REVIEW: Which NYC observatory should you visit?

New York City is stunning from most angles. If there is one thing you should do on a NYC trip, it is to visit one of their three famous observatories (Top of the Rock, One World Observatory and Empire State Building) to get a view of the city from above. Of course, there are plenty of other options to get a good view of NYC, but if we exclude private buildings, planes and helicopters, these are all top options. One question that many people ask before visiting NYC is, which one is the best? I’ve visited all three, and below, I’ll share my opinion.

Top of the Rock vs One World Observatory

I visited both of these observatories in August 2018, and both were great experiences, each magical in their own way. One World is significantly newer than Top of The Rock, which is clearly noticeable. You will have a great experience there. It is bright, beautiful, modern and impressive. For a detailed review of Top of the Rock, see my post here. Also, see my post about One World Observatory here.

Top of the Rock might not be as modern and cutting-edge as One World Observatory. It looks slightly dated in comparison, and it hasn’t incorporated modern technology into the experience like One World Observatory has.

The view

The view you’ll get from each observatory is radically different. The view is also the whole reason why you’re visiting in the first place. Don’t forget about that when you’re choosing your experience. From One World Observatory, you will get a good view of the Statue of Liberty, Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge. You will, however not see Central Park at all, as Midtown is blocking the view. On top of that, you’ll only see Midtown from a far distance. NYC from this perspective is lesser known, and less iconic, when comparing to the view from Top of the Rock. At Top of the Rock, you can also walk around outside on their terraces, while One World Observatory is indoors only.

Wait times and admission prices are similar, but the interior of One World Observatory is much nicer than the interior of Top of the Rock.

Empire State Building

I’ve visited Empire State Building twice, once in 2009 and once 2011. Both times, I was lucky enough to be using a VIP pass, which enabled our group to skip lines, and reach the top faster. I saw the lines during both occasions, and they were huge. The waiting times and lines at Empire State Building are notoriously long. Once you reach the 86th floor, the observatory area looks dated, it’s crowded, and pretty unpleasant. I also visited the 102nd floor (the view isn’t much different though) and that area felt dated and crowded too. The views are great, but you will obviously miss out on seeing Empire State building. Note that it’s been a few years since I visited, so things might have changed. However, in my opinion, you are better off visiting one of the other observatories.

My conclusion

In my opinion, Top of the Rock is a clear winner here. At this observatory you’ll get the most iconic view, you won’t miss out on seeing Central Park or Empire State Building. It is conveniently situated, and you are not likely to spend too much time waiting in line.

A visit to One World Observatory may involve cool technical features, but at the end of the day, you’re here for the view, and it is simply better at Top of the Rock.

What is your favourite view of NYC and why? Please let me know in the comments!