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Summit One Vanderbilt tickets

New York is home to several observation decks like the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory, The Edge at Hudson Yards, etc., and SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is the latest to join this list.

This ultra-modern observatory offers an immersive and multisensory experience from glass enclosures, and visitors see 360-degree views of the beautiful NYC skyline.

One Vanderbilt SUMMIT makes you float high in the skyboxes, from where you see the ground beneath your feet and the sky above your head.

Besides being an observatory, NYC Summit also has many immersive exhibits, which makes your visit memorable.

Snapshot

Hours: 9 am to 12 am

Last Entry: 10.30 pm

Time needed: 2 to 3 hours

Ticket cost: $42 to $49

Best time: An hour before sunset

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Where to buy Summit Vanderbilt tickets

Whether you plan to buy the Skip The Line Summit One Vanderbilt tickets, the cheapest and most popular way to explore the attraction, or the private guided tour, booking them online in advance is better.

Walk-up tickets are available at the gates, but tickets for your preferred time slot may sell out due to high demand.

When you purchase them online, you also avoid wasting your time at the ticket counter queues – which sometimes can go up to 20 minutes or more.

If you buy the daytime One Vanderbilt experience ticket, you can visit from 9 am to 2.30 pm.

If you opt for the evening ticket, you can visit from 3 pm till 10.30, when the last elevator goes up.

The New York attraction closes at midnight.

Ticket prices vary accordingly – nighttime visit tickets are slightly costlier.

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How does online ticket work

Once you purchase One SUMMIT Vanderbilt tickets, they get delivered to your email address.

There is no need to get printouts of the ticket. You can show the e-ticket on your mobile phone when you visit the attraction. 

When you book tickets online for One SUMMIT Vanderbilt, you’re assured of a seamless experience. 

Summit’s ticket prices

Summit One Vanderbilt’s tickets cost US$ 42 for adults aged 13 years and more, while kids aged six to 12 years pay a discounted price of US$ 36.

Summit’s evening tickets are around US$ 10 more than the daytime tickets. 

Kids under five years of age can enter for free.

DaytimeNighttime
Adult ticket (13+ years)$42$53
Child ticket (6 to 12 years)$36$47

Timed tickets

While booking your One Vanderbilt SUMMIT tickets you must select a time and date of visit.

If you miss your time slot, rescheduling is subject to availability, a re-scheduling fee, and a possible ticket price difference.

That’s why it is better to reach Summit One Vanderbilt at least 15 minutes before the time mentioned on your ticket.

Private Guided Tour of Summit One Vanderbilt

If you want to feel like a VIP and look down on the New York skyline from the Summt One Vanderbilt’s observation deck, we suggest you opt for the private guided tour. 

The inclusions of this 90-minute tour are:

  • Entry tickets for up to six people
  • Fast-pass entry
  • Tour guide
  • One cocktail per person
  • Digital photo gallery

After booking your private tour, you must reach the Summit’s box office on time. 

An ambassador will be waiting for you and escort your group through the experience.

Frequently asked questions about tickets

Here are some questions tourists ask before purchasing their tickets for Summit One Vanderbilt, one of New York’s finest obsrevation decks.

Does Summit One Vanderbilt offer free tickets?

While visiting The Summit, children five years and younger can enter for free – they don’t need to buy tickets. All visitors six years and above require a paid ticket to access the observation deck and its immersive experiences.

Can I buy tickets at the venue?

Yes, tickets for One Vanderbilt Observatory are available at the venue’s Box office. However, the popular timeslots may sell out due to high demand, so getting them online in advance is better.

Do we need to print online tickets?

Visitors can present their tickets on mobile devices, but printed tickets are also accepted at the Summit One Vanderbilt entrance.

What is Summit One Vanderbilt’s arrival time?

When you book your Summit tickets, you must select a preferred time of visit. You must be at the venue at least five minutes before this time, which will be mentioned on your ticket.

