The Chrysler Building

The Chrysler Building is easily one of the most beautiful skyscrapers in New York. It may not have an observation deck, but it remains one of the most admired architectural landmarks in NYC. I love walking up Lexington Avenue and seeing the spire peek out between buildings — it always stops me for a second. The Art Deco detailing, the steel crown, the gargoyles — it’s all timeless and so distinctly New York.

While you can’t go to the top like other observation decks in the city, you can enter the lobby during business hours and admire the elegant interior. I like pairing a quick Chrysler Building visit with a walk to Grand Central, which is just a few blocks away.

It’s a great stop for photography lovers, architecture buffs, or anyone trying to see the most famous landmarks in New York City. The Chrysler Building is one of the best-known skyscrapers in the world, and standing beneath it, you understand why. Even surrounded by taller, flashier buildings, it still holds its own.

At the time of construction (early to mid 1900’s) everyone was vying for the honor of building the tallest building in the world, the architects behind the Chrysler Building were no exception.

Completed in 1930, this gleaming Art Deco skyscraper, with its distinctive terraced crown and sleek stainless steel cladding, reaches a height of 1,046 feet. It briefly held the title of the world’s tallest building before being surpassed by the Empire State Building two years later.

What makes the Chrysler Building stand out is the ornate design inspired by Chrysler cars. Topped with eagle gargoyles and radiator cap sculptures adorning its facade, the building isn’t open to the public, but it’s a marvel to behold from an observation deck.