During a stay in New York, observing the city from one of its famous observatories such as the Top of the Rock, the One World Observatory and of course the Empire State Building, is one of the must-do’s. Since September 2020, a new observatory has opened its doors in Hudson Yards, the new district of Manhattan: The Edge.
What’s so special about The Edge? What view of New York does this observatory offer? Where is The Edge located? How much does it cost to visit? I answer all these questions and more in the rest of this post.
The Edge: NEW YORK'S HIGHEST OUTDOOR OBSERVATORY
This fourth observatory in New York was to be accessible from March 2020, but first visitors had to wait until October to enjoy this new view of the Big Apple.
The Edge's unique feature is that its outdoor observation deck is 335 metres above the ground, making it not only the highest outdoor observatory in New York, but also in the entire Western world. Located on the 100th floor of the building, this wide terrace extends nearly 25 metres into the void.
The outwardly-angling glass walls walls allow people to safely lean over and better take in the impressive view, while in the centre of the terrace, a glass floor makes it possible to look down on the city right below – a hundred floors below, to be precise. The Skyline Staircase provides access to an even higher vantage point, above the glass walls, for a completely unobstructed view.
The East Point, which is only accessible to one person at a time, is where the platform extends furthest out and where you will truly feel as if you are suspended in the void above New York.
WHAT CAN YOU SEE FROM THE EDGE?
From this observatory, as from any of the other three major observation platforms in New York, you can enjoy a 360 degree view. But The Edge is the only one that offers such a clear view on the outside world, and has a glass floor. For me, it's clearly the most impressive observatory in New York.
You will be able to see the entire west side of Manhattan like nowhere else – the Edge being the only place that allows people to see the entire Manhattan skyline from a single vantage point. Admiring the city's iconic skyline is a sight not to be missed! You'll be able to see a large part of the city – from the north end of Central Park to the Statue of Liberty, you'll enjoy an incredible new view of all of Manhattan, the Hudson river and the Brooklyn Bridge, and you'll be in the best possible location to see the Empire State Building, Midtown and the Financial District.
HOW DO I BUY A TICKET TO VISIT THE EDGE?
You can buy your ticket to access this observation platform on site, but you will have to wait in a queue and pay an extra $2. I recommend booking your ticket online instead, so that you can enjoy a queue-free access to the Edge Observatory.
The classic ticket will give you a “no-queue” access to the observation platform, but also to an impressive interactive multimedia experience before you even reach the 100th floor. On the platform, you will have access to the glass floor, the angled walls, the Skyline Staircase and the East Point. You will also receive a digital souvenir photo to capture your experience.
Ticket prices for the Edge:
- Approximately £38 for adults,
- Approximately £32.50 for children aged 6 to 17,
- Approximately £36 for seniors over 62.
Admission is free for children aged 5 and under.
When booking your ticket, you will be asked to choose the date and time of your visit. There is no time limit to the visit, though it usually takes about an hour.
On the official website, you can access the ticket office which offers two additional packages:
- The Champagne Admission ticket ($55) includes a glass of champagne and a flexible arrival time
- The Premium Admission ticket ($73), features a glass of champagne and a personalised Photo Book ?
VISIT HUDSON YARDS, NEW YORK'S NEWEST NEIGHBOURHOOD
Hudson Yard is a very recent neighbourhood, which has quickly become a must-see for people travelling to New York. You can visit several already popular sites, such as the Vessel, an architectural marvel that also houses a small observatory.
You can also visit the High Line (an amazing hanging park), and the Hudson River Park, the perfect place to relax.
If you want to explore this area on a one-hour guided tour of Hudson Yards before visiting the Edge, you can find a combined ticket for both activities by following the link below:
SAVE MONEY ON YOUR VISITS WITH THE NEW YORK SIGHTSEEING PASS
The Sightseeing Pass is a City Pass for New York that includes over 100 tourist attractions, including the observation deck the Edge, and many other must-see sites such as:
- The Statue of Liberty
- The MoMA
- Top of the Rock
- The Central Park Zoo
- The 9/11 Memorial and Museum
- The Manhattan and Brooklyn multi-stop bus
- And dozens of other visits, advantages and discounts...
You can find all the information about this tourist pass to discover New York by clicking on the link below:
THE EDGE'S OPENING HOURS
The Edge is open all week (Monday to Sunday) from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
HOW TO GET TO THE EDGE IN NEW YORK?
The Edge Observatory is located at the top of the tower at 30 Hudson Yards. To get there, you'll need to go through Level 4 of the “The Shops and Restaurants” mall, which is accessible from 10th Avenue or Hudson Yards Plaza.
To reach the observatory, you can take the New York City underground on line 7 and get off at the 34th Street—Hudson Yards.
You've reached the end of this artcicle on The Edge 😄 I hope you enjoyed it! 😊
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