What is The Summit’s late arrival policy?

If you arrive after your ticket time, they’ll try to accommodate you based on capacity, but you may have to wait for long. That’s why arriving five minutes before the time mentioned on your ticket is better.

Does Summit One Observatory offer discounts for locals?

The observation deck offers New York and Long Island residents discounted admission tickets via its store on the official website.

Does Summit One Vanderbilt offer a student discount?

Unfortunately, the observatory does not offer a dedicated student discount on their admission tickets.

Kids aged six to 12 years get a US$6 discount on the adult ticket price, while children aged five years and below enter for free.

Does Summit One Vanderbilt offer a military discount?

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt offers a complimentary SUMMIT Experience admission ticket to all active duty and retired United States Armed Forces members, as well as 50% off for up to 4 guests of our military family.

Present an active duty or veteran’s ID at the Welcome Desk upon arrival to receive the offer.

Don’t hesitate to contact Guest Satisfaction Ambassadors at 1‐877‐682‐1401 from 9 am to 8 pm EST to make a reservation for your visit.

Does New York Pass include access to Summit One Vanderbilt?

The New York Pass has not yet included Summit One Vanderbilt in its go-to sightseeing list.

But it gets you free access to Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial and Museum, etc.

What is Summit One Vanderbilt’s refund policy?

Summit One Vanderbilt has a strict non-refundable ticket policy.

This means that once you purchase tickets, you cannot receive a refund regardless of the reason for cancellation or no-show.

This policy applies to all ticket types, including adult, child, and discounted tickets.

How to reschedule Summit One Vanderbilt’s ticket?

While the observation deck has a strict non-refundable ticket policy, they allow you to change the date and time of your visit for a small fee, subject to availability.

You can request this change through their website by logging in to your account or contacting their customer service team directly.

What is One Vanderbilt Summit’s rain policy?

One Vanderbilt Summit is an all-weather experience – so all tickets are final and nonrefundable.

Got more questions? Check out our Summit One Vanderbilt FAQs page

What to expect at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt experience is a four-level, 65,000-square-foot treat to the eyes.

The Summit experience starts at ground level in New York’s Grand Central Station, located beneath One Vanderbilt, and takes you to different exciting levels.

From the time you show your tickets for Summit One Vanderbilt observatory at the gate and enter, it can take up to 20-30 minutes to check-in, pass through security, and reach the top of the building. 

As you wait your turn, you watch a short video as part of the queue process called Celebration. 

After that, all guests must wear shoe coverings before stepping into the elevator, which takes you to the fascinating infinity glass and the first observation floor. 

This elevator is an immersive exhibit featuring flashing lights as it launches you to the top in just 42 seconds. 

You get off at the 91st floor, a 65,000 square foot, multilevel observation deck with mirrored floors and walls at about 1,000 feet (305 meters).

The glass deck offers 360-degree views with reflections in every direction you turn.

If you have brought a pair of sunglasses, you can put them on to avoid the bright reflections. 

If you didn’t bring them, you could request the attendant for a pair. 

After spending time on the first floor, you will explore the other exhibits and make your way up to the top floor of the mirrored glass room.

You’ll have fascinating 360-degree views of the New York skyline from these two floors. 

Besides getting the best view of the Empire State Building, you will also see landmarks such as the Chrysler Building, Statue of Liberty, George Washington Bridge, etc.

This immersive experience is labeled Air by Kenzo Digital.

On your way to Levitation, the outdoor sky terrace, and the final Ascent elevator, you will also go through a room with silver balloons (Yayao Kusama’s clouds). 

Don’t miss the room that projects your face onto a cloud.

Apres, a stylish cafe with an indoor lounge, fireplace, air terrace, and sweeping city views, is on the final floor. 

Your last immersive experience at Summit One Vanderbilt will be when you board the Ascent elevator to go the highest possible point of the building.

