SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

Observatory · Midtown East

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

Observatory · Midtown East

2

45 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017

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SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by Courtesy SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
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SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by null

Highlights

Atop New York’s soaring One Vanderbilt, SUMMIT offers a dazzling mix of immersive art and breathtaking views, redefining the observation deck experience.  

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
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45 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017 Get directions

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@summitov

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45 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017 Get directions

+1 877 682 1401
summitov.com
@summitov

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Jul 6, 2025

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@cntraveler

"Almost every awning along the stretch of The Bronx's Arthur Avenue between D'Auria-Murphy Triangle and Ciccarone Park marks an Italian name possessing something—a pizzeria, a restaurant, a bakery. But just because it's all Italian, all the time along these two blocks doesn't mean all aren't welcome to come and patronize these establishments. It's some of the absolute best Italian food in New York City lined up for your convenience, bustling with life and good eats. Executive editor Erin Florio's relatives still do their Sunday shopping in the market, which she describes as "dusty but great." Poking around and picking a few things up there is really where it's at—bright seasonal produce, sausages of all stripes dangling from the ceiling, fresh-baked bread and vinegar-y imports from the old country line the walls in cans and jars. It's true one-stop shopping." - Charlie Hobbs, Alex Erdekian, Melissa Liebling-Goldberg

The 42 Best Things to Do in New York City
View Postcard for SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
@dorothy

I’ve never been here but your kids might like that this is the most photo/selfie friendly “viewing” spot of NYC. It’s also in Grand Central Station so you have the added bonus of being able to walk around there (and pop into the Oyster Bar for a clam chowder at the lunch counter if you’re feeling peckish).

Activities in NYC for Dug & Family
View Postcard for SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

Stav Tzabari

Google
Wow! Before going to New York 🗽 I knew I wanted to go to this attraction and when I arrived there I was totally surprised 😮 because it was so good! First of all I recommend you to buy tickets 🎫 before and for the sunset hours 🌆 (it costs a little bit more but it totally worths it!) It was a little bit difficult to find the entrance because they changed it but eventually we could find it and inside of the building the organization is excellent! First you watch a short video about the building and then you go up, each floor is different and kind and the view is absolutely stunning! 🤩 Important thing - you can't go back to another floor but you can stay as long as you want each one of them. We took so many photos but yes - there are SO many people so you should find a corner to make a good one. A thing that we really liked is that on the rooftop there is a bar, so we drank a cocktail 🍹 with the stunning view !!!(if you go in the evening I recommend to take a sweater 🧥 or something)

The Gerald Hil.

Google
It was hard choosing the best skyscraper to visit during our short trip, but we’re glad we chose Summit One. Great lookouts and interactive rooms to fill your time. Advice would be getting your pictures on the second or third floor. There’s a lot of congestion on the first floor but the other floors offer just as great photo ops. Also, try their bars!!! Watching sunset with a drink was such an amazing experience here!

Valentin

Google
I visited the SUMMIT on a clear night and it was absolutely breathtaking. The views over the city were unreal, you could see everything, from the Empire State to the bridges and beyond. The reflections, lights, and immersive installations made it feel like walking through a dream. It’s more than just an observation deck, it’s a full experience, and seeing it at night adds a magical, almost surreal vibe. A must-do in NYC, especially if the sky is clear. Truly unforgettable!

Deka DQ

Google
ABSOLUTELY worth the 44$ per adult. The view is crazily good, but It's more than a view : it's a literal breathtaking experience of more than two hours. It's even very fun for kids. The entire circuit is immersive and well-thought of to exploit every possible aspect of the view in an artistic and interactive way. We had to wait 40 minutes for the next available visiting time when buying the tickets onsite. I would just do THIS one observatory if you're in New York for a few days.

Mayra Zetina

Google
It wasn’t too crowded, the queue was very fast. The views are beautiful, I think it has a better view than other similar experiences around the city. It was fun even for the children. It takes you around 30-40 minutes to enjoy in a relaxed way. There is a very nice cafe at the top where you can enjoy various drinks and snacks and take them in the open terrace.

Agnieszka Soja

Google
We had an absolutely wonderful experience at One Summit NYC as a family of three. From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. The team was incredibly welcoming and attentive, ensuring that every part of our visit was enjoyable. Our son especially loved the silver inflatable balls— they were so captivating and interactive, making it an unforgettable experience for him. As for me, the elevator ride to the very top was a highlight! The view from the top was breathtaking, and the whole journey up was a thrilling experience. The environment was warm and inviting, and we truly felt like part of the One Summit family. The exhibits and interactive elements were so thoughtfully designed, making it a memorable outing for all of us. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique and enriching experience in NYC — we can’t wait to come back!

Katherine Bernard

Google
– Breathtaking Views & Vibes (Just a Bit Pricey) Summit One Vanderbilt is an unforgettable experience! I went during the day and stayed through sunset into the night, and the view just kept getting better. Watching the city transform from daylight to golden hour and then into sparkling night was absolutely magical. The mirrored rooms were my favorite part—so stunning and immersive. It’s truly like stepping into another world. The panoramic views of the city are insane—you can see nearly all of New York, and the photo ops are next-level. It was pretty crowded, even on a weekday, which was the only downside. Also, the ticket price is a bit high, but honestly, that’s New York—and for a view like that, it kind of makes sense. What really surprised me was the rooftop bar! I didn’t know about it beforehand, but it added a really chill, relaxing touch at the end of the visit. I’d definitely come back and recommend it to anyone who wants a unique city experience.

