30 Hudson Yard

In 2015, New York City counted 682 skyscrapers, many of which are located in the financial district (Lower Manhattan) and the entertainment district (East and West Midtown). It can be difficult to grasp the scale of immense, closely spaced constructions when walking around them. To truly admire their splendor, it is best to see them from afar or at a high altitude.

For a higher view, there are several observatories open to the public including One World Observatory (World Trade Center Complex), Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center), Empire State Building, Summit One Vanderbilt, Edge (Hudson Yard) or the top of the Statue of Liberty. Your choice may depend on several factors: your budget, the time you have, the neighborhood that attracts you, your experience, the season, etc.

During our visit in May 2023, we chose to observe the city from the highest cantilever platform in the Northern Hemisphere, The Edge. This open-air terrace with guardrails of seamless glass panels placed at an angle gives a breathtaking, unobstructed view of the surrounding area. The skyline view from the 100th or 101st floor allows you to see a 360 degree view which includes the Statue of Liberty in the distance, the Hudson River, the business district, as well as Central Park, the upper part of the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building.

Additionally, Edge includes a triangular section of the terrace floor made of glass that provides a street view at 340 meters (1,100ft) below.

Please note that you do not have to stand for the duration of your visit, an outdoor platform allows you to sit down to admire the landscape.

Panoramic views are relatively popular and many search for the perfect photo. The tip of the platform is very popular for capturing unobstructed photos as if you seem to be alone at the end of the world.

You can certainly spend an hour or two but be aware that the wait to get there can be long even after the first gate.

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