The Edge observation deck – a unique spot in New York!

There are many observation decks in New York, but the Edge definitely stands out among them. The building itself is already eye-catching, and the protruding platform is the highest such terrace in the western hemisphere! Ready for a journey of 100. Floor to look at New York City from above?

New York, the city that never sleeps, is full of impressive vantage points from which to view the skyline of this bustling metropolis. Walking through the streets of the Big Apple, a person constantly looks up, admires the buildings, cramped and tall, and entering one of the many observation decks allows you to see the city from a completely different perspective.

Today we are going to show you what our visit to one of the newest and most exciting places to admire the city was like – the outdoor observation deck located at the top of the Hudson Yards complex. This open observation deck may not be a good choice for those suffering from a fear of heights, as here you stand on a protruding platform as high as 340 meters above street level, making it one of the most unique vantage points not only in New York, but in the entire United States. The altitude does its job but so does the wind, because like at no other point in NYC, the wind here is atrocious.

We definitely like such places and were happy to visit another observation deck. One might think why go and pay for each one? Well, each such place is a different experience and different views. We viewed the city from such iconic and unique vantage points as the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock, but also saw the modern observation deck located at One Vanderbilt. Often there are additional attractions, exhibitions or multimedia beyond the terrace itself. Finally, it was time for the highest vantage point in NYC, the eponymous Edge.

In this article, we will tell you about the Edge – from basic information to practical travel tips, so you can see if this is the place for you.

Basic information about Edge and Hudson Yards

The Edge observation deck is part of the modern Hudson Yards complex, which is located on Manhattan’s west side, on the Hudson River.

Hudson Yards is a massive private urban development project that has revolutionized the space of New York City. It was launched in the early 2000s, and construction began in 2012. The complex is being built on land that was previously used for railroad stations and warehouses, as well as on part of the land that has been unused for many years. The project will transform the area into a modern district, full of luxury apartments, office buildings, stores, restaurants and tourist attractions. The efforts are aimed at revitalizing this part of Manhattan, which until now has been poorly developed. Hudson Yards has become a symbol of modern architecture and innovative urban planning, as well as one of the most expensive real estate projects in US history. The project is not yet complete, a second phase is planned, which will include the construction of offices and apartments, but already, the completed first phase is delighting and attracting tourists, residents and businesses.

Hudson Yards includes not only one of the best-rated observation decks in New York City, but also luxury apartments, offices, stores, restaurants and a unique art installation, the Vessel, which has become one of the symbols of the neighborhood.

The eponymous Edge is the tallest outdoor observation deck in New York City, located at 100. floor of the 30 Hudson Yards building. From 340 meters above the ground, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the city, including the Empire State Building, Central Park, Lower Mangattan with One World Trade Center, as well as the Hudson River and its surroundings. This is one of the newest places that attracts tourists and New Yorkers.

Edge open observation deck

The Edge observation deck is not the most popular observation deck in New York, which we think is a huge plus. It’s not only a place to enjoy the city’s skyline, but also an interesting experience that engages all the senses on, bagatelle, the 100th floor of a skyscraper. But before you drive up, while you wait you can learn a little about the whole development, see what Hudson Yards looks like and what modern and environmentally friendly solutions have been used here.

One of the most unique aspects of the Edge observation deck is its architecture. It was designed to make visitors feel like they are on the edge of the city. The observation deck, located above the streets of NYC and projecting beyond the building’s bulk, is distinguished by its high glass balustrade, which is tilted slightly outward, so you can also “lean out” better and more safely than at other vantage points.

The site also promotes itself as a sensational observation deck suspended above the street, with a glass floor but this is, in our opinion, highly overrated. First of all, the glass floor is not all the way down, only part of it, and secondly, it is so besieged anyway that you will hardly see anything through it in peace ;) It’s much better to simply focus on the views through the aforementioned glazing and stand in the very corner of the viewing terrace – from here the view down is definitely better (don’t let the queues to take a photo here surprise you!). Anyway, this isn’t the only observation deck with a glass floor in New York – see what it looks like at One Vanderbilt.

But you have to admit, the view from here is absolutely stunning – depending on the time of day, you can see both the dazzling lights of the city at night and the sweeping vistas in the sunshine. Plus, remember that we are standing on one of the highest vantage points in the world! From here you can see the Manhattan skyline in all its glory.

