Summit One Vanderbilt is the latest addition to New York’s observation decks list, welcoming its first visitors in late 2021.
It is the latest world-class observatory to come up in New York City, after the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory, and The Edge.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is located on the 91st, 92nd, and 93rd floors of One Vanderbilt, the tallest commercial skyscraper in Manhattan.
Since its launch, it has become a must-see attraction among tourists because of the fantastic 360-degree views it offers, its immersive art installations, and the thrilling experiences.
This article shares everything you must know before buying Summit One Vanderbilt tickets.
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Table of contents
- What to expect at Summit One Vanderbilt
- Where to book the tickets
- How do online tickets work
- Summit One Vanderbilt ticket price
- Summit One Vanderbilt discount tickets
- Summit One Vanderbilt tickets
- Summit One Vanderbilt combo tickets
- Summit One Vanderbilt hours
- Best time to visit Summit One Vanderbilt
- How long does the Summit One Vanderbilt take
- What to wear for Summit One Vanderbilt
- Summit One Vanderbilt location
- Summit One Vanderbilt elevator
- FAQs about Summit One Vanderbilt
What to expect at Summit One Vanderbilt
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt offers 360-degree views of New York, including Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and the Brooklyn Bridge.
Besides the stunning views, SUMMIT One also features several immersive art installations.
‘Transcendence’ is a series of mirrored rooms that create the illusion of infinity, and ‘Leap’ is a glass-bottomed platform that juts out over the city.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt’s ‘Air’ elevators have glass walls that allow you to see the city, thus catering to thrill-seekers.
The “Levitation” walkway is a glass platform that extends out over the edge of the building.
The three levels included in the Summit One Vanderbilt experience are:
On 91st Floor: Transcendence 1 (AIR), Reflect, Affinity (AIR)
On 92nd Floor: Transcendence 2 (AIR), Levitation, Unity (AIR)
On 93rd Floor: Aprés, Terrace, Ascent, Boutique
Note: You enter the SUMMIT on level B1, marking the beginning of the tour.
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Where to book the tickets
Visitors can book Summit One Vanderbilt tickets online or at the Welcome Desk on the day of their visit.
When you book your tickets online, you can avoid waiting in the ticket counter queues, which can get long during peak hours (and the summer season).
Online tickets are also cheaper than what you pay at the venue’s ticket counter.
You can be sure of getting your preferred time slot when you book in advance.
During the peak season, Vanderbilt Summit One tickets for the best time slots sell out. To avoid last-minute disappointment, book in advance.
How do online tickets work
Go to the Summit One Vanderbilt ticket’s booking page, select the number of tickets, time slot, and date, and click the Book Now button!
Immediately after purchase, the tickets get emailed to you.
On the day of your visit, present your e-ticket at the entrance on the Main Concourse of Grand Central Terminal, below street level.
You don’t need to take printouts.
Summit One Vanderbilt ticket price
During the peak season of April to August, Summit One Vanderbilt tickets for visitors aged 13+ years and above are priced at US$52.
Children six to 12 years get a US$6 discount and pay only US$46 for entry, while kids up to five years enter for free.
During the non-peak months, the peak pricing applies only for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
On the rest of the days, Summit One Vanderbilt tickets for visitors aged 13+ years and above are priced at US$46, while six to 12 years olds pay US$39 for entry.
Summit One Vanderbilt discount tickets
Kids aged six to 12 get the best discount at Summit One Vanderbilt – they get a reduction of US$6 and pay only US$46 for entry.
Children up to five years of age can accompany the adults for free.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt also offers $5 off tickets for New York City and Long Island residents.
Their billing zip code is used to validate residency while purchasing on the official site.
Summit One Vanderbilt tickets
The SUMMIT One Vanderbilt admission ticket gives access to AIR (Transcendence 1, Transcendence 2, Affinity, and Unity), Reflect, and Levitation.
You will walk through three floors stopping by interactive art installations and mirror rooms that might completely change your perception.
After taking breathtaking views of New York City from the observation decks, head to Aprés and enjoy food and drinks at the outdoor terrace.
Ticket Prices
Off-Peak Prices
Adult Ticket (13+ years): US$46
Youth Ticket (6 to 12 years): US$39
Child Ticket (up to 6 years): Free
Peak Time Prices
Adult Ticket (13+ years): US$52
Youth Ticket (6 to 11 years): US$46
Child Ticket (up to 6 years): Free
Save time & money! Buy New York CityPass and visit 5 iconic attractions of NY like the Empire State Building, 9/11 Memorial and Museum, Guggenheim Museum, and many more. Book now and get up to 40% discount. Find out if Summit One Vanderbilt is part of the New York Pass package.
Summit One Vanderbilt combo tickets
If you’re a local or international tourist, combo tickets are something you should know about.
There are a few iconic tourist attractions near Vanderbilt Summit One, some of which are just a few minutes walk away, and combo tickets can help you visit them all by booking just once!
You can buy SUMMIT’s ticket in combination with tickets for MoMA, Empire State Building, Guggenheim, or Madame Tussauds.
| Ticket Combo | Discount | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| MoMA + SUMMIT One Vanderbilt | 5% | US$67 |
| Empire State Building + SUMMIT One | 10% | US$84 |
| One Vanderbilt + The Guggenheim | 10% | US$64 |
| Madame Tussauds + SUMMIT One Vanderbilt | NA | US$94 |
| Central Park Bundle Visit One Vanderbilt, American Museum of Natural History & Central Park Zoo | 27% | US$83 |
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Summit One Vanderbilt hours
One Vanderbilt Summit is open from 9 am to 12 am all days of the week.
The last entry is at 11 pm.
