Travellers far and wide visiting New York are never disappointed with the world famous skyline. Be it admired from 1,000 up or from the ground, it never fails to impress.
Here are our best chosen vantage points…
1- Brooklyn Bridge Park
Perhaps one of New York City’s most popular attractions because it is so photogenic. A feat of engineering is itself a sight to behold. You will be in awe of the beautiful craftsmanship and expansive views of Manhattan, Brooklyn and the harbour along the landmark’s walkway. Many say that you haven’t really experienced New York until you’ve walked or biked the 1.1 miles at sunrise.
2 – Empire State Building
The most famous observation deck in the city, an icon itself on the city skyline and certainly deserves this crown. It is worth the visit no matter how busy with romantics and picture-crazy tourists… Standing since 1930, the building itself is a sight to behold but if the view of the New York cityscape doesn’t affect you, being up on the 86-story-high open-air deck certainly will. For those feeling braver you can travel further up to the 102nd floor to the newly renovated Observation Deck which features 360-degree views through floor to ceiling glass windows.
3 – The High Line
The High Line is an elevated railway transformed into a public park on Manhattan’s West Side. The park features lush horticulture, artworks, seasonal food vendors, community programming, and unique views of the Hudson River and New York City skyline. The High Line runs between Gansevoort Street to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues.
Walking along the abandoned elevated train tracks of the High Line, you can feel the pulse of the city high above the trendy Meatpacking District, Chelsea streets and the area’s mixture of historic buildings and new developments.
4 – SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
Summit One Vanderbilt sits atop One Vanderbilt, a 1,401-foot-high skyscraper.
Explore 3 levels of mind-bending multi-sensory immersive experiences that will forever change the way you view New York at any time, day or night. SUMMIT takes the concept of an “observation deck” to entirely new heights through a collection of breathtaking installations: AIR, a blend of story-driven immersive art experiences mixing transparency and reflectivity to create the illusion of boundless space. AIR AT NIGHT, dramatic waves of colour illuminate AIR turning SUMMIT into a beacon of light and energy. LEVITATION, transparent glass-enclosed skyboxes extending over 1,000 ft above Madison Avenue. ASCENT, a sensory defying all-glass elevator reaching SUMMIT’s highest elevation (1,210 ft) above Midtown. APRES Indoor Café and Outdoor Terrace Bar featuring a curated menu of light far and cocktails.
Located inside Grand Central Terminal, SUMMIT Experience tickets start at just $39.
5 – The Edge
Edge is the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere located at 30 Hudson Yards and is certainly not for the faint-hearted, it is the viewing deck of choice for adrenaline junkies. If leaning against the angled glass walls and peering down to the streets 1,100 feet below isn’t scary enough, the bravest of visitors can scale the crown of the building with City Climb – the highest open-air building ascent in the world. A tipple at the Champagne Bar, or another of Hudson Yard’s eateries, is a must after that!
6 – Central Park
A horse carriage ride through Central Park is often on visitors must do list when visiting New York. Both relaxing and educational, expert drivers are keen to point out the buildings lining the park, from The Plaza and the Guggenheim to John Lennon’s final abode. Central Park has a perimeter of six miles, so there is a lot to cover on foot. The horses are well looked after too, with regular holidays in the countryside.
7 – Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Centre
Take in 360-degree views of the city and believe the hype. Nested at the height of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Top of the Rock’s three levels of indoor and outdoor observation decks deliver spectacular, unobstructed views of the city skyline. With terraces facing east, west, north and south, the panoramic sights make it the ultimate observation deck in NYC.
The view of Gotham from 70 stories up allows visitors to not only see other landmark skyscrapers around midtown, but also to see the full sprawl of Central Park.
8 – One World Observatory
102 stories up, find yourself face-to-face with New York’s iconic skyline. Maybe you’ve seen views of the city before, but never quite like this. Walk the three sprawling levels of the Observatory and discover surprises along the way.
Crowds have clamored for the chance to ride the high-speed elevators to floors 100 through 102 of One World Trade Center. While it might seem a bit like a cheesy tourist attraction, there’s nothing that can compare to the panoramic views more than 1,250 feet above the city’s streets.
If you are considering a short break to New York we would love to go through the options with you so do get in touch.
