Centre 360: Free Cupola Tours Atop the Dinkins Municipal Building

The cupola of the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building at 1 Centre Street is open to the public through Centre 360, a free program run by the city's Department of Citywide Administrative Services. The city describes it as the first time since the building's completion in 1914 that this view has been offered to the public. From about 580 feet up, visitors walk a full circle on the balcony and take in the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, the East River and the harbor.

Each visit takes eight guests for roughly 15 minutes, ascent included. Groups meet inside the CityStore on Centre Street, show photo ID to building security and hear a short welcome. An elevator takes them to the 24th floor, where they switch to the tower elevator for the cupola. The balcony sits directly beneath Civic Fame, the 25-foot gilded statue by Adolph Weinman, which holds a five-pointed crown for the five boroughs.

Visits run Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., departing hourly on the hour; the site is closed weekends. Reservations are free through the program's website, with parties limited to five. Children under 18 must be with an adult and at least 42 inches tall. Wear closed-toe shoes; phones and cameras are welcome, tripods and drones are not. Access depends on the weather.

The building, designed by McKim, Mead and White, was the first U.S. government building constructed directly over a working subway line. The Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall stop (4, 5, 6, J, Z, R, W) is right outside. On the balcony, a phone-based Landmark Hunt helps you pick out the sights.