We spent enough time in New York City to visit three different observatory decks: Top of the Rock, One World Observatory and the Empire State Building. But which one offers the best views of New York City’s iconic skyline?
PS: Are you planning a romantic getaway to New York City with your loved one? Check out these unforgettable things to do in New York City, especially for couples.
1. Top of the Rock
By far my favourite observation deck in New York City is the Top of the Rock in the Rockefeller Center. A few reasons why this is my favourite:
Two outdoor observation decks
The Top of the Rock has a lower and an upper outdoor observation deck. The lower deck has a tall glass wall, which makes it easy to see through and fully soak in the views of New York City’s skyline. The upper deck has a low iron fence, which makes it possible to look over the fence.
The best thing about this setup is that you can pose on the lower deck, while someone on the upper deck takes pictures of you. This is the result:
The views from the upper deck do not disappoint either, whether you prefer the city views or the more natural Central Park views:
Day and night views
With a Sun & Stars ticket, you can come back to the Top of the Rock in the evening of your first visit. It’s really impressive to see the New York City skyline at night. It’s also fun to see the difference between day and night:
Check out my blog post for all my tips for visiting the Top of the Rock:
2. One World Observatory
If you have time for a second observatory deck in New York City, the One World Observatory inside the One World Trade Center is definitely worth a visit.
The One World Observatory is fully indoors, but the floor to ceiling glass windows make it easy to immerse in the New York City skyline views. For the best pictures, you’ll have to sit on the window sills:
It’s best to visit the One World Observatory first thing in the morning with a pre-booked timed ticket. Not only will you avoid the crowds at the observation deck, but you’ll also be able to take pictures at the quiet streets surrounding the One World Trade Center after your visit:
Check out my blog post for all my tips for visiting the One World Observatory:
3. Empire State Building
My least favourite observatory deck in New York City is the one in the Empire State Building. It’s worth a visit if you don’t mind the crowds and having to wait a long time for the lifts. Apart from the crowds and long waiting times, the views on the 86th floor are blocked by the fence and the staff is rude.Β
On our first visit to the Empire State Building Observatory deck, we had pre-booked our tickets for what turned out to be a cloudy day. The staff just let us enter the observatory without mentioning anything about blocked views. In fact, they even had the nerve to say “enjoy your views” and tried to up-sell tickets for people who didn’t have access to the 102nd floor observatory…
Views from the 86th floor:
Views from the 102nd floor:
Only after complaining about the blocked views to the reception downstairs, we were allowed to revisit free of charge on a clear day.
Check out my blog post to read my full review of the Empire State Building Observatory: