11 Free NYC Skyline Views Better Than Expensive Observation Decks

Manhattan is home to the most famous skyline in the world, and you have countless options when it comes to observation decks.  They’re all pretty pricey, so I want to share my favorite city skyline viewpoints that are perfect for photos …and FREE to access!  

For perspective, you’ll pay $40 to $50 for most of the popular skyline observation decks:

• 30 Rock’s “Top of the Rock”
• The Empire State Building
• One World Trade
• The Edge
• SUMMIT at the Vanderbilt

11.  Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island is an island in the East River, across from midtown Manhattan.  You’ll enjoy sweeping views of Manhattan in two ways:

• First, on the iconic tram ride over the river to Roosevelt Island.
• Second, walking along the banks of the island, which is home to FDR Four Freedoms State Park.

There are walkways and tables to relax at, while you enjoy the skyline views for free.  The only cost is the $3 you’ll pay to get here, whether you take the tram over the river, or the subway under it.

You’ll spot the Chrysler Building, Empire State, and other iconic buildings from the tram. The tall one on the right is the new (controversial) JP Morgan Chase building on Park Avenue.

Roosevelt Island is a great place to rent a Citi Bike to cruise around.

10.  Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Across from Manhattan, in Brooklyn, you’ll find another great walkway along the river’s edge, and more spectacular free skyline views.

Several of the old piers have been converted into parks and green spaces, with walking paths connecting them.

In this aerial view, you can see the piers on the bottom of the image, taken through the window on a flight to JFK:

• Location: South and west of the Brooklyn Bridge
• Directions: Take the subway to Brooklyn. Get off at either High Street or Clark Street and walk west to the piers.

While you’re admiring the views of Manhattan, you’ll notice: you’re standing on a piece of history!  The Brooklyn Heights Promenade was where Washington stayed during the Battle of Long Island in 1776.  From his headquarters, he watched the battle and planned the Continental Army’s strategic retreat.

9.  Central Park

Manhattan views from Central Park?  Yep!  Walk north, and you’ll find several open areas, where you’ll see the skyline appear from the park’s trees.

With that said, you’ll see some of the most controversial skyscrapers on the Manhattan skyline.

8.  Little Island

Little Island is a public park project, courtesy of Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller.  It was an abandoned pier (with quite a history – the Titanic survivors were dropped off here) until the philanthropists turned it into a multi-level park.

While you used to have to reserve an entry time, now Little Island is free for all.

As you walk the paths, lined with native trees, flowers, and shrubs, you’ll get great views of Lower Manhattan’s skyline (for free), including One World Trade.

7.  Hoboken, NJ

OK, time to head west. Directly across the Hudson River from Little Island is New Jersey… specifically: Hoboken.

Don’t be intimidated by having to take a ferry!   It’s easy to do, from the pier at 39th Street.

• Exact Location: Pier 79’s address: 459 12th Avenue (Manhattan)
• Directions: Take the ferry to Hoboken/14th St. (NJ)

Tickets are about $10.  The view from the boat is stunning, and in Hoboken, you’ll find restaurants and shops to check out.

Here’s a look at the map and stops the ferry will make. The red line goes from 39th Street to Hoboken:

6.  Governors Island

Governors Island is a quirky place, which was once home to a military base. After being abandoned, it’s now home to a few restaurants and food vendors, glamping, a club, and historic relics from its past. 

The skyline is visible from much of the island. You can see One World Trade popping up behind the buildings on Governors Island:

You can walk around the island, or rent a Citi Bike to explore it.  

The island itself sits in the harbor, south of Battery Park (on the lower tip of Manhattan).

One area has picnic tables setup next to a few food vendors with a skyline view.

In addition to skyline views of Manhattan, you’ll also spot the Statue of Liberty across the harbor.

• Directions: From the Wall St. Pier 11, you’ll take the ferry on the South Brooklyn Route. The boat will take you first across to Brooklyn, and then to Governors Island.

You’ll have this view of Lower Manhattan from the ferry:

5.  Pier 57 Rooftop

Pier 57’s rooftop park is open to the public. It’s a few piers south of Chelsea Piers, and just north of Little Island.

• Location: 11th Avenue & 15th Street
• Hours: Daily, 6:00am – 1:00am

Pier 57 was originally built in 1907 as a shipping terminal. Over the decades, it’s been used for various purposes.  This photo, from 1971, shows it when it was the Hudson Pier Bus Depot.  It gives you a sense of the skyline view you’ll find from the rooftop!

In 2023, the Hudson River Park Trust, Google, and other partners opened Pier 57 to the community.

It’s open late at night, so people love to check out the views at sunset and after dark, too!

4.  Gantry Plaza State Park

Gantry Plaza is in Long Island City, Queens, directly across the East River from the United Nations building.  It’s an easy subway ride, which delivers spectacular views of the midtown Manhattan skyline (for free).

It’s actually a 12-acre New York State Park, with gardens, courts, and a splash pad.

Gantries were industrial equipment, once used to load and unload railcar floats and barges.

• Hours: Daily, from dawn to dusk
• Location: Long Island City (Queens)
• Directions: Take the 7 train toward Flushing, and get off at Vernon Blvd.

3.  Staten Island Ferry

The Staten Island Ferry is a free service, which runs 24/7, from Lower Manhattan to Staten Island.

• Departure Location: Whitehall Terminal (Manhattan)
• Exact Location: 4 Whitehall Street
• Arrival: St. George Terminal (Staten Island)

In addition to the views of the Manhattan skyline, you’ll also see the Statue of Liberty.

The ferry operates every 20 minutes or so, and the ride across takes 25 minutes.

Key Advice:

• Don’t fall for scammers trying to sell tickets.
• For the best views of the Statue of Liberty, sit on the right side when leaving Manhattan and the left side when returning.
• Avoid the ferry during rush hour – it’s packed!

2.  The Manhattan Bridge

You can walk or bike across the Manhattan Bridge, and enjoy views of both Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Your view of Manhattan will have the Brooklyn Bridge (which spans the river just north of the Manhattan Bridge) in the foreground.

• Starting Location: Canal St. & Bowery

You’ll see a sign for the Manhattan Bridge Pedestrian Path. The walk across is just over a mile.

1.  The Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO

What else can I say about the Brooklyn Bridge?  After all these years, I love walking across, enjoying the views of the river and Manhattan. It also ranks as one of my top non-touristy things to do in NYC (even though, yes, it’s full of tourists).

The bridge is stunning in itself, and you can’t beat the skyline views of Manhattan as you cross.

While tourists love walking the Brooklyn Bridge, most of the non-vehicular traffic is made up of New Yorkers, walking or biking between Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The walk across is about 1.5 miles.  In Manhattan, you’ll find an entrance to the pedestrian walkway right next to City Hall Park.

There are two entrances from Brooklyn. I usually use the walkway at Tillary Street & Brooklyn Bridge Blvd.