On the way down, the elevator will pause for at least a minute so the guests can take in the view before descending.

For most guests, the entire experience at Summit One Vanderbilt lasts around 90 minutes. 

Experiences at The Summit

At SUMMIT Vanderbilt, you can expect thrill, entertainment, and a lot of breathtaking views that will leave you dumbfounded. 

While Summit at One Vanderbilt is a wholesome experience of about 90 minutes, four experiences stand out – Air, Levitation, Ascent and Aprés.

Air – an illusionary space

Air at Summit One
Image: Summitov.com

Air is an illusionary space designed by the famous artist Kenzo Digital.

It is a five-part-story-driven immersive experience designed to create the illusion of boundless space.

Air has five components, Transcendence 1, Transcendence 2, Reflect, Affinity, and Unity, each narrating a different story. 

From this interactive and playful space, guests can see mind-boggling views of the city’s skyline.

From the Statue of Liberty to George Washington Bridge, catch fascinating views of beautiful landmarks and lofty buildings. 

During the sunset, the glass enclosures light up with multiple colors and become a beautiful work of art to be admired by all of New York City.

Levitation – the glass ledge

Levitation at Summit Vanderbilt
Image: Summitov.com

At the Levitation exhibit, guests step onto a glass ledge suspended 1,063 feet (324 meters) above Madison Avenue.

There are two fully transparent ledges, each eight feet deep.

This glass-enclosed skybox will make your foot tingle, and your heart beat faster when you see the whole city through the glass.

This Levitation experience is the largest five-sided glass-enclosed structure in New York City.

Ascent – the all-glass elevator

Elevator at Summit New York
Image: Summitov.com

The Ascent is an all-glass elevator that rises 1,210 feet (369 meters) along the exterior of the Summit One Vanderbilt tower.

Ascent lets people rise an additional 394 feet (120 meters) off of the tallest floor of the Summit Observation Deck.

The elevator is a record-breaking immersive experience.

It is the highest rack and pinion elevator in the world and also the largest glass floor elevator in the world.

Aprés – food for body & mind

Apres Restaurant and Bar at Summit Vanderbilt
Image: Summitov.com

Summit’s Aprés is an outdoor bar and cafe, which provides an amazing culinary experience sure to impress your mind and taste buds. 

The open-air terrace and indoor lounge create a cozy environment where you can enjoy lip-smacking delicacies.

Best time to visit One SUMMIT Vanderbilt

Summit One Vanderbilt at Sunset
Image: Earthtrekkers.com

The best time to visit SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is one hour before sunset. 

If you reach the observation deck an hour before sunset, you can see the city’s skyline in daylight and then witness the colorful visual treat of the sun setting over the city. 

The observation deck’s glass reflects light, splitting it into beautiful colors as the sun sets slowly.

If you stay long enough, you can also enjoy the city lights come up as it gets dark. 

The Summit opens at 9 am, and that’s the best time to visit if you want to avoid the crowd.

Note: If it is cloudy or rainy the view from the glass enclosures might get affected. 

How long does One SUMMIT Vanderbilt take?

Time needed for Summit One exhibits
Image: Summitov.com

Most users need two to three hours to explore the three levels at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and its six experiential and immersive spaces.

If the New York attraction is crowded, you will need half an hour to get through the security and ride the elevator to the observation deck.

Guests visiting during the sunset tend to stay longer so that they can also see New York city light up in the dark.

Summit at One Vanderbilt – daytime or nighttime

Summit One Vanderbilt observatory consists of three floors of mind-bending sensory experiences and offers a different experience during the day and at night.

During the day, it is one of New York’s best observation decks offering fantastic 360-degree views, but after dark, the space also gets LED light show with accompanying festive music.

Irrespective of the time of your visit, you will love its observation deck, mirrored spaces, and exhibits.

If you visit Summit at One Vanderbilt at night, cocktails are also available for purchase at the bar on the 93rd floor.

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