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Best viewpoints & observation decks in New York City, ranked honestly

Ranked by Reality: whether each one delivers for people who went. The chips show if it lives up to its hype.

Roosevelt Island Tram — photo by Miriam Gutiérrez

Worth itReality 81 +371Roosevelt Island Tram★ 4.7Midtown · ViewpointCommuter aerial tram over the East River, 250 ft up, for the price of a subway fare

SUMMIT — photo by FurY

Worth it if…Reality 64 02SUMMIT★ 4.7Midtown · ViewpointMirrored art-installation observatory atop One Vanderbilt, beside Grand Central

Top of the Rock — photo by Jakub Peller

Worth it if…Reality 64 −143Top of the Rock★ 4.7Midtown · ViewpointThree-level deck at 30 Rock facing the Empire State Building and Central Park

Edge — photo by Camila H.

Worth it if…Reality 59 −24Edge★ 4.6Midtown · ViewpointOpen-air sky deck jutting from 30 Hudson Yards on the 100th floor, with a glass floor

Empire State Building — photo by Cale O'Day

Worth it if…Reality 58 −265Empire State Building★ 4.7Midtown · Viewpoint1931 Art Deco tower with exhibits, an open-air 86th-floor deck and an enclosed 102nd

One World Observatory — photo by Batschelorum

Worth it if…Reality 50 −96One World Observatory★ 4.7Lower Manhattan & Downtown · ViewpointEnclosed observatory on floors 100–102 of One World Trade Center, the city's tallest tower

The numbers

#	Place	Verdict	Hype	Reality	Gap	Google
1	Roosevelt Island Tram	Worth it	44	81	+37 · Underrated	★ 4.7 (10,095)
2	SUMMIT	Worth it if…	64	64	0 · Lives up to the hype	★ 4.7 (37,518)
3	Top of the Rock	Worth it if…	78	64	−14 · Overhyped	★ 4.7 (93,002)
4	Edge	Worth it if…	61	59	−2 · Lives up to the hype	★ 4.6 (34,088)
5	Empire State Building	Worth it if…	84	58	−26 · Overhyped	★ 4.7 (130,581)
6	One World Observatory	Worth it if…	59	50	−9 · Lives up to the hype	★ 4.7 (26,433)