Published 16th Jun. 2023
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Welcome to New York, it’s been waiting for you. It’s rolled out its carpet, switched on its lights and scrubbed up its shiniest skyscrapers. So, naturally, you’ll be wanting to find the best spot in town to appreciate all its hard work. Four times a year the spot is down the city’s east-to-west running streets during Manhattanhenge (more on that later). Year-round, it’s up downtown’s 1,268ft One World Observatory, where you’ll have golden eagle-eyed views of the city and its surrounding boroughs. If big skyscraper shots aren’t your thing, you may find the best views in New York in nosebleed seats of the Yankee Stadium or on board the 24-hour non-stop Staten Island Ferry. Because, really, what says New York more than a stadium of impassioned baseball fans, hot dogs and a restless nocturnal ferry? Read on for the best views to add to the itinerary on your next USA trip...
We have Stonehenge. Manhattan has Manhattanhenge. Defined as the exact moment when the sunset aligns with the island’s skyscrapers, skimming its grid’s horizon and beaming golden rays down its east-to-west running streets, Manhattanhenge has to be one of the best views in New York. Join the crowds of camera clutching New Yorkers as they congregate down 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd and 57th streets. Watch as the high rises turn from metallic to marigold and maroon in the space of a few minutes, and relish the sight of its streets grinding to a halt to watch the ‘grid kiss’. This astronomical phenomenon can only be spotted four times a year too, so plan your trip accordingly if you want to tick this film-set stunning scene of your bucket list.
The exact spot where Sophie and Nathan toast Stingo in Sophie’s Choice and Miranda and Steve reunite in Sex and the City, the Brooklyn Bridge offers one of the best views of New York. As you make the pilgrimage from City Hall across to Downtown Brooklyn and DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), you’ll be treated to views down to Governors Island and across to the neighbouring Manhattan Bridge and Williamsburg. If it’s a snapshot of movie magic you’re after, head to the scenic riverside spot, Empire Fulton Ferry, for an ice cream and sit down. Or head to The River Café, nestled in the bosom the bridge, for a classic American menu of Michelin star elegance, refinement and knock out good looks over the city.
Sports fans, this one’s for you. Not all the best views in New York have to come with a skyline shot. They can come in the form of bleachers, perfectly pruned sports fields and the sound of thousands of rowdy baseball fans. Home to the 27-time world champion Yankees, a trip to the stadium to watch a game feels like a rite of passage. Even if innings aren’t your thing, just the sight of one of Nathan’s Famous Natural Casing Dogs topped with red onions and sauerkraut will be sure to swing you. Your home run, however, will be the view you catch as you leave the Bronx stadium. Grab a window seat on the No.4 subway and you’ll be treated to a screensaver-worthy sepia shot of the city’s skyline as you ride back downtown.
The best things in life are often free, which is why we’ve included the Staten Island Ferry in our round up of the best views of New York. Running 24 hours a day, seven days a week from Manhattan’s Financial District to Staten Island, this free ferry gives you the option of both a leisurely midmorning cruise and a late-night dash back to Manhattan after a night at one of its microbreweries – which makes total sense for a city that refuses to follow a bedtime routine. Pass by Lady Liberty as she waves you through the Upper Bay and snap away pictures of the slowly shrinking Manhattan skyline. You can keep the party going on the boat too thanks to the onboard bar.
You didn’t think we’d write a blog on the best views in New York and forget a high-rise spot did you? With so much choice, it’s hard to pick just one. You have your Empire State, Top of the Rock, High Line and the newest kid of the block, The Edge. But if there were ever an Oscar for New York’s observation decks, we’d award it to One World Observatory. The highest observation deck in the city (at a staggering 1,268ft above street level), it offers views across all of New York’s landmarks and boroughs as well as down below from its Sky Portal glass floor. But One World Trade Center is more than just a good view, it’s a soaring beacon of hope and reminder of what stood before it. In fact, its footprint and observation deck are the exact same measurements as the Twin Towers.
Written by Naomi Pike
From New York to California and all the states in between, our team knows the USA's hotspots incredibly well. What we really excel at, though, is the under-the-radar regions, thanks to our in-depth experience and the hand-picked guides we work with on the ground. Whether you’re travelling as a family or à deux, road trips are the ultimate way to explore the USA, and we're brimming with suggestions to improve journeys, from scenic route options to photogenic stop-off points (all based on our own experiences, of course). And if that's not enough, you'll have our in-country Concierge team on hand at all times for extra help and advice.
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