The Perfect View of Manhattan, NYC
See New York City's Skyline from Every Angle
Where do you find the perfect view of Manhattan's iconic skyline? Armed with nothing more a Metrocard, you can see photograph NYC's skyscrapers from every angle.
Your first view of the Manhattan skyline, by day or by night, is breathtaking. Whether you're a keen photographer or simply want to see the city from a different point of view, here's everything you need to know for finding the best view of NYC.
The Best Views of Downtown
Let's start with the free option first. From the Station Island Ferry you'll have crystal clear views of Manhattan's southernmost point and the towering steel turrets of the Financial district.
There are two subway stations nearby:
- South Ferry, on the 1 line (red)
- Whitehall Street - South Ferry, on the R and W lines (yellow)
On weekdays, the free ferries depart Manhattan every half hour (on the hour and half hour) throughout the day and night, except between 0630 to 0930 and 1600 to 2000, when there are departures every 15 to 20 minutes. On weekends the ferries depart every half hour (on the hour and half hour), 24 hours a day. The trip lasts between 25 and 30 minutes.
The Best Views of Downtown and the Lower East Side
Most visitors choose to walk over the Brooklyn bridge, but there are some breathtaking vistas of Manhattan's south-east shore to be had by walking underneath it.
There are two parks between Manhattan bridge and Brooklyn bridge - the Brooklyn Bridge Park and Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park. Take the F train (orange) to York St, turn right and walk down the hill to the East river. Brooklyn Bridge Park is to your left, and beyond that lies Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park.
The Best Views of Downtown and Tribeca
From the E train stop (blue) at the World Trade Center site, it's a short walk west similarly named World Financial Center in Battery City Park. At the riverside are the NY Waterway taxis, ferrying commuters around the boroughs and across the Hudson to New Jersey.
The shortest trip takes you to Jersey City (although your Metrocard won't be valid for the journey and you'll have to pay the $4.50 fare). Revel in the panoramic scenes as you cross the river, and return by water taxi or the nearby PATH train station.
The Best Views of Midtown East and the Upper East Side
Few tourists make it out of the quicksand of Times Square to ride the tramway to Roosevelt Island. The red cable cars that soar through the sky only take four minutes to reach the slender, runway-length island in the East River. Metrocards are valid for the cable cars which run every 15 minutes through the day and late into the night.
Not only will you enjoy the majesty of Manhattan's stately Upper East Side, but you can take in the aerial views of Midtown as you ascend and descend into the sky.
The Best Views of the Upper East Side and Harlem
Queens is off the radar for many tourists, which means that most people miss out on a serene view of the city from one of its most attractive parks.
Take the N or W line (yellow) to Astoria Blvd and follow the Triboro bridge 1km west to Astoria Park. The views of Eastern Manhattan are glorious, framed by the Triboro and Hell Gate Railway bridges.
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