New York’s observation decks compared by pass
Manhattan has five major observation decks, and no pass includes all of them. This overview shows which deck is in which pass, and where you can only get it as a premium attraction or with a combo ticket.
| Deck | Go City | Headout Pass | CityPASS® |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empire State Building | in all three passes (86th floor) | Premium | in all three, with the CityPASS® morning and night |
| SUMMIT One Vanderbilt | only with a combo ticket at Tiqets | Premium | not included |
| Top of the Rock | in all three passes | Standard | in all three, not at sunset with C3® and C-All® |
| Edge | in all three passes | Standard | in all three, not at sunset |
| One World Observatory | in all three passes | Standard | not included |
The Essentials Pass includes exactly one of the four Go City decks, which you choose yourself.
Empire State Building
Every pass covers the deck on the 86th floor, along with the museum and the Art Deco lobby. For the 102nd floor or a sunset time slot you pay extra in the Go City App. Bought separately, entry costs about $57 according to Go City.
Only the New York CityPASS®, with its “AM/PM Experience”, allows a second visit on the evening of the same day, without a new reservation. Go City recommends going around midday and reserving early, which you can do up to 30 days ahead.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
SUMMIT is the newest of the big decks, in the One Vanderbilt tower right next to Grand Central. Across three levels you find rooms full of mirrors, a work by Yayoi Kusama and glass ledges that jut out over Madison Avenue; people come here as much for the installations as for the view. Because of the mirrored floors, Headout suggests trousers rather than skirts and sunglasses during the day.
SUMMIT is not part of the Go City or CityPASS® line-ups. You have three options: the combo ticket with the Explorer Pass or New York Pass from Tiqets, the Headout New York Pass, where SUMMIT is a premium attraction, or a separate ticket.
Top of the Rock
On top of Rockefeller Center, the deck spreads over three levels, partly indoors and partly outdoors. You see the Empire State Building and, to the north, Central Park. Bought separately, a visit costs about $65 according to Go City.
With Go City, entry is valid for any time slot. You can reserve up to 10 days ahead, and according to Go City the lines are shortest between 10 am and 2 pm. The CityPASS® covers any time of day, the C3® and C-All® do not cover sunset; an upgrade for that is only available on site.
Edge
At Hudson Yards, Edge juts out from the side of the building, more than 335 m up according to Go City, with a glass floor and glass walls that tilt outward. At about $69 according to Go City, Edge is the most expensive deck on the Go City list, which makes it a good one to use your pass on. Go City allows any time slot, while the three CityPASS® products exclude sunset.
One World Observatory
At the very top of One World Trade Center, on floors 100 to 102 according to Go City. The SkyPod elevators get you up in 47 seconds. Since the deck is in Lower Manhattan, it combines well with the Statue of Liberty and the 9/11 Museum on the same day. Bought separately about $48 according to Go City; with Go City no reservation is needed. CityPASS® does not offer One World.
One, two or all five
Two decks are enough for most people: one in Midtown, the other in Lower Manhattan or at Hudson Yards. If you limit yourself to one, choose Top of the Rock, because you can see the Empire State Building from there, or SUMMIT. The New York Essentials Pass is made for this case, with one deck and two museums.
There are two ways to cover all five: the New York Explorer Pass for four attractions plus SUMMIT as a combo ticket, or the Headout New York Pass with five attractions, where the Empire State Building and SUMMIT count as premium. Four decks in a single day is doable but tiring. Better to plan two or three days for them.