Centre 360: Free Cupola Tours Atop the Dinkins Municipal Building

The cupola of the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building at 1 Centre Street, in Civic Center, is open to the public for the first time since the tower was completed in 1914. Run by the city's Department of Citywide Administrative Services, Centre 360 offers free, reserved visits to a balcony about 580 feet above the street.

Each visit lasts roughly 15 minutes, including the ascent, and takes eight guests. Reservations are limited to parties of five. Groups meet inside the CityStore on Centre Street, show photo ID to building security, and are escorted by elevator to the 24th floor, then by the tower elevator to the cupola. On the balcony you can walk a full circle directly beneath Civic Fame, the 25-foot gilded statue sculpted by Adolph Weinman.

The views run from the Empire State and Chrysler buildings to the north, across the East River and the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges to the east, down to the harbor in the south, and west over the courthouses, City Hall and the Hudson. A phone-based Landmark Hunt on the website helps you pick out sights.

The building, designed by McKim, Mead and White, was the first U.S. government building constructed directly over a working subway line. Visits depart hourly on the hour, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the cupola is closed on weekends and in poor weather. Bring photo ID and wear closed-toe shoes. Children must be accompanied by an adult and be at least 42 inches tall. Cameras and phones are welcome, but tripods and drones are not. The Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall stop (4, 5, 6, J, Z, R, W) is steps away.