The memorial is dedicated to New Jersey’s 9/11 victims and it’s so beautifully made. Thankfully since crowds are usually kept to a minimum, you can take your time reflecting. The Roosevelt Island Tramwayprovides spectacular views of Manhattan and Queens as passengers rise through the city then descend across the East River to reach Roosevelt Island. Credit: Roosevelt Island Tramway This area is especially lovely in the fall when the contrast between orange trees and the gray streets and buildings puts the height of the city’s skyscrapers into perspective.

P.S. Did you know that the Brooklyn Bridge is older than London’s famous Tower Bridge? It’s true! Read: 20 Thought-Provoking Facts About New York City. If you’re not terrified of heights, I highly suggest visiting the Sky Portal. It’s a glass floor overlooking the city streets 100 floors below you — it’s such a cool experience! Empire Outlets, New York City’s only outlet shopping destination, offers incredible views of Lower Manhattan from its multilevel space and sustainable green roof in St. George, Staten Island. Credit: Empire Outlets The Shops at Hudson YardThe people-watching opportunities are endless! Plus, the views of NYC from this vantage point are some of the most interesting. The Metropolitan Museum of Artis celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Credit: Julienne Schaer Celebrating its fifth anniversary throughout 2020, One World Observatoryboasts views from the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Credit: One World Trade Observatory This is a lesser known spot but the view of New York from the Manhattan Bridge is one of my favorites.

To cap off our great day on the island, my friends and I chose to swing by Island Oyster for oysters, drinks and food. I must say, the food was surprisingly good! It makes sense to use clear glass panels here because the sweeping view of Central Park is downright breathtaking and obstructing that view would be a crime!Coney Island’s famous amusement park Luna Parkhas rides for travelers of all ages and thrill levels, including new developments coming in 2020 such as a ropes course and zipline. Credit: Julienne Schaer Stunning sunsets overlooking the East River, Manhattan skyline and Queensboro Bridge await in Long Island City, Queens, with views from up high at Boro Hotel’s Rooftop Bar. Credit: Boro Hotel’s Rooftop Bar In Queens

And there’s no denying that New York City is a beautiful city — thankfully there’s no shortage of spectacular New York City views from which to take in the iconic Manhattan skyline. So without further ado, please allow me to share the absolute best views of NYC (both free and paid options) based on firsthand experience. I hope you enjoy! I scoured the internet for iconic NYC viewpoints and found an image taken from the Manhattan Bridge. It became my work screensaver for years and served as a constant reminder that the city awaits. The New York City skyline is iconic, and also ever-changing. Famous buildings like the Empire State, Chrysler and Flatiron still stand tall next to newer icons like One World Trade Center, the ICA building and the Spiral. Simply strolling the streets of New York, you’ll take in plenty of amazing views. But to get a better picture of the city, the best views in NYC are from up or out — whether atop a tall building, up in the sky, or out on the water. Taking in the view just might be one of the best things to do in NYC.Seeing the view of New York from a plane gives you a unique advantage because you can get a sense of the massive scale of this city — especially the size of Central Park! The Chrysler Building steals the show and the fast moving cars below make this a great spot to practice your photography skills. To this day, the view of New York from the Manhattan Bridge is still one of my favorites, even if for sentimental reasons. 😉 And the NYC views from the restaurant? Well, you know what the say — a picture’s worth a thousand words.