Before You Book Edge NYC: Every Cost, and What's Worth It
By the BeatTheCrowd team · Prices last checked 2 November · 4 min read
Edge is the outdoor sky deck at Hudson Yards, with a glass floor 100 floors up and the best sunset view in Manhattan. On top of general admission, there are Express and Flex passes, champagne tickets, a Sunset VIP option, City Climb on the outside of the building and combos with SUMMIT. Most of them sound worth paying for. You don't need the most expensive one to have a great visit. In this guide we walk through what each option costs, what you really get, and how to choose the right one, whether that's a quiet weekday afternoon or a Saturday sunset.
At a glance
General admission (adult)
From about $49, cheaper booked ahead
Edge + SUMMIT combo
From about $65
City Climb
About $201-204, ages 13+
Height
Outdoor deck on the 100th floor, about 1,100 ft
Hours
Typically 8 am to 11 pm
Quietest
Weekdays until about 6 pm
Busiest
Saturday from about 4 pm
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The real total: cheapest slot vs what most visitors pay
Edge's general admission starts from about $49 for adults at standard prices, and booking well ahead online is cheaper. Sunset slots sell out first. The big jump comes with the extras: Sunset VIP with champagne, and City Climb, which costs four times as much as entry.
Visitor
What they buy
One adult
The planner
General admission, booked ahead
From under $49
The deck-hopper
Edge + SUMMIT combo
From about $65
The adrenaline seeker
City Climb, including Edge admission
About $201-204
Ticket options: what each one gets you
Ticket
Price (adult)
What you get
Verdict
General admission
From about $49
A timed slot: the glass floor, angled glass walls and Skyline Steps
The right choice for most visitors
Flex Pass
More than general admission
Arrive any time on your chosen day
Worth it if you want to wait for clear weather
Express Pass
More than general admission
Skip the standard queue, any time on your day
Only on busy weekends
Champagne Admission
More than general admission
Entry plus a glass at the Champagne Bar
A treat
Sunset VIP Admission
Highest deck-only price
A sunset slot with champagne
Only for a special occasion
Edge + SUMMIT combo
From about $65
Both decks, on separate visits
Good value if you want two decks
Prices vary by day and time. Children and seniors pay less than adults. Tickets are shown on your phone, and include a free digital souvenir photo.
Edge, SUMMIT or Top of the Rock?
Edge is the most outdoor, with the glass floor and views west over the Hudson, so it wins for sunset. SUMMIT is the most immersive, with mirrored art rooms. Top of the Rock has the classic view with the Empire State Building in it. Our verdict: if you only do one, choose Edge for sunset and Top of the Rock for the classic skyline.
What visitors say
Visitors love the glass floor and the outdoor deck, especially at sunset, and many say Edge feels more open than other New York decks. The most common complaints are crowds at sunset and the cost of extras, so the advice is to book general admission early and arrive before sunset.
Prices last checked: 2 November. Prices vary with the season, peak and off-peak dates and promotions, and we recheck them every month. Visitor-reported costs are marked as estimates, and US$ figures are rough conversions.
The crowd tax: why sunset costs more
Our crowd data shows Edge moderate on weekdays until about 6 pm, then busy around sunset and early evening (about 6-9 pm) on Thursday and Friday, and briefly at about 7 pm on Monday and Wednesday. Saturday is busy from about 4 pm until closing, and Sunday from about 6 to 9 pm. Sunset is also when tickets are priced highest and sell out first.
When
Crowds (our data)
What to book
Weekday daytime
Moderate
General admission: easy and cheaper
Thursday and Friday, about 6-9 pm
Busy
Book early, or consider Express
Saturday from about 4 pm
Busy
Express, or go earlier
Sunday, about 6-9 pm
Busy
Book a slot before sunset
Crowds by day and time
Which ticket is worth it?
Most visitors: general admission, booked ahead, about an hour before sunset.
Unsure about the weather: the Flex Pass lets you pick the clearest hour.
Two decks: the Edge + SUMMIT combo, from about $65.
Skip: Sunset VIP and Express on weekdays.
City Climb: only if you're over 13 and it's on your bucket list.
Short on time? What you'd regret missing
The glass floor, looking straight down 100 floors.
The angled glass walls, leaning out over the city.
Sunset over the Hudson.
The Vessel and the High Line below, free to walk.
Getting there
Edge is at 30 Hudson Yards, entered from the Shops at Hudson Yards. The nearest subway is 34 St-Hudson Yards (7 train). A regular subway fare covers it, and the High Line makes a great walk there.
Extras on site
Cost
Price (US$)
Type
How to cut it
Champagne Bar
Varies
Optional
Or buy Champagne Admission, which includes a glass.
City Climb
About $201-204
Optional
Includes Edge admission, so don't buy both.
Peak restaurant
Varies
Optional
Separate from the deck.
Weather and visibility
Edge is mostly outdoors, so dress for temperatures 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit colder than street level in winter. Low cloud can hide the view, which is when the Flex Pass earns its place.
What can go wrong
Sunset sells out: book well ahead, especially for Fridays and Saturdays.
You can't change your slot: general admission is time-specific. Choose Flex if plans may change.
You buy from an unofficial reseller: some add inflated fees.
You buy City Climb and admission: City Climb already includes Edge.
How we research: every guide is written by the BeatTheCrowd team from official sources and recent traveller reports, cross-checked against each other. Crowd figures come from our own crowd data. Prices last checked 2 November. Prices and rules change, so always confirm on the official site before you book.
City Climb
About $201-204
A guided climb on the outside of the building to 1,271 ft, with Edge admission
Bucket list only: ages 13+
From the typical weekly visitor pattern for Edge NYC, based on Google’s popular-times data.
Quietest time
Sunday, 9 am-12 pm
Busiest time
Saturday, 3-10 pm
When
What to expect
Verdict
Weekdays, 8-11 am
A steady flow of visitors, short waits at the main spots. Before the main crowds arrive.
Best
Weekdays, 11 am-3 pm
A steady flow of visitors, short waits at the main spots. The middle of the day, without a sharp peak.
Best
Weekdays, 3-6 pm
A steady flow of visitors, short waits at the main spots. Similar to the rest of the day.
Best
Weekdays, 6-10 pm
Peak crowds, queues at the entrance and main sights. Evenings are a busy time here.
Worst
Saturday
Peak crowds, queues at the entrance and main sights. Busier than weekdays, as locals join the visitors.
Worst
Sunday
A steady flow of visitors, short waits at the main spots. Quieter than weekdays.
Best
📍 Live crowd check
See how busy Edge NYC is right now, plus today’s hourly forecast.
