The Empire State Building
It wouldnt be a trip to New York without going up the Empire State Building. Its the highest observation deck in New York the main observation deck being on the 86th floor – so youre guaranteed to get a good view! See if you can spot the Statue of Liberty and snap some pictures of New Yorks skyline from the top of this iconic building.
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Where To See A View Of New York City From Jersey
Hoboken is a prime spot for viewing the Manhattan skyline across the Hudson.
The Manhattan skyline in New York City is arguably one of the most famous and spectacular in the world, but you can’t see it from the city itself. You can view the skyline from several locations one such is from across the Hudson River in New Jersey. Whether it’s a park, hotel or lookout point, almost anywhere along the Jersey side of the river, from Liberty State Park to Hoboken and beyond, is an excellent viewing spot.
F View From Ground: Roosevelt Tram
The Roosevelt Island tram provides you a breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline. The view from the tram has received much attention and has been called the most exciting view in New York City by New York Times. The modern aerial tramway runs from 59th street and Second Avenue in Manhattan and goes to Tramway Plaza on Roosevelt Island. The Roosevelt Island tram ticket can be availed at just $2.23 one way.
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Calvary Cemetery In Queens
I admit that it does require a lot of courage to visit a cemetery. However, you will be rewarded with a unique view of the city – with tombstones in the foreground while the skyline in the background.
The Calvary Cemetery is one of the most antique and largest burial places in the city, where many famous people rest in peace. Also, it is the filming location of Vito Corleones funeral in the Godfather movie.
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Views you will get here: The amazing Manhattan skyline.Andrew Mace
Alright, these are some of our favorites spots to capture the beautiful NYC skyline. I hope you enjoy them and have decided which one to visit. If you have any questions or know any other great viewing points that deserve to be included in this list, leave a comment below!
About Marco
Hi, Im Marco. Welcome to one of the top travel sites in the world, with over 2 million annual readers. I moved to NYC in 2016 and have been exploring and documenting our amazing world ever since.
Here, I share everything Ive experienced along the way, from unique adventures, craft ideas to holiday events and more.
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Best Views In Nyc: Seeing The Manhattan Skyline From New Jersey
Having lived in New Jersey for 3 years . I can testify first hand to the amazing views that can be seen from there.
Hi, some of the best views of NYC are seen from New Jersey. I used to take the bus every day and I never tired of the views. I totally miss that.
Here is a list of where you can see NYC skyline views from New Jersey:
Boulevard East Weehawken
Very close to the city, 10-15 minutes away from Port Authority Bus Terminal, you can take a bus that runs along Weehawkens Waterfront Park with several stops along the way.
You will definitely see the spectacular views right away even from just sitting on the bus.
NOTE: The bus to NJ is 3 dollars, but you can stroll around the area and enjoy the view free of charge. There are also amazing Cuban Restaurants and other cuisines in the area.
Frank Sinatra Park in Hoboken
This park is easily accessible by taking the Path from Penn station. The PATH is the rail train that connects Manhattan to areas of New Jersey such as, but not limited to: Hoboken, Jersey City, etc.
If you have a pay as you go Metrocard, it will be two of those rides for a round trip on the path train.
NOTE: You cannot use your unlimited New York Metrocard for the PATH Trains. Once in Hoboken, there are also many places to dine and shop along the main Street called Washington Street.
Liberty State Park in Jersey City
Same as Hoboken, you can take the PATH train here and it is super convenient and fairly easy to get to.
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B View From Waterfront: Brooklyn Bridge
A view of the Manhattan skyline together with the setting sun is magnificent and is something you cannot miss when in New York City. The waterfront by the Brooklyn bridge park is just where you need to be to get that brilliant view of the city. In the shadows of the Brooklyn Bridge, you can take some time to immerse yourself into the experience as you gaze upon some of the most brilliant structures ever built. Early mornings are the best times to walk down this area and get a good view of Manhattan.
Views From Boat Tours And Cruises
There are many different cruises and boat tours that circle Manhattan giving you fantastic views of the island from different perspectives.
The choices available can seem a little overwhelming so we’ve compiled all the information on the different types of cruises and tours offered by the most popular companies.
To help decide if a boat tour or cruise is right for you, read our post Which New York Boat Tour or Cruise is Best?
TIP: Most of these boats and ferries either depart from Lower Manhattan, have stops at Lower Manhattan.
The East River Ferry stops in DUMBO, Brooklyn, and in the summer, the Governors Island Ferry also stops in Brooklyn, near Brooklyn Heights.
