What publicly accessible tall buildings are good for views & photography in Manhattan?

What publicly accessible tall buildings are good for views & photography in Manhattan? - Monochrome Photo Of City During Daytime

There was a similar question for London... but what about New York City?

I'm mainly thinking (Midtown) Manhattan, but feel free to recommend awesome vantage points elsewhere in NYC too. If going to the place is free or cheap, that's obviously a big plus.

Including (or linking to) opening hours in the answer would be great.



Best Answer

The one that springs immediately to mind is the Empire State Building. The main observation deck is on the 86th floor, which has 360 degree views over the city. There's also a smaller and fully enclosed observation deck on the 102nd floor; apparently the view is better, but you're indoors. I think it misses something not being able to feel the wind and see out without the glass, but YMMV! Wikipedia has a panoramic photo of the view, so you can get an idea of what the view's like. Two downsides though - for the 86th floor only it's currently $23, and there are normally long queues to get in, get up and get down...

There used to be an observation deck on the 107th floor of the South World Trade Center, which was very popular for photos and seeing Manhattan with the stairs leading up to the roof deck which offered magnificent 360o view of New York City and quite a bit surrounding areas on a clear day. The roof deck didn't quite go to the edge of the building but didn't have support columns in the way as the internal one on 107th floor.

The new One World Trade Center will, once complete, have observation area on floors 100-102. In a bit over a year you'll be able to see the view from there once again.




Pictures about "What publicly accessible tall buildings are good for views & photography in Manhattan?"

What publicly accessible tall buildings are good for views & photography in Manhattan? - Portrait Photo of Man in Yellow Zip-up Jacket Near Empire State Building
What publicly accessible tall buildings are good for views & photography in Manhattan? - Aerial View of City
What publicly accessible tall buildings are good for views & photography in Manhattan? - Bird's Eye View Of City During Daytime



Which building in NYC has the best view?

The One World Trade Center (previously called the Freedom Tower) offers the most epic views New York City. You'll see Rockefeller Plaza Center, the glorious Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Hudson River and all 5 boroughs from this epic viewpoint.

What is the highest observation deck in NYC?

One World Observatory, at the top of One World Trade Center, is the city's highest observation deck. At Hudson Yards, Edge is the highest outdoor observation deck.

What buildings can you go to the top of in NYC for free?

They 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.

What are the tall skinny buildings in Manhattan?

The world's skinniest skyscraper has opened in New York City\u2014and it's so slender that the Guardian has dubbed it \u201cthe coffee stirrer.\u201d With a height-to-width ratio of 24:1, Steinway Tower, at 111 West 57th Street, has swayed its way onto the Manhattan skyline.



The World's Tallest Buildings Are Shorter Than You Think




More answers regarding what publicly accessible tall buildings are good for views & photography in Manhattan?

Answer 2

I've been on the Rockefeller Center a few years ago: Really a nice view plus you actually see one of the most impressive buildings in Manhattan: the Empire State building.

The Manhattan Bridge is free to access for pedestrians and offers a really nice view of Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge!

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Thomas Svensson, Omar López, Pixabay, Tom Fisk