The Edge observation deck in New York is a triangular terrace that juts out from the 100th floor of a Hudson Yards skyscraper, with a patch of glass floor that lets you look straight down 345 meters (1,131 feet) to the street. It isn't the tallest building in the city, but the company bills it as the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. In 2026 the format changed: before you step outside, you now walk through seven indoor rooms of light and mirrors, which makes the visit longer. Below are Edge ticket prices as listed on its website on November 11, 2026, the hours, how to get there by subway and how to avoid ending up under a gray sky.
The essentials in four lines
- Price. General admission starts at $44; buying ahead, there's a fare from $36.
- Hours. On the day we checked it opened from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Allow two to three hours with the new rooms.
- Where. 30 Hudson Yards, entrance at 500 West 33rd Street, on Manhattan's West Side.
- Getting there. The 7 train ends at 34 St-Hudson Yards, a few steps away.
What Edge is and why it feels different from other decks
Edge occupies the 100th and 101st floors of 30 Hudson Yards, a 390-meter (1,270-foot) tower whose deck opened on March 11, 2020, just before the pandemic closed it for months. The outdoor platform sits about 335 meters (1,100 feet) up and sticks out 24 meters (80 feet) from the building, like the bow of a ship. The walls are glass panels angled outward, so you can lean on them and hang, quite literally, over nothing.
The detail everyone comes for is the glass floor: a triangle of about 21 square meters (225 square feet) at the tip of the terrace. Looking down is more unnerving than it seems in photos, because you see the roofs of the trains in the Hudson Yards rail yard. You put on shoe covers so it doesn't get scratched, and at busy times there's a short line to step onto it.
Edge's height causes some confusion. The building is the seventh tallest in New York, behind One World Trade Center and 432 Park Avenue, but none of those has an outdoor terrace this high open to the public. Hence the "highest outdoor sky deck" claim.
Edge tickets in 2026: which one to buy
Edge uses dynamic pricing: rates change by day and time, and sunset slots are the most expensive. These were the starting prices published in November 2026.
| Type | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Advance Saver | $36 | A fixed date and time, booked early |
| General Admission | $44 | Most visitors |
| Family Bundle | $44 | Families; one free ice cream per child ticket |
| Flex Admission | $75 | Unsure of your arrival time, or worried about weather |
| Priority Access | $90 | Skipping lines in peak season |
Every ticket includes the seven indoor installations (Prism, Pulse, Skyrise, Reflections, Kaleidoscope, Infinite City and Crystal Cave) and the 360-degree outdoor terrace. The difference is flexibility and lines. In December, or on a Saturday at sunset, Flex makes sense: with New York winter weather, being able to change your time is worth the extra $30. On a Tuesday morning in February, general admission is plenty.
Edge is also included in several city attraction passes. Before buying a standalone ticket, check whether you're going to use one of those, since Edge is usually among the options.
When to go up
The perennial question: sunset or night? What works best is booking about 45 minutes before sunset. You see the city in daylight, the sky changes color over New Jersey (Edge faces west, over the Hudson) and then Midtown lights up. In November the sun sets around 4:40 p.m., so the 4 p.m. slot is the one; in July, around 8:30 p.m.
On a budget, first thing in the morning is cheapest and quietest. Morning light also falls directly on the Empire State Building and Midtown, which lie to the east and northeast.
In fog or low cloud you see nothing from the 100th floor. Check the forecast the same day and, if you have a Flex ticket, move it.
How to get to Edge
The subway is simplest: the 7 train ends at 34 St-Hudson Yards, and from the exit it's a couple of minutes' walk to the 30 Hudson Yards entrance. From Times Square it's two stops. You pay by tapping a contactless card or phone, as on the rest of the system; our guide to OMNY explains how fares work.
From Penn Station it's about a 10-minute walk west along 33rd Street. And if you arrive via the High Line, the elevated park ends right at Hudson Yards: it's the nicest way to get there, walking from Chelsea above the street.
Taxis and Uber work, but between 4 and 7 p.m. West Side traffic is slow. Driving yourself isn't worth it: parking at Hudson Yards is among the most expensive in Manhattan.
Edge, Top of the Rock, Summit or the Empire State?
It's the most searched comparison, and the answer depends on what you want in the photo.
- Edge is the highest outdoor deck and the one with the sense of standing over empty space. You can't photograph Hudson Yards from it because you're inside it.
- Top of the Rock gives the classic shot of the Empire State Building with Central Park behind.
- Summit One Vanderbilt is all about the mirrored experience, next to Grand Central.
- The Empire State Building has the history and an open-air terrace on the 86th floor.
With only one deck in your trip, most people are happy with Top of the Rock or Edge. With two, pair a west-side one (Edge) with a central one.
What to do at Hudson Yards before or after
Edge sits above The Shops at Hudson Yards, a multi-level mall with restaurants, handy if it rains or if you're traveling with kids who need a bathroom and food. On the plaza out front is the Vessel, the copper staircase sculpture that appears in every photo of the area. The High Line starts just south, and the Javits Center is a few blocks north.
A day plan: morning on the High Line from Chelsea Market, lunch at Hudson Yards, a rest at the hotel and Edge at sunset.
Tips that save you trouble
Arrive 15 minutes before your ticket time; there's airport-style security. Big backpacks slow the line. Bring a jacket even if the weather's fine at street level: at 335 meters it's windy, and in winter the terrace is freezing. If you're afraid of heights, the indoor part is calm and on the terrace you can stay away from the edge; the glass floor is optional. Small children are welcome, but hold their hands the whole time outside.
Photos come out better with your phone pressed against the glass to avoid reflections. At night, reflections from the interior lights are the problem; a dark jacket draped over the phone helps.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to go up Edge in New York?
General admission starts at $44 and the Advance Saver at $36, according to the official website in November 2026. Prices change by time slot: sunset is the most expensive.
How high is the Edge observation deck?
The outdoor terrace is about 335 meters (1,100 feet) up, on the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards. The glass floor looks down 345 meters.
How long do you need at Edge?
With the indoor rooms that opened in 2026, two to three hours, according to the company. If you only want the terrace, an hour is enough.
Which subway goes to Edge?
The 7 train to 34 St-Hudson Yards. You can also walk along the High Line or from Penn Station.
Is Edge or Top of the Rock better?
Edge, if you want height and the feeling of being suspended. Top of the Rock, if you want the Empire State Building with Central Park in the background.
Can you visit Edge in bad weather?
Yes, except during lightning or high winds, when the terrace closes. In fog you won't see anything, so a Flex ticket is a good idea in winter.