Visiting the Edge Observation Deck in NYC: all you need to know
New York is well known for its iconic skyline and boasts no less than five observation decks to view it; each with its own unique characteristics. The Edge at Hudson Yards is one of the newest observation experiences to join the party, and it does not disappoint.
Although, in some ways, it has a more limited view than the Summit at One Vanderbilt, we found it to be less crowded, less intense, and a very unique and fun experience in its own right.
View of The Edge Observation Deck from the ground.
About the Edge Observation Deck
The Edge is a uniquely designed observation sky deck located at the 100th floor of the 30 Hudson Yards building. It was opened in 2020 and instantly became a popular visitor attraction.
In 2021, City Climb was added - a daredevil experience that involves gearing up in a jumpsuit, helmet and harness and climbing up first to an outdoor platform, called The Cliff, and then another 161 stairs to The Apex, 1,271 feet above the ground and the highest perch you can get to in New York City.
The most recognizable feature of The Edge is the outdoor part of the deck, a pointed landing that sticks out like the nose of Darth Vader’s Star Destroyer. It is distinctly visible from afar, and we can see it from our New Jersey side of the Hudson quite easily. It is an attractive subject for photographers, playing the silhouettes of visitors against moonrises and sunsets.
View of the World Trade Center from The Edge.
The glass walls of the outside observation deck are slanted, to give you a feeling of floating over the city. There is also a small section of the floor that is glass - so you can stand “in the air” so to speak - which was very cool, but I was kind of disappointed that it was rather a small area. You really can only take a few minutes there and get a quick snap. Had it been more crowded, I may not have bothered. Perhaps advertising it as a “glass-floored” observation deck is a bit disingenuous - it implies the whole thing is glass, which of course it isn’t!
There was a little bit of a line for taking photos at the “point” of the Edge, which of course is a desirable photo - but not desirable enough for us to wait! ;) But it really didn’t seem to be a long wait.
View of the Empire State building from The Edge Observation Deck .
Nevertheless, the view from the outside deck is quite spectacular, though the Empire State Building is a little obscured. My son and I had a good time picking out locations we knew well and where we often spend time. Which gave me this thought: although we may think of observation decks as “visitor experiences”, perhaps visiting one in your own home city is even more fun, as you can recognize your haunts from a new perspective.
Along with the outdoor sky deck, there is also an indoor observation deck area on the 100th and 101st floors, which completes the 360-degree view. There is also a Champagne Bar - the prices for beer didn’t look too bad, considering where you are. But cocktails were rather steep! But I suppose as a treat for a special occasion, sipping a glass of champagne during sunset does sound pretty nice.
Getting Tickets to The Edge Observation Deck
Tickets start at $40 for a timed general admission to the sky deck and $185 for City Climb
There are several different options for tickets, and The Edge is also part of Go City Explorer Pass and New York C3.
Tickets should be purchased online at The Edge website.
The entrance is on the fourth floor of the mall at 30 Hudson Yards. There is no need to arrive early - they are strict about the admission time on your ticket.
After your ticket is scanned, you will go through metal detectors - but they are the easy ones that you can just file through, without taking anything out of your pockets or bags.
You will then wind through some exhibits about Hudson Yards and the obligatory green screen photo op (gah! I hate them!) and then swish up a very fast elevator with animated screens on its interior to the observation deck.
We did not find the Edge to be very crowded when we visited, which was a Saturday in June, so I was quite surprised. There was no line to speak of and we moved through very quickly after showing our tickets.
Sunset is the most popular time at the Edge, and we were there just prior to sunset. But no one rushed us to leave. There seemed to be a bit more people queuing up when we exited but it still did not seem very crowded, considering it was a weekend and a beautiful day.
Sunset times are conveniently posted daily on their website, or check whatever weather app you use on your phone; they all list sunset times.
The Edge high atop Hudson Yards.
How to get to The Edge Observation Deck
The Edge is located at 30 Hudson Yards, at the southwest corner of 33rd Street and 10th Avenue.
You can’t miss it - it is the second-tallest office building in New York City and the observation deck juts out prominently.
The nearest subway station is at 34th Street - Hudson Yards Station on the 7 Line.
Hudson Yards is located at the end of the High Line, a renovated stretch of old train track that is now a meandering city park, connecting much of Chelsea and the Meatpacking District. So you easily get to Hudson Yards from 14th Street or Penn Station by taking a very nice walk along the High Line.
Enter The Shops at Hudson Yards and take the elevator to the 4th floor. Very visible signs will direct you to the Edge.
If you are new to the New York Subway System, you may want to take a look at our NYC subway primer, How to ride the NYC subway.
Hanging over the edge at City Climb.
City Climb and the Apex
For adventurous souls, City Climb does seem pretty awesome. We waved to a few brave souls leaning out at the Cliff before they made their ascent to the Apex.
The entire City Climb experience is two hours, including the time to get suited up in your climbing apparatus. When they hook up your harness at the Apex you can lean out over the greatest city on earth, unencumbered, from what is billed the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere. Yowser!!!!!!!
What else to do in Hudson Yards
To cap out the day, we enjoyed a birthday meal for John at the Spanish Diner, part of the Mercado Little Spain complex at 10 Hudson Yards. I would highly recommend it!
The food was more like what we actually experienced in Spain than any other Spanish restaurant I’ve been to in the US. But I would recommend making a reservation in any of the Little Spain restaurants (there are four) as it could get very crowded, depending on when you are going. There is also a fun market, bars & food kiosks featuring Spanish products and recipes.
The Shops at Hudson Yards is basically a mall, so a good place to do some shopping. Its stores are mostly high-end brands, but there are some more reasonable ones, such as Uniqlo, Athleta, and Banana Republic.
There is also The Vessel, which aside from looking interesting, I think it can’t figure out what to do with itself! But it does make for interesting photographs.
The Shed, located where the High Line meets Hudson Yards, is a uniquely designed cultural center featuring concerts and art exhibits. You can peruse their schedule here.
For more ideas on what to do while in the Chelsea neighborhood of NYC, visit our post about Visiting Cheslea
Walking The Highline below The Edge observation deck.
Is visiting The Edge in NYC worth it?
Yes - I really enjoyed The Edge, and found it to be better than I was expecting.
It’s expensive, I think, but all the observation decks are, let’s face it. But the Edge actually isn’t the most expensive of the five NYC observation decks, unless you decide to do City Climb, which is a totally different experience than any other.
A first-time visitor to NYC should definitely do at least one of the observation decks. It’s iconic. And honestly, it’s a fun outing for a crusty New Yorker or jaded New Jerseyan as well. It's fun to see your stomping ground from above!
Btw, if skylines and photography are your thing, check out John’s tips on where to photograph the NYC skyline, Best spots to photograph the NYC skyline
View of NYC from The Edge observation deck.
While I found the Summit at One Vanderbilt to be a bit of a physical assault on my senses - though admittedly spectacular to see - I found The Edge to be quieter and a more pleasant experience. Thumbs up for The Edge!
This post was researched and written by Debbie of the Empty Nest Explorers. You can learn more about the Empty Nest Explorers here
Some well-reviewed NYC tours:
Note - This blog post contains affiliate links. This means that if we are recommending a product, activity, or hotel, we might be receiving a small commission if you buy or book from these links. This is done at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we have personally used or have thoroughly researched.
Other NYC travel posts you might like:
New York City is perfect for sightseeing during a layover at any of the area’s airports.
While there are countless attractions and restaurants to visit, here's a great plan that’s all within walking distance of Penn Station train station.