SUMMIT One Vanderbilt – one of the newest viewpoints in New York City

It’s time for another vantage point in New York – but this one will be different from all of them. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is a place where you can not only enjoy the views of Manhattan, but also find yourself in a space full of glass and mirrors, stand on a protruding platform and…. take Instagram photos of yourself in a room full of silver balls. In today’s post we will show you this unusual place that we had the opportunity to visit during our visit to New York.

New York is a city that never ceases to amaze. One of the newest and most exciting places to visit is Summit One Vanderbilt , an observatory located at the top of the modern One Vanderbilt skyscraper. It is here, on several levels, that several attractions have been prepared for those who not only want to look at New York from above, but also want completely different and new experiences and sensations. And we must honestly warn you at the very beginning: this is not the right place for everyone.

If you are wondering whether it is worth going in here then you need to know about a few aspects. First, people with a fear of heights, for example, may have a problem here. We’ve been to many observation decks, and like nowhere else here, we’ve seen people who weren’t even so much afraid to enter, but were completely disoriented walking on glass surfaces. We won’t go into the medical aspects, because we don’t know anything about that, but keep in mind that this place can make you dizzy.

The second issue is the very intense reflection of the sun’s rays. Entering a room full of glass and mirrors in sunny weather, these rays can make you very glaring. At the entrance, you can take sunglasses or just wear your own.

The third and final issue is the popularity of the place. There are quite a few people coming in here who are simply visiting the One Vanderbilt Summit and want to do the so-called “summit”. instagram photos. We understand this because we run a channel on Instagram ourselves, but here it was probably the most visible and painful in all of New York.

And we do not write this to discourage you – we just do not want you to be disappointed with the place :) For us neither the altitude nor the sun bothered us, the crowds did a little, but we still think it is still an interesting place to see. And the best way to show you this is in this very post.

In this article we will introduce the history of the skyscraper, tell you about the attractions on the terrace, what views from the observatory await you and give you a handful of practical information.

One Vanderbilt skyscraper

One Vanderbilt is one of the tallest skyscrapers in New York City, located right next to the legendary Grand Central Terminal. Its construction began in 2017 and continued for three years until it opened in 2020 (with the grand opening waited until SUMMIT One Vanderbilt was finished until 2021). This imposing modernist-style building is 427 meters high (including the spire) and consists of several distinctive zones that mainly house offices and exclusive guest spaces such as Tower Floors, Executive Floors, Penthouse Floors and Podium Floors.

One Vanderbilt is not only a skyscraper, but also an example of a modern approach to urban design. The building was designed by the renowned Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, and cost more than $3.3 billion to construct. The skyscraper has won a number of design awards, including accolades for sustainable architecture, thanks to the use of green technologies such as energy conservation and rainwater management systems.

Interestingly, One Vanderbilt serves more than just an office function – the building also houses a luxury restaurant, Le Pavillon, whose kitchen is managed by renowned chef Daniel Boulud.

The skyscraper is also notable for its connection to Grand Central Terminal. An underground tunnel connects it directly to the station, which facilitates communication and makes the building fit perfectly into the rhythm of the city’s daily life. On the Podium Floors level, there are retail spaces and conference rooms to serve both office tenants and visitors.

Summit One Vanderbilt Attractions

One Vanderbilt Peak is a place that offers unforgettable experiences and observatory views of New York City. It consists of three levels plus additional external elevators that rise above these levels. As it happens in such places, not all attractions are included in the ticket price.

As part of your visit, you can discover:

1. Transcendence – a large space on two levels with mirrored surfaces that create an amazing impression of infinity (the so-called Infinity Room). The mirrored walls reflect the sky, making you feel like you’re in the clouds. It’s here that you’ll approach floor-to-ceiling glass windows and get a look at Downtown and Midtown Manhattan.
2. Affinity – a separate room with inflatable soft silver balls to resemble orbits.
3. Levitation – glass balconies extending beyond the outline of the skyscraper, ideal for taking spectacular photos, if you dare to stand on them, of course. Standing on the glass surface, one has the feeling of floating above the city.
4. Terrace – As part of Summit One Vanderbilt, you can also stand on the open terrace and relax in the local café.
5. Ascent – glass elevators that take guests even higher. However, these are not just any elevators – these are outside the building, open and with a glass floor. This attraction is an extra charge (in a higher package).
6. Unity – a place where you can sort of stand in the clouds for a while ;)

Of course, let’s not forget the views themselves that await you here. You can perfectly see the Empire State Building from here, and further Downtown Manhattan with One World Trade Center. Moving on to other rooms, the perspective changes, and you will also see the Hudson Yards, the Chrysler Building, Central Park, and maybe even get a glimpse of the Brooklyn Bridge. And if you look in the restroom, there is a large window with a view here as well ;)

It’s definitely a place that combines modern architecture, interactive exhibitions and unique experiences that you won’t encounter in any other place. Summit One Vanderbilt has become one of the favorite vantage points for urban photography enthusiasts. Thanks to glass facades and innovative solutions, visitors have the opportunity to capture unique panoramas of New York City from a whole new perspective.

Practical information

What does the visit look like and how to prepare?

