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Top of the Rock
The deck people pick when they have done their homework: it looks straight at the Empire State Building, so the tower lands in your photos instead of under your feet, and it stares down the full length of Central Park to the north. That north-south pairing is the whole case for choosing it over the others.
Photos: Dllu (CC BY-SA 4.0), Daniel Schwen (CC BY-SA 3.0), Dietmar Rabich (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Probably the smartest skyline deck in town, since it puts the Empire State in frame with Central Park behind it. The one reason to pass: you have already paid to go up somewhere else and the views start to blur.
Worth it for
- Anyone who wants the Empire State Building in the shot rather than beneath them
- The straight-down look at the length of Central Park, which other decks cannot give you
You can skip if
- You already did another observation deck this trip and don't need a second
Tickets & tours for Top of the Rock
Which ticket should you buy?
The view
The deck looks south toward the Empire State Building and the Lower Manhattan skyline, and north over the full length of Central Park. That combination is the main reason people choose it: you get the famous tower in your photos rather than standing inside it, plus a clear overhead view of the park that the Empire State Building cannot match.
Viewing areas spread across multiple levels, with both open-air terraces and enclosed sections behind glass. The upper terraces have low glass barriers that make for cleaner photos. On a clear day the sightlines reach across the city and out to the rivers and bridges.
At Rockefeller Center
The deck sits within Rockefeller Center, a complex of Art Deco buildings, shops, and public plazas. At ground level you will find the sunken plaza that becomes an ice rink in winter, the famous holiday tree in December, and the Radio City Music Hall nearby. It is worth allowing time to walk the complex before or after you go up.
Because everything is in one place, a visit here folds easily into a Midtown day. The area is busy and central, close to Fifth Avenue shopping, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the Museum of Modern Art a few blocks away.
Tickets and timing
Entry uses timed tickets, so you select an arrival window when you book. Sunset is the most popular slot because you can catch daylight, the sunset, and the lit-up city in one visit, and those times sell out first. Booking ahead is the surest way to get the time you want.
Crowds are heaviest around sunset and on weekends. For a quieter experience, go earlier in the day. Clear weather makes a big difference, since haze or low cloud will limit how far you can see across the city.
Getting there
The entrance is on 50th Street, and the deck is right above one of the most central subway stops in Midtown. It is an easy walk from Times Square, Fifth Avenue, and the Theater District.
Many people pair it with the Empire State Building, a short distance south, to see the skyline from two angles. If you only have time or budget for one deck, Top of the Rock's view of the Empire State Building and Central Park is the reason many choose it.
Top of the Rock: FAQs
It is at the top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the main tower of Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. The entrance is on 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, marked at street level.
Many think so, because Top of the Rock faces both the Empire State Building and Central Park, so you get the famous tower in your photos and an overhead view of the park. It comes down to which skyline you want to see.
Yes. Entry is by timed ticket with a chosen arrival window. Sunset slots are the most popular and sell out first, so booking ahead is the best way to secure the time you want.
Sunset is the favorite, since you can see daylight, the sunset, and the lit city in one visit, but it is the most crowded. Earlier in the day is quieter. Clear weather gives the best views.
The complex has Art Deco buildings, shops, and public plazas, including the sunken plaza that becomes an ice rink in winter and hosts the holiday tree in December. Radio City Music Hall is nearby.
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