Best Observation Deck in New York for Families (With Kids)

Visiting a New York observation deck is one of those experiences that really makes a trip with kids feel special. Seeing the city from above helps children grasp just how big New York actually is, and it’s often one of the moments they remember most.

The problem is that New York now has several observation decks, they’re all expensive, and most families won’t want to do more than one. So the real question becomes: which observation deck is actually worth it when you’re visiting New York with kids?

We’ve now experienced SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, Edge, and previously the Empire State Building, and they all offer very different experiences. If you’re trying to decide which observation deck best fits your family and budget, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt was our favourite thanks to how interactive and engaging it is, followed by the Empire State Building for its iconic factor. Edge, for us, felt the least exciting for kids.

This guide breaks down exactly how each observation deck compares for families, what worked (and didn’t) with kids, and where the money genuinely felt worth spending — so you can choose the right one without second‑guessing.

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Summit One Vanderbilt

Summit One Vanderbilt is located next to Grand Central Terminal in Midtown and is one of the newest observation decks in New York. This is probably the most interactive observation deck in the city. Instead of just going to the top and looking at the view, you move through a series of mirrored rooms, glass floors and different viewing platforms. There’s also the famous silver balloon room, which children absolutely love and which makes it feel more like an experience than just a viewpoint.

Because there are multiple rooms and different things to see, you tend to spend longer here and children stay engaged the whole time.

From the top, you can see:

• the Empire State Building

• Central Park

• Lower Manhattan

• the Hudson River

• a huge Midtown skyline

For families, this is probably the most memorable observation deck because it feels interactive rather than just scenic.

You can read our full comparison here: Summit One Vanderbilt vs Edge: Which Is Better for Kids?

Edge at Hudson Yards

Edge is located at Hudson Yards and is best known for its outdoor sky deck, which juts out from the building and offers open‑air views across the city. There’s also a glass floor section where you can look straight down — something many visitors come specifically to see.

The views are excellent and the platform itself is very impressive, but the experience is fairly short and traditional. Once you’ve taken in the view and snapped a few photos, there isn’t much else to do.

We visited Edge after SUMMIT, and if we’re being completely honest, it felt a little underwhelming in comparison. The views were great, but for kids in particular, SUMMIT was far more exciting and interactive, whereas Edge felt more like a quick stop.

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is the classic New York observation deck and probably the most famous in the world. We visited this on a previous trip before travelling as a family, and it’s definitely an iconic experience. However, it’s more of a traditional viewing platform — you go up, look at the view, take photos and come back down.

For adults, it’s a classic New York experience. For kids, it’s impressive, but not as interactive as Summit.

Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center)

Top of the Rock is another very popular observation deck, and many people say it actually has the best view in New York because you can see the Empire State Building in the skyline as well as Central Park. Like the Empire State Building, it’s more of a traditional observation deck, but the views are excellent and it’s in a very convenient Midtown location.

One World Observatory

Located at One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, this observation deck is fully indoors and includes a more museum-style experience on the way up, with videos and displays about New York and the building. It’s very modern and well done, but because it’s indoors, it feels slightly different from the others.

So, Which Observation Deck Is Best for Families?

If you are visiting New York with school-aged children and planning to do just one observation deck, our recommendation would be: Summit One Vanderbilt

It’s more interactive, more memorable, and feels like an experience rather than just a viewing platform. The mirrored rooms, glass floors and balloon room make it much more engaging for children.

Edge is impressive, and the Empire State Building is iconic, but if you’re choosing one specifically with kids in mind, Summit is the one that offers the most rounded experience.

In our view, once you’ve done one observation deck, you probably don’t need to do several unless you really want to — they are all expensive, and the skyline view is broadly similar.

Final Planning Insight for Parents

Observation decks are expensive, but they are also one of the most memorable parts of a New York trip. For children, seeing the city from above helps everything make sense — the streets, the rivers, the parks and just how big everything is.

If you choose the right one, it becomes more than just a view — it becomes an experience. For us, Summit was the one that delivered that best for a family. You can see how we built this into our trip in 2-Day New York City Itinerary for Families with School-Aged Kids and Best Things to Do in New York City with School-Aged Kids.

Planning a Family Trip to the USA

If you’re planning a family trip to the United States, we’ve created a collection of practical guides based on our own experiences travelling there with a child. In our USA Travel Hub, you’ll find advice on everything from ESTA requirements and travel insurance to driving, healthcare and managing jet lag with kids, alongside destination guides for places we’ve explored including New York, Colorado, South Dakota and Florida. It’s a useful starting point for parents researching how to plan a smooth and enjoyable family trip to the USA.