New York City is known to have one of the world’s most iconic skylines, and thankfully, there are several spots in New York where you can get the best views of New York and the Manhattan skyline.
What buildings can you go to the top of in NYC for free? Belvedere Castle and Empire State Building are some New York buildings you can visit for free.
Whether it’s from atop tall skyscrapers or on a cruise through the East River and Hudson while sipping a cocktail in a roof top bar and observing the waterfront parks around, you’ll find that there are very cool vantage points in the city.
In addition, you can get perfect views of the gorgeous Manhattan skyline.
What buildings can you go to the top of in NYC for free?
New York has some buildings you can to their top for free. Here are some of these buildings:
· Belvedere Castle:
Located in Central Park at 79 West Street, You’ll get some of the loveliest views of the park and city at the top of the Belvedere Castle
· Hunters Point Park:
Hunters Point Park is located along the banks of the East River in along Island City, Queens. This modern park gives you a great view of the easy skyline of Manhattan as well as Chrysler and the Empire State Building.
· Brooklyn Bridge:
While in New York City, you cannot afford to miss crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, especially at sunset. During this time, you’ll see how beautifully the city brightens up and comes to life!
· High Line Park:
Thanks to the elevated roads in which this park was created on, you can get amazing views of the Meatpacking and Chelsea neighborhoods from the High Line park.
· Burlington Union Square:
At the top floor of Burlington Union Square, you are offered a great vantage point to view the beautiful square and even the renowned Empire State Building.
· Staten Island Ferry:
This ferry allows visitors to walk through water and view the silhouettes of tall buildings located in the downtown area of Manhattan for free.
· Hoboken and Newport:
These two New Jersey coastal cities overlook the west side of the river, including the Hudson River differentiating the Freedom tower and the Empire State Building.
One World Observatory
The One World Observatory is on the 103bd floor of the One World Trade Center and it provides visitors with an unobstructed 360° views of New York City including places such as:
- The Empire State Building
- The Rockefeller
- The Statue of Liberty
- The Hudson River
- The 5 Boroughs and
- The Atlantic Ocean
Best views in New York:
The downtown location is a great place to start if you want to get an amazing perspective of the city and see it in its full glory. Also, from the tallest building in Manhattan, you are guaranteed a breathtaking view of New York’s skyline.
· The Summit, One Vanderbilt
The Summit is over 1,200 feet above New York’s Grand Central Station and is the most recent addition to the sky high observation decks in New York. Here, you’ll find suspended glass ledes, glass enclosed elevators, and art installations
Two of the best parts here are:
- Levitation: This is the two glass legged suspended 1,063 feet over Madison Avenue
- Air: This is the all immersive art installation in the summit.
From this summit, you’ll get stunning views of the iconic buildings in New York including:
- The Central Park
- The Chrysler Building and
- The Bryant Park
● The Edge
Another recent viewing platform in New York is edge. With abiut 100 floors above the Manhattan sidewalks, this is the high-test outdoor ski deck found in the Western Hemisphere.
It is located at 30 Hudson Yards, and you can view most of the prettiest buildings in New York from the glass deck.
To the North, you’ll see the Central Park and the Empire State Building, among other places. You’ll see the Statue of Liberty and One World Trade Center to the South.
Is it worth going to the top of the Empire State Building? Yes. If you have the time and a ticket price of $44, it won’t hurt to visit The Empire State Building. It’s one of the places you must visit during your stay in New York.
You can learn a lot about the building and the city’s history here. You’ll also get to understand why this building is iconic regardless of what people say about it.
What’s the highest view in NYC?
You can get some of the best views of New York City in the following places:
● One World Observatory
Located at the 102nd floor of the One World Trade Center, the One World Observatory is the highest observation deck in New York City, measuring 1,268 feet above street level. From this vantage point, you can get some of the most panoramic views ofNew York City.
It takes about 60 seconds to get to 1,100 feet above ground level.
● The Edge
The most recent and highest skydeck in the Western Hemisphere is the Edge. It is the fifty highest building in the world beating the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center.
The view from the Edge is unlike any other with its impressive architecture, technology and engineering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which observation deck is highest in NYC?
Edge is the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere and is located at 30 Hudson Yards with a very unique design. Its building which is suspended in mid air makes it as if it is floating in the sky.
From this building, you’ll get an unobstructed 360° view of New York City skyline.
Which is better Top of the Rock or the Edge?
Although Top of the Rock and the Edge have outdoor areas which are pretty cool, Edge has a better view especially with its glass floor. Edge is also higher but the two places are still very impressive.
Why does Manhattan have two separate business districts?
A low-rise valley separates the skyscrapers located Doentown and Midtown. This valley makes up:
- The lower east side
- East Village and
- West Village
Why didn’t the older Downtown district just expand north?
It is generally believed that the bedrock below the island in the low-rise valley has a great distance from the surface, which prevents it from being economically feasible to sink the foundations, which are important if another skyscraper is to be built.