The Edge New York Tickets: how to buy, prices and schedules

To see the city from (literally) the top, this is the place for you. Here's how to get tickets to Manhattan's newest skyscraper: The Edge.

Isabel Catalán

Isabel Catalán

11 min read

The Edge New York Tickets: how to buy, prices and schedules

Views from The Edge | ©Hellotickets

At 345 metres, The Edge is the highest open observatory in the Western Hemisphere. Since its recent opening in March 2020, this glass-floored engineering feat offers stunning, never-before-seen panoramas of the city.

The best option

NYC The Edge Tickets

The cheapest access to The Edge observatory

Secure your place in New York's newest skyscraper by buying your ticket online in advance and save time by skipping the queues at the box office.

Buying tickets to the Edge online is the best option because you're guaranteed access on the date you want and you'll save money by getting them slightly cheaper than at the box office.

The Edge is the latest observation deck to join the list of New York observatories alongside the Top of the Rock, the Empire State Building and One World Observatory. Each one shows a different facet of the skyline of the City of Skyscrapers. If it was already difficult to choose one, now this new and spectacular viewpoint has been added.

It is located on the west side of Manhattan in the upscale Hudson Yards neighbourhood, a place that promises to become a must-see in New York. The skyscraper from which The Edge hangs is called 30 Hudson Yards, one of the most popular in the area and whose silhouette has transformed the Manhattan skyline.

Why I like this option: this open-air observatory is the tallest in the Western Hemisphere, so it's worth climbing to the 100th floor at 345 metres and seeing the magnificent panoramic views of New York.

Recommended if... you want to visit The Edge at the best price without wasting time at the box office.


How to buy tickets at The Edge box office

The Edge's glass floor| ©Hellotickets
The Edge's glass floor| ©Hellotickets

If you prefer to buy your tickets at the Edge ticket office, you can do so from their opening hours in the early hours of the morning, but you will have to pay a supplement. Also, there are usually long queues, so I don't recommend it. However, if buying at the ticket office is your best option, these are the prices you will find there:

  • Child (6 -12 years) $33 + fee
  • Adult (13 - 61 years) $38 + fees
  • Adult (+62 years) $36 + fee

If you prefer to buy your tickets online, which I highly recommend, you will be able to compare prices and decide which ticket best suits your needs. If you are worried about your budget when visiting The Edge, you can check in this article the prices of tickets to The Edge.

Buy your tickets for The Edge

Where is The Edge and how to get there

Location of The Edge in Manhattan
Location of The Edge in Manhattan

The Edge Observatory is located in Hudson Yards, one of New York's must-seeneighbourhoods , andthe easiest way to get there is by underground on the 7 train (34 St. - Hudson Yards stop). Wherever you are in Manhattan, getting here is a breeze: you can walk, take the underground or the bus.

I'll tell you more in the article on how to get to the Edge so you can choose the method of transport that best suits you depending on where you're staying or where you're walking that day.

How to get there

The Edge is probably the most amazing viewpoint in New York City. Located on the west side of Manhattan, it has a very original perspective of the city and is quite different from other viewpoints, closer to the river and less centred on the epicentre of the island. To go up to The Edge with your ticket, you need to enter The Shops at Hudson Yards shopping centre and go to the fourth floor.

Accessibility for special needs

  • For visitors with reduced mobility The Edge is wheelchair accessible.
  • Service animals welcome
  • Pram accessible

Buy your tickets for The Edge

Opening hours for The Edge

Views from The Edge's glass viewing platform| ©Hellotickets
Views from The Edge's glass viewing platform| ©Hellotickets

In general, The Edge Observatory is open every day of the year between 8am and midnight, but opening times are subject to change throughout the year. I recommend you check this article for opening times and length of visit to The Edge if you want to organise your experience smoothly.

Please also note that on days of extreme weather conditions (high winds or snowfall) the outdoor observatory may close for safety reasons.

Buy your tickets for The Edge

Best time to climb The Edge

Enjoying the view| ©Hellotickets
Enjoying the view| ©Hellotickets

If you're looking for the key moment of the day, year or trip to visit The Edge, always bear in mind that the sunset from the top is a spectacle. On the way up you'll enjoy the city by day and night, as well as the myriad colours of the sky (and its reflection in the Hudson) at sunset.

But if you prefer to go up at another time (when it's less crowded, for example), you can check out my article on the best time to go up to the Edge to analyse the pros and cons before deciding when to buy your tickets.

Isabel's Traveller Tip

Spend an afternoon leisurely strolling along the High Line and finish the walk by testing your vertigo on The Edge at sunset for the best views of the city.

