Elevate your experience: A guide to Summit One Vanderbilt tickets

By Harshitha Jagathiesh

New York houses the best observation decks that provide views of the incredible NYC skyline. 

Following the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory and the Edge, the Summit One Vanderbilt is the latest observatory deck. 

Summit One Vanderbilt uses cutting-edge technology to provide the most immersive and multisensory viewing experience. 

The glass observatory deck of Summit One Vanderbilt lets visitors get an incredible 360 panoramic view of the New York skyline. 

The Summit is filled and offers artistic exhibitions to make your visit unforgettable. 

Visitors need the best Summit One Vanderbilt tickets to enjoy this observatory deck’s features and experiences. 

Where to buy Summit One Vanderbilt tickets

The best way to buy a Summit One Vanderbilt experience ticket is online and in advance. 

Tickets are also available at the ticket counter, but due to high demand, it is hard to secure a ticket for your preferred date and time slot. 

Purchasing your Summit One ticket online can save energy and time spent on long ticket queues. 

When compared to offline tickets, you can get better Summit One Vanderbilt discount tickets online. 

How do online Summit One Vanderbilt ticket work

If you wish to buy a Summit One Vanderbilt ticket, follow the steps given below: 

  • To buy the best Summit One entrance ticket, click here.
  • You will be directed to the ticket page and find the Summit One Vanderbilt experience ticket there. 
  • Select the ticket, number of participants, date and time of visit. 
  • Proceed with payment. 
  • Once the payment is complete, you will receive the ticket over the mail. 

All you need to do is show up 15 minutes before your time slot, present your ticket at the counter and enjoy an uninterrupted visit to the Summit One Vanderbilt. 

Best Summit One Vanderbilt tickets

best summit one tickets
Image : Marco D’Abramo on Unsplash

There is a range of Summit One Vanderbilt tickets for visitors. 

There are two types of tickets available: 

  • A simple entry ticket to One Vanderbilt observation deck
  • Combination tickets to Summit One Vanderbilt and other NYC attractions. 

Summit One Vanderbilt entry ticket 

The Summit One Vanderbilt entry ticket offers access to 3 observation deck levels. 

You can enjoy views from the Transendence observatory deck, explore art installations like Reflect, Affinity and Unity, or even have a meal at Apres, the Summit restaurant. 

Note: This ticket does not offer entry during sunset time and access to Ascent. 

Summit One Vanderbilt with Ascent access

Ascent, the glass elevator takes visitors to the highest point of the Summit One Vanderbilt. 

If you wish to try the Ascent ride, purchase the Summit One Vanderbilt ticket with Ascent Access. 

This ticket also provides entry during sunset hours for the most magical experience. 

Summit One Vanderbilt combination tickets 

Combination tours offer entry to Summit One Vanderbilt and another New York landmark. 

Summit One Vanderbilt + Empire State Building ticket

Summit One Vanderbilt and Empire State Building combo ticket gives you access to the city’s best vantage points. 

With this combination, you can explore the oldest and the latest observatory deck in New York. 

Summit One Vanderbilt and MoMA combination ticket

 If you wish to explore the neighborhood Museum of Modern Art and Summit One Vanderbilt ticket is a good option. 

MoMA and Summit One Vanderbilt are 1.2 miles apart and easy to explore on the same day. 

There are various restaurants and parks to visit in the neighborhood. 

Summit One Vanderbilt and Madame Tussauds Museum combo ticket 

For a unique experience, head to Madame Tussauds Museum after Summit One and get close to all your favorite Hollywood celebrities. 

Summit one Vanderbilt and Central Park combo ticket 

For a more relaxing evening in New York, you can enjoy a picnic at Central Park and head to Summit One Vanderbilt at night for a unique viewing experience. 

With the Central Park ticket, you can enjoy the park, central park zoo and the American Museum of Natural History. 

Summit One Vanderbilt and Guggenheim Museum 

View New York from the best observation deck of the city and head to the Guggenheim Museum to indulge in the world of art. 

This combination ticket provides entry to both attractions at any preferred time slot. 