The last time slot available for offline and online ticket booking is 10.30 pm.
Best time to visit Summit One Vanderbilt
The best time to visit Summit One Vanderbilt is about an hour before sunset.
When you are at the observation deck’s entrance an hour before sunset, you see the views of New York in daylight, then see the sun go down and bring up all the colors, and finally enjoy the city all light up in the dark.
If you want to avoid the crowd, the best time to visit Summit One Vanderbilt is as soon as it opens at 9 am.
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How long does the Summit One Vanderbilt take
Most tourists usually spend around 90 minutes to take in the city views and enjoy the immersive experiences at Summit at One Vanderbilt.
Here is a time breakup of how much time you will spend at each exhibit –
| Exhibit | Duration |
|---|---|
| Transcendence 1 | 20 minutes |
| Reflect | Five minutes |
| Affinity | 10 minutes |
| Transcendence 2 | 10 minutes |
| Levitation | Depends on the queue |
| Unity | Five minutes |
| Aprés | 20 minutes |
| Ascent | Depends on the queue |
| Boutique | No time limit |
But we suggest you keep aside at least two to three hours as you’ll deal with many pre-visit challenges like security checks, wearing shoe covers, and long queues on every floor.
What to wear for Summit One Vanderbilt
Usually, Observation decks don’t have dress codes, but because of how it is designed, Summit One Vanderbilt is different.
The design of SUMMIT One incorporates an abundance of mirror-like surfaces, which is why skirts are not a good idea.
We suggest opting for pants, shorts, or tights if feasible.
Choose shoes that are easy on your feet and won’t scuff the floor.
Footwear such as stiletto heels, work boots, and cleats that may harm the floor coverings are not allowed.
Due to the reflective materials spread across SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, the experience can be very bright, especially when the sun is at its peak. Which is why, you must pack your sunglasses.
Visitors are required to wear a shirt and shoes at all times while on the premises.
Offensive or threatening language and messaging on apparel are not permitted.
Summit One Vanderbilt location
Address: 45 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017. Get Directions
You can reach SUMMIT via subway, bus, train, or car.
By Subway
The nearest subway lines are the 4, 5, 6, 7, and Shuttle at Grand Central, 42nd Street.
By Bus
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is also convenient by NYC bus via the M101, M102, M103, M1, M2, M3, M4, Q32, and M42.
By Train
Metro-North trains on the Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven lines arrive at Grand Central Terminal from the surrounding suburbs.
Plan your trip to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt by visiting MTA’s website.
Car parking
There is no onsite parking available at Summit One Vanderbilt. However, many nearby parking garages exist to park vehicles.
Summit One Vanderbilt entrance
There are three entrances to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt:
– In One Vanderbilt (Transit Hall) across Vanderbilt Avenue and 43rd St.
– Street-level entrance is at 45 East 42nd Street.
– Main Concourse Level of Grand Central Terminal
No matter which entrance you choose, you must show your Summit One Vanderbilt entry ticket and go through a security screening before entering the observation deck.
Once you’re inside, you’ll be taken to the B1 level, where you’ll find the Summit One Vanderbilt Experience.
From there, you’ll be taken to the Summit One Vanderbilt’s observation deck, which is located on the 91st and 93rd floors of One Vanderbilt.
Summit One Vanderbilt elevator
New York is praised worldwide for its high-rise buildings, offering you a platform to marvel at the stunning skyline.
Summit One Vanderbilt is another such attraction that transports visitors to observation decks at different levels, each offering a jaw-dropping view.
One Vanderbilt Summit observation deck has two elevators:
Internal elevator
The interior elevator takes visitors from the ground floor to the 91st floor and the subsequent floors.
Through this elevator, you access Transcendence 1, Transcendence 2, Reflect, Affinity, Unity, Levitation, Apres, and the outdoor terrace.
External elevator
Ascent is an all-glass elevator that moves along the outside surface of the building, taking guests over 1200 feet and offering a much more exhilarating experience.
FAQs about Summit One Vanderbilt
You can purchase your tickets at the attraction or buy them online here.
If you have bought your tickets online, you don’t need printouts. On the day of your visit, just show the e-ticket you received on your email and enter the attraction.
One Vanderbilt Summit is located at the corner of 42nd Street adjacent to Grand Central Station in Midtown Manhattan.
Summit One Vanderbilt offers US$6.5 discount for visitors aged six to 12 years. Kids younger than six years get a 100% discount and enter for free. Special discounts are also available for active duty and retired members of the United States Armed Forces and New Yorkers.
If you arrive late, you can still enter the attraction, but only if openings are available at the next available time slot. If it is the peak season, you may have to wait until the next day or even longer to get in.
Yes! Guests are expected to be on time (based on the time they select during the booking).
Arriving on a designated date and time ensures that all safe capacity protocols are followed and that delays do not hamper your tour.
All tickets sold are final, and NO REFUND will be issued.
Even if you can’t make it on the scheduled date and time and bad weather affects visibility through reflective surfaces, you won’t get the refund.
If you fail to make it on the scheduled date or time, you can change the date and time of your visit to a possible future date but at an additional cost.
This rechange applies to tickets that haven’t expired.
A group reservation of 15 or more members is allowed.
All the levels are accessible by wheelchairs (you are encouraged to bring yours instead of depending on the limited wheelchairs on site). Designated restrooms are also available for differently abled visitors.
Guests with low or no vision can take the help of sighted guides.
If you are already through the security, you can use the restrooms at the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt on the upper floors.
If you haven’t yet passed security, use Grand Central food court’s restrooms.
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Sources
# Summitov.com
# Wikipedia.org
# Tripadvisor.com
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