With five major observation decks—SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, The Edge, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory, and the Empire State Building—each offering a unique perspective of New York, choosing the right viewing platform can be a challenge for tourists.
Two factors compound the situation –
- New York has one of the best skylines in the world, and no trip to the city can be complete without seeing it from one of Manhattan’s iconic observation decks.
- The ticket prices to these observation decks are relatively higher than the entry tickets for other attractions, so tourists want to be really sure before selecting the observatory.
About ten years ago, it would have been an easy choice—the Empire State Building. Today, visitors have more options than ever.
Two of the most popular alternatives are Summit One Vanderbilt and The Edge.
In this article, we compare the two observation decks on the experiences available, ticket prices, view from the platform, crowd to expect, location, duration of visit, and what visitors before you loved about them.
Quick Summary
| Parameter | Summit | The Edge |
| Ticket Price | Adults (13+): US$53 | Adults (12 to 61): US$44 |
| Youth (6 to 12): US$47 | Youth (6 to 11): US$38 | |
| Seniors (62+): US$41 | ||
| Hours | 9 am – 12 am | 9 am – 10 pm |
| Location | Midtown Manhattan | Hudson Yards/Midtown West |
| Best Views | Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Central Park | Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Hudson River |
| Stories | 93 | 100 |
| Platform’s height | 1,100 ft (335 meters) | 1,100 ft (335 meters) |
| Why visit? | – Best view of Manhattan – Most immersive experience – Best view of Empire State | – Highest observation deck – Glass floor – Unique location |
Height of the Observation Decks
Summit One Vanderbilt offers an immersive observation experience spread across its 91st, 92nd, and 93rd floors, placing you 1,100 feet (335 meters) above the city.
Although the building itself reaches a towering 1,210 feet (369 meters), its observation deck is slightly lower than that of The Edge.
Perched on the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards, The Edge claims the title of the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere. It stands at a height of 1,131 feet (345 meters).
Winner: The Edge
Outdoor vs indoor decks
Summit One Vanderbilt’s 91st and 92nd floors are completely enclosed in glass, while the 93rd floor has an outdoor observation deck.
Après Restaurant which is Summit’s café on the 93rd floor, has both an indoor lounge and an outdoor terrace.
At The Edge, the outdoor and indoor viewing platforms are on the 100th floor.
This indoor area provides a more sheltered environment while still offering stunning views of New York City.
Winner: Both
View from the Observation Deck
The Edge NYC is located on Manhattan’s West Side, right by the Hudson River, offering sweeping, unobstructed views of the entire width of Manhattan—from the Statue of Liberty in the south to Central Park and the towering skyscrapers of the financial district.
At Summit One Vanderbilt, you can view iconic landmarks like the United Nations Building, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the One World Observatory, and Central Park.
However, the best part about The Summit is its glass elevator called Ascent.
It would travel up the side of the building, taking you to its highest point and offering spectacular views of Central Park and the East River.
Unfortunately, the Ascent elevator has been in maintenance mode after a scare in March 2023.
Winner: Both
Why not check out both observation decks? Even though Summit One Vanderbilt and The Edge are both observation decks, they offer completely different experiences that I think are worth exploring. The best part? You can get a combo ticket for both decks and save 20%, which makes it even more tempting to experience both.
Exhibits to experience
When it comes to exhibits and experiences, Summit One Vanderbilt wins hands down.
Air by Kenzo Digital is an immersive art installation featuring multiple sections, such as Transcendence 1 & 2 (a mirrored space), Affinity (an interactive and playful exhibit), Unity (an interactive experience where your face appears in the clouds), and Air at Night (a light show).
Levitation is a glass ledge suspended 1,100 feet (335 meters) above Madison Avenue, offering thrilling city views.
Reflect by Yayoi Kusama is a shape-shifting visual immersion experience.
The Edge is way behind on additional experiences. Before heading to the sky deck, you have a multimedia experience on the neighborhood’s clean-energy initiatives and groundbreaking engineering.
Winner: Summit One Vanderbilt
Ticket options
At The Summit, there are two ways to experience the observation deck.
More than 90% of people buy the timed skip-the-line tickets, which are priced at US$53 for adults 13 years and older.
Only some opt for the guided tour of Summit One Vanderbilt, a premium experience.
At The Edge, most people also opt for the timed skip-the-line tickets, which are priced at US$44 for adults 12 years and older.
Those who aren’t sure about the time of their visit can buy Edge’s Flex tickets.
Visitors who want an adrenaline rush can purchase the City Climb tickets, which include entry to the observation deck and a climb to the top of the building.
Winner: The Edge
Crowd to expect
The Edge attracts large crowds, especially during peak times. In 2023, it attracted more than 2 million visitors, averaging about 5,500 people per day.
Summit One Vanderbilt, while popular, tends to have fewer visitors, offering a more relaxed and less crowded experience.
Winner: Summit One Vanderbilt
Summit One is conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan, directly connected to Grand Central Terminal. The Edge is situated in Hudson Yards on Manhattan’s west side, a newer but rapidly growing area easily accessible by subway and bus.
Dress code
The Summit has a mild form of a dress code.
Since the observatory has extensive mirror-like surfaces, it encourages visitors to wear pants, shorts, or tights — to avoid “unwanted exposure.”
But there’s good news for those who find out about this ‘dress code’ at the last minute – Summit offers a free pair of stretchy black shorts to anybody who requests one.
Stiletto heels, work boots, and cleats are not permitted to protect The Summit’s glass floors. It is best to wear comfortable, non-scuffing shoes like sneakers.
The Edge has no such dress code.
Winner: None
Which deck is better for night time visit
The Edge at Hudson Yards and SUMMIT One make the night more alive, rich, and colorful.
Nighttime visitors to both the observation decks see stunning 360-degree views of New York City all lit up.
Most New York buildings have lighting effects, which you can see only at night.
However, if you plan to visit at night, Summit ends up being better than The Edge.
That’s because of the four exhibits at The Summit—Air, Clouds, Transcendence, and Levitation—all of which offer a unique experience as the sun goes down and darkness engulfs the city.
Winner: Summit One Vanderbilt
Adventure quotient
Summit One Vanderbilt only has the general admission ticket, and that’s as much adventure as possible. However, at The Edge at Hudson Yards, you have what’s known as The City Climb.
Edge’s City Climb is the world’s highest open-air building ascent. It starts with a safety briefing about the specially designed safety harnesses.
Once you’re secure, City Climb Guides attach you to two cables connected to a trolley, and you make your way up the exterior of the building.
For adrenalin seekers, it is the ultimate NYC aerial experience.
Winner: The Edge