Summit One Vanderbilt ticket prices

The Summit One Vanderbilt ticket costs $52 for adults (13 to 99 years) and $45 for youth (6 to 12 years).

Children under 5 do not require a ticket for Summit One Vanderbilt.

You can also get the best Summit One Vanderbilt discount tickets if you purchase your tickets online.  

AgeTicket price
Adult ticket (13 to 99 years) $52
Youth ticket (6 to 12 years) $42

The prices for all the Summit One Vanderbilt combination tickets are given below. 

CombinationPriceTicket
Summit One Vanderbilt and Empire State Building$93Buy This Ticket 
Summit One Vanderbilt and Museum of Modern Art$71Buy This Ticket 
Summit One Vanderbilt and Central Park$114Buy This Ticket
Summit One Vanderbilt and Madame Tussauds$93Buy This Ticket 

Timed Tickets

All the Summit One Vanderbilt tickets are timed. 

This implies that the visitor can select a time and date for the visit. 

If they miss the time slot, rescheduling is subject to availability. 

In addition, it might cost a rescheduling fee too. 

Hence, we suggest all visitors arrive 15 minutes before the booked time slot. 

Summit One Vandeberbilt day vs night 

Summit One Vanderbilt offers 3 levels of glass observatory decks that let you enjoy uninterrupted views of New York City.

The city glows differently during the day and night. 

If you visit Summit One Vanderbilt during the day, you can enjoy panoramic views, identify famous landmarks and watch the new york life buzz beneath you. 

However, a visit during the night is an unforgettable and unique experience.

You can enjoy the city glow-in lights as the observation deck is lit with LED and soft music. 

To elevate your Summit One Vadernilt at-night experience, grab cocktails from the bar on the 93rd floor or dine at the Apres restaurant

What to expect at Summit One Vanderbilt

Summit One Vanderbilt is an incredible 360° glass observation deck spanning over 65000 square feet. 

The Summit One Vanderbilt experience begins from its entrance above the Grand Central Terminal. 

After you present your Summit One Vanderbilt ticket at the counter, you will reach the observation deck in 15 to 20 minutes. 

This time is required to pass the security checkpoint and reach the top of the One Vanderbilt building. 

Enjoy an immersive video called Celebration as you wait for your turn to enter the Summit observation deck.

At this point, all visitors should wear shoe coverings before stepping into the elevator to the first observation deck. 

The elevator drops you to the 91st floor in just 42 seconds. 

Th2 91st floor contains mirrored floors and walls and immersive art exhibits. 

The glass observation deck offers uninterrupted views of the city with indoor comfort.

We suggest you carry sunglasses to avoid the bright reflections disturbing your eyes. 

If you didn’t carry one, please request a pair from the Summit staff.

The 91st floor of Summit One Vanderbilt houses immersive exhibits by Kenzo Digital. 

Kenzo Digital combines art, science and technology to provide an immersive experience to all visitors. 

Kenzo AIR, Reflect, Affinity, and Transcendence 1 is present on this floor. 

After touring the 91st floor, head to the 92nd floor

This mirrors the 91st floor and offers the best views of the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building,  Statue of Liberty, Central Park and more. 

Transcendence 2 on this floor is a mirrored space of Transcendence 1 on the 91st floor. 

On this level, you can step into levitation, a glass ledge and enjoy New York beneath your feet. 

The 93rd floor offers the Apres restaurant, bar, and outdoor observation deck. 

From here, you can get on Ascent the glass elevator. 

The ascent takes visitors 1401 feet above the street level to the highest observation point in New York. 

Restaurants in Summit One Vanderbilt 

summit one vanderbilt restaurants
Image: PRNewswire.com

Summit One Vanderbilt offers scenic views of New York City and the best fine dining experience. 

The 93rd floor of One Vanderbilt has an outdoor observation deck and Apres restaurant. 

Since Apres restaurant is a part of the observation deck, visitors need the Summit One Vanderbilt ticket to visit the restaurant. 

Apres at Summit One Vanderbilt offers a restaurant and bar with an indoor cafe or outdoor bar cart option. 

