How to Visit the Edge NYC Guide + Money Saving Tips!
Wondering how to visit the Edge NYC at Hudson Yards plus tips for your visit? This guide has you covered!
Looking up is often an unreasonable task to ask of New Yorkers. I often find myself looking at the three feet of ground ahead of me and never lifting my gaze higher than head height. Buildings often block views of the horizon, especially as they gather closer and closer together around the Financial District and Midtown, and the skyline seems too far away to grant it the appreciation it deserves.
Many New Yorkers have never been to the Freedom Tower or the Empire State Building observation deck, often chalking it up to the idea that those attractions are “too tourist-y.”
Speaking as a New Yorker who has been guilty on occasion of poo-pooing tourist traps because they are not part of “the real New York,” I can speak honestly and without my nose in the air in saying that there are some attractions in New York City that have been deemed tourist traps, but are still totally worth all the hype.
Some places are popular for a reason, and that is because they have something valuable to offer! The Edge at Hudson Yards is without a doubt one of those attractions.
The Edge NYC Overview
The Edge NYC is “the highest outdoor skydeck in the western hemisphere” according to their website, and there is no better vista than the one the Edge has to offer because it grants visitors a full 360-degree view of Manhattan and its surrounding landscape.
From its perch on 10th Avenue bordered by 31st and 33rd streets, this Hudson Yards attraction offers a sprawling view of downtown Manhattan and the New York Harbor, where one can easily identify some of New York City’s most iconic landmarks, including the views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Freedom Tower, Battery Park City, the Verrazano Bridge, and Staten Island, and more, including parts of New Jersey to the west.
To the east, the sightline from the Edge at Hudson Yards runs almost parallel to the Empire State Building, the New Yorker Hotel, Madison Square Garden, and Brooklyn in the distance, and to the north, one can see the sheer magnitude of the greenery in Central Park, the skyscrapers of midtown Manhattan including the Chrysler Building, the George Washington Bridge, and the Bronx in the distance.
Because of these incredible views and the unique way to see them from high above, this has quickly become one of the best things to do in New York City.
Where Is The Edge?
The Edge NYC is at the Hudson Yards Mall, bordered by 31st Street to the south, 33rd Street to the north, 10th Avenue to the east, and 11th Avenue to the west.
The closest subway stop to the mall and adjoining building that hosts the Edge NYC is the last stop on the 7 (purple-colored) train, 34th St. Hudson Yards.
It is also easily accessible from Penn Station, so if you are coming from out of town on the Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road, or New Jersey Transit, Hudson Yards is only a two avenue walk west. The A, C, E, 1, 2, and 3 trains all stop at Penn Station as well, making this Hudson Yards attraction an easily accessible location for train commuters from within the city and from outside of it.
The Edge NYC skydeck is highly visible if you are coming from the south or the east, so just keep an eye out for it as you leave Penn station and follow your gaze. If you take the 7 train to Hudson Yards, you’ll be deposited right at the base of the mall near the Vessel, closest to the entrance to the Edge at Hudson Yards.
Hudson Yards is also accessible by Citi Bike, with two stations bordering the mall at 30th street between 10th and 11th Avenues, and the corner of 34th Street and 11th Avenue.
The NYC ferry and the New York Waterway ferry also have stops at 39th street, just a short walk from the northern end of the Hudson Yards plaza at 33rd street and 11th avenue.
Upon arriving at Hudson Yards, enter the Shops at the street level and take the elevator, escalator, or stairs up to level 4, where the entrance to the Edge NYC is located. Look out for the “Beyond the Edge” shop, Shake Shack, or The Body Shop, and you’ll know you’re in the right spot.
The Edge & Hudson Yards Tickets
There are varying prices for The Edge at Hudson Yards tickets for visitors of all types, with additional add-ons available, like a glass of champagne or a small photo book. It’s suggested you purchase Skip the Line Edge tickets in advance so you don’t have to wait in any queues on the day of.
Listed below are the options:
(Open 8 am-midnight during summer hours)
GENERAL ADMISSION EDGE AT HUDSON YARDS TICKETS
Adult (13-61): $36 per person
Child (6-12): $31 per person
Child (5 and under): Free
Senior (62+): $34 per person
CHAMPAGNE ADMISSION EDGE AT HUDSON YARDS TICKETS
(comes with a glass of champagne)
Adult (21-61): $53 per person
Senior (62+): $51 per person
PREMIUM ADMISSION EDGE AT HUDSON YARDS TICKETS
(comes with a glass of champagne and a personalized photo book)
Adult (21-61): $71
Senior (62+): $69
EDGE EQUINOX YOGA AT HUDSON YARDS TICKETS (mornings 6:30 am-7:30 am)
(very limited availability)
$50 per person
All purchased tickets come with a free digital souvenir photo
New York City residents get $2 off general admission ticket prices
Visiting at sunset will cost an additional $10 per ticket
Visiting during peak days (often summer and weekends) will increase the price of the ticket $2
All ticket purchases require selection of an hour-long specific entry time, available every ten minutes from 8 am-11 pm. The last entry time slot begins at 11 pm and ends at 11:30 pm, but the last elevator ride up is 50 minutes before closing at midnight. Visitors can stay as long as they like until closing upon arriving at the skydeck.
