Home
tech
The Empire State Building isn't the best view of New York City - and these are the photos to prove it

The Empire State Building isn't the best view of New York City - and these are the photos to prove it

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.

The Empire State Building isn't the best view of New York City - and these are the photos to prove it

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.

This is the Empire State Building

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.

Finally, One World Trade Center. At 1776 feet tall and 104 stories, it

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 best view from Rockefeller is this shot of the Empire State Building. It

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.

The Empire State Building

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.

And One World Trade Center

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.

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.

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

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.

The additional views from the Empire State Building are great thanks to the building

You can get a clear view of the Chrysler Building, but among the other skyscrapers, it's hard to get perspective.

You can get a clear view of the Chrysler Building, but among the other skyscrapers, it

One benefit that can't be topped though: the vertigo-induced view looking down into the city's bustling avenues right below.

One benefit that can

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.

I will also give points to the Empire State Building because it

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.

But the 360-degree view from One World Trade Center can

And the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. From the other two buildings, you can barely see the Statue of Liberty, if at all.

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 a panorama from the Empire State Building. Pretty incredible.

Here

But Manhattan just looks endless from One World Trade.

But Manhattan just looks endless from One World Trade.

Here's where they all are:

Here

One World Observatory: Directions / Tickets

Empire State Building: Directions / Tickets

Rockefeller Center: Directions / Tickets

View Other Slidelists

Advertisement