From Empire State Building to Central Park Tower, the skyline in New York is among the most iconic in the country.
And the best part is that there are plenty of ways for you to experience this modern-day wonder – from the ground, water, air, or even from inside the actual skyscrapers.
The tallest buildings in New York City are a must-visit for any traveler looking to take in breathtaking city views and explore their history.
But which buildings are actually the tallest in New York? This helpful list will explore some of the Big Apple's most significant buildings.
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The tallest building in the US, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, and the seventh-tallest building on the planet – all the titles go to the spectacular One World Trade Center.
The giant located in Lower Manhattan has the same name as the North Tower of the original World Trade Center. In fact, the building visually resembles the original Twin Towers.
Fun fact: the One World Trade Center's height in feet (1,776) refers to the year the Declaration of Independence was signed.
The tallest tower in New York City has 94 actual stories, but the top floor is officially designated as floor 104. Located on floors 100-102 is the stunning observation deck. Its height is 1,268 feet, making it the city's highest vantage point.
The One World Observatory offers 360-degree views of New York City from the comfort of an indoor climate-controlled space. By the way, the SkyPod Elevator will take you to the 102nd story in only 47 seconds!
An all-inclusive ticket to New York's largest tower would cost $59 per person. It includes not only the views and a priority pass but also a $15 voucher at the bar or restaurant (both located on the 101st floor).
Height of this skyscraper: 1,776'
Address: 285 Fulton St, New York City, NY 10007, United States
Also Read: The Best Observation Decks in the USA
The tallest primarily residential building in the world is located in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood along Billionaires' Row. Though the building has 98 above-ground floors, the top one is numbered 136.
The building rises 1,550 feet, with the tallest habitable floor at 1,417 feet. By the way, Central Park Tower's roof height and top floor are higher than the building that made it to the top of our list.
One of the initial plans for the building did include an observation deck for the visitors, but Extell's CEO decided to maximize condominium space instead.
Central Park Tower is also home to the highest private club in the world and a 5-story Nordstrom department store.
Height of this skyscraper: 1,550'
Address: 217 W 57th St, New York City, NY 10019, United States
Also Read: Top Tourist Attractions in New York City
Steinway Tower is an 84-story, 1,428-foot building that was completed only a few years ago, in 2021.
It is not only one of the tallest buildings in New York City but also the skinniest skyscraper in the world, with a width-to-height ratio of about 1:24. Due to this fact, the top stories quite literally sway a few feet during strong winds.
The base of the skyscraper contains Steinway Hall – a New York City designated landmark. The tower houses 46 condominiums.
Fun fact: some of the door knobs on the living room doors in the condominiums are shaped like the tower itself.
Unfortunately, non-residents won’t be able to explore what amenities the building has to offer. That is unless you decide to go on a tour with an expert buyer’s agent, of course.
Height of this skyscraper: 1,428'
Address: 111 West 57th Street New York City, NY 10019
The city’s fourth-tallest building which rises 1,401 feet above ground, opened in 2020. The 93-story skyscraper is mostly devoted to office space, but thankfully, there are a few exciting things that even regular visitors can explore.
The top of the skyscraper contains SUMMIT One Vanderbilt – an observation deck that spans nearly 72,000 feet.
The first component of the SUMMIT includes three high-speed elevators that take visitors from the ground level to the observation deck (1,020 feet above ground) in about 50 seconds.
Levitation is the second component that features enclosed glass balconies.
The third part, Ascent, has two glass-bottomed outside (!) elevators. And finally, the fourth space contains immersive art by Kenzo Digital.
You can get an all-included ticket for $76 to not only experience all four areas but also enjoy a signature cocktail.
Height of this skyscraper: 1,401'
Address: 1 Vanderbilt Ave, New York City, NY 10017, United States
432 Park Avenue is a residential building overlooking Central Park. The skyscraper is 1,396 feet tall and has 84 numbered stories.
The third-tallest residential building in the world is also one of the slenderest skyscrapers with a 15:1 height-to-width ratio.
Fun fact: the building is so tall that its construction required approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The amenities for residents of one of New York City skyscrapers include golf-training facilities, a restaurant, and a terrace, as well as a swimming complex and a library curated by Assouline Publishing.
Some of the notable residents are Jennifer Lopez, David Chu, Alex Rodriguez, and Helly Nahmad.
Height of this skyscraper: 1,397'
Address: 432 Park Ave, New York City, NY 10022, USA
Also Read: The Tallest Buildings in the US
The North Tower, which is 1,270 feet tall, is the sixth-tallest building in New York City. It is also home to the second-highest outdoor observation deck that contains an optically transparent floor in the Western Hemisphere.
From there, you’ll be able to enjoy the views of Manhattan and the Hudson River.
The 1,100-foot-tall observation deck is located on the 100th and 101st floors. The Edge has a triangular shape and juts 80 feet outward.
You can lean into the 9-foot-high clear glass barricade to check out the streets below, walk over the triangular glass floor, and ascend an outdoor staircase. The latter attraction is called "City Climb at Edge," the highest open-air building ascent on our planet.
Tickets for the City Climb start at $185, while the general admission ticket to the Edge would cost you $42.
Height of this skyscraper: 1,270'
Address: 30 Hudson Yards, New York City, NY 10001, USA
One of the most famous buildings in the world rises 1,454 feet above ground. The Art Deco-style skyscraper has 102 stories and was built in 1930-1931.
