Looking to see New York from above and enjoy panoramic views of the city during your stay ? Head to the top of one of the 5 observation platforms (called "observation decks") to get an adrenaline rush and take in the skyline of New York.

1. Empire State Building

Let's start with one of the most famous buildings in the world: the Empire State Building. A true icon of New York, it was inaugurated in 1931, making it the city's oldest observatory. Located on the prestigious Fifth Avenue, this Art Deco skyscraper stands 381 m tall (443.2 m including the antenna) and has 102 floors.

When you visit the Empire State Building, you can access not one but two observation platforms. The main observatory is located on the 86th floor and circles the building's spire. It offers a 360° view (in the open air, with no glass) of several must-see neighborhoods in New York such as Brooklyn and Queens. On clear days, you can even spot 6 states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Delaware.

The other platform (the upper platform) is located on the 102nd floor. It's accessible via a glass elevator and offers an even more breathtaking panorama through massive bay windows. 

To learn more about the history of the Empire State Building, visit the 2nd and 80th floors where exhibitions trace the building's construction as well as its role throughout the country's history and culture. Admission to the exhibitions is included in ticket prices.

Address: 20 W 34th St., New York, NY 10001, États-Unis
Hours: Daily from 8:00 AM to 2:00 AM* (reservations include specific time slots that must be respected for your visit).
Prices:

• Main Observatory (86th floor): from $44 per adult ($38 for children 6-12 years, $42 for ages 62+, free for under 6) ;

• Main Observatory + Upper Observatory (102nd floor): from $79 per adult ($73 for children 6-12 years, $77 for ages 62+, free for under 6).

2. Top of the Rock

The Top of the Rock observation platform is located on the roof of the Comcast building (formerly called the GE Building), the main skyscraper of the Rockefeller Center. Located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, the observatory reaches a height of 259 m. You'll need to climb 70 floors to reach the three-level terraces of the observation platform.

While the first two levels feature open-air terraces with railings and glass, the highest platform is the only New York observatory without railings or glass. As for the view, Top of the Rock offers stunning vistas of the city, from Central Park to the Empire State Building, passing the Brooklyn Bridge, the Chrysler Building, and the neighborhoods of Brooklyn, New Jersey, and Queens.

Many travelers wonder which observatory to choose between the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock. The answer is simple: both, as they complement each other perfectly. Indeed, while the Empire State Building offers a more impressive view due to its height, Top of the Rock is considered the best vantage point for photographing New York's skyline with the Empire State Building in the center.

Take the opportunity to visit the studios of the famous television network NBC while you're in the area. You'll discover shooting locations for the country's most popular shows (such as Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show) as well as the headquarters for some of the United States' favorite news programs.

Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112, États-Unis
Hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to midnight (last admissions at 11:10 PM)*.
Prices: $40 per adult ($34 for children 6-12 years, $38 for ages 62+, free for under 6).

3. One World Observatory

This observatory belongs to One World Trade Center (nicknamed "Freedom Tower"), the tower that succeeded the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center after their destruction in the September 11, 2001 attacks. Standing 546 m tall, it is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. 

As a fun fact, the tower bears the same name as the North Tower of the original World Trade Center and reaches a symbolic height of 1,176 feet (546 m) in honor of the year of the American Declaration of Independence. 

Located at the top of the tower, on the 100th, 101st, and 102nd floors, One World Observatory is accessible via the impressive SkyPod elevators, which climb 102 floors in just 47 seconds. 

Once at the top, visitors can enjoy 360° panoramas (behind glass) from the 3 levels of the observatory. You can see the entire southern part of Manhattan, the Financial District, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, Staten Island, and New Jersey.

Don't miss the Sky Portal, a circular glass platform that allows you to see what's happening 100 floors below.

Address: 117 West St, New York, NY 10007, États-Unis
Hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM*
Prices: from $39 per adult (free for under 6). Family packages are also available.

4. Edge (Edge Observation Deck)

The Edge Observation Deck is an observation platform belonging to 30 Hudson Yards (also called "North Tower"), a 387 m tall skyscraper located in the Hudson Yards neighborhood, on the west side of Manhattan. 

Inaugurated in March 2020, the observatory is a true feat of architecture, engineering, and technology. Indeed, the observation platform on the 101st floor resembles an excresence of the building. 

It's a triangular-shaped observation bridge jutting into the void. This suspended terrace of 24 m is situated at 335 m high and is surrounded by inclined glass walls to get closer to the void and contemplate the panorama. In the middle of the platform, visitors can discover a glass floor that allows them to see the city streets beneath their feet, 100 m below. 

The Edge observation platform offers a 360° view of all of western Manhattan, from the tip of Central Park to beyond the Statue of Liberty. It's the ideal observatory for travelers seeking a rush of adrenaline !

Address: 30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001, États-Unis
Hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM (last admissions at 9:10 PM)*.
Prices: from $34 per adult ($31 for children 6-12 years, $34 for ages 62+ and free for under 6).

5. Summit One Vanderbilt

Inaugurated in September 2020, Summit One Vanderbilt is the most recent observatory in New York. It's located atop one of the city's tallest towers: the One Vanderbilt tower (427 m tall including its spire). 

More than just a simple observatory, Summit One Vanderbilt offers an interactive experience spanning 3 floors (from the 91st to the 93rd floor). The visit includes several installations and exhibitions whose scenography gives the place a mystical atmosphere with numerous perspectives...

Among the different spaces, you'll find the "Air" installations by artist Kenzo Digital including the "Transcendence 1" room, a glass space with mirrored ceilings creating an unlimited space, and the "Affinity" room where silver balloons fill the space, reflecting the sky and New York landscape.

The experience continues with the "Levitation" stage where visitors enter transparent sky boxes more than 335 m above Madison Avenue. Not to mention the famous panoramic terrace (indoor and outdoor) from which you can admire the city of New York. This observatory is particularly renowned for its view of the Chrysler Building. It's the only place where you can see this famous building so up close !

Address: 45 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, États-Unis
Hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to midnight (last entry at 11:00 PM)
Prices: from $42 per adult ($36 for children 6-12 years and free for children 5-12 years).

*All hours are subject to change and may vary by season.

The tourist pass, a pass to visit New York's must-see attractions while saving money

If you want to visit New York's must-see attractions (including the observatories) while enjoying discounted rates, we strongly recommend opting for a tourist pass. Note that all observatories are included in passes except the One Vanderbilt Summit.