Summit One Vanderbilt Tickets: how to buy, prices and opening hours

The New York observation deck, SUMMIT, is located in One Vanderbilt, a spectacular state-of-the-art office skyscraper next to Grand Central Terminal, in the heart of Midtown.

The building rises to a height of 427 meters. Located between 42nd and 43rd Streets on Vanderbilt Avenue and Madison Avenue, this newly opened observatory, which occupies floors 91 to 93, offers breathtaking views of the city that are not to be missed. Ready to visit? Keep reading and I'll tell you how!

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NYC SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Experience Tickets

Climb to the top of Manhattan with tickets to the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt observation deck in New York City.

Take in the best skyline in New York and climb to the top of this building, which stands over 300 meters tall.

From $49 at Hellotickets

With tickets to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, you can go up to the most modern viewpoint in New York City, located more than 300 meters high and which you can reach in less than a minute thanks to its fast elevators. You can access the three floors of the great skyscraper and admire the best views of the city from there.

Discover the mirror room and enjoy an immersive experience with its multiple reflections, or step onto the Levitation platform, where you can walk on cubes that protrude from the building at a height of over 320 meters. Secure your tickets in advance to avoid queues at the ticket office.

Recommended if... You like heights and want to take home the most legendary view of New York as a souvenir of your trip. It is essential that you do not suffer from vertigo.

The most convenient option (and considering the high demand due to it being the city's newest attraction) is to buy tickets to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt in advance.

The tickets will be sent to your email address and you can simply show them on your cell phone. Now, it's just a matter of choosing the day and time you want to go up. Once you're up there, you can stay as long as you like, so you can take your time and enjoy the views.

At the moment, due to its recent opening, a visit to SUMMIT is not included in any New York City tourist pass, but it will be available sooner rather than later. What is available are tours of Manhattan that include a ticket to SUMMIT.

The standard adult ticket price for the SUMMIT observation deck starts at $49 on Hellotickets and around €40 for children aged 6 to 12. Children under 6 are admitted free of charge. These tickets include:

• General access to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, including the three floors of the SUMMIT experience.
• Access to the immersive art installation "Air" by Kenzo Digital.
• Experience on the "Levitation" suspended glass platforms.
• Access to the "Après" relaxation area and café, with breathtaking views of New York City.

The SUMMIT One Vanderbilt observation deck is open daily from 9 a.m. to midnight, with last admission at 10:30 p.m. When purchasing your standard ticket to the SUMMIT observation deck, you must select a date and time of entry. We recommend arriving about 20 minutes early.

In addition to the general admission ticket, you can also purchase other options at Hellotickets that include guided tours with access to SUMMIT, an option that is worthwhile if you are going to do both and want to save money.

From around €90, you can enjoy a complete experience, while also saving money if you combine it with different activities. For a price higher than the general admission ticket, these tours include a guided visit to iconic New York landmarks, as well as access to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. These are the options:

• Manhattan Tour + SUMMIT Admission — from $31 Includes a tour of Radio City Music Hall, Fifth Avenue, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and more before visiting SUMMIT on your own. When booking, you must select the option that includes admission to the skyscraper.
• Guided Tour of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt + Grand Central Terminal — from $135 Guided tour inside SUMMIT and tour of Grand Central Terminal, avoiding crowds.

New York has many skyscrapers and observation decks, from the most classic (such as the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock) to the most innovative, such as The Edge or SUMMIT itself. But if you're wondering why you should book tickets for SUMMIT, here are the main reasons why it's a must-see:

• It is the hottest observation deck due to its recent opening and variety of attractions.
• It offers the best views of Midtown with a 360º panorama of Manhattan.
• Its unique architecture and design include glass platforms and suspended viewing decks.
• It's perfect for taking the best photos of your trip, with interactive installations and visual effects by artist Kenzo.
• Its indoor and outdoor floors make it ideal to visit all year round.
• A different experience if you've already been up other classic New York skyscrapers.

SUMMIT brings together several outstanding attractions that push the boundaries of imagination and make each visit unique:

• "Ascent": a glass elevator that ascends the exterior of the building to 368 meters. During the journey, it stops for a few minutes to offer a spectacular view of the Empire State Building and Central Park. A dizzying and unforgettable experience.
• "Levitation": glass cubes suspended 324 meters above the ground that allow you to walk above the streets of New York, such as Madison Avenue. An experience that challenges the senses—not suitable for those who are afraid of heights!
• "Air": created by Kenzo Digital, it combines reflections, light, and immersive art. It begins in Transcendence, a hall of mirrors where the sky and the city are multiplied infinitely, and continues with Transcendence 2, a boundless immersive space. Then comes Affinity, with floating silver balloons; Unity, which unites the physical and the digital; and Air at night, which transforms the environment with light and color.
• "Reflect": an art installation by Yayoi Kusama that plays with mirrors, light, and the urban landscape to create a hypnotic visual experience. A tribute to New York art and architecture.
• "Après": a bar-restaurant on the 93rd floor, with a modern atmosphere and unique views, ideal for relaxing with exclusive cocktails or delicious coffees after the adrenaline rush of the attractions.
• "Terrace": an outdoor terrace with a breathtaking panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline, stretching up to 80 miles. The perfect place to enjoy the outdoors and the city's most iconic landscape.