Any one of these boat rides could be combined with several of our pay-what-you-wish walking tours, including tours of Lower Manhattan tour, our Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Heights, and DUMBO Tour as well as our shorter Brooklyn Heights Tour.
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From The Staten Island Ferry
Taking the free ferry that connects Manhattan with Staten Island lets you have a look at the New York skyline from another perspective and also to take some great photos of the city. From the ferry you get to enjoy the views of the skyline of Jersey City, Manhattan and Brooklyn at the same time.
The best moment to enjoy this marvellous view is at dawn, which of course means that you have to wake up really early. Nevertheless, you will get to have in your camera some of the greatest images of New York that will be admired by your friends or whoever you show them.
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Best Views In Nyc: From Staten Island Ny
Staten Island Ferry
Catch the ferry to Staten Island and get great pictures of the Statue of Liberty and of the NYC skyline free of charge.
The ferry runs 24 hours a day and it has outside seating. It is a great moment to relax and just enjoy the views.
Tip: If you are hungry and decide to get off on Staten Island, there is an amazing area full of restaurants from Sri Lanka. I truly love it there because the food is super authentic.
One of my favorite Sri Lankan restaurants is: Lakruwana. You will love the decor and all. If you do not want to get lost, for a minimum cost, you can take an Uber to the restaurant.
Theres also a small subway system and there are buses as well. You can use your unlimited MetroCard for both.
Note: There is also a new attraction in Staten Island, The Empire Outlets. If you would like to combine great views with shopping, you should go there. I included the Empire Outlets on my guide to budget shopping in NYC.
South Beach
From South Beach, you get the most wonderful views of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. So many cars crossing this bridge on a daily basis, but they cant appreciate their surroundings as much as you can from South Beach.
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Honorable Mentions For The Best New York Views:
- NJ Route 495: Anyone who has commuted to Newark Airport has seen this stunning view of Manhattan as the roadway loops outside the Lincoln Tunnel. However, since this is a busy highway, its not possible to stop so the view are fleeting.
- Brooklyn Heights Promenade: This promenade boasts great views of lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge from across the East River. The bad news: The views are marred by construction sites below. The good news: The problem is temporary, as the piers are being transformed into beautiful Brooklyn Bridge Park.
- N & Q Trains: As these subway trains cross the Manhattan Bridge, they feature excellent views of lower Manhattan. Unfortunately, the passing bridge girders and dirty train windows make snapping a good photo near impossible.
- Take Me Out NYC: Some of New Yorks best rooftop bars and clubs can be visited on their rooftop nightlife tour of New York, so you can combine the amazing views of the city with evening socializing at some of NYCs best venues!
Doesnt get any better Brooklyn Bridge Park Photo: Jeff Dobbins
Looking for the other best views of New York? Check out our post on the best rooftop bars! Whats your favorite view of the city skyline? Tell us in the comments below.
G Manhattan Skyline From Center Park
The world-famous Central park offers an iconic image of the ny skyline. Although it does not give you a complete view of all Manhattan’s gigantic structures, you are sure to get some aesthetically appealing images of the worlds modern architectural marvel. At Central Park, you can immerse in the cultures of New York and commune with tourists and residents of the city who are always around.
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Best Spot To See New York Skyline
Here is one of the best kept secrets of New York. The best place to see the New York City skyline is …….. The Brooklyn Heights Promanade. I go here fairly often and rarely see tourists,so here’s how you get there:Take the R train from Manhattan to the Court St stop in Brooklyn. It’s the first stop in Brooklyn. After you exit the train, look for the Montague Street exit. When you reach the street, ask any passerby which direction to walk to the Promanade then walk along Monague Street to the end and you are on it. If you get to Brooklyn Borough Hall, you went the wrong way.This view is awesome and you’ll feel like a local. And the best part is it’s FREE!Recommended to see the movie, Moonstruck with Cher, before coming here to get in the mood.
The R Lounge In Times Square
Enjoy the bright lights of New York City amidst the quiet comfort of the R Lounge at the Renaissance Hotel.
Want killer views of Times Square but dont want to deal with all the hordes of tourists or full-grown men accosting you in Elmo costumes?
If youre emphatically nodding your head yes right now then say hello to R Lounge since this is easily one of the best things to do in Times Square.
Its tucked away inside the Renaissance Times Square Hotel and offers its patrons killer views of the bright lights and yellow cabs that are known to frequent the area.
And although drinks here aint cheap:
The bar is home to some of the best views in NYC. So, yeah, you cant really blame them for charging $16 for a Rose All Day Cocktail.
