The Best Free Views of the NYC SkylineThey are: Empire State, Top of the Rock and One World Observatory Although they have incredible views there are other places from which you can enjoy the beautiful skyline without having to pay.
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The view plus the experience of visiting one of the world's most famous buildings is a must-do in New York City. If you are checking off visits to the world's tallest buildings, put One World Observatory #1 on your list. Top of the Rock offers great views of Central Park and Midtown Manhattan.
Yes, the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt in New York City is very much worth it. Here's what the experience was like for us so you can see if it's right for you.
One World Observatory is much newer but has a history of its own because of its ties to the terror attacks of 9/11. The Empire State Building offers views from further up in Manhattan, so you'll see more things like Central Park and the famous museums than you could from the One World Observatory.
Empire State Building. The best observation decks in NYC are ones that offer a bit of history, and few are more well-known than the Empire State Building observation deck.
Travelers say the Top of the Rock offers some of the best views of Manhattan and say the experience is worth every penny. Visitors recommend booking the Rock Pass ticket that includes a tour of the building and observation deck access.
TOP OF THE ROCKVisitors get what is perhaps the best skyline view as it includes the other observation decks. You also have a relatively unobstructed view of Central Park, a view not available from the other decks.
Access to the observation deck is included for free or at a discount with the purchase of any of the following 4 tourist attraction discount passes. These passes work by bundling together several popular NYC attractions and tours, such as Top of the Rock into one low price.