From the Rooftops to the Waterfront: Here’s Where to Find the Best Views of the NYC Skyline

See the skyline from the top of a skyscraper that's a part of the view itself, from inside a park where the buildings rise up all around you or from the water where you can take in the full scale of the city. Don't settle for only one way of seeing NYC—get out and explore to find your own favorite NYC skyline view.

One World Trade Center

One World Observatory is at the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. The observatory takes up three levels between the 100th and 102nd floors. From here you can see all of Lower Manhattan, New York Harbor, the skyscrapers of Midtown and points north. The building sits adjacent to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum site in the footprint of where the twin towers once stood. The memorial is free to visit, but the museum requires an admission fee separate from One World Observatory.

Empire State Building

Of all the longstanding legendary landmarks in NYC, the Empire State Building tops them all. The 102-story skyscraper opened in 1931 and has been a symbol of New York ever since. The main deck of the observatory on the 86th floor offers a 360-degree open-air viewing platform. You can pay extra to take the elevator up to a smaller, enclosed observation deck on the 102nd floor for longer views. Both decks provide postcard-worthy vistas in all directions.

Roof Garden Bar at the Met

There are plenty of rooftop bars and restaurants with views of the city. What sets the Roof Garden Bar apart is that it's on top of one of the world's great art museums, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Central Park. It provides a unique vantage point, one that's above the park, but below the looming buildings beyond the treetops. The Roof Garden Bar is open seasonally from May through October.

From the Water

To see NYC from top to bottom in one glance, you need to get on a boat. Viewing the skyline from the water is an awe-inspiring sight that may leave you a bit slack-jawed. Manhattan, especially the areas of Lower Manhattan and Midtown, look like the Emerald City in the Land of Oz when seen from a boat. Your best options are the Circle Line, which circles the island on a 2.5-hour cruise, and the Staten Island Ferry from South Ferry Plaza. The commuter ferry doesn't cost anything to ride and takes about one and a half hours for a round trip across the harbor.

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