The back story 1
The observation decks compared.
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The back story
New York’s observation decks compared: the back story
Empire State, Top of the Rock, Edge, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and One World Observatory: which view is for you?
28 of the best · New York City
Things to Do in New York: Sights, Views and Landmarks
The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Edge and SUMMIT, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central, Rockefeller Center and the stadiums.
Our 28 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
What's onThis week in New York
Insiders' picks
Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love New York.
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Central Park and the Empire State
Top of the Rock
Three levels of indoor and outdoor decks at the top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112Explore View on map
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Liberty Island
Statue of Liberty National Monument
The Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, reached only by Statue City Cruises’ ferries from Battery Park.
Liberty Island, New York Harbor, New York, NY 10004Explore View on map
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Walk it
Brooklyn Bridge
The 1883 suspension bridge between Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, with a pedestrian promenade.
Brooklyn Bridge, New York, NYExplore View on map
The full list: Sights, A–Z
Show 27 of 28 places on a map
Neighbourhood
Views 5
High above Manhattan.
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A glass floor 100 floors up
Edge
An outdoor sky deck on the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards, with a glass floor.
30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001Explore View on map
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The Art Deco icon
Empire State Building
The 1931 Art Deco skyscraper on Fifth Avenue at 34th Street, with open-air decks on the 86th floor and the 102nd floor.
20 W. 34th St, New York, NY 10118Explore View on map
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The harbour from 102 floors up
One World Observatory
The observatory at the top of One World Trade Center, reached by SkyPod lifts.
One World Trade Center, 117 West St, New York, NY 10007Explore View on map
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Art in the sky
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
An immersive observatory with mirrored rooms at the top of One Vanderbilt, entered from Grand Central.
45 E. 42nd St, entrance on the Main Concourse of Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY 10017Explore View on map
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Central Park and the Empire State
Top of the Rock
Three levels of indoor and outdoor decks at the top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112Explore View on map
The icons 17
The essentials.
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Walk it
Brooklyn Bridge
The 1883 suspension bridge between Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, with a pedestrian promenade.
Brooklyn Bridge, New York, NYExplore View on map
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Under the bridges
Brooklyn Bridge Park
The waterfront park on the old Brooklyn piers, beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, with skyline views.
334 Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 11201Explore View on map
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Where millions arrived
Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration
The museum in the old immigration station on Ellis Island, on the same ferry as the Statue of Liberty.
Ellis Island, New York HarborExplore View on map
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Where the nation began
Federal Hall National Memorial
The site on Wall Street where Federal Hall served as the first US Capitol.
26 Wall St, New York, NY 10005Explore View on map
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A short ferry ride
Governors Island
A former military island in the harbour, now parkland, reached by ferry from 10 South Street.
Battery Maritime Building, 10 South St, Slip 7, New York, NY 10004Explore View on map
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The Main Concourse
Grand Central Terminal
The Beaux-Arts railway terminal on 42nd Street, with its celestial ceiling and whispering gallery.
15 Vanderbilt Ave, Hall 2A, New York, NY 10017Explore View on map
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The new West Side
Hudson Yards
The new district between 30th and 34th Streets on the far West Side, with Edge, the Vessel, the Shed and shops.
30th–34th Streets, Tenth–Twelfth Avenues, New York, NY 10001Explore View on map
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A park on tulip-shaped piers
Little Island
A park on the Hudson at West 13th Street, with lawns, views and an amphitheatre.
Pier 55 at W. 13th St, Hudson River Park Hudson River Greenway, New York, NY 10014Explore View on map
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The rink and the tree
Rockefeller Center
The Art Deco complex between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, with the rink, Prometheus and Top of the Rock.
48thâ51st Sts btw. Fifth and Sixth Aves., New York, NY 10111Explore View on map
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Opposite Rockefeller Center
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
The Gothic Revival cathedral on Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets.
Fifth Ave btw. 50th-51st Sts, New York, NY 10126Explore View on map
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The official ferry
Statue City Cruises
The only official tickets and ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, from Battery Park.
Battery Park/Ferry Slip, New York, NY 10004Explore View on map
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Liberty Island
Statue of Liberty National Monument
The Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, reached only by Statue City Cruises’ ferries from Battery Park.
Liberty Island, New York Harbor, New York, NY 10004Explore View on map
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Broadway’s story
The Museum of Broadway
An immersive museum on West 45th Street about the history of Broadway.
145 W. 45th St, New York, NY 10036Explore View on map
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Santiago Calatrava’s white wings
The Oculus
Santiago Calatrava’s soaring white transit hall at the World Trade Center, with shops inside.
50 Church St, New York, NY 10007Explore View on map
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Skating under the tree
The Rink at Rockefeller Center
The seasonal ice rink below Prometheus at Rockefeller Plaza.
One Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020Explore View on map
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The crossroads of the world
Times Square
The neon crossroads of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, at the heart of the Theater District.
Times Square, New York, NY 10036Explore View on map
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At the head of Wall Street
Trinity Church Wall Street
The 1846 Gothic Revival church at Broadway and Wall Street, with its historic churchyard.
Broadway at Wall St, New York, NY 10006Explore View on map
Sport 5
Yankees, Mets, Knicks and the US Open.
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Nets and Liberty
Barclays Center
Brooklyn’s arena at Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues, home of the Nets and the New York Liberty.
620 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217Explore View on map
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Home of the Mets
Citi Field
The New York Mets’ ballpark in Queens, steps from the 7 train.
41 Seaver Way, Queens, NY 11368Explore View on map
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Knicks, Rangers and concerts
Madison Square Garden
The arena above Penn Station, home of the Knicks and the Rangers, with tours.
4 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121Explore View on map
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Home of the US Open
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
The home of the US Open in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY 11368Explore View on map
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Home of the Yankees
Yankee Stadium
The New York Yankees’ stadium in the Bronx, opened in 2009, with tours.
1 E. 161st St, Bronx, NY 10451Explore View on map
Explore more of New York
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54 of the best Restaurants
20 of the best Cafés & Bakeries
33 of the best Bars & Jazz49 of the best Museums & Arts
8 of the best Parks6 of the best Walks
28 of the best Shopping
21 of the best Health31 of the best Property14 of the best New Developments
6 of the best Luxury Cars14 of the best Getting Around