Thing to do
Chelsea Market
A food hall and shopping arcade inside a former Nabisco factory complex in Chelsea, packed with vendors selling seafood, tacos, bread, gelato and more.
Top of the Rock
Three tiers of observation decks atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza give unobstructed views of Central Park and a front-on look at the Empire State Building.
At a glance
- Type
- Observation deck
- Area
- Midtown, New York, United States
- Opening
- Open daily · 09:00–23:00
- Official site
- rockefellercenter.com
Good to know
- Timed tickets
- Open-air 70th-floor deck
- Free audio tour
- Weather reissue policy
- Wheelchair accessible
Why we recommend it
Top of the Rock is the observation deck at the summit of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the Art Deco centrepiece of Rockefeller Center. Spread over the 67th and 69th floors, which are indoors, and the open-air 70th-floor roof, it offers one of the most rounded views of Manhattan. Because the building stands a little north of the Empire State Building, that tower appears front and centre to the south, while Central Park stretches out in a long green rectangle to the north.
The experience is straightforward. You enter on 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, pass through security, and take a high-speed lift that reaches the top in under a minute. The indoor 67th floor has windows on all sides, but the highlight is the 70th-floor deck, where there is no glass at all at the edges of the main viewing area, which makes it popular with photographers. The Beam, an interactive photo feature recreating the famous 1932 lunchtime photograph of construction workers, is part of the visit.
Top of the Rock is open daily from 9am to 11pm, with last entry at 10:10pm. Tickets are timed, so book your slot online, especially for sunset, which sells out first. General admission is the standard option, with an express pass for skipping queues and a guided VIP tour that includes a visit to the Rainbow Room when available. A free audio tour can be downloaded. If poor weather or visibility affects your visit, the venue will reissue your ticket for another time or date rather than refund it, and parts of the deck may close for safety in bad weather.
The deck is wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly, and printed transcripts and audio headsets are available on request. Allow about an hour including security. Rockefeller Center has been undergoing a long programme of works, so some areas may have limited access. If you can only choose one observation deck, this is the best for seeing the Empire State Building; if you have time for two, a daytime visit here and a night visit elsewhere gives a good contrast.
The nearest subway station is 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center on the B, D, F and M lines. St Patrick's Cathedral, the Channel Gardens and the winter ice rink at Rockefeller Plaza are a few steps away, and MoMA is three blocks north.
Top of the Rock FAQs
Where is the entrance to Top of the Rock?
On 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
What floors are the decks on?
The indoor 67th and 69th floors and the open-air 70th floor.
What are the opening hours?
Daily from 9am to 11pm, with last entry at 10:10pm.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The venue will reissue your ticket for a later time or date if poor weather or visibility affects your visit; tickets are not refunded for weather.
Is Top of the Rock wheelchair accessible?
Yes. It is wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly, and transcripts and audio headsets are available on request.
Is there an audio tour?
Yes. A free audio tour is available to download.
Which subway station is nearest?
47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center on the B, D, F and M lines.
How long does a visit take?
About an hour including security and time on all three levels.