Manhattan Skyline Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Manhattan Skyline. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Secrets of Grand Central Station Walking Tour New York City

• NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights

• Statue of Liberty and New York City Skyline Sightseeing Cruise

• Private Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour

• New York City Sunset Cruise on a Yacht

It’s free to admire the views of the Manhattan Skyline from many parts of the city, including from Brooklyn and Queens. One of the top free activities is to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and look back at the Manhattan views from DUMBO. Or, you could take a New York Harbor cruise from around US$25, or a sightseeing helicopter flight from around US$260.

Yes, all visitors to New York City should check out the Manhattan Skyline views—and in fact, they're quite difficult to avoid. Whether you explore the city on foot, on an open-top bus tour, on a private vehicle tour, or take a cruise or sightseeing flight, there are many ways to admire the views of the skyscrapers, old and new, in Manhattan.

Per one customer who booked the Statue of Liberty and New York City Skyline Sightseeing Cruise, "My husband and I had the best time on the sightseeing tour of Lower Manhattan. The crew were amazing, the boat was beautiful, and the weather was perfect. Thanks for a wonderful trip!"

For a ground-level view of the Manhattan skyline—and a free view at that—you can’t beat the borough's parks and green spaces like Bryant Park near Grand Central Terminal. Central Park and lesser-known spots like Fort Greene Park, Valentino Pier, and Gantry Plaza State Park offer great views. Head to One World Observatory or the Empire State Building to get higher. And if you can afford it, splurge for a room or grab a drink at New York City hotels with rooftop bars.

Yes, there are plenty of places where you can view the NYC skyline for free. For starters, Manhattan’s Central Park offers excellent views, as does the Brooklyn Bridge, Fort Washington Park, Domino Park, and more. You could also catch it from the Roosevelt Island Tramway for just a few bucks.

What you can see in the Manhattan skyline depends on where you’re standing and looking. But you’re probably catching views of 30 Rockefeller Center, the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, the Flatiron, One World Trade Center, 30 Hudson Yards, 432 Park Avenue, Woolworth Tower, 40 Wall Street, and many, many others.

If you’re willing to spend some change, you can catch great skyline views from the Empire State Building, The Edge, Rockefeller Center (Top of The Rock), or the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Check out the borough’s green spaces, like Central Park or Bryant Park, for free views.

For the best view in NYC, try Hudson River Park, just south of Chelsea Piers, or Pier 26. The Pier 57 Rooftop Park is a great spot, as are other green spaces like Central Park or Brooklyn’s Domino Park. The Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge Park don’t disappoint either.

The Apex at The Edge NYC takes the cake—it’s the highest outdoor skydeck in the Western Hemisphere at 1,271 feet (387 meters). Find it at 30 Hudson Yards, a massive steel-and-glass skyscraper with its observation deck suspended in mid-air. You’ll get 360-degree views and the sensation you’re floating above Manhattan.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done checking out the Manhattan Skyline. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in New York City:

• Statue of Liberty

• Empire State Building

• Central Park

• Ellis Island

• National September 11 Memorial and Museum

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in New York City.