We already wrote about for whom this place will not be unsuitable at the beginning of this post, and now a few more words about how to prepare for the visit. A visit to Summit One Vanderbilt is a unique experience that should be well planned in order to fully enjoy the attractions of the place. For starters, be sure to purchase your tickets in advance – availability may be limited, especially on weekends and holidays and for popular times (such as sunset). Looking now, tickets are in short supply for the next few days ahead, so it’s a good idea to buy them in advance.

You can choose the Summit Premium Experiance option with priority access tickets if you want to avoid the queues and get more time to explore, but in our opinion it is not necessary because the queues were virtually non-existent ;) There is no limited time on site, so you can spend as much time as you want going through each room.

It’s a good idea to bring sunglasses with you (if you don’t have your own, you’ll get them from the staff) so you won’t be glaring at the sun reflecting off the mirrors. As for clothing, we encourage you to leave your skirts and dresses at the hotel for comfort and wear pants or short shorts on this day. Being upstairs you will be walking on mirrors so you will be able to see everything ;) We do not recommend wearing stilettos or heavy shoes, as the staff may not let you in. Those entering the Vanderbilt Observatory must have disposable pads, which you get on site (children do not need to wear them).

What does a Summit One Vanderbilt visit look like? When you take the elevator upstairs, you first enter a room with mirrors and glass, and then move on to other areas. If you end up with a lot of people on the site, sometimes you just have to wait a while for the crowd to move on, and you get more space for yourself :)

How much does a ticket to Summit One Vanderbilt cost?

As with many other attractions in New York, there are several options and additional paid attractions to choose from. We only chose the basic entrance to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and for us it was fully sufficient.

Below are the current ticket prices – we have listed the OD prices, as they vary depending on the date and time selected (the most expensive are during sunset). On top of that, taxes and a $3 fee are added to each booking.

SUMMIT Experience (standard ticket):

• Adults – from $39 USD,
• Children (6-12 years) – from $33,
• Children under 5 years – free.

SUMMIT Ascent (standard ticket + elevator ride):

Prices start at $63 per person.

SUMMIT Premium Experience (with a guide, bypassing the queues, and with a photo package):

Prices start at $149 per person.

Current prices and packages are available here.

Summit One Vanderbilt opening hours

Summit One Vanderbilt is open daily, from 9:00 a.m . to midnight, with the last entry possible an hour and a half before closing (that is, at 10:30 p.m.).

However, it is advisable to check the current hours on the official website, as they may vary depending on the season and holidays.

Location and access – where is One Vanderbilt located?

The One Vanderbilt skyscraper is located on Vanderbilt Avenue, right next to Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Thanks to its central location, getting here is extremely easy, both for tourists and New Yorkers. You can take advantage of the numerous subway lines that stop at Grand Central station.

• Access by subway: Lines 4, 5, 6, 7 and S – Grand Central-42nd Street station.
• Access by bus: Lines M101, M102, M103, M1, M2, M3, M4, Q32 and M42.

For those traveling by car, nearby parking lots are available, but due to heavy traffic, however, we recommend using public transportation.

Exact address:
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
45 E 42nd St,
New York, NY 10017

Where to spend the night in New York?

It’s so easy to get around New York City, especially Manhattan, by public transportation (especially the subway) that there’s no need to specifically look for lodging near One Vanderbilt.

Here are some of our suggestions for accommodations from where you can easily reach this place:

• SpringHill Suites by Marriott New York Manhattan Chelsea
  Address: 140 West 28th Street, Chelsea, New York, 10001
  Prices: from 1800 PLN for a 2-bed room per night (breakfast included)
  Link: http://r4b.link/booking-nyc
  
• M Social Hotel Times Square New York
  Address: 226 West 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019
  Prices: from 2100 PLN for a 2-bed room per night
  Link: http://r4b.link/nyc-msocial
  
• Doubletree By Hilton New York Times Square West
  Address: 350 West 40th Street, Hell’s Kitchen, New York, NY 10018
  Prices: from 1500 PLN for a 2-bed room per night
  Link: http://r4b.link/nyc-doubletree-by-hilton
  
• Millennium Downtown New York
  Address: 55 Church Street, Wall Street – Financial District, New York, NY 10007
  Prices: from 1750 PLN for a 2-bed room per night
  Link: http://r4b.link/nyc-millenium
  

Other points and terraces from which to enjoy the view of New York City

The views from the observatory in the One Vanderbilt building are exceptional – full glass and reflective mirrors provide endless opportunities to catch interesting frames.

However, if you are interested in other viewpoints in New York, we recommend those that you can (or will be able to soon) read about on our blog:

• Empire State Building – the famous observation deck with a panoramic view of the city.
• The Edge – a modern terrace with a partially glass floor, providing an amazing experience.
• Top of the Rock – terrace located in Rockefeller Center is one of our favorite spots in New York.
• One World Observatory – another famous observation deck, this time on top of One World Trade Center overlooking Lower Manhattan.

Is it worth visiting the observation deck at One Vanderbilt? Our opinion.

This place is definitely special! One Vanderbilt impresses with its modern design, offers amazing views from the observatory and interactive attractions. It’s an ideal spot on the map of New York for those looking for a unique experience and unforgettable memories that go beyond the standard observation decks.

However, it’s worth knowing that for the same reasons this place is increasingly popular, especially among people who come here for insta pics, so you have to reckon that you won’t experience much peace and quiet here ;)