Let's start off with Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. At 850 feet tall and 70 stories, it's the shortest of the three. This is the viewing platform on the 67th floor — outside with big glass panels to look through.
This is the Empire State Building's viewing platform. The building is 1,454 feet tall and 102 stories. This platform, on the 86th floor, is surrounded by cross-hatched fencing. That means you have peer through to get a clear view.
There's a higher viewing platform on the 102nd platform but it's inside and cramped, with small windows. The view isn't much better than the 86th.
Finally, One World Trade Center. At 1776 feet tall and 104 stories, it's the tallest building of the three. The observatory, which takes up the 100th, 101st, and 102nd floors, is big and open with huge windows from which to take in the view.
The best view from Rockefeller is this shot of the Empire State Building. It's awe-inspiring to be so close to the iconic building, but this is as good as it gets. Everything outside the frame is not nearly as interesting.
The Empire State Building's best view is this shot of everything below 34th Street. It's cool, but it's hard to get a perspective of all of Manhattan because you're smack in the middle of the island.
And One World Trade Center's best view. In one shot, you can see nearly all of Manhattan, from West Side Highway to Lower East Side, laid out in front of you, as well as all the big skyscrapers in Midtown.
There are a few problems with the view from Rockefeller Center. Because you are in Midtown and only on the 70th floor, your view of many skyscrapers is obstructed. Like the Chrysler Building.
And the second best view from Rockefeller — of Central Park — is ugly thanks to the construction of the Central Park Tower on 57th Street. It won't be any better when it's finished. The tower will be 1550 feet tall.
The additional views from the Empire State Building are great thanks to the building's height, but again you lose something by being in the middle of Midtown's sprawl.
You can get a clear view of the Chrysler Building, but among the other skyscrapers, it's hard to get perspective.
One benefit that can't be topped though: the vertigo-induced view looking down into the city's bustling avenues right below.
I will also give points to the Empire State Building because it's the easiest from which to spot my apartment building in the East Village.
But the 360-degree view from One World Trade Center can't be topped. You can see Brooklyn and its three iconic bridges — Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg, respectively.
And the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. From the other two buildings, you can barely see the Statue of Liberty, if at all.
Here's where they all are:
One World Observatory: Directions / Tickets
Empire State Building: Directions / Tickets
Rockefeller Center: Directions / Tickets