And if that’s not enough for someone, they can go even higher. A City Climb is offered at the top, which means climbing the building, of course with safeguards and under the guidance of professionals (such an attraction has an additional fee). We chose not to, but there was no shortage of daredevils.

Practical information

To make your visit to the Edge even more comfortable, you should know that:

• Tickets: admission to the terrace is paid. Ticket prices can vary depending on the time of year and available promotions, so it’s worth checking them on the official website before you visit.
• Length of stay: the standard stay is about 1 hour, which is enough to fully enjoy the views and the Manhattan skyline.
• It is worth mentioning again at this point that it is blowing hard on the mountain. So remember to keep your hats, caps, etc. so that nothing flies away from you ;)

How much does an Edge ticket cost?

Ticket prices for the Sky Terrace Edge depend on the option selected and the date of the visit. A standard ticket usually costs from $40 for an adult, but tickets for children, senior citizens and various promotions and packages are also available. Below are current sample admission prices for the Edge terrace:

Standard ticket (for the selected day and time):

• Adults – from $40 USD,
• Children (6-12 years) – from $35,
• Children under 5 years – free.

Flexible ticket (for the day of your choice, at any time):

• Adults – from $60 USD,
• Children (6-12 years) – from $55,
• Children under 5 years – free.

Priority Access ticket (ticket with faster entry):

• Adults – from $88 USD,
• Children (6-12 years) – from $83,
• Children under 5 years – free.

City Climb (the price already includes entry to the Edge):

• Adults – from $185 USD.

NEW YORK C3; Terrace Edge Package + 2 other attractions (a cool option if you plan to see, for example, the Empire State Building, MoMA, Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial & Museum or Natural History Museum):

• Adults – from $104 USD,
• Children (6-12 years) – from $82.

Prices were checked at the time of writing this post, but to be 100% sure how much it costs to get in we recommend checking the official Edge website.

Location and access – where is the Edge located?

The Edge Terrace is located in the 30 Hudson Yards building, in the modern Hudson Yards neighborhood on the west side of Manhattan.

The exact address is:
30 Hudson Yards,
New York, NY 10001.

It is a place that can be easily reached using public transportation:

Access by subway: line 7 – station 34 St-Hudson Yards and lines A, C, E – station 34 St – Penn Station

Access by bus: Line M11 has a stop right under the building.

You can also walk from other popular spots in New York, such as Times Square and Chelsea. For those who prefer cabs or apps to order transportation, the Edge is located near major thoroughfares, making it an easily accessible attraction.

Edge opening hours

The Edge Terrace is open daily, making it possible to visit regardless of the day of the week. Standard opening hours are usually from 7:00 a.m. to midnight (last entry at 11:00 p.m.), but it’s worth checking this on the official website just before visiting, as hours may vary depending on the season or special events.

Hotels and accommodation in the area

It’s so easy to get around New York, especially Manhattan, by public transportation (especially the subway) that there’s no need to specifically look for accommodations near The Edge and Hudson Yards. 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 viewpoints in New York

If you’re interested in other vantage points from which to view New York, we recommend the ones you can (or will be able to soon) read about on our blog:

• Empire State Building – arguably the most popular observation deck, from which you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city.
• Top of the Rock – The sensational observation deck, located in Rockefeller Center, is one of our favorite spots in New York.
• One World Observatory – another observation deck, this time on top of One World Trade Center overlooking Lower Manhattan.
• Summit One Vanderbilt – A multimedia experience with mirrored installations. It is the newest observation deck in the city of New York.

Is it worth going to the Edge observation deck? Our opinion

We realize that this is not a cheap attraction, so you’re probably wondering whether to choose this observation deck or some other and from which one will you get the best view of the Manhattan skyline? We completely understand this, by the way, I don’t think anything is cheap in New York and if you are traveling on a tight budget you have to make often difficult decisions.

It is a one-of-a-kind experience, after all, it is the highest vantage point in New York, but we still cannot say with 100% certainty that we enjoyed this terrace the most of all. Our favorite is probably still Top of the Rock, but nevertheless it is very individual :)

There are many highly rated observation decks in New York City and there is a suitable one for everyone. Whether it’s the highest outdoor terrace (Edge), the heavily Instagrammed and newest observation deck (Summit One Vanderbilt) or the more classic one (Empire State Building) you won’t be disappointed :) And if you’re still wondering which of these unique viewpoints to choose, you can just take a tour of the observation deck on Google Maps ;) See by the pictures what views are from which point and make the best decision for you.