Are you going to New York City and want to have the best views of the city from the top? Then you should add the Edge NYC, one of the city’s newest and best observation decks, to your itinerary.
The Edge NYC is the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. From up here, you’ll have the incredible opportunity of being high up in the city and gaze upon a few hot attractions, such as the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Trade Center, and even catch a glimpse of New Jersey.
And if you need more reasons to visit this incredible attraction, Edge NYC provides memorable experiences. These include standing on a glass floor looking down 100 stories, leaning over the edge of glass panels to peek at the city below, and even venture on the highest open-air building ascent in the world.
In this guide you’ll find all you need to visit the Edge in New York City, including how to get here, operating hours, ticket information, what to see, places to eat nearby, and more.
Table of contents
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Why visit it
Whether this is your first trip to New York or you’ve been to the city countless times, you should take some time to visit the Edge.
The incredible attraction provides some of the best views of the city from above. At the Edge NYC, you can go up 100 stories to an open-air outdoor deck 1,100 feet above the ground to take in unforgettable views of the Big Apple.
And are you wondering why you should visit it instead of going to the classic Top of the Rock or the one-and-only Empire State Building? Well, because the Edge NYC has a privileged view. From this viewpoint, you’ll have the advantage of looking at both these landmark buildings together with other attractions of Manhattan, like the One World Trade Center and the Chrysler Building.
Location and getting here
The Edge NYC is located at The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, right across from the Vessel, another must-see place in the city.
The exact address of Edge NYC is 30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001.
The best way to get here is to take the No. 7 Subway – the main line to Hudson Yards – and get off at 34th Street.
Once at Hudson Yards, the entry to Edge NYC is on the 4th floor. Then, after showing your tickets and waiting in the security line, it’s time to board on high-speed elevators, which take you up to the 100th floor in 52 seconds.
Edge NYC operating hours
Edge NYC is open daily from 8 am until midnight, weather permitting. The last elevator goes up 50 minutes before closing time, at 11.10 pm.
Once up there, you can stay as long as you want since there’s no time limit on the tickets.
Tickets to the Edge NYC
There are some different entrance tickets to Edge NYC. You can find an overview of them below:
- General Admission Ticket: with this ticket, you must pre-book a date and time for your visit to the Edge. This allows you to keep a structured itinerary, knowing when to arrive and planning your day in New York accordingly. General admission starts at US$ 38 for adults, US$ 33 for children between 6 and 12, and US$ 36 for ages 62+.
- Flex Pass: with this ticket, you pick a specific date but are allowed to visit the Edge at any time of the day. It’s the perfect ticket if you don’t want a tight itinerary and prefer to go with the flow. The flex pass starts at US$ 58, US$ 53, and US$ 56 for adults, children between 6 and 12, and ages 62+, respectively.
- Champagne Admission Ticket: if you are 21+ and want a remarkable experience, with this ticket, you book a date and time to visit the Edge and enjoy a glass of champagne during your visit. Imagine savoring the impressive views while toasting to celebrate a special occasion or just life? Does it sound interesting? Then Champagne Admission tickets are from US$ 55 for adults 21+ and US$ 53 for seniors 62+.
- Premium Admission Ticket: for the best Edge experience, with this option, available for adults 21+, you book a date and time to visit Edge NYC and get a glass of champagne and a personalized photo book for memory keeping. Tickets start at US$ 73 for adults 21+ and US$ 71 for adults 62+.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that sunset is a busy time to visit the Edge NYC, since it’s also the best time to visit the place. Because of this, tickets at this time of the day are a bit more expensive, adding an extra US$ 10 to the prices mentioned above for the General Admission, Champagne Admission, and Premium Admission.
You can purchase tickets to Edge NYC online on their website, at the entrance’s kiosk (for an extra US$ 2), or take advantage of GetYourGuide.
With GetYourGuide, you can reserve now and pay later – they charge your card 72 hours before your activity starts (you can also pay earlier if you like).
Things to see
So now you have your ticket and are ready to visit Edge NYC. Here are a couple of things you can see while up there.
The Sky Deck
The outdoor Sky Deck is where you can stand at more than 1,100 feet up for sprawling views of Manhattan. From this external (open-air) area, you can spot the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Trade Center, and the Chrysler Building.
The glass panels fencing the sky deck are slightly angled to the outside, so you can lean over and watch the life in the city down below. It kind of reminds a little bit of the TILT at Chicago’s 360 Observation Deck.
Additionally, on the Sky Deck, there is a specific area where you can stand on the glass floor and look down on the streets to see life passing by right below your feet.
Skyline Steps
At the Sky Deck, you’ll find outdoor stairs that give an even higher perspective of New York from the Edge, so don’t miss the chance to stand on this spot.
The Skyline Steps are also some of the photo spots at Edge NYC. From the stairs, when turning your back to the glass, you can take an epic picture with the Empire State Building behind. And, when turning your back to the stairs, you can frame the One World Trade Center.
