View from the top: A guide to NYC's best observation decks, from the Empire State Building to the Top of the Rock

The view of Manhattan and the Hudson River from Edge at Hudson Yards.Courtesy of Related-Oxford

• After temporary coronavirus closures, New York City's observation decks have reopened to visitors.
• The most popular observatories are at the top of iconic skyscrapers including the Empire State Building, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, and One World Trade Center.
• Ticket prices for adults range from $36 to $72.
• The highest outdoor observatory is Edge at Hudson Yards, which reopened on September 2.
• But the tallest observation deck overall is 1,268 feet above street level at One World Trade Center.

For many visitors to New York City, a trip isn't complete without a visit to one of the Big Apple's quintessential destinations: the top of the Empire State Building.

But the iconic skyscraper's observatory, which has been featured in movies like "Sleepless in Seattle," is not the only sky-high observation point that offers panoramic views of the city.

There's the Top of the Rock at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, from which you can get a stunning view of the skyline that includes the Empire State Building itself. At One World Trade Center, the observatory is the highest in the city at 1,268 feet. And in March, the Western Hemisphere's highest open-air observation deck opened in Hudson Yards and then temporarily closed just two days later due to coronavirus concerns.

The city's other observatories also underwent temporary closures in March, but they've all since reopened with updated safety precautions such as limited capacity, temperature scans, and required face coverings.

Here's a breakdown and comparison of four of New York City's highest and most popular observation decks by location, height, price, and their COVID-19 guidelines.