4 Best Sights in New York City, New York

Taking you 1,210 feet and 93 floors above the heart of New York City, in part via an all-glass enclosed elevator, NYC’s newest observation deck (opened in late 2021) "elevates" the observation deck concept, offering unique immersive and multisensory art installations along with mirrored floors and ceilings to reflect and multiply the incredible views of the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, and beyond. In fact, there are so many reflective surfaces in this experience that Summit recommends pants and sunglasses to protect your modesty and your eyes.

The 91st and 92nd floors are completely enclosed. The views are endless and even with crowds, it is easy to find an impressive selfie backdrop. After you have had your fill of spotting NYC rooftops and before you come back down to earth, linger a while longer in the spectacular skyline views at Après on the 93rd floor, where you can enjoy food, coffee, and cocktails on the wraparound terrace. Those who dare to go higher can try Ascent, the world’s largest exterior glass-floor elevators, which take you up the outside of the building to its highest point. 

Rockefeller Center's multifloor observation deck, the Top of the Rock, provides views that rival those of other sky-high spots in the city. Arriving presunset affords a view of the city that morphs into a dazzling wash of colors, with a sky-high view of the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, and sweeping vistas northward to Central Park and south to the Statue of Liberty. Timed-entry ticketing eliminates long lines. Indoor exhibits include films of Rockefeller Center's history and a model of the building.

Rapid elevators lift you to the 67th-floor interior viewing area, and then an escalator leads to the outdoor deck on the 69th floor for sightseeing through nonreflective glass safety panels. Take another elevator or stairs to the 70th floor for a 360-degree, outdoor, NYC panorama on a deck that is only 20 feet wide and nearly 200 feet long. A Plexiglas screen on the floor has footage showing digitized Rock Center construction workers dangling on beams high above the streets. Expect a $10 surcharge for tickets at sunset hours; for $85, get VIP expedited entry, a 45-minute private tour, and gift-shop discount. More Rockefeller Center–tour combo discounts are available, as are partner deals with CityPASS and other sightseeing packages.

Opened in 2020, Edge is the gleaming new observation deck at the Hudson Yards development, and at 1,131 feet, it is the highest outdoor sky deck in the western hemisphere. Its walled triangular floor juts 80 feet from the tower's edge. The views here are truly panoramic, from those of the streets 100 stories below to those of Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and beyond. An outdoor staircase connects Floor 100, home to a gift shop and indoor champagne bar, with Floor 101's Peak restaurant and cocktail bar ( www.peaknyc.com). Besides regular adult timed-tickets, there are packages with extras, such as the Flex Pass ($60), which includes flexible-arrival-time tickets and a digital souvenir photo.

There are several thrills involved in visiting One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, not the least of which are the spectacular views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey. If you time your visit around dusk, you'll get daytime views as well as sunset and sparkling evening lights. The observatory occupies the 100th, 101st, and 102nd floors of One WTC, and the experience includes an exhilarating trip up in the world's fastest elevators, during which a journey through history is projected on the elevator walls. After you step out at the top, there's also a two-minute video of time-lapse images of Lower Manhattan. The ground floor has exhibits and personal stories about the building of the tower. Admission prices rise for "priority" entrance and other combo tickets (best bought online with timed entry); the box office, security checkpoint, and observatory entrance are on the West Street side of the tower. With reservations, you can purchase prix-fixe dining or bar packages for ONE Dine restaurant on 101st floor, which include observatory tickets.