What you'll see from The Edge

Views of the Hudson from the Edge| ©Hellotickets
Views of the Hudson from the Edge| ©Hellotickets

The great attraction of The Edge, apart from its spectacular architecture, is its bird's eye view of the city. With its prime location you'll be able to see the Empire State Building, Central Park, the Financial District and Hudson Yards, among others.

Is that not enough? I've detailed all the views from The Edge in this article so you can get an idea of what to expect. Plus, you should know that thanks to its huge outdoor observation deck and indoor observation deck, you'll have 360º views of all of Manhattan.

A clear morning can give you views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island!

Buy your tickets for The Edge

How to get out to The Edge outdoor observatory

The exterior of the Edge as seen from below| ©Hellotickets
The exterior of the Edge as seen from below| ©Hellotickets

Now, when you really understand why it's called the Edge, you step onto the outdoor terrace and approach the angled glass windows. You'll see East and South New York as if you were suspended in mid-air.

The outdoor sky deck is a 700 square metre glass terrace. Here you will feel the impact of the air on your face and have unparalleled 360-degree panoramic views of New York. In addition to the island of Manhattan, you can see as far west as New Jersey and even 129 kilometres deep into New York State on days with good visibility.

You'll feel like you're on the edge of a cliff, and if you have any respect for heights, your skin will stand on end. Adrenaline rushes if you dare to walk on its glass floor and look down at the New York traffic below you hundreds of feet in the air. It's a truly thrilling sensation.

Take the opportunity to visit the drinks and cocktails area

To complete the experience, on the 100th floor there is a bar offering signature cocktails, champagne and light snacks to enjoy inside or outside on the terrace overlooking the New York skyline.

Buy your tickets for The Edge

The interactive exhibition inside The Edge

Interactive exhibition inside The Edge| ©Hellotickets
Interactive exhibition inside The Edge| ©Hellotickets

When you enter the observatory, the first thing you'll find is an interactive exhibit that looks at the construction of the Hudson Yards neighbourhood as a testing ground for different ideas to help the city improve its sustainability and care for the environment.

Buy your tickets for The Edge

The ultra-fast lift

Images from inside The Edge during the ride up| ©Hellotickets
Images from inside The Edge during the ride up| ©Hellotickets

Afterwards, the corridors of this exhibition will lead you to the lift that will take you to the top where the thrills await. Since only groups of ten people at a time can take the lift, the wait in line is enlivened with videos of the 30 Hudson Yards skyscraper and a taste of what awaits you from the Outdoor Sky Deck on the 100th floor.

Buy your tickets for The Edge

The Indoor Observatory

Views of the city from The Edge| ©Hellotickets
Views of the city from The Edge| ©Hellotickets

After 52 seconds on board the lift, which is also interactive, the doors open to give you access to a fully glassed-in interior observatory that shows an absolutely spectacular panoramic view of the city from the Statue of Liberty to Central Park. Seeing the Hudson River from above in all its splendour is truly breathtaking.

Buy your tickets for The Edge

Fun facts about The Edge

In The Edge's glassed-in observatory| ©Hellotickets
In The Edge's glassed-in observatory| ©Hellotickets
  • Opened on 11 March 2020.
  • Designed by Koh Pedersen and William Pedersen, The Edge observation deck is an impressive 7,500 square metre engineering feat.
  • The outdoor sky deck extends 20 metres outwards on the 100th floor. The platform weighs 382 tonnes and is made up of 15 sections that are joined together at 345 metres high like a jigsaw puzzle.
  • The glass walls of the observatory are anti-glare and were created at an angle of 6.6 degrees outwards to avoid any obstruction to the panoramic views.
  • The Edge's glass floor is the only one of its kind in New York.
  • The skyscraper where this observatory is located, 30 Hudson Yards, was built in just four years and has 110 floors. Inside is a 650-ton pendulum that controls the balance of the building.
  • The Edge' s lifts take less than a minute to ascend from the entrance to the observatory. They ascend at 5.7 metres per second.
  • Hudson Yards' skyscraper 30 houses the offices of such famous companies as HBO and CNN.
  • On the 101st floor of the building is Peak, the café-restaurant with one of the most amazing views in New York.

Buy your tickets for The Edge

Explore the surrounding area: Hudson Yards

A stroll through Hudson Yards| ©Hellotickets
A stroll through Hudson Yards| ©Hellotickets

New York is a living, changing city, and not so long ago the huge, luxurious and modern residential neighbourhood that is Hudson Yards was born. This area is built on the site of a former train depot.

