Seeing the sunrise is one of my favorite ways to start the day. I’ll admit I don’t do it nearly as often as I’d like to, but seeing the sun come up over the Manhattan skyline and make the river glimmer is a special moment.
And in a place as busy as New York City, it can be hard to find a moment of peace. But you’ll find at sunrise the city is quiet and serene, making it feel like you own it.
If you want to experience magic of a NYC sunrise, here are the 8 best places to see the sunrise in Manhattan
1. Battery Park
The North Cove Marina is a hidden gem for catching amazing an amazing sunrise in Manhattan! It’s located at the very Southern tip of the borough in the quiet Battery Park neighborhood. From this spot, you can get a perfect view of the Statue of Liberty and the sun coming up on the horizon. There’s a little grassy park area if you want to bring a blanket and your morning coffee – perfect morning right?
2. Seaport
If you follow the path from Battery Park, you’ll loop around the tip of Manhattan and end up on the East side of Manhattan in about 10 minutes. From the Seaport area, you can enjoy a similar but different sunrise experience. You’ll still get the river views, but you’ll be right underneath the Brooklyn Bridge for a captivating view.
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3. High Line
Head to the High Line, an elevated park built on old railroad tracks that runs from Gansevoort Street in the West Village up to Hudson Yards on 34th Street. This park is a unique spot to catch the sunrise because you can simultaneously see the Hudson River on one side and the Midtown buildings on the other side.
The High Line is always a beautiful walk but at sunrise, you get a front-row seat to the city waking up as you see the streets and buildings below you.
4. Empire State Building
If you want to see the sunrise from the top of a skyscraper, visit the Empire State Building. Zoom up to the 82nd floor for the open-air observatory and enjoy 360° views of all of NYC, which includes the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, and the Statue of Liberty.
Your sunrise ticket will also include a trip to the 102nd floor, although that section is glassed in. It’s a spectacular spot to see the sunrise and is sure to be a great start to the day!
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5. Roosevelt Island
For a super unique opportunity to get a ride above the East River for only the cost of a metro card swipe, add the Roosevelt Island tram to your list!
Roosevelt Island is a tiny island that’s home to Cornell Tech and is located in between Manhattan and Queens. To get to the island, there’s an aerial tram that runs from Midtown to the island and back.
Hop on and enjoy a stunning ride over the East River and take in the sunrise over the Manhattan skyline. You’ll want to time it just right as the tram ride is about 5 minutes long. Once you get to Roosevelt Island, you’ll have a great view of the Midtown skyline and the United Nations buildings.
The Roosevelt Island tram runs every 7-15 minutes and you can find the entrance at East 59th Street & 2nd Avenue.
6. Times Square
The beauty of seeing touristy spots at sunrise is that you get a very rare glimpse of a quiet moment in NYC. Yes, even in Times Square.
You might be surprised at how serene it is at sunrise, with a small crowd of folks getting to their offices and street vendors setting up their carts. It’s a completely different experience from the crowded, honking version of Times Square most people are familiar with.
And you can catch a gorgeous sunrise as the sky is colored in oranges and pinks.
7. The Edge
Who’s down for sunrise yoga 1,000 feet above the city? That’s what the Edge is offering in partnership with the Equinox gym. You’ll enjoy breathtaking skyline views at the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere as the sun rises and you stretch your body to start the day. The yoga class runs for 45 minutes, and then you’ll have 15 minutes after the class to take in the view.
8. Brooklyn Bridge
And I saved the best for last. It isn’t technically in Manhattan but it’s not Brooklyn either, so we’re going to count in the list of places to see the sunrise in Mnahattan 😉 And it’s certainly worth the trip!
Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge is always an exhilarating experience, even for the most tourist-loathing New Yorker. But thankfully, at sunrise you’ll find few people on the bridge. In fact, you might have it all to yourself. You’ll see the dazzling sun light up the Hudson River and Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines. It’s a magical sight!
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Those are 8 of the best places to see the sunrise in Manhattan.