The bar offers the best beverage program with over 70 varieties of wines and spirits.

Some must-try items on the menu are Griddled hot dogs, pretzel saults, stuffed or sweet pretzels and signature savory pinwheel. 

  • Location: 93rd floor, Summit Terrace, Vanderbilt building.
  • Opening hours: 9 am to 12 am

Read more about the restaurants and cafes at Summit One Vanderbilt and the best restaurants in the locality. 

Summit One Vanderbilt opening hours 

Summit One Vanderbilt is open from 9 am to 12 am throughout the week. 

The last entry to the Summit observation deck is at 11 pm. 

Occasionally Summit One Vanderbilt is closed on Tuesdays.

Hence, visitors should check the opening hours of Summit One Vanderbilt before visiting. 

Best time to visit Summit One Vanderbilt 

The best time to visit Summit to One Vanderbilt is at 9 am or after 9 pm. 

If you wish to enjoy your visit with less crowd, visit during the initial opening hours at 9 am. 

For the most unforgettable viewing experience, visit Summit One Vanderbilt at night after 9 pm. 

At night you can enjoy a private, unique and romantic experience. 

How long does it take to visit Summit One Vanderbilt 

A complete visit to Summit One Vanderbilt takes 90 minutes. 

However, we suggest you spend 2 to 3 hours exploring all the parts of the observation deck and witnessing the Kenzo Art exhibition. 

Visitors who visit the Summit during the sunset hours usually extend their visit to enjoy the night experience. 

If you plan to dine at Apres restaurant or try out the cafe at the One Vanderbilt building, the time taken to tour Summit will increase. 

For all visitors planning their visit, read more about how long it takes to visit Summit One Vanderbilt

How to reach Summit One Vanderbilt 

How to reach Summit One Vanderbilt
Image: forbes.com

Summit One Vanderbilt is located at 45 E, 42nd Street, New York 10017. 

The main entrance lies on the Main Concourse of Grand Central Terminal, inside the Vanderbilt passage. 

Follow the signage that says ‘Observation Deck’ to reach Summit One Vanderbilt. 

The One Vanderbilt building does not offer entrance for Summit One Vanderbilt visitors. 

You can also take the subway entrance near the TD Bank. 

Take the stairs or the elevator (not the escalator) to reach the Summit Entrance. 

Only visitors with Summit One Vanderbilt tickets can go beyond this point. 

To reach Summit One Vanderbilt, you can take the Subway, Bus, Metro or AAR.

The most convenient way to reach Summit is to take Subway lines 4, 5, 6 or 7. 

Visitors can also board buses M101, M102, M103, etc or take Metro to the Grand Central Terminal. 

Find out about the different means of transport to reach Summit One Vanderbilt to plan your visit. 

Note: If you plan to drive to Summit One Vanderbilt, remember that the attraction does not provide parking spaces. 
Read more about parking near Summit One Vanderbilt to find the best parking spaces and deals. 

Which is the best observation deck in New York 

New York is famous for its picturesque skyline.

The city houses the best observation decks in the world to experience the skyline and get an aerial view of NYC. 

There are five observation decks: Empire State Building, One World Observatory, Top of the Rock, The Edge at Hudson Yard and Summit One Vanderbilt. 

Empire State Building and One World Observatory are the oldest observatory decks in the city. 

They are significant to NYC’s history and skyline. 

Many visitors like to visit the Empire State Building and One World Observatory for the history of the buildings. 

Top of the Rock, located on the Rockefeller Building, offers the best views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. 

Summit One Vanderbilt and the Edge are relatively new observation decks and the tallest of the five. 

Edge offers a glass deck that extends outside the building for an unobstructed city view. 

You can have the best views of the Statue of Liberty and the Hudson River from here. 

Summit One Vanderbilt is the most advanced and immersive observation deck of all. 

Visitors can enjoy the biggest glass indoor observatory that provides the best views of all the iconic buildings of NYC. 

The Ascent elevator at Summit takes visitors 1401 feet above the street level to the highest viewing point in New York. 

