A Photographer’s Guide for Finding the Best Views in New York City
We’ve been to New York City multiple times and it will always amaze us. From the views of the New York City skyline from above at different observation towers, to the amazing parks and waterfront panoramas, there is always so much to see and do. If you are interested in seeing New York City’s best views in a concise 3 day format, this is for you! Keep in mind, this itinerary is meant for those who are able bodied as New York City requires a lot of walking. The subway will get you closer to different areas, but in order to explore the full scope of New York City, walking is a must. We generally average 10,000-15,000 steps a day to give you an idea of the scope.
Day 1:
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Head to the Battery and start off your first day with a must do New York City activity for any first timer. Take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and make sure to choose the option that includes a stop at Ellis Island. The views of New York City from the water are gorgeous and the Statue of Liberty is iconic. It was incredible to imagine being an immigrant with Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty being your first glimpses of the United States. It might be cliche, but we actually enjoyed this activity way more than we were originally anticipating.
Little Island Park
Once you return to the Battery, catch the subway on the Red 1 line and get off at 14th Street. From there, walk 0.7 miles to Little Island Park. I know it may seem out of the way, but this park is potentially our all-time favorite in all of New York City. The architecture is so unique and it has beautiful coastal views of the New York City skyline.
Hudson Yards & Edge
From Little Island Park, you have two options on how to get to your next destination. The first option involves walking for about 30 minutes (1.5 miles) to Hudson Yards, which is what we personally opted for. The second option would be to take the bus from W 18 St & 10 Av to Hudson Yards. Vessel is an entirely unique art exhibit in Hudson Yards that you cannot miss! There is a really nice shopping mall in Hudson Yards if you are interested.
While in Hudson Yards, you also cannot miss the epic views from Edge, the highest sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. Make sure to look 100 stories down from the glass floor and lean over the city on its angled glass walls. The observation deck is suspended in mid air with a unique design and 360 degree views.
Day 2:
Central Park
Start with a morning walk at Central Park. Keep in mind that the park itself is gigantic and you could spend all day just exploring all areas of the park. We enjoyed our time wandering about and seeing Belvedere Castle.
Summit One Vanderbilt
This next stop is optional as it is quite pricey… But we did enjoy our experience at Summit One Vanderbilt. It is a multisensory immersive experience with New York City skyline views. Lots of mirrors and balloons are just a few of the key elements to the space. Unfortunately, the particular day that we did go to this observation tower was foggy and rainy so our actual city views were minimal, but we did still have fun nonetheless.
Grand Central Terminal
After Summit One Vanderbilt, another very close stop is Grand Central Terminal. It’s free to walk into the main station area and has beautiful architecture. In comparison to most of the subway stations in New York City, the interior design of Grand Central was refreshing.
Museum of Modern Art or The Metropolitan Museum of Art
If you have the time, we would recommend considering going to an art museum in Manhattan. Both museums are great options, especially if it happens to be a rainy day. If you are interested in seeing Starry Night by Van Gogh (with a lot of other people), then make sure to go to the MoMA. It is nice to be able to admire art in a city that is generally so beautiful.
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
Amongst the heart of Midtown Manhattan you will also find one of the most beautiful old churches in the entire United States. Its stunning architecture, rich history, and peaceful atmosphere make it so easy to forget that you are in the middle of a bustling urban city.
Top of the Rock
Essentially a block away from Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, you will find the Rockefeller Center. If you do one thing when visiting New York City, make sure you visit the Top of the Rock at sunset. You will need to make reservations in advance for the most ideal time of day and you can sit and wait for the city to come alive once the sun sets. This is our favorite observation tower in New York City for clear unobstructed views without glass (once you get to the top levels). At the Top of the Rock, you will find the absolute best views of the Empire State Building, along with Central Park and the New York City Skyline. We have both sunset and evening pictures from our time here and we still cannot decide which ones we like more.
Times Square
End your night with a stop at Times Square. It may be touristy, but it still is fun to see all the glowing billboards surrounding Times Square at night.
Day 3
Gantry Plaza State Park
For your last day in New York City, head over to Queen’s and visit Gantry Plaza State Park. We truly enjoyed walking around here with the waterfront views of the New York City skyline. There is also Pepsi Cola sign that is really cute too.
NYC Ferry
Did you know that for the same price as a subway ticket, you can buy a ticket for a water ferry to take you across the water in New York City?! This was such a fun way to view the city and it was the most expedient way to get to our next destination! We took the Astoria Route from the Long Island City stop to East 34th Street, then we got on the East River Route from the East 34th Street to DUMBO.
DUMBO
For an iconic view of the Manhattan Bridge, head to DUMBO (stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) on Washington Street. The street has sectioned off areas for people making it the perfect spot to capture an epic photo.
Brooklyn Bridge
Finish your time in New York City by exploring the Brooklyn Bridge. There are safe pedestrian walkways along the bridge making for easy photo opportunities. At the time of its opening, the Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world spanning about 1.1 miles across.
So there you have it, the perfect NYC guide for the best views! You may want to consider a CityPASS as it gives you entrance to various attractions with reservations for a cheaper price than it would be if you booked each attraction separately. We do not include any food recommendations in this specific itinerary as our focus was on seeing New York City’s best views, but there are tons of food options in all price ranges across the city. We still have so much to explore in New York City and we cannot wait to visit again. We aren’t usually city people when we travel, but it’s impossible to not marvel at the architectural elements and awe-inspiring views of New York City.