Oleksandr Grukhal

Google
Well-organized experience with great views of the city. The space is modern and clean, and the staff was helpful throughout. The bar on the top floor was a nice bonus — friendly staff and great cocktails. A nice way to see NYC from above — worth a visit.

Brigitte L.

Yelp
This experience was absolutely AMAZING and I highly recommend to anyone and everyone! This was hands down my favorite part of our trip and so glad we made the decision to come here. 96 floors high and the design and presentation and interaction of this is just spectacular! Job well done. You start off by checking in -- we actually had tickets for the glass elevator ride but it wasn't operational the day we went so they refunded us the additional cost. When you check in and go thru security, you take your first set of pictures then led to obtain your shoe covers and sunglasses. You can choose to use your own sunglasses however rest assured if you forgot yours like I did, they have plenty for you to use during your exploration. You then go to take your pictures for the clouds that you'll see later in your exploration. Really cool. You can even choose to make a funny face or however you want to see your face be presented in the clouds. Then is the elevator ride up! It does have strobe lights but staff does ask if anyone has a sensitivity to this given they have the ability to turn that off. So, look up and enjoy your ride up! Way up! Once you get out, you'll enter an all glass and mirror room. If you're scared of heights like I am it's going to be sensory overload in the beginning and you'll probably be weak in the knees like me. I just tried not to look down or over any railings and I was ok. That's my tip :) They do have a photographer there that can take your pictures which we opted to do and they turned out FANTASTIC! Highly recommend this. For all prints digitally was $25. Very reasonably priced considering that we paid way over that for only a few prints digitally at TOTR the day prior. I'll definitely be printing these to hang up at home. They have various rooms that you walk thru and each is a different experience to itself along with the breathtaking views of the city. The last part is professional pictures out on the glass ledge. Promise that if I can do this then anyone can. Again, don't look down.

Natasha R.

Yelp
Loved this experience. In my opinion, it's the very best observatories in the city. Super interactive and the views are amazing. Make sure to do your research prior to coming. You can't come in heels or dresses. Comfy shoes are best to not scratch the floors and no dresses because there are mirrored floors. There is a snack area in the end to purchase some snacks and drinks. This experience is pricy but worth it for sure. The only con i have is that the staff isn't nice or friendly. The only nice person was the very last employee at the clear elevator section. Every other person was pretty rude. I'm born and raised in nyc and can deal with that, but it's not fair when people are spending so much money to come here, esp tourist

Nikki T.

Yelp
i give this place a 2 stars solely because not a single person who worked here was nice and we felt so rushed whenever we interacted with any worker!! immediately upon entry, the security guard was raising his voice at my boyfriend to put his items somewhere and was being confusing on where. after that you get a photo taken and we were told to stand in a spot and our photo was taken with no warning, he didn't even count down or say smile. we move on to scan our tickets and this group of 3 workers were talking amongst each other and completely ignoring us for at least 2 minutes. she did apologize, but then didn't tell us where to head next which led to us being stopped and scolded by another worker who said we needed to walk all the way around. all of this before we even entered summit one!! once entering you put shoe covers on because the first room we enter is mirrored all over (including the floors), so keep that in mind if you plan to wear a skirt/dress! anytime we had to interact with a worker, it was a disappointing experience. there's a room you go in where i guess they your face is projected in the clouds, but when we entered, a man scans our wristbands and says NOTHING, we had no idea what we looking at at first, we figured it out on our own when our faces had already passed by. super sad, that would have been cool to see there's another experience where you stand on this edge that protrudes out a little and it all glass so you can see out and under and this woman scans our wristbands once again and tells us to smile for the camera, but she never told us where the camera was and it happened so fast! the camera is above way up high on the ceiling! you do get 30 seconds to take your own photos/videos there afterwards theres a timer counting you down the views here are beautiful, i'd recommend it over the empire state building or the edge, but i'm so so so disappointed with my experience here!

Chris H.

Yelp
One Vanderbilt, completed in 2020, is a 1401' tall skyscraper right next to Grand Central Station. It wasn't here when I worked in Midtown Manhattan but, I heard of the plans to transform the midtown east area and this was one of the projects. I'll say that the skyscraper is impressive in its overall design. My son and I bought tickets on Viator for the Summit which is a three floor observatory on top of the building. Prior to going up there is a screening process where they take your photo and then you view a short film about the building. They also show you the current viewing conditions. On the day we went at 11:30am it was overcast. I believe you can opt out and go at another time. You also have to wear shoe coverings like the kind when you go to an open house. This is to protect the flooring which is mostly glass and mirrors. The elevator ride up took less than a minute which is impressive. I'll say the Summit was built as an "experience" with the glass mirrored flooring and artwork that is present. Unfortunately, there was a lot of fog that was slowly dissipating but not enough to see downtown, New Jersey or the rest of the boroughs. I'm sure on a clear day the views are stunning. The one turnoff was the incessant mechanical noise piped through the speakers. I'll describe it as similar to sounds you hear while standing online at Space Mountain. I get that someone thought it would add to the "experience" but after about ten minutes I was like just shut it off. The third floor of the Summit has a small cafe, bar, gift shop and open air seating. It's actually quite nice to hang out, have a drink, and enjoy even more sweeping views if the weather cooperates. Overall it was a good experience and definitely worth a visit.

Andrea R.

Yelp
I really don't know how I just made it here for the first time with the amount of times I've visited NYC. But better late than never! I did take my daughter to the Edge years ago, which was super cool, but this was better. It's also a few hour time commitment while the Edge was more of a quick view of the city so it depends on how much time you want to spend taking in the views. We went around 4pm on a Saturday end of April. I worried the lines would be super long and even considered paying the extra fee to skip the lines. While we definitely waited in a long line to get in, it wasn't that bad and I'm glad I didn't spend the $ to skip the lines. My daughter's friend was with us and said the lines were way worse when she came during sunset another time. I'm sure that's cool to see, but sunset= longer lines. Once we got to the 91st floor my kids wouldn't stop saying how cool it was up there. My son couldn't stop taking pictures of the amazing view. And my daughter and her friend were in tiktok heaven. I don't think you can get a better background for tiktoks. They also had a blast in the floating ball room, which was another perfect tiktok setting. My kids got hungry halfway thru and were happy with a pretzel bite snack. My daughter's friend has celiac so we did have trouble finding a gluten free snack, although she was able to eat the chips. A few more gluten free options would be great! At the end we did the glass elevator, which is listed as the most popular option on their website. There wasn't any line for this so I"m not sure it's that popular. It was cool, but NYC doesn't look that different whether you're viewing it from the 91st or 101st floor so I'd skip that one. I didn't think it was worth the extra charge. Overall, it was such a fun activity and I think the highlight of our quick trip to NYC. It's also conveniently located in Grand Central so if you're coming to NYC by train you can go when you first arrive or when you leave. I just recommend buying tickets ahead of time, especially on a weekend, since they tend to sell out.

Krystal C.

Yelp
Put this place on your bucket list. I was in New York and this place came up as a must try experience. The day we had originally booked our tickets for had to be rescheduled because of the weather. We ended going later in the evening and I was amazed with the city view in the night. We went up three floors with different experiences. The top deck had drinks and an area you can sit and just look at the views. You are given a wristband that stores all your photos and are assessable at the end of the tour. I got the digital prints and ordered me an add on picture that I liked. Overall the place is amazing. There is a sky box area where they take your picture of you standing what feels like in the air. I enjoyed the room with the silver balls that floated above the ceiling. Definitely something you have to try once.

Gabriela M.

Yelp
Summit One is my favorite! We had a wonderful experience from beginning to end. You check in at your reserved ticket time, go through the metal detectors, and wait in line to be escorted to the elevator. Our wait time was about 45 mins, on a Saturday evening. We wanted to watch the sunset, so we made reservations for 4:30 p.m. since sunset time is 6:30 p.m. Unfortunately, it was a gloomy day, so we didn't get to experience the wonderful sunset views of NYC. If you want to experience the sunset, I recommend that you purchase tickets 11/2-2 hours before sunset time to give yourself enough time to check in, wait in line, and enter the summit doors. The experience includes multiple interactive rooms. My favorite was the balloon room, which offers many cool photo opportunities. The floors in the first room are mirrors, so you should avoid wearing skirts, dresses, etc. Also, high heels are prohibited because they can scratch the floors. I also recommend that you practice patience, this is a popular place, so you'll more than likely encounter a lot of people trying to take pics, taking over the windows, etc. Once you're done, you'll be welcomed by a cool bar area, where you can sit and take in the beautiful NYC views. Tickets were very affordable and well worth it!

Gina N.

Yelp
The view is great but that is dependent on the weather. You also have to wear shoe covers the whole time so be prepared to hide those in your photos unless you don't mind. I chose a 12:00 initially but then asked to switch to 11:30 since that was going to work better for me. I would have had to pay a fee for rescheduling but luckily I called within 24 hours of booking so it was free to change. The line to enter the museum wasn't too bad but make sure you set time aside for this museum so that you can take your time. They let you enter the security line before your appointment but for the line after where they scan your ticket, you have to go in at the exact time and not a minute earlier. It can also get crowded when you're inside the exhibit especially if there's a popular spot to take a photo so you will have to wait your turn. We took lots of photos on each level and even waited for some spots but we were only there for under 2 hours including the wait in the security line.

Sushma K.

Yelp
This experience is BEYOND spectacular!! Do book your ticket well in advance if you want to get the sun set experience from the 92th floor. We booked the ticket which covered the complimentary drinks as well. It's a different experience having drinks from the 92th floor!! From the elevator ride to the the 3 floors they cover to each floor experience, it is a fun experience for any age group! The wait line can be long depending on the time-slot you choose to go. Our wait time was almost 45 mins. But it was totally worth it! One of the most instragrammable places in NYC. It has a mindblowing rooftop which gives you a wonderful 360 view of the NYC city.. This is a MUST do! Dont miss out on this one!