Getting to SUMMIT is very easy, as access is through the main lobby of Grand Central Terminal, a central station with multiple connections and another interesting place to visit in New York because it was the location for the movie The Avengers.

Once at the station , take the Vanderbilt Passage underground passageway to reach the One Vanderbilt skyscraper , which houses the popular observation deck.

• By subway: The easiest way to get to this station in Manhattan is by subway. Lines 4, 5, 6, 7, and S stop at Grand Central, and the station is open from 5:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. You can also take the Far Rockaway, Hudson, Montauk, Path, Port Jefferson, and Port Washington trains.
• By bus: And for those who prefer to go by bus, you can take lines M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M42, M98, M101, M102, M104, and Q32.
• On foot: On the other hand, it is approximately 5 kilometers from Central Park, so those who prefer to walk can take advantage of the day to visit both places and enjoy the walk.

Booking tickets for the SUMMIT is a perfect plan for any time of year, because although the 93rd floor is an outdoor terrace, the 91st and 92nd floors are two enclosed floors with glass walls that allow visitors to enjoy this experience regardless of the time of year.

As for the best time to go up to SUMMIT, there is a clear answer: at dusk, in the hours around sunset. In fact, going up at this time of day comes with a supplement of €9-18.50 ($10-20) on top of the ticket price. What's more, if the sky is clear, we will always be able to admire the views better.

Therefore, one of the main recommendations when choosing the day or time to go up is to take the weather forecast into account: a sunny or cloudless day will allow your view to extend far beyond the island of Manhattan, and you will be able to see its buildings and streets in complete definition. Spectacular!

SUMMIT offers an almost 360º panoramic view of the city. From this observatory, you will have a very broad perspective of the city, where you will see not only the endless streets, avenues, and buildings of Manhattan, but also other locations that I will detail here so that you can do your homework and get the most out of your visit.

• Central Park: You will be able to see Central Park, one of the favorite views of those who go up to SUMMIT, as you won't get such a clear view of the popular park from the city's other viewpoints.
• Statue of Liberty: To the south, weather permitting, if the sky is clear, you can see the Statue of Liberty.
• Bryant Park: Central Park isn't the only park you'll see on your visit to SUMMIT; many visitors also lose themselves in this wonderful tourist attraction, Bryant Park.
• Key buildings: The Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building are some of the most popular buildings you can see from SUMMIT. But in addition to these, you can also see the skyscrapers of the Hudson Yards neighborhood and a multitude of other buildings.
• Bridges: Seeing the bridges from an observatory at this height is a sight not to be missed, and from SUMMIT you can glimpse bridges such as the George Washington Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, and Queensboro Bridge.

Due to the unique nature of the observatory, there are a number of recommendations you should keep in mind if you want to make the most of your SUMMIT ticket. Take note!

• Wear sunglasses, as the reflective materials in the space generate intense light during the day.
• Wear comfortable shoes: stiletto heels, steel-toed boots, cleats, or footwear that could damage the floor are not permitted.
• Opt for pants or leggings instead of skirts or dresses, as the reflective surfaces may reveal more than you would like.
• Avoid crowds: the busiest times are around sunset. Although the views are spectacular, you can enjoy the viewpoint in greater peace and quiet in the early morning.
• Check the weather forecast before buying your ticket. Ideally, purchase it a week in advance to ensure you go up on a clear day with good visibility.
• Take advantage of the SUMMIT's dining services: the restaurant offers a complete experience with cocktails and unique views. With the Ultimate SUMMIT ticket, you'll enjoy general admission, the Ascent ride, and a cocktail at the official Danny Meyer bar (from €62/$73 for adults and €55/$67 for children ages 6 to 12).

If you're still not convinced that booking tickets for SUMMIT is the right choice for you and want to consider other options high above the city, I recommend taking a look at the following options:

• One World Observatory: The One World Observatory offers a superior experience, as well as spectacular views of New York's financial district and far beyond. Incredibly, the view extends more than 72 kilometers in any direction.
• Rockefeller Center, Top of the Rock: The Rockefeller Center shopping and office complex, which occupies several blocks in Midtown Manhattan, has an observation deck known as Top of the Rock that offers a spectacular close-up view of the Empire State Building.