New York is a city that is constantly changing, especially in terms of restaurants, attractions and construction of skyscrapers, it seems to be an eternal competition for the tallest or most modern building. One of the newest is Edge, which has an observatory with impressive views of the city and the best thing about it is that you can enjoy them from an open-air platform with glass walls.
Although in the Big Apple, many of its emblematic sights are free (such as Central Park, Times Square and Brooklyn Bridge), its buildings are not and you have to pay high prices to see them, which pushes many travelers to sacrifice attractions. In the case of Edge, I think it should be on top of your list if you are visiting New York, not only because it is one of the newest, but because it is where you will have the most amazing views of the city.
Sustainable project
The experience starts from the moment you enter, while waiting in line to take the elevator, they explain the construction of the building and the entire Hudson Yards complex, where it is located and which was designed as a sustainable district. For example, they created green areas with 30,000 endemic plants, all cultivated without soil.
Among other interesting facts, they introduced giant fans to ventilate the trains that pass under this area and reduce the heat. They also use tanks to collect rainwater and reuse it in irrigation systems. Before we arrived at the top, we were already fascinated reading this kind of information, because this is what the buildings and neighborhoods of the future should look like.
The best views
If you are one of those people who love to visit towers and buildings to admire a city from above, then Edge will fascinate you, having a huge terrace at 345 m high, on the 100th floor to be exact, being the tallest open-air observatory on the continent. It also has the advantage that its walls are made of glass, which allows you to take some spectacular photos. Although it gets quite crowded, the outdoor space is very large, allowing you to always find a little corner to take your pictures.
You can climb it!
The most adventurous can pay for the City Climb experience and scale to the top of the building, can you imagine? We didn’t do it, the truth being that I was a little scared, but if you are brave enough and have the adrenaline, you should definitely do it, it will be an adventure that you will remember for the rest of your life.
From the 100th floor down
The platform also has a small area with a glass floor so you can see the city below you. I found it very curious to see the cars passing by like little ants and how the city moves under your feet. I repeat… you are on the 100th floor!
Practical information
Where is it located?
The building is located in the Hudson Yards, a very nice area that I will talk about in another article, but it is worth visiting for all the attractions that are concentrated here. The closest subways are the line 7, which is next to the Edge, and the lines that go through Penn Station, which is just a few blocks away. We took the A line for example.
Buy your tickets in advance or not?
As you are assigned a day and time of entry, I highly recommend buying tickets in advance, not only because it gets very crowded, but in order to coordinate your visit to this and other attractions in the city, since almost all of them are date and time specific. More information on the official website of Edge.
How long does it take to visit?
It depends on you. But observing everything, taking photos and videos or even having a drink upstairs (because they have a bar on the terrace), you can easily spend about two hours. If you feel like eating with spectacular views, there is a restaurant on the 101st floor. I recommend not to schedule another attraction very close to your Edge visit, so that you fully enjoy it and give it the time it deserves.
How much does it cost?
Prices vary depending on the experience you want to have and your age. For example, a general ticket for adults costs $38 USD (as of July 2022), but if you buy a premium pass, which includes champagne and a photo, it costs $73 USD. It all depends on the experience you are looking for. Worth it? Absolutely!
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