Alexis B.

Yelp
I visited Summit One Vanderbilt with my mom last weekend over a mom/daughter weekend. Summit is an observation deck experience on a few floors above the 73rd floor. There are views in every direction (from indoors through glass and an outdoor area with glass walls), infinity rooms (filled with mirrors and windows), glass balconies you can stand on to look down, etc. It's definitely a bit of a tourist trap, but I like to try everything once! The views are incredible, but it's pricey for what it is (in my opinion). Its main attraction seems to be its use as a backdrop for photos for Instagram, so there were lots of people dressed up for photos, on their own, with friends, with family. That's not really my thing, nor are very crowded spaces. So we did a quick visit, checking out each of the rooms quickly and taking some photos if the views from different angles. I'd say it's one those do once and then never again type tourist spots, not bad for a quick visit if you're in the area. There are some other opportunities for views in the city, but this one is definitely trying to separate itself through artsyness (there is even a room with some Yayoi Kusama works). Others are more about the engineering of the building or the views. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way for this viewpoint in particular, but if you're in the area and views and photo ops are your thing, Summit is doing a very arty version of it that is well worth a stop.

C T.

Yelp
Our family absolutely loved this place. We were visiting during a heat wave and it was perfect because almost everywhere you were looking out from was indoors. This is perfect for the hot summer or for the cold winter. There's a small terrace where you can go outside at the very end... but it's super small and it's not a viewing deck like you get at somewhere like the Rockefeller center. This didn't bother us at all bc you get full clear views regardless. If you want a full outdoor observation deck, this might not be your best option. What we also liked were the various rooms you moved through.... It was nice to have these extra bits of entertainment other than elevator up... look... go back down. Especially great for kids. It was a highlight for them. I recommend showing up at least 30 minutes before your scheduled ticket time. You have to go through ticket scans and security. We had a 4pm slot and it took about 40 mins to get through everything. If you have a prime spot like a sunset time you want to be there for... I would show up even earlier.

Mag T.

Yelp
Amazing views of the city. I went around 10 p.m. so I felt a bit rushed on each level, but it's definitely something that you should have on your to do list when visiting NYC.

Bunyaka N.

Yelp
Out of all the observation decks I've been in NYC. It's like going to the immersive exhibitions but also with the best view in the city. I highly recommend it!

Christie N.

Yelp
What a cool place!! Beautiful building and amazing views. Drinks and little coffee shop are really good too

James d.

Yelp
Summit was very cool. We went on a day with nice weather so we had great visibility. Getting up from the lobby was a little chaotic, but once we made it up, it was amazing. They had several different rooms across three floors. We spent a lot of time in the first room waiting for a turn to get up to the windows while people took pictures. This floor has the best views up against windows but on the upper floors there's almost no one to compete for window space with. On the very top floor that's also the gift shop and cafe, there's an outdoor section that is cool as well.

Lika T.

Yelp
Had a great time here! Probably spent like 3 hours in here taking photos and looking at the sunset! Probably the tallest building in New York that I've ever been! You get to see everything! I recommend getting your tickets online first because waiting in line for your tickets was long! If you got your tickets already the line moves pretty fast! We got in less than 10mins and it was crowded! The tickets were only $45 each person and you get to see 3 levels of crazy stuff! Were did everything inside and enjoyed everything! Got to see the mirror floors, balloons, push out glass window, bar, top views, and the sunset! I really enjoyed this attraction! It was probably one of my favorite ones! Got to see insane stuff that I can never see anywhere else before! At the top level you can see the view outside and enjoy the sunset with some champagne and of course Lox bagels which was so perfect for the moment! The view was stunning! I would highly recommend coming here if you're visiting New York! But get your tickets online first it faster and easier! And they do have some deals online as well!

Christa M.

Yelp
I bought tickets to this place expecting it would be a quick experience and boy was I wrong. We arrived a few minutes prior to our scheduled time and we stood in the long line that snaked out into the terminal. There were plenty of workers walking around so I approached one of them to inquire about my tickets. They have a pretty good deal for military personnel (current, present, past) so I was to check in with a staff member for directions. He escorted us past the long line and right into the customer service desk. Here another friendly worker verified my ID and gave us our tickets. We no longer got back in the long line but now waited in this shorter one. There was a TSA style check we went through and the line then snaked its way to the photo op area. After the photo, we were given booties and sunglasses to use from here on out (sunglasses to use because its sooooo bright on the upper floor) After that, we went to another station that took an individual picture of you for one of the interactive screen rooms they have. We then filed into another line and waited for the elevator to take us up, up, up. Once at the top, we were free to explore. There are more then a few rooms to check out and it was so busy! It was crowded, sunny, and very warm. We were super short on time so we spent at most like 5 minutes in each room but easily you can spend up to an hour if you are into taking pictures. Once we snaked our way through every room we headed to the elevator to head back down. Now this line was long and we waited about 25 minutes. Once we made it to the 1st floor, the workers thanked us for coming in and we left. Overall this is a one time experience for me and I'm glad I checked it out. We still had fun although we were rushing! Employees we interacted with were all friendly!

Jessamyn D.

