New York
observation decks guide

Which observation deck is right for you?

New York’s skyline is one of the most famous in the world, and getting above it is one of those non-negotiable first visit experiences. But with five NYC observation decks now competing for your time and money, working out which one is actually worth it isn’t straightforward.

When we visited New York for 10 days in late November with our three year old, we ended up visiting three of them. I’d already decided on Top of the Rock over the Empire State Building. The view of the Empire State from Top of the Rock is the one you see on every postcard, and I wanted that rather than being on it. Summit One Vanderbilt caught my attention through Instagram, and I knew immediately it would be something our daughter would love. The Edge came up repeatedly in conversation with people who’d been there, so we added it on. Three decks, three very different experiences, and a clear favourite by the end.

This page brings together all our observation deck content in one place, from our full comparison guide covering all five decks to our head to head comparisons of specific decks. If you’re not sure where to start, the best observation deck in New York guide covers everything you need to make a decision.

You can also watch our trip unfold day by day over on my Instagram highlights @tinytoesbigtrails, where I’ve saved photos from each observation deck we visited.

Our experience

Our quick verdict: Summit One Vanderbilt for the best overall experience and the best observation deck in NYC for kids. Top of the Rock for the most iconic views. Read on for the full breakdown.

Of the three we visited personally, Summit One Vanderbilt is the one I’d recommend most for families. The immersive rooms and balloon room kept our daughter engaged in a way that a standard viewing platform wouldn’t have. Top of the Rock felt the most iconic. The extras like The Beam were genuinely exciting without being terrifying. The Edge was our least favourite of the three, but the Hudson River views are unlike anything the other decks offer.

Every visitor ranks these differently depending on what they’re looking for, and you’ll find plenty of conflicting opinions online. Here’s our honest ranking based on visiting three of them personally with a three year old, and thoroughly researching the other two.

👉 Choose Summit One Vanderbilt if you want the most immersive experience and the best observation deck in NYC for kids.

👉 Choose Top of the Rock for the most iconic skyline views, or if you’re visiting at Christmas, for a view of the Rockefeller tree from above.

👉 Choose The Edge if Hudson River views are a priority or you want the glass floor experience.

👉 Choose Empire State Building if history and the most famous building in the world matter most.

👉 Choose One World Observatory if you want the highest deck in New York with harbour views, including the Statue of Liberty.

If you’re still unsure which observation deck to choose, read our full guide comparing all of them here: 👉 Best Observation Deck in New York