If you are still confused about which observatory deck to visit, we have compared them for you:

FAQs

1. Do you need to buy tickets in advance for Summit One Vanderbilt?

To ensure access to Summit One Vanderbilt and avoid waiting in long lines, it is advisable to buy your tickets beforehand. 

Purchasing tickets online allows you to secure a preferred time slot and bypass lengthy queues. 

It’s worth noting that children aged 5 and under do not need a ticket.

2. How much does summit one cost?

The ticket price for Summit One Vanderbilt varies based on the individual’s age. 

Adults aged 33 to 99 years old are charged $52 for admission. 

Youths 6 and 12 are charged $46, while children under five can enter for free.

3. Is Summit One Vanderbilt included in New York Pass?

No, Summit One Vanderbilt is not included in the New York Pass.

4. How to get to Summit One Vanderbilt?

You can reach Summit One Vanderbilt using various means of transportation, like subway, bus, car/taxi, etc. 

Parking near Summit One Vanderbilt might be limited, so it’s advisable to check for nearby parking garages or use public transportation if possible

5. How long does it take to visit Summit One Vanderbilt?

The duration of a visit to Summit One Vanderbilt can vary depending on several factors. 

However, on average, visitors typically spend around 2 to 3 hours at the observation deck.

This timeframe allows for sufficient time to take in the panoramic views of New York City, explore the various observation areas, and enjoy additional attractions.

6. Is Summit One Vanderbilt better at night or day?

During the day, visitors can enjoy a clear and unobstructed view of the city’s skyline and landmarks and experience the city’s hustle and bustle in real time. 

They can also observe the city’s architectural details and appreciate the diversity of its neighborhoods.

The city transforms into a glittering sea of lights at night, making for a dramatic and memorable experience. 

Visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of illuminated skyscrapers, bustling streets, and iconic landmarks bathed in light, creating a magical and romantic atmosphere.

Ultimately, whether to visit Summit One Vanderbilt during the day or at night comes down to personal preference. 

7. Is the Summit One Vanderbilt worth it?

Whether Summit One Vanderbilt is worth it or not depends on your interests, budget, and expectations. 

If you enjoy stunning views of the city, interactive exhibits, and unique experiences, then Summit One Vanderbilt might be worth a visit. 

However, if you have a limited budget or are not interested in observation decks, you may find other activities in the city more suitable for your preferences.

8. Can I take a backpack to the Summit One Vanderbilt?

No, backpacks are not allowed at the Summit One Vanderbilt. 

All suitcases, trunks, wheeled duffle bags, carry-on bags and packages are prohibited.

9. What is the best time to visit Summit One Vanderbilt?

The best time to visit Summit One Vanderbilt depends on personal preferences and what you hope to experience. 

Visitors can enjoy clear and unobstructed views of New York City’s iconic skyline and landmarks during the daytime. 

The daytime visit provides a comprehensive view of the city’s bustling streets and neighborhoods. 

On the other hand, visiting at night offers a captivating experience as the city transforms into a mesmerizing spectacle of lights. 

The illuminated skyscrapers and landmarks create a magical atmosphere, perfect for capturing stunning photographs and enjoying a romantic ambiance. 

10. Is there parking at Summit One Vanderbilt?

There is no on-site parking at Vanderbilt; the closest parking can be found at 566-568 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238, USA.

11. How fast is the Summit elevator?

The Summit elevator has a rated speed of 25 m/min (83 ft/min). 

12. How many floors is Summit One Vanderbilt?

Summit One Vanderbilt is a 93-story supertall skyscraper in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City.

13. How tall is Summit One Vanderbilt?

Summit One Vanderbilt is 1,401 feet tall.

14. How long can you stay at Summit One Vanderbilt?

Typically, visitors spend around 2 to 3 hours at the observation deck.

This allows sufficient time to take in the breathtaking views, explore the exhibits, and enjoy the amenities available on the deck, such as the bar and restaurant.

Harshita
About the author

Harshitha’s heart lies where greeny mountains meet stretches of beach. She believes getting lost is the best way to explore