Yelp
Summit One Vanderblit is a great experience, waiting to get inside took awhile for us, it took us about 20-30 minutes to inside and upstairs to the exhibit. There are 3 floors where there are many photo ops, and great views of NYC! I enjoyed the room with the balloons, there were many people while we were but it's also a fun experience and you can take many pictures. We were able to see the city on a gloomy day, still a fun experience.

Kim A.

Yelp
Amazing experience of immersive art, technology, architecture, and the best views of NYC! The Summit touches all of your senses. From the elevator to the top of the observation deck your experience is captivating! The 360 degree views of the concrete jungle of New York City is absolutely breathtaking. The art exhibits in each section offers wonderful photo opportunities and fun interactive technology. The Summit offers a glass bottom floor, glass room with 360 degree views, floating orbs, outdoor observation deck, short film, immersive art and technology and is truly a thrill! You must experience the Summit when visiting NYC, it's a great attraction for all ages.

Alex H.

Yelp
Summit one Vanderbilt was one of my all-time favorite experiences while visiting NYC. There are more multiple levels where you can go to, and there is an interactive aspect on each level as well as amazing views of the city. We went right at sunset, which was honestly perfection because we got to see the sun set across the entire city, and then the city at night with all of the buildings lit up. It truly was magnificent. Once you reach the top level , there is also a full service bar where you can order drinks and appetizers. I would say the only downside was that it took about 45 minutes of waiting in line before you actually reach the summit. They make you go through multiple lines and once you reach the final line, you wait in a relatively dark and smaller enclosed area before taking an elevator all the way up to the top. All in all, spending money on a ticket for Summit One Vanderbilt is completely worth it! If you are visiting NYC, I would highly recommend adding this to your list of things to do as this was quite spectacular especially at sunset!

Nga N.

Yelp
It's pretty cool but its pretty pricey for a quick self tour. Our time slot was 10:30AM and it took almost 30 mins to get through the line and security. When we got to the top, it was a little bit miserable. The sun hit so hard and you definitely need sunglasses to not blind you. Since the heat was so bad we move to the side with the silver balloons. While this side seems cool, it is very crowded and small. Balloons keep popping which made my little children jumpy. My husband thinks the Edge is better but it was way too cold to do the edge during winter.

Farah A.

Yelp
I checked out SUMMIT One Vanderbilt back in December, and it was easily one of the coolest experiences I've had in NYC! The 360 views are unreal, but what really makes it stand out is the interactive design mirrored rooms that make the skyline feel infinite, floating silver balloons, and those insane glass skyboxes that let you step out over the city. It felt more like an immersive art experience than just an observation deck. It was a bit crowded, but totally worth it for a fresh, mind blowing view of NYC!

Richa T.

Yelp
Pros: + One of the most iconic instagramable places to visit in NYC + Gorgeous rooftop bar for the best view of the Manhattan skyline + Discounted pricing for NYC/LI residents - but not much TBH $5 a ticket + Spacious areas with amazing photographic decor + Get the photography package Cons: - Tickets are pretty expensive though Just some friendly advice: the floors and ceilings are made of glass and are reflective. Do not wear dresses/short skirts here. Maybe consider wearing pants IG: QueenOfAdventureNYC

April A.

Yelp
This place is so beautiful! The setup is amazing, them experience was amazing, the view from the top is breathtaking. I love everything about this place. The next time I go. I am going to go at night.

Jessica K.

Yelp
What an amazing experience! An observatory deck located right next to Grand Central. We reserved tickets in advance for sunset time. I highly recommend getting tickets at least a couple days in advance because when we arrived, I saw they were sold out for the next 3 days. Going around sunset was such a good choice because we really got to see the full before/during/after sunset views. We ended up staying around 2 hours total, just taking our time going through all the areas. You're not able to go back once you pass an area, but you can stay as long as you want in each section. It was such an interactive experience that is mostly indoors with some outdoor component at the end, rather than a forced outdoor area like most other observatories in the area. They have a lounge area after the exhibits that you can just stay at while enjoying the view. Overall, yes this is more expensive than other observation decks, but I think it is completely worth it for the better experience especially if you're visiting the area.

Essie L.

Yelp
I was a local playing tourist, and I gotta say, there's not much to do here. It's crowded, and outside it's super windy on a regular day. The views may be wonderful for tourists but that's the case with any observation tower. The cafe isn't half bad though, it's good to be able to get some nibbles or a hot cocoa (in my case) and enjoy the views.

Retna S.

Yelp
This is my favorite "observation deck"in NYC. I bought the ticket online for 9 AM admission. I received an email prior to my visit to give directions on how to get there, what to wear, and prohibited items. I entered on 42nd street next to TD bank, then took the stairs down. Do not take the elevator because it will take you to the subway station. I arrived there a quarter to nine and the line had built up. After I was admitted I was given plastic bags to cover my shoes. I highly recommend wearing sneakers and not pointy heels. You can also grab a pair of sunglasses. The view is spectacular. You can see Central Park, Empire State, World Trade Center, The Edge, Bryant Park. Glasses and mirrors everywhere. A lot of people took pictures while sitting on the floor. My favorite part is the room filled with silver balloons. Very fun and a cute way to take pictures with. You can hear some balloons are popped. There are three levels of viewing areas. The terrace is outdoor so I recommend bringing a jacket. You can buy churros and drinks there. I spent about 1 and a half hours from start to finish.

