which travel up the outside of the building to breathtaking views that soar at 1,210 feet above New York City. It’s like having a VIP view of lower Manhattan. Besides all these spaces and experiences, Summit features an outdoor bar, seating areas to enjoy the magnificent views, and the highest urban outdoor alpine meadow in the world.

TIP: the first room - Transcendence - is usually crowded. Don't feel discouraged. Head to the second floor of the room and you will find empty corners to take beautiful pictures.

Since the opening of Hudson Yards, the largest private real estate development in U.S. history since the Rockefeller Center, the opening of Edge was one of the most anticipated attractions in New York. Edge was open in March 2020 – unfortunately, right before the pandemic hit NYC and all the business had to close. Rising over 1,100 feet in the air from the heart of Hudson Yards, Edge is designed to take visitors out of their comfort zone to experience New York as it has never been seen before.

The observatory – Edge is the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere extending out almost 80 feet from the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards. On the floor of the deck is a glass floor expanding 225 square feet; this glass floor offers unprecedented views of the city. The sky deck is bordered by 3,000 square feet of glass walls divided into 79 panels manufactured in Germany and finished in Italy; each panel is 9 feet tall and weighs 1,200 pounds; the glass panels sit on a 6.6-degree angle facing outwards allowing guests to lean out over the city

The experience – Hudson Yards is located right in the west of Manhattan, at 34th Street and, because of that, it offers a unique and special view of New York City – especially the island of Manhattan. From the Edge, you can see from Central Park to the Statue of Liberty, including iconic buildings like the One World Observatory and the Empire State Building, which is basically facing the Edge. On the floor of the deck is a glass floor expanding 225 square feet; this glass floor offers unprecedented views of the city. Last but not least, the elevator ride to Edge takes 52 seconds.

EXTRA: if you are feeling adventurous, you can try City Climb. It’s the highest external building climb in the world, located above Edge, challenges Climbers to scale the outside of a 1,200+ foot building, then lean out from the outdoor platform.

TIP: if you dine at Peak, the restaurant located right above Edge, you can access the observatory for free.

Opened in 2015, on the top of the Freedom Tower, this observatory has a lot of meanings – given the 9/11 attacks – and symbolizes, in a way, the city’s resilience and its power to rebuild. It is the tallest skyscraper in the western hemisphere. One World Observatory, in a way, started a trend in tourist attractions that has grown more and more: an era where places not only offer what they propose but also a complete experience – a lot of them tailored for Instagram.

The observatory – the building is about 1,776′ tall and the observatory is located on the 102nd floor, providing a 360-degree view of the city. On a clear day, you can see more than 30 miles away. From up there, you can see the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, Empire State Building, New Jersey, Hudson River, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and more.

The experience – Before reaching the elevator, you pass through corridors with several screens that display images of testimonies from people who worked on the building. As you go up, the elevator walls show the development of the city, from the year 1500 to the present day. It is so real that the impression you get is that there is nothing separating you from the outside world. Before reaching the observatory itself, you will come across a huge wall, like a movie screen, which will show an inspiring video of the city – it’s exciting. The video lasts a few minutes and, in the end, the screens go up and show the real views.

Located in the heart of Manhattan, in Midtown, it is probably the most famous building in New York City. Seeing the Empire State is always magical and, for some people, visiting the building itself has a lot of meaning because of its history. The Empire State Building was completed in 1931, and this Art Deco icon still retains its charm – plus, it is an icon that is part of the collective imagination of many people due to so many features in movies and TV series.

The observatory – Empire State Building has 2 observation decks: one on the 86th-floor and another one on the 102th-floor – that you pay extra. 86th-floor one is open and you have 360° views of the city, contemplating places like Central Park and Downtown. Note that this specific area has views obstructed by grids. On the 102th-floor, the experience is totally different. It is a glass-enclosed observation deck, which provides better views compared to the one on the 86th-floor.

The experience – in addition to the two observation decks, Empire State Building still offers a very nice experience through more than 10 exhibits that the visitors pass through on their to the observatory. If you are interested in discovering more about the history behind the building, this experience will make your visit even more interesting. You will see how the Empire State Building was built, relive the building’s defining moments, and put yourself in the clutches of King Kong

It is located in the Rockefeller Center, real state development also in the heart of Manhattan, where you can see the iconic Christmas tree and ice skating rink every year, in addition to NBC studios, shops, and restaurants. Top of the Rock has one of the most iconic and privileged views of the city because it faces the Empire State Building. It is the perfect observatory for anyone looking for nothing less than a classic, perfect view.

The observatory – there are three levels of observation decks to explore at Top of the Rock. The first deck includes the Radiance Wall and the gift shop. The second, featuring the Breezeway, is entirely outdoors, glass-enclosed. The third observation deck, located on the 70th-floor open-air roof deck, is completely outdoors and free of a glass enclosure, making it perfect for photos – but it’s also smaller.

The experience – as it is an observatory with two levels, one with glass protection and the other completely open, the experience is much more intense and exciting. It is one of the most beautiful places to contemplate the sunset in the city – of course, it is also very popular. It is worth remembering that there are no “extras” such as exhibitions or anything like that, as happens at the Empire State. But Top of the Rock delivers what it promises – a privileged place to contemplate New York City from above. In addition, it also has a beautiful view of Central Park.

The Bean - this cool new experience, which opened in December, climbs 12 feet above the observatory, rotating to give visitors unbeatable sights of Central Park and beyond. The Beam recreates “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper” — the famous 1932 photo of 11 ironworkers eating lunch 850 feet in the air during the construction of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Tickets for The Beam can be added to General Admission and Express Pass tickets for $25 while the experience is included in the VIP Pass. Include a digital photo.