There are countless places to take awesome photos on street level in Manhattan and endless perspectives of the city that never sleeps, but these are a few of my favorite places to get stunning NYC views from all around the Big Apple.
If you splurge on one view from above, Top of the Rock is my recommendation. It’s located squarely between the Empire State Building and Central Park, and the 70th floor offers an excellent perspective on both.
It’s the most famous skyscraper in the New York City skyline, and because of that, the view from the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building can almost seem a bit eerie – the 360-degree views all seem to be missing an important piece.
It costs $2.75 to ride (free if you have an unlimited MetroCard) and it gives an awesome perspective of Upper East Side streets, the traffic on the Queensboro bridge and a peek at the Chrysler Building.
It’s especially famed during Manhattan-henge, when the sunset aligns perfectly with the east-west streets. Bonus: a very good cameo by the gorgeous Chrysler Building!