Nicole E.

Yelp
The Vanderbilt is the fourth tallest building in NYC. Summit one is located in midtown Manhattan and recommend reservations by all means. You can buy tickets day of but if they are at capacity you are out of luck. I do recommend arriving 15 minutes early to your ticketing time as there will be lines regardless of the time. The summit one experience is broken up into three floors with some art installations. The top level ends with a rooftop view to get drinks or some bites. Overall, the views are unmatched of the city and pretty cool being 73 stories high. Just be prepared mentally that you will be dealing with huge crowds. However, great photo ops and a fun interactive balloon room. Prices range from $49 and up.

Abraham D.

Yelp
"The Summit" en Nueva York es un lugar increíble. La vista es espectacular, y la experiencia en sí es muy moderna y divertida. Puedes ver toda la ciudad desde lo alto, y hay instalaciones interactivas que realmente le dan un toque especial. Creo que la única atracción que se paga por aparte de los pases. Merece la pena. A veces puede haber mucha gente, y la entrada no es barata, pero vale la pena si buscas algo diferente y memorable. En resumen, es un gran lugar para disfrutar de Nueva York desde otra perspectiva. Tu outfit se arruina completamente con la bolsa que te ponen en los pies.

Ruby N.

Yelp
This experience was wayy better than I expected. We took our friend here for her birthday and I'm usually not one for tourist activities however, this one was a great experience and blew me away. The view and immersive components of this place was amazing. You go through security and they take you all the way up where you see a breathtaking view and explore multiple floors. This is the best photo opportunity and we got the tickets that come with a cocktail/mock tail which was such a fun touch. They even allowed you to enter an outdoor area to get an even better experience.

Dena R.

Yelp
Great views of the city & amazing staff. Huge lines but they move fast. Take tons of pictures and have fun!

Lakwan H.

Yelp
I decided to play tourist for a day in Manhattan and headed to Summit One. I'd seen so many pictures and was hoping it would be as magical as it looked--and it absolutely was! We bought our tickets right inside Grand Central and then waited in line to get in. It took about 20-30 minutes to go through the line and all the steps to get to the top, but once we were in, it was worth it. Everything is so well thought out and truly magical. I loved every moment of the experience and everything they had to offer. At the end, there's a spot with food, drinks, and an outdoor lookout area. We tried the food, and it was actually very good! We couldn't resist getting some prosecco, our favorite drink. Finding seating was a bit of a challenge--it felt like a race to grab a spot as soon as one opened up--but other than that, we enjoyed all the views and the creativity that went into the place. I even picked up a souvenir from the gift shop to remember such a memorable day.

Shonah M.

Yelp
The thrill of standing on glass floors at 1,100 feet above Manhattan absolutely intrigued me. Can you say - 'enter the matrix' or what!?! No need for any pills blue or red - you're completely immersed once you enter so do your Keanu impression & enjoy it. I'd been up top the Rockefeller Centre years ago & so I could appreciate the spectacular views from above the skyline of Manhattan, but this was on another level! Of note - check out the 'Matrix' pix I posted. I did not alter or enhance these photos - this is exactly what the naked eye sees! Mind trip or what!?! Still fresh & new - opened in 2021, the Summit observation platform is located Midtown near Grand Central Station, at the One Vanderbilt building. The Empire State Building, the Hudson River, Central Park etcetera - time your visit accordingly to get the best views. I recommend arriving at 6pm then staying till sundown to see all the lights coming on all over Manhattan - best views of the city right here. *However, the one issue with this attraction is the horrible migraine inducing chanting music being played via overhead speaker, upon entering the beginning of the observation platform. Dear Summit directors, please stop with the insanity I beg you!?! Play smooth jazz instrumental music or heck I'll even accept elevator music over this draconian madness playing causing my brain to shrink! I did not go with the add-ons extras - drinks, access to higher floor etcetera, & yet I was still thoroughly impressed & happy despite the crazy psycho music. It is a definite absolute 100% must experience when in Manhattan! The architecture of Summit One, will blow your mind. Make a reservation online for Summit One Vanderbilt. Just do it!

Karina P.

Yelp
Honestly one of the worst customer service experiences I've ever had, and really pricey (~40/ticket). I would've thought that paying that much guarantees a decent experience, but we had to wait 2.5+ hours total. It also seemed like none of the staff knew what was going on; maybe it was an off day. The 360 degree views are incredible, but I think we were just soured from the experience.

Blanche M.

Yelp
Cool place to visit while in NYC. No need to buy tickets in advance unless you're really in a time crunch. We bought ours the day of, and had to wait for the next time slot entering to go in. I think we waited about 30-40 min. Entering was easy. Lines can get long. Plenty of people. I would recommend trying to go really early or maybe late to get the less amount of people to enjoy the look outs. Rooms can get packed. All in all, we enjoyed our visit.

Fredrika C.

