Top of the Rock, Empire State, Summit or Edge with Kids?

The short answer

• Nervous about heights, or travelling with little ones: Top of the Rock. Glass panels on the lower levels, an open top deck, and the Empire State Building and Central Park in the same view.
• Kids who love a famous name and a story: the Empire State Building, with its museum galleries (including King Kong) on the way up.
• Thrill-seekers aged 10 and up: Edge for the glass floor, or Summit for glass ledges and mirrors.
• Teens who live for photos: Summit One Vanderbilt.

Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center)

Three levels on the 67th, 69th and 70th floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The two lower levels have glass panels; the 70th floor is fully open air with 360-degree views, so children can see out without leaning on anything. The big draw for families: you look straight at the Empire State Building, with Central Park stretching out on the other side. Kids 5 and under go free; strollers are welcome if they fold for the elevator.

Two add-ons for older kids: The Beam, a rotating girder that lifts you about 12 feet above the deck for a photo (riders under 52 inches must be at least 42 inches tall and ride with an adult), and Skylift, a glass-fenced, slowly rotating platform that rises about three storeys above the top deck (paid separately; under-18s with an adult). Check what's included in your ticket on the official site.

The Empire State Building

The one your kids have heard of. The visit starts with museum galleries about how the building was made and its films, including a King Kong room where you can touch the giant ape's hands. The 86th floor is New York's most famous open-air deck; the 102nd floor, on a separate ticket, is enclosed with floor-to-ceiling windows.

The building suggests allowing 1.5 to 2 hours and says mornings work well for families, when kids have more energy. Children 5 and under go free, child tickets are for ages 6 to 12, and strollers must be folded on the decks (a light one is easiest). Restrooms are on the 2nd, 80th and 86th floors. The one thing it can't show you: the Empire State Building itself.

Summit One Vanderbilt (by Grand Central)

Less a viewing deck than an art experience in the sky: rooms covered in mirrors on floors, walls and ceilings, a playful room you interact with, Levitation, two glass ledges 1,100 feet above Madison Avenue, an outdoor terrace, and the optional Ascent, a glass-bottomed elevator up the outside of the building.

It's a hit with teens, but read the rules: Summit's own terms say the experience may not be suitable for children under 10, under-16s must stay with an adult, and children 5 and under go free. Bring sunglasses (the mirrors are bright by day), wear trousers or shorts rather than short skirts because of the mirrored floors, and skip heels. Strollers must fold.

Edge (Hudson Yards)

An outdoor sky deck that juts out from the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards, about 1,100 feet up. There's a glass floor to stand on and angled glass walls to lean out over the city, plus places to sit. Brave kids love it; nervous ones (and parents) can stay back from the edge and still enjoy the view west over the Hudson River.

Children 5 and under go free, kids under 12 must be supervised, and strollers are welcome but must be folded for the elevator and escalator. Edge says a typical visit takes 60 to 90 minutes, and that weekday mornings and early afternoons, especially Tuesday to Thursday, are the quietest. City Climb, the climb up the outside of the building, is for ages 13 and up with height limits. It's an easy pairing with the High Line.

Fear of heights: what to expect

• Gentlest: Top of the Rock's lower levels behind glass, and the Empire State Building's enclosed 102nd floor.
• Open air but solid underfoot: the top deck at Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building's 86th floor.
• Most intense: Edge's glass floor and lean-out walls, Summit's glass ledges, and Summit's Ascent elevator. Nobody has to step onto the glass: let kids decide on the day.
• Mirrors can disorient: some children (and adults) find Summit's mirrored rooms dizzying, separate from any fear of heights.

Lines and the best time to go

• Book a time slot online, ahead, on the official site or with a pass. You'll still go through security, but you skip the ticket line.
• Mornings are easiest with kids: more energy, fewer crowds, and good light for photos.
• Sunset is the most popular time everywhere. If you want it, book early, arrive with snacks, and expect to wait for a spot at the railing.
• Check the weather: on a cloudy or foggy day the view can disappear. Book once you have a clear forecast if your plans allow.
• One deck is enough. If you have a pass, compare which decks it includes: see our attraction pass guide.