Fun fact: since the release of King Kong, the building has been featured in over 250 movies and television series.
The 80th, 86th, and 102nd floors contain some of the most well-known observation decks in New York City. The first one is an additional indoor observatory that opened in 2019. It includes various exhibits and a New York skyline mural.
The observatory on the 86th floor has a spectacular open-air outdoor viewing area and an enclosed viewing gallery, while the highest observatory features only a small enclosed space. The prices for the express pass start at $119.
You can also book a guided tour that includes the building’s gorgeous Art Deco lobby or opt for the Starbucks Reserve Sunrise Experience – you’ll get to enjoy the sunrise from the 86th floor and a complimentary coffee.
Height of this skyscraper: 1,250'
Address: 20 W 34th St., New York City, NY 10001, United States
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The Bank of America Tower is 1,200 feet high and has 55 stories. It is basically an office building in which the Bank of America occupies the majority of office space.
Although you can't really experience one of the tallest buildings in New York City from the inside (except for paying a visit to the Stephen Sondheim Theater located in the building’s base), it is still a true NYC icon.
The building, which cost around $1 billion, was completed in 2009.
By the way, it was the first commercial skyscraper in the US designed to attain a LEED Platinum certification, but it was only given a "C" grade in the end.
Even though the tower includes waterless urinals and has a 4.6-megawatt cogeneration plant, it still consumes too much electricity.
Height of this skyscraper: 1,200'
Address: Avenue of the Americas & 42nd Street, Manhattan, New York, United States
The Brooklyn Tower is a primarily residential skyscraper. The building has 93 stories and is 1,073 feet high. It is the highest building in New York City outside of Manhattan and the first and tallest supertall building in Brooklyn.
Dime Savings Bank Building, located at the base of the skyscraper, was built way back in 1906-1908. The construction of the actual tower began in 2018.
Just like the original bank building, the Brooklyn Tower has a hexagonal shape. Each of the 6 sides has slight setbacks that terminate in a crown.
Eventually, the residents could take advantage of an outdoor playground, a dog run, The Dome Pool and Terrace, and the tallest residential basketball court in the world, located on the 66th floor.
Height of this skyscraper: 1,073'
Address: 55 Fleet St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
53W53 is a 1,050-foot-high building adjacent to the Museum of Modern Art. Construction was officially completed in 2020, and today the skyscraper features a private restaurant and MoMA gallery space (over 50,000 square feet of exhibition space distributed over three floors) at the base and 145 condominiums in the actual tower.
The skyscraper has a rather unique form, with the north and south facades sloping away from the street as they rise and the west and east facades staying perpendicular to ground level.
Height of this skyscraper: 1,050'
Address: 53 West 53, New York City, NY 10019
The iconic Art Deco skyscraper rises 1,046 feet above ground level and is the tallest brick building with a steel framework in the world.
The building is named after one of its original tenants and the person who funded the entire cost of the project in 1930 – Walter Chrysler.
The corners of the structure contain around 50 metal ornaments – gargoyles and replicas of 1929 Chrysler radiator caps on the 31st floor and eagles on the 61st.
An observation deck might be opened at the Chrysler Building in the nearest future. But for now, you can explore the skyscraper’s magnificent Art Deco lobby on the ground floor (it’s completely free, by the way).
Height of this skyscraper: 1,046'
Address: 405 Lexington Ave, New York City, NY 10174, United States
The 1,046-foot skyscraper with 52 stories is tied with the Chrysler Building as the 12th tallest building in New York City.
The tower was completed in 2007, and, just as the name suggests, its main tenant is The New York Times Company. By the way, the high-rise was designed as a green building.
Fun fact: nearly 200,000 ceramic rods are mounted in front of the building's curtain wall. The structures that can change color with the weather attracted dozens of climbers throughout the years who illegally climbed the skyscraper. Some rods were removed, but the climbing incidents did not stop.
The lobby is open to the public between 10 AM and 5 PM on weekdays.
Height of this skyscraper: 1,046'
Address: 242 W 41st St, New York City, NY 10036, United States
The Spiral NYC will be a 1,031-foot tall, 66-floor skyscraper in Hudson Yards, Manhattan. The building project was initiated in 2016 but is still not completed (though it might happen any time now).
The project was initially marketed as the "tallest building in the Western Hemisphere," but the plans changed.
Supposedly, each floor of the New York high rise will have a garden that would be wrapped around the building.
The skyscraper will also include a restaurant in its base. Some of the tenants that are going to move in include Pfizer, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and AllianceBernstein.
Height of this skyscraper: 1,031'
Address: 66 Hudson Blvd E, New York City, NY 10001, United States
The 58-story building that is 1,011 feet tall is located north of 30 Hudson Yards (#6 on our list). The skyscraper opened in October 2022 and is considered the 4th largest office tower in the New York City skyline (in terms of available leasable area).
The building's lobby features a few large-scale sculptures by Frank Stella.
Fun fact: it is one of the few buildings on the West Side that can accommodate more than 500 people per floor.
Height of this skyscraper: 1,011'
Address: 50 Hudson Yards, New York City, NY 10001
Not all of the tallest buildings in New York City have observation decks and other attractions. But that does not mean you won't be able to enjoy the looks of these giants.
There is something incredibly inspirational about the stunning structures. And dedicating at least a full day to enjoying everything that the iconic skyline has to offer is definitely worth it.