Champagne Bar
And if you’re in the mood for a drink or need something quick to eat, you can pop by the Champagne Bar.
At the Champagne Bar at the Edge, you can purchase champagne or a cocktail along with small bites. Prices are steep, for sure, but if you’re in for the experience, it might be worth giving it a try.
Other experiences
- Sky-High Yoga: want to practice yoga 1,100 feet in the air? Then you need to try the yoga classes at Edge offered by Equinox. The yoga class lasts 45 minutes and already includes a yoga mat. Also, tickets to the Sky-High Yoga start at US$ 50 and already give access to the yoga class and to the Edge, so you don’t need to purchase the ticket twice. Read more about Sky-High Yoga.
- City Climb NYC: one of the most unique experiences in New York City to transform your trip from good to great. At City Climb NYC, you climb the outside of the skyscraper at more than 1,200 feet above the ground to the highest outdoor platform in the city to lean out and look down. Isn’t it exciting? You can purchase tickets to City Climb NYC online for US$ 185.
Places to eat near the Edge NYC
At the Hudson Yards, you’ll find plenty of restaurants and cafés to spend some time and grab a bite either before or after visiting the Edge NYC.
Some of the amazing restaurants in the area are:
- Mercado Little Spain: a food hall where you can taste the best of the Spanish cuisine in NYC. They have three restaurants – Spanish Diner, Leña, and La Barra – and you can purchase a few Spanish products to stock up your pantry.
- Blue Bottle Coffee: a lovely Aussie café for brunch, a quick bite to eat, or a coffee break.
- Magnolia Bakery: for when you’re craving something sweet, their delicious cupcakes won’t let you down.
- Van Leeuwen: for a wide range of flavors of classic ice cream and vegan scoops.
- Estiatorio Milos: an international restaurant that offers the best seafood quality. Of the many locations, you can also find Estiatorio Milos in Miami, and it’s one of the best restaurants in the city.
- Peakaboo: if after soaking in the view of Edge NYC you still want to be on an advantage point and see Manhattan from above, then head over to Peakaboo, a stunning late night rooftop bar and lounge on the 101st They are open from Thursday to Saturday night from 10.30 pm until 2 am.
Other activities in the area
At Hudson Yards, the neighborhood where the Edge NYC is located, you can visit the Vessel. Though it’s currently closed to go inside the budling and go up the stairs for pictures, you can still go to the ground-level base that is free and open to the public from Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 8 pm, and Sunday from 11 am until 7 pm. There’s no reservation required.
If you want to continue your New York itinerary south, you can go up for a stroll at The High Line and then visit the Chelsea Market.
Or you can go to the east side to visit the Empire State Building and then continue with an epic visit to the Harry Potter Store.
Another short stroll north of the Edge NYC can take you to Times Square and Madame Tussauds.
Best hotels nearby
If you want to be in the area to pop by the Edge NYC whenever you want, then it’s good to know that there are a few hotels in the area. Here are some worth considering:
- Equinox Hotel Hudson Yards: you can’t be closer to the Edge than at this hotel that is right at Hudson Yards. From Equinox Hotel you’ll be close to the bars and restaurants in the area, can see the Vessel from the pool, walk The High Line, and have a luxury experience.
- Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan Midtown West: located within a 15-minute walk to the Edge NYC, this hotel is a good alternative if this is your first visit to New York City, as it’s also close to the Times Square.
- Courtyard New York Manhattan/Midtown West: found less than 20-minutes walking to the Edge and around 10 minutes from the Empire State Building.
The Edge NYC FAQ
How much does the entrance to The Edge in New York cost?
General admission tickets to Edge NYC start at US$ 38 for adults, US$ 33 for children between 6 and 12, and US$ 36 for ages 62+.
Prices can change according to Peak Day that can vary due to seasonality and holidays.
How long can you stay on The Edge NYC?
Though some tickets to the Edge have timed entry, there’s no limit to how long you can stay up there if they are open. Visits should last approximately one hour, but you are free to roam around and soak in the views.
Is The Edge in New York worth it?
As I have been to the Top of the Rock, the Empire State Building, and the Edge NYC, I can say it’s worth visiting the Edge.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Even though Edge NYC is open 7 days a week regardless of weather conditions, in case of bad weather, they might close portions of the outdoor sky deck for safety reasons.
This happened to me – the weather wasn’t that bad, just raining a bit, but the external area was closed. So we went to the Edge to see, and the staff said we could either go up to the indoor area or exchange the ticket for another date. Since we still had time during our trip, we decided to change to the next day and had better luck with the weather.
So, if the weather is bad, you’ll still need to go during your date/time to see what the conditions are like and if they will allow you to change your ticket.
How high is the Edge NYC?
The Edge is more than 1,100 feet high – 100 stories above the ground.
Is the Edge NYC better at night or day
The best time to visit the Edge in New York City is during sunset. The open views of the city make the Edge one of the best sunset spots in the city, with a stunning skyline panorama.
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