Yelp
Came here last summer to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday and we had such a great time. The staff were all so kind and helpful, the space was clean and the views were breathtaking!!! Each room was entertaining but our favorite was the exhibit where you could see your face in the clouds. We took plenty of photos and have memories that will last a lifetime. Do yourself a favor and visit!!

Lyn V.

Yelp
The sun was out! So Wear sun block and bring your sunglasses! Next time I would go during sunset! The view is amazing and the experience was unforgettable. Also, the stuff was professional and very friendly!

Janice T.

Yelp
What a fun time! Despite the massive crowds, I was still able to enjoy this interactive art/exhibit experience. I highly recommend booking your tickets online as certain time slots will sell out in advance. There were tips to go first time slot in the morning to avoid crowds but i think word got out. The first time slots seem to sell out and so do the ones around 3pm and an hour before sunset. Prices are higher with the popular times by $10. While you can purchase tickets onsite, there's a chance they might sell out or the next available time slot might be much later. It's accessible by the subway (which we took). You enter through Grand Central Station. I recommend downloading mta.com for real time train schedules for closures or delays. The entrance process is fairly organized. They look at your tickets while you are in line if pre-purchased. They will direct you to the left if you are buying onsite. You are provided a scan band. Then given a pair of booties (shoe covers). Don't wear high heels or work boots that will jack up the floor. They're not permitted. Once those are on, you proceed to have your group photo taken which they transpose to various backgrounds of Summit One Vanderbilt. Because there are soo many mirror's reflecting the sun in the AIR room they have sunglasses for borrowing if you don't have any. The sun is fierce and in full force when it's not cloudy. The sweeping, panoramic city views seem endless! It's really cool to see how vast the city is from a higher perspective. The AFFINITY room is next which contains the silver blow up balls. This is a great room where you can toss the balls or place them over the air vent boxes. There are employees in every room to regulate the crowd. Don't sit on the floor & don't kick the balls. However, you know this happened & people were informed, sternly but politely. These employees had good dispositions and the patience of Job. I can only imagine how exhausting and frustrating it can be to repeat yourself. Unity is the room where you're supposed to scan your band prior to entering and the image of your face shows up in the clouds on the large screen. You scan your face at the beginning when you get your booties etc. Also, don't touch the screen. Not me again. Haha others did and the employee had to lay down the rules. There is an art installation, REFLECT by Yayoi Kusama that are a collection of various shapes of mercury glass drops. Once you're done, it leads you further upstairs to their cafe and terrace. Be sure to check out the open door viewing of the city! It truly is mesmerizing. You also won't have so many people obstructing your view. Amongst all of this, the bathrooms are near the top of this building. Strongly suggest you use the restroom PRIOR to getting in line otherwise you're out of luck unless you can hold it for 30 minutes or more. Use the bathrooms in Grand Central station. However, even if you don't need to use the restroom, in Summit OV, check it out anyways! The restroom has a pretty stellar view also! Don't bring anything unnecessary with you, travel light. You will be carrying your coats, whatever you have on you the entire time. No storage. As for pictures, there's going to be people all around. Just angle your camera to hide them , crop them or photoshop them out. Also READ their website! They have extremely helpful info to make your visit enjoyable! Although, I didn't do it myself, I can imagine going an hour before sunset would be the best of both worlds and make for some really awesome shots. They recommend not wearing dresses or to wear leggings or shorts underneath because your hoo- ha is going to be reflecting proudly in some stranger's line of sight. There were plenty of women wearing their cute dresses or skirts for the ' gram but came prepared thankfully!

Francine L.

Yelp
This is my first time coming to the Summit One Vanderbilt building. It is such a beautiful building inside and out. They are open from morning till night time so it depends on what type of photos you would like to have. I came here during the evening and wow there were tons of people at that time as well. I had a lot of fun going into the different rooms and areas. The city view was amazing and just so beautiful. There is nothing like this and New York has everyone beat on city views. Plenty of different areas to take photos and even though there were a ton of people I didn't feel like it was too overwhelming. It was overall fun and I would probably want to come back next time to see the daytime view as well!

Micah M.

Yelp
We had out of town visitors so we played tourist for a day. Summit One Vanderbilt was an excellent way to see the city from a unique vantage point. There were so many photo opportunities. Also they had their own photographers & cameras and cameras to capture you throughout the experience. They also had 2 gift shops. Every room offered a new way to interact with the view ( Yayoi Kusama's clouds, giant balloons, etc.) There was also a space wher you could buy food & drinks and continue to enjoy the view. It was worth every penny.

Anika A.

Yelp
My experience at Summit was a solid 4/5. It is a huge tourist attraction so be prepared to be standing in long lines for quite some time. I booked a 10 am appointment on a Sunday and it was just as packed as grand central would be. There's several interactive sites and photo ops which makes it fun for all ages. I will say when I first walked in I was a tad underwhelmed with how it looks in person. However, there's no denying that some sort of magic happens when you take pictures because the entire image truly transforms into a stunning view. The glass is so clear it really looks like there's nothing between you and the glass. I also enjoyed the room with floating objects too.

Don R.

