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.
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!
The Staten Island ferry is 100% free, and it’s worth checking out if you’re visiting Manhattan on a budget – it offers a killer view of the Financial District office buildings, including One World Trade.
I especially love the viewpoint from East River State Park: there’s a teeny-tiny sandbank where teeny-tiny waves break, and it almost feels like you’re at the beach and not in between the two boroughs.
I love the view when you look up as you actually walk across the bridge, but you can also get a great perspective from Brooklyn Bridge Park on the Brooklyn side.