A cocktail that, BTW, is flipping delicious since its made with a divine mixture of Bootlegger Vodka, seasonal fruit, cane syrup, fresh lemon/lime, and sparkling rose.
Sip on a drink, savor the swank AF ambiance and enjoy endless people-watching opportunities as the world seems to pass you by amidst the bright lights of Times square below.
Best Views in NYC Local Tip: Skip the food. Youre just here for the view and a tasty drink or two. Also, avoid this place on weekends since it tends to get uber-crowded.
Address: 714 7th Ave, New York, NY 10036, United States
How to Get There: All roads lead to Times Square. So basically any subway line you take will eventually take you to Times Square,
Price: Specialty cocktails here start at $16 each.
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From The Roosevelt Island Cabin Car
Roosevelt Island does not have any exceptionally interesting sites to visit , nevertheless, its worth visiting the island for the alternative views of the NYC skyline. Not only Roosevelt Island itself offers great views, but you can enjoy fascinating view from the cable car that has served as connection between Manhattan and the islands since 1976.
first impressionNew York
I New York Times Tower
On the West side of Midtown Manhattan lays the New York Times Tower which is the 8th tallest skyscraper of the ny skyline. This building holds The New York Times Company, publisher of The New York Times and the International New York Times, along with other newspapers. This building is yet another dream destination for many people because of the impact of the New York Times all over the world. The building holds exciting event spaces such as The Stage, The Hall, and the screening room that offers dialogue and cultural representations of all kinds. The modern architecture and the intellectual ambiance found in this building make the New York Times Tower charming.
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From Brooklyn Heights Or The Brooklyn Bridge Park
Some time ago, the best views of New York from the Brooklyn side were possible to enjoy from Brooklyn Heights, the promenade one of the chic neighbourhoods of NYC. Nevertheless, since the recent restructuring of the area the view from the Brooklyn Bridge Park has become even more amazing or at least we think so. After crossing the famous Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan, you will find this very pleasant park on the riverside with large spaces of green to have a picnic or to enjoy open-air cinema in summer. The atmosphere is unique and also the images of New York you can capture from here. If you want to get to know Brooklyn Better, you can consider a Brooklyn Walking Tour.
Check out here the best guided tours in New York! or you can book one of the excursions directly clicking on the banner below.
Cantor Rooftop Garden Bar
Nestled atop one of the greatest museums in the world is the Cantor Rooftop Garden Bar.
After youve had your fill of art and culture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art below, be sure to head up to the roof for some awe-inspiring views of Central Park and beyond.
Theres even an intriguing, super unique Pierre Huyghe art installation on display in the bars lush and expansive garden area, which comes complete with sets of benches and tables for you to use.
And while the food here really isnt that great :
You can always just savor some of the best views in NYC while sipping on a specialty cocktail or a glass of homemade lemonade.
Best Views in NYC Local Tip: FYI, you dont actually have to buy anything while youre up here and can just enjoy the view. And if youre part of a group you can pre-order cocktails as part of your museum tour. Also, per usual, avoid long lines by purchasing your tickets way in advance. Like, right now would be a good time to buy them .
Address: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028
Hours: Open mid-April through October, Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm.
How to Get There: Take the 4,5, or 6 to 86th Street station and walk to the MET from there.
Price: You will have to pay $25 to get into the MET, unless you have a valid form of ID and are a resident of New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Then, you can pay what you wish.
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Enjoy A Helicopter Tour Of The City
Nothing beats a stunning aerial view of New York City from a helicopter.
Umm, who doesnt want to enjoy some of the best views in NYC during a once in a lifetime, helicopter tour of New York City?
I know I do!
Especially since nothing really beats a birds eye view of Manhattans iconic skyline .
Unless of course, youre scared of heights. Then this might not be the experience for you.
But if youre a normie like me , then there really is nothing quite like a helicopter ride over Manhattan. Especially since most of these helicopters come fully equipped with fly AF, see-through, floor-to-ceiling, convex windows.
Yup, feel free to be duly impressed.
Just be sure to actually pay close attention to the information that youre given during your twenty-five-minute flight since youll be introduced to iconic NYC attractions as Central Park, Hudson River, New York Harbor, the Brooklyn Bridge, Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building, the World Financial Center, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, etc.
Address: 2 S Wood Ave, Linden, NJ 07036, United States .
Hours: Flights are available any time between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm, Friday through Sunday.
How to Get There: Board the 112 Bus at Port Authority and ride it for 18 stops. Get off at Broad Street at Jersey Street and hop on the 57 bus. Ride this bus for 19 stops and get off at Wood Avenue and the Railway Station.
Price: $200 per person.