Yelp
Well this was a disappointment to say the least. The experience really sucked. From the initial start it was very distasteful felt like an airport TSA line. I was almost ready to take my shoes off. The delay down stairs is unnecessary. We chose a 7:30 block so we could hopefully catch the sunset at 8pm but it took almost 45min just to get through the check in process which was ridiculous. If you don't want to watch the video or scan for over priced photo identification there should be a fast lane. So what am saying is if you are going to see something specific like a sunset choose an extra hour earlier and you wont miss it. There is no indication of what your viewing experience will be like once you get to the top. Yes thats correct with all the unnecessary process downstairs the one thing that should be available to know is not. If you are as unlucky as we were there was absolutely ZERO visibility of anything. We had dense white fog surrounding the whole viewing area. So yep you guessed it we pretty much paid $120+ for an elevator ride and to play with beach balls. There is no refund, return different day tickets or really any compensation for this so just suck it up. If you are booking far in advance like we did just keep an extra eye on last minute fog, rain clouds or anything that may completely make your experience shitty because you wont find out from them while you wait.

Nathan H.

Yelp
This was the best experience we had during our 5 day stay in NYC. After you enter you get your pictures taken -make sure to take off your jackets and anything that you wouldn't want in the pictures. They will choose one group leader whose wristband links the pictures -pick the leader of your group. You then have to put on booties to protect the glass and sunglasses to protect your eyes so bring your own. You then enter a long hallway where you wait for the elevator up. As soon as you enter it's amazing the views are out of this world. Take as long as you want and remember you can go up but can't go back down to previous floor. Take a ton of pics. Then there's a room with balloons that you hit around and that's really fun. It's amazing how much you can see from up there. You won't be disappointed in this adventure. Enjoy

Alex A.

Yelp
If you're planning to visit, please do book a reservation ahead of time. You will choose a time slot on when you want to visit. It is located by the Grand Central terminal. The entrance is on the side of TD bank. As you enter, you will fall in line and go through a security check. List of prohibited items are posted. They don't allow heeled shoes and they provide shoe cover. You will proceed to the elevator which will take you to 91st floor (the experience is floors 91 to 93). The elevator is full of mirror and has flashing lights. Let them know if you have a visual sensitivity to lights. Bring shades, if not, they do have some by the shoe cover. You can take all the time you want on each floor but once you go up on the next level, you won't be able to go down. I highly recommend visiting this place as you can get a good view of the entire city plus a great experience! They also offer digital photos for $20 only (when purchased beforehand online).

Jennifer G.

Yelp
The best thing on my itinerary this year for my birthday trip to NYC. Purchased tickets ahead of time. Lots of people so that was a great idea. Went up to the 93 floor, they provide booties for your shoes and spoiler alert if you forget your sunglasses they do have a pair for you. It's a must to have the glasses as it shines bright like a diamond in the attraction. We had a drink in the cafe and I also pre purchased the photo opp which came out extremely nicely.

Chrissie W.

Yelp
I was skeptical but ended up loving the experience. Pics were fun & the view worth every penny. Its a bit creepy going up with strange music & flashing lights up to the 90 something floor. once in its VERY COOL! the different levels are gorgeous & top it off with a bar that makes great cocktails & has food. great view to sip & take it all in. go...

Crystal B.

Yelp
Interestingly we visited on a day/evening with very dense fog that completely impacted our view; we were in the clouds. This was communicated upon check in and we made the decision to continue. I was also on crutches due to a recent injury and the attention all staff gave to my injury was pleasantly surprising. I was so surprised that the experience didn't end in the first room/stop or second, but at every turn there was more! On the way out and unprovoked my kids said, "this was so much fun!" We will make a redemption trip during summer weather to get the experience with an actual view! :) Many shout outs to the staff for being so amazing!

Trendy D.

Yelp
Such a dope experience. I went on a Saturday at the 4:30 m time slot. Once you arrive, you'll go through a a few lines including security and ticket check. You get black shoe coverings and sunglasses because it's extremely bright (both items you'll have to return). You go through a cool semi 360 room that explains the history behind Summit One. You then go through a really cool elevator experience up to the floor All floors are photo opportunity ready. The very first floor has a view. You then get 2 or 3 more floors that have different themes. One is the famous silver balloons, the other is this weird mercury designed looking floor, you also get one with lights and a city view, one with a big screen of the clouds, and lastly my favorite is the glass floors. The glass floors is only a small section that you wait in line for. The staff will take pictures of you, then you get 30 seconds to do personally pictures. You can purchase the staff pictures for $20. There's also another floor with the bar and a rooftop view. The ticket price starts around $43 and go up depending on if you're doing prime hours which is an additional $10. You can also do drinks which is an extra $14 per person. Tips: Pack Sunglasses Get there early, especially if you have a sunset ticket. It'll take you at 30mins - 1 hr to get to the top floors. Check when the sun is setting in advance All white outfits looked really cool with this place Book a sunset tour then you'll get daytime and nighttime pictures. Overall, great experience. I don't regret paying an extra $10 to get a day time and evening view of the city.

Nini M.

Yelp
A great way to see new work! You go through a series of pictures and rooms. 3 floors. Pretty cool concept! Pictures weren't that impressive so we didn't purchase. It was wayyyyy too crowded for us to have to buy reservations... I feel like everyone had the same time!! I wish it was more intimate. The views were insane though! Beautiful views. The staff was great,