Before visiting The Edge, it’s best to buy your tickets online. The easiest way to secure your spot at The Edge NYC is to purchase tickets online, recommend booking the Skip the Line Edge tickets so you don’t have to wait in any queues on the day of as this is one of the most popular NYC experiences.
The skip the line tickets are general admission, to see all the other tours and ticket options available visit The Edge website as the tickets vary depending on the add ons you can choose from.
Get your tickets in advance here.
Alternatively, you can purchase a discount voucher that gets you into multiple NYC attractions for a fraction of the price if you plan on doing multiple activities on your trip to save money and hundreds of dollars! All you have to do is pick which attraction pass is best for your visit, make a one time purchase, and then the attractions are free or included in your pass!
CityPASS offers a 3 attraction pass or a 6 attraction pass with over 12 city attractions to choose from including the Edge. Using this pass instead of buying individual tickets can save up to 35% equaling hundreds of dollars in savings.
Another great option is the New York Pass which you can purchase anywhere from a 1 Day Pass to a 10 Day Pass that gets you into over 100 attractions. Once you purchase your New York Pass you download the Go City app and use that to get into the popular NYC attractions as well as some hidden gems.
Using New York Pass instead of buying individual attraction tickets can save you hundreds of dollars and up to 45% savings on popular attractions including free admission to The Edge!
See our full breakdown of the New York Pass and our breakdown of the New York CityPASS to see if it’s worth it for your visit to save hundreds of dollars on multiple attractions!
Tips, Tricks, and Fun Facts for Visiting the Edge NYC
To avoid crowds, it is best to visit the Edge at Hudson Yards during off-peak days and hours as this is one of the most popular observation decks in NYC. These are oftentimes during weekdays at non-sunset hours and during shoulder seasons when tourists are less likely to visit New York City, like after the Christmas rush and in the spring.
For those who do not buy a ticket package that includes a glass of champagne, the Edge NYC has a bar where the skydeck is located on the 100th floor that offers an assortment of refreshments including champagne, wine, beer, soft drinks, and light snacks.
There are also souvenirs available on the 100th floor, as well as on the fourth level of the Shops at Hudson Yards near the entrance to the elevators.
The Edge at Hudson Yards is located more than 1,100 feet above street level, and contains more than 7,500 square feet of space extending 80 feet from the main building. It includes glass walls angled outward towards the skyline, a glass floor section allowing visitors to look straight down to street level, elevated skyline steps to rest and look out over the horizon, and an eastern lookout point at the most extended corner for one person to stand and see the entire New York skyline.
The Edge NYC elevators are also a point of interest, offering interactive animation and drone footage of the surrounding areas as you ascend in just about 50 seconds.
Other Hudson Yards Attractions
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The Edge NYC is enough reason to venture to Hudson Yards if you’re looking for a fun activity to do in NYC, but if you want to make a day out of it, there is plenty more to explore around the area. The Shops at Hudson Yards are a great place to start, especially since the entrance to the Edge Skydeck is within the mall.
There’s also, the City Climb, an adrenaline-pumping activity available at The Edge. Those who book this experience get to scale the exterior of The Edge skyscraper at 1,200 feet in the air!! Climbers are secured with straps and able to lean OVER the edge of the skyscraper!
The Shops offer a vast array of clothing, food, electronics, and more, including Mercado Little Spain, a Chef José Andrés creation offering all kinds of Spanish food and drinks, located on the street level of the Shops (L0). They also offer takeout from the pickup window on 30th street and delivery.
Located just outside the Shops at Hudson Yards to the west is the Vessel, a massive, 154-flight staircase interconnecting over the sky to offer tremendous views of the city and the Hudson River to the west. This Hudson Yards attraction is open daily from 10 am-8 pm, and tickets for visitors over the age of 5 cost $10 a person (under 5 go free).
To visit the Vessel, you must come with at least one other person, or you can enter with another group via the “Come with Us” ticket and join another group assigned to you.
THE VESSEL IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
The High Line is another wonderful Hudson Yards attraction that is absolutely free for visitors. Spanning from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District all the way up to 34th Street at Hudson Yards, this Hudson Yards attraction offers a pedestrian-only elevated experience of the lower west side through exclusively native greenery and expertly designed pathways.
The park opened in 2009 after a long battle to save it from demolition when it was only an abandoned elevated train rail—a remnant of the old subway system. Along the way you can find outdoor art installations, food and beverage cart options, lounge and bench seating, and more.
Keep an eye out for parts the park designers deliberately kept to remind visitors of what the Highline once was, like train tracks, stop lights, and a large archway meant to accommodate train passage!
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About the Author
Eli Kimbell is a born and raised New Yorker from Greenwich Village. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in liberal arts at the University of Richmond.
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