Race to the Sky: NYC Architecture Tour With SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

Discover NYC’s biggest Midtown skyscrapers and its newest observatory

  • When 11 AM Wednesday through Sunday
  • Duration 3 hours (90 minutes guided)
  • Meeting Point Herald Square
$79 €68 £59 C$108 A$111
review-star
  • Local experts

    Personal stories and insider travel tips
  • Top-rated

    Thousands of reviews averaging 4.9 stars
  • Worry-free booking

    Flexible scheduling and refunds

$79

€68

£59

C$108

A$111

$79 €68 £59 C$108 A$111
review-star
  • Local experts

    Personal stories and insider travel tips
  • Top-rated

    Thousands of reviews averaging 4.9 stars
  • Worry-free booking

    Flexible scheduling and refunds

Highlights

  • Hear how daring architects transformed New York’s skyline.
  • Uncover the truth of a 1930s rivalry that changed Manhattan forever.
  • Frame the perfect photo of the Empire State Building.
  • Notice the Art Deco details of skyscrapers like Chrysler Building, thanks to your guide’s expertise.
  • Visit the top three floors of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, where mirrors and light show you the city in a new way.
  • Learn about the secrets of a Beaux-Arts landmark called the People’s Palace.

What you'll do

Discover some of New York’s most iconic buildings on this expert-led NYC architecture tour with your ticket to the incredible SUMMIT One Vanderbilt included.

We begin at the famous Empire State Building where your guide will point out the ...

Discover some of New York’s most iconic buildings on this expert-led NYC architecture tour with your ticket to the incredible SUMMIT One Vanderbilt included.

We begin at the famous Empire State Building where your guide will point out the perfect photo spot. Learn about other skyscrapers — the American Radiator Building, the Chrysler Building, and more — as your guide points out their geometric Art Deco design.

Meanwhile, we’ll dig into the stories behind these landmarks, from cultural goliaths like Macy’s (see it looming large on Fifth Avenue) to the People’s Palace, aka the New York Public Library, which holds some unexpected treasures (like a certain well-loved teddy bear).

Your adventure finishes with a flourish at the stunning SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, the city’s newest observatory experience. Spread across three dazzling floors over 1,000 feet up, this immersive space of mirrors, glass, and light transforms the skyline into something unforgettable.

Itinerary

  • Empire State Building

    The perfect photo spot for King Kong’s favorite skyscraper

  • Fifth Avenue and Herald Square

    Where you’ll learn about the cultural impact of the famous Macy’s department store

  • Bryant Park

    A 9.6-acre greenspace with stellar views of the American Radiator Building and more

  • New York Public Library

    A Beaux-Arts gem with unexpected treasures inside

  • One Vanderbilt

    Towering over 1,400 feet above Madison Avenue

  • SUMMIT One Vanderbilt observatory

    A multisensory experience of lights, mirrors and more that transforms the New York skyline

Meeting point

pin

Where we meet

Sunglass Hut, West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001, United States

Open map

Meet your guide in front of the Sunglass Hut at Macy’s Herald Square. Your guide will be wearing an orange hat that says ExperienceFirst.

flag

End point

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

FAQs