Such a large, centrally located area has been the object of desire for developers and entrepreneurs who saw a gold mine in this Midtown New York land. For the moment, going up to the Edge is the best excuse to discover Hudson Yards, but it's not the only one, and I'll tell you about it in the practical guide I've written about Hudson Yards. 6 Things to do at Hudson Yards in NYC.

Get to know your way around: stroll along the High Line

Strolling along the High Line| ©Hellotickets
Strolling along the High Line| ©Hellotickets

The High Line dates back to the 1930s, when trains used to run along its tracks to supply New York with goods. Over time it fell into disuse and an association saved it from being dismantled as a piece of the history of this great city, to reconvert it into a space full of vegetation, mural art and sculptures.

Designed by garden designer Piet Oudolf, landscape designer James Corner and Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the park created on the old elevated train tracks between Gansevoort Street and 34th Street offers a different perspective of the city through the mix of weeds and other plants, art installations, wooden furniture and the preservation of the iconic High Line train tracks.

The Hudson Yards elevated park is 2 kilometres in a straight line and takes about an hour to complete. It's worth a visit any time of the year but I recommend visiting especially in spring or summer. You can read more in my article on Guide to the High Line in New York City.

Get to know the surroundings: enter The Vessel

Posing in front of The Vessel| ©Hellotickets
Posing in front of The Vessel| ©Hellotickets

Did you know that this avant-garde structure was designed by the English architect Thomas Heatherwick, author of the London 2012 Olympic Games cauldron? This futuristic steel building that many liken to a beehive, a vase or even a shawarma has become the icon of Hudson Yards and since its opening in 2019 has been an instant hit.

Halfway between a work of art and a tourist attraction, The Vessel rises more than 45 metres off the ground having 16 levels from base to top floor. It is made up of 154 flights of stairs connecting 80 landings where you can stop to take in views of the Hudson River, The Shed cultural centre, the High Line park or the surrounding skyscrapers.

But it is as spectacular on the outside as it is on the inside. The internal structure of the building is also hypnotic when you look down at the views.

In its short life it has become one of New York's most popular attractions and long queues form at the ticket office to gain access. However, buying advance tickets for The Vessel will guarantee you entry and save you that waiting time.

Other skyscrapers with views of the New York Skyline

Views from the Top of the Rock| ©Hellotickets
Views from the Top of the Rock| ©Hellotickets

It's clear that New York is as enjoyable on foot as it is from the heights, and you know that there are several buildings (some more or less mythical, others more or less modern) that offer viewpoints and observatories for the delight of their visitors. I've made a comparative table so that you can see the major differences between them at a glance:

  • Empire State
  • From £36
  • Observatory: open-air
  • Floor: 86
  • Views: Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue and from afar One World Building
  • Location: Midtown Manhattan
  • Book
  • Top of the Rock
  • From £36
  • Observatory: open air
  • Floor: 70
  • Views: Empire State Building, Central Park and from afar One World Building
  • Location: Midtown Manhattan
  • Book now
  • One World Observatory
  • From £43
  • Observatory: Indoor
  • Floor: 102
  • Views: Wall Street, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and from afar Empire State Building
  • Location: Southern Manhattan
  • Book now
  • The Edge
  • From £32
  • Observatory: open air and glass floor
  • Floor: 110
  • Views: Empire State, Midtown and from afar One World Building
  • Location: Manhattan West
  • Book now

Arrange your visit to other skyscrapers

Views of the city from Top of the Rock| ©Hellotickets
Views of the city from Top of the Rock| ©Hellotickets

There's no doubt that the architectural disruption of the Edge is well worth a visit, but if you prefer the classics, you're probably considering the Empire State Building or the Top of the Rock in Rockefeller Center. I can't be objective and I can't encourage you to choose between the three, but I can help you learn more about both so you can choose the one that best suits your trip. Here are the articles I have written about Climbing the Empire State Building y NYC Top of the Rock Tickets.

If you feel like stepping out of Midtown and into the maze of skyscrapers and hypnotic lights of the financial district, then your best bet is the One World Observatory, the tower that was built in homage to the Twin Towers. Here are all the details you need to visit it: NYC One World Observatory Tickets: how to buy, prices and discounts.

And if you're looking for something even more innovative and that competes directly with The Edge, you have the option of going up to New York's new observation deck The SUMMIT, an incredible skyscraper that opened in 2021 and is located in the heart of Midtown that will leave you open-mouthed, both for its architecture and its views of the city. As you can see, New York never ceases to amaze!