The Best Viewpoints in New York

One of the best attributes that New York has to offer is its stunning views. No visit to the Big Apple would be complete without exploring the observatories from the top of its iconic skyscrapers and its countless urban viewpoints.

Better known as The Big Apple, this iconic city has become an oasis for tourists due to its rich history, famous landmarks, museums, and theaters, among other amazing things you can find in its surroundings with excursions from New York.

But have you ever wondered how to see it from a different perspective? Fortunately, New York boasts a wide variety of viewpoints, some with admission fees from the observatories of its tallest buildings, and others free, located in strategic points throughout many of the districts and neighborhoods of New York.

Discover our favorite viewpoints in New York, from where you can admire the most impressive views of the city.

Empire State Building, the most iconic viewpoint in New York

 

In Art Deco style and standing 102 stories tall, it is one of New York’s most emblematic skyscrapers. It attracts nearly four million visitors a year, and one of the best ways to experience its splendor is through the New York night tour.

When you’re there, you can ascend to either of its observatories on the 86th and 102nd floors (at a cost of 44 and 77 USD, respectively) to behold the best 360° panoramic views surrounded by the night sky. It’s truly a visual spectacle!

The Edge - 30 Hudson Yards

 

30 Hudson Yards is a new building in New York, completed in 2019. On the 100th floor, it features an amazing triangular observation deck, outdoors, providing an exciting viewpoint to see Manhattan at night (though it’s a spectacle during the day as well).

Now, if you love adrenaline, you have to try the City Climb experience, which gives you the opportunity to climb the exterior of the skyscraper to the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere, using a harness, of course. Something unique in the world!

One World Observatory

 

This is the attraction that crowns One World Trade Center, the tallest building in New York and the Western Hemisphere. You can ascend to the 102nd floor in just 47 seconds thanks to the SkyPod™ elevator, which features LED panels showing the transformation of the city.

Upon reaching the top, you enter the See Forever Theater to watch a short video about the streets, people, and buildings of the Big Apple. Then, finally, you move on to the observation deck, where you can take the best photos of New York. The standard ticket costs 38 USD.

DUMBO Viewpoint for the Best Photos in New York

 

DUMBO, short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, is a neighborhood in Brooklyn that you can explore if you take the New York contrasts tour.

It has become a landmark, among other things, for having one of the city’s free viewpoints, which offers one of the best panoramas of the imposing Brooklyn Bridge. Seeing one of the most iconic images of New York is priceless—literally.

Top of the Rock - Rockefeller Center

 

The Rockefeller Center is a large complex of 19 buildings, shops, restaurants, and underground pedestrian passages located in Midtown Manhattan. If you haven’t visited yet, we recommend the high and low Manhattan tour with your eyes closed.

One of these buildings is 30 Rockefeller Plaza, which houses one of the most spectacular viewpoints in New York, the Top of the Rock, which you can ascend for 40 USD. It is also one of the best places to see the Empire State Building.

It features three levels of indoor and outdoor observatories, and terraces with views in all four cardinal directions, allowing you to see the skyline of the so-called “City That Never Sleeps” in all its splendor, even catching glimpses of the bright lights of nearby Times Square.

Brooklyn Heights Promenade, a Free Viewpoint in New York

 

The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a pedestrian walkway located in the northeastern section of Brooklyn, along the East River. It offers excellent views of Lower Manhattan and its surroundings and is one of the free viewpoints in New York that you can visit at any time of day.

The scene changes beautifully with the seasons. In spring, it is lush and green, while in autumn, the trees are dressed in orange and yellow. In winter, you can see it covered in snow, and it’s a perfect spot to watch the July 4th fireworks show.

You can easily reach Brooklyn Heights Promenade by subway to the Clarke St station (lines 2 and 3).

The Vessel

 

Now let’s talk about The Vessel, an iconic structure and attraction that has taken the modern art world by storm. We could define it as a futuristic spiral staircase, freshly pulled from a science fiction movie. It is undoubtedly one of the main places to visit in New York today.

It consists of 154 flights of stairs connected together, totaling nearly 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings. After several incidents, it is currently closed, and you can only access the first floor, but you cannot leave New York without taking a photo with The Vessel in the background. It will surely be one of your favorites!

Governors Island

View from the ferry to Governors Island

 

Governors Island is a small island that once served as a military base. Located off the southern coast of Manhattan, it is now a recreational space with green areas, hammocks set up for relaxing in the sun, and pathways suitable for walking and biking.

It is also one of the free viewpoints in New York that you can enter, paying only 4 USD for the ferry ride from Manhattan or Brooklyn, although on weekends, everyone travels free before noon.

Our recommendation is to climb The Hills, a set of four themed hills with varying heights that rise up to 20 meters above the island, offering a unique 360-degree panoramic experience. Take as many photos of the Manhattan skyline as you can!

Ellis Island

 

One of the best places to see the Manhattan skyline is from Ellis Island, the former arrival point for immigrants coming by ship to the United States. The islet, which is actually in New Jersey waters, is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and is included in the visit to the statue itself.

Discover the various ways to reach the Statue of Liberty and how to visit this iconic monument.

Battery Park

 

We cannot fail to mention the famous Battery Park, the most important park in southern Manhattan. From there, you will have the best view of the Statue of Liberty! You can explore it in detail on the free Essential New York tour, which also includes the entire Financial District, Wall Street, and the 9/11 Memorial.

The viewpoints and observatories in the heights are an extraordinary way to get to know New York, but wandering its streets and seeing the charms of this metropolis up close is much better with one of our excursions and tours in New York. Discover them and start planning your trip now!