Top of the rock or One world trade for views?

[HRTpatch]

Off to NYC ...we would like to do a daylight and evening view if possible. Is it worth doing both?

Not for me. However the One World is worth doing if you are going to the memorial and the exhibition. Otherwise it’s quite a trek down there.

I like the High Line as a concept. I would do that rather than two high buildings.

We are doing the high line as well.

Empire State for me. I didn’t like the One World thing. Too far downtown and you can’t go outside. It’s just HIGH. Empire State is great as you are outside, more central location, great views around the city and over Central Park. It feels more ‘real’. The One World Trade felt like a simulation to me.

(I love the Chrysler Building, so the Empire State was always going to win in the panoramic views stakes)

Definitely the Empire State for views.

Both! I prefer top of the rock because you can get views with Empire State in.

One world trade is an experience in its self, and worth it just for the 9/11 museum. Incredibly touching and extremely moving.

I think its worth doing both, if you can afford the cost / time. I absolutely love being high up, looking down on the skyscraper buildings.
We liked the Top of the Rock for the views of Central Park and the Empire State Building. But preferred the Empire State building, as a building, it just seems so iconic.
We did the Rock, about 30mins before sunset, so we could see Central Park in the daylight, then saw all the lights come on as it went dark.
We did ESB in the daylight, then realized that the city passes we had bought included the ESB, so we went up again just before it closed, it was lovely, as it was so much quieter.
We could not justify the cost of also doing One World, as well - maybe next time.

The 9/11 museum is a gutwrencher and very well done. I just didn’t like the tower bit.

If you only do one, I'd do totr because being able to see the esb is better than being in it

Top of the Rock for views of Central Park, The Rock gets in the way when looking from the Empire State Building

I did Empire State and top of the rock - the rock was better!

Great comments thank you.
I've done Empire State before so wanted somewhere different.
We aren't planning to do the 9/11 museum..maybe the outside memorial.

Are you taking the kids? If it’s adults only then Bar 65 at the Rockefeller Plaza is great, as the name suggests it’s on the 65th floor and I think it’s still the highest bar in the city. That way instead of spending money to go up to the Top of the Rock (which is only 5 floors higher, and tbh you can’t really tell) you can spend it on a drink instead and still get the fab view!

Try and get tickets for TOTR around sunset.
That way you get Day and night views.

No kids

Def WTC - it's breathtaking. The whole site is amazing, so well done and the museum was a very upsetting but memorable visit. We drifted back there several times over our visit, and it's very close to Wall Street etc. Some great delis tucked down side streets.
I found the TOTR was horrendous - badly signed, and very shouty/chaotic.

Top of the rock for me. 360 degree views of both rivers, Central Park, Empire State and a tiny Statue of Liberty in the distance. I loved it! We went in mid February and had a brilliant time.

Can I buy tickets for the ESB before we go?

I LOVED One World. It was a symbolic experience after the gut-wrenching beauty of the memorial fountains. I loved that it was so far downtown because the view was all-encompassing. I also loved the Empire State because it was... The Empire State! The interior was fascinating and it felt like early New York, and we’d watched Sleepless in Seattle 😄 Top of the Rock was fab at sunset but there was a bit of a crowd on the Empire State side and it felt a bit manic. If we hadn’t had our teen kids with us I am sure Bar 65 would have been more civilised! In retrospect One World was the best as we’d last visited NYC when the Twin Towers were still standing and had visited the cafe, Windows on the World - it felt like a bit of a pilgrimage to be honest (although $35 for two plastic glasses of Prossecco was a bit much!!) Enjoy whichever tall building you choose!

Hello ihatethecold. We visited the ESB using our Sightseeing Pass but I just noticed that it’s no longer participating in that scheme. We went early morning (just before 9 after stuffing our faces at Pershing Square) and there was a small queue for tickets and a small queue for the lifts. We went to the main observation deck and you could have gone higher - we asked the ticket girl whether it was worth paying extra to get a bit higher and she said she couldn’t possibly say but insinuated it wasn’t worth it. Chance your arm on the day I’d say. If there’s ANY attraction you could pre-book I’d say the Statue of Liberty because we turned up and had to wait for hours!

Top of the rock!

And do the Staten Island ferry for great views of lower manhattan. Ooh and DUMBO for amazing views of Brooklyn bridge and across to manhattan. Ooh and Central Park for the boating lake with the skyline in background. Basically there are amazing views everywhere!