chloedickensonLast Updated on 4th December 2024
This ultimate Top of the Rock Observation Deck NYC guide contains affiliate links.
Are you planning a trip to NYC and looking to admire the New York skyline from the Top of the Rock viewing deck? This ultimate guide includes everything you need to know about visiting one of my favourite observation decks in New York City!
The iconic Top of the Rock observation deck in NYC has been my favourite place in the world ever since I first visited the city with my mum back in 2014. Despite having travelled to over 50 countries since and experiencing some of the world’s greatest sights, there’s just something about the Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center that holds an incredibly special place in my heart.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m also a huge fan of NYC’s other observation decks, including Summit One Vanderbilt, One World Observatory, Edge and the Empire State Building, but the Top of the Rock observation deck is one of the number one attractions that I recommend to every visitor to New York City.
In my ultimate guide below, I’m sharing everything you need to know about visiting the TOTR, including the Top of the Rock observation deck price, opening hours, The Beam, how to get Top of the Rock tickets and more!
If you want to know more about the best observation deck in NYC, check out my huge guide to the Top of the Rock below!
Are you planning a trip to NYC and still need some help with organising your itinerary and planning your days? Get a copy of my Ultimate New York City Travel Guide Ebook and join my FREE New York Facebook Group for more tips, advice and inspiration!
NEW YORK TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Flights: Skyscanner / Kiwi.com / Expedia / Trip.com
Accommodation: Booking.com / Hostelworld / Agoda
Transport: Flixbus / Rentalcars.com / Big Bus Tours
Activities/tours: Get Your Guide / Viator / Klook / Go City
Travel insurance: SafetyWing
Hotel reviews: TripAdvisor
My backpacking essentials: Amazon
Luggage storage: Radical Storage
New York Passes: Go City Pass / New York CityPASS
USA eSIM: Airalo
Looking to visit more than one NY observation deck? Check out my other guides here!
- 5 New York Observation Decks For The Best Views
- Is Edge NYC Worth It? Edge Observation Deck at Hudson Yards
- Is The Empire State Building Worth It?
- One World Observatory Guide
- Is Summit One Vanderbilt Worth Visiting?
Is the Top of the Rock worth it?
The Top of the Rock observation deck is 100% worth visiting in my opinion as it’s one of the best ways to enjoy epic views of the Manhattan skyline and beyond!
As I mentioned above, the TOTR is one of my favourite places in the world and it’s an attraction that I always recommend to everyone visiting NYC, whether it’s their first time in the city or their 10th. While the Top of the Rock might not be quite as tall as One World Observatory, as iconic as the Empire State Building or as interactive as Summit One Vanderbilt, I truly believe that the observation deck at Rockefeller Plaza is 100% worth visiting!
Read more: What Is New York City Known For?
What to expect from the Top of the Rock observation deck NYC
Situated in the heart of Midtown Manhattan within the Rockefeller Plaza complex, the Top of the Rock observation deck is undoubtedly one of the best attractions in NYC and is a fantastic way to enjoy spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline.
You’ll most likely enter the TOTR via the main entrance on West 50th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue, just next to the sign for the NBC Studios Rainbow Room/Observation Deck. It’s a good idea to purchase your tickets ahead of time, but it is also possible to buy tickets on the day of your visit at the box office.
The Top of the Rock observation deck is fully accessible, all the way from the entrance on 50th Street to the final viewing platform on the 70th floor. Once you’re inside the building, you’ll have to go through several security checkpoints, so make sure you’re not carrying oversized backpacks or suitcases (small bags are permitted).
Outside food and drinks are not permitted and weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited (including glass bottles, lighters, flammable substances and knives of any kind). Small, handheld selfie sticks are allowed, but tripods are not permitted inside the viewing platforms.
Once you’ve gone through the ticketing and security checkpoints, you’ll make your way through an exhibition that details the vibrant history of the Rockefeller Center and you’ll also get the chance to experience a few photo opportunities with various green screens (if you purchase the VIP Pass, you will get the Photo Pass included as standard and if not, you can choose to purchase your photos at the end of your TOTR experience).
Next up, you’ll take a thrilling elevator ride to the 67th floor of the Rockefeller Center which is the first of three viewing platforms. There are several indoor and outdoor viewing areas on the 67th, 69th and 70th floor viewing decks. The first two floors (67th and 69th) have protective glass windows, whereas the 70th floor offers unobstructed, panoramic views of Manhattan and beyond.
The recently opened Weather Room resides on the 67th floor where you can enjoy drinks and light bites to eat and use the restroom facilities if required. Once you get to the 70th floor, you can enjoy the remarkable views from the open-air roof deck which is completely outdoors and boasts 360° views of New York City.
The views from the three viewing platforms at the Top of the Rock are absolutely astonishing. You can see so many of New York’s iconic landmarks, including Central Park, the Empire State Building and even all the way Downtown to the One World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty.
You’ll likely spend between 45 minutes to an hour across the three observation platforms, but there is no strict time limit as to how long you can spend up there, so just enjoy it for as long as you want!
Read more: 111 Bucket List Things To Do In NYC
Top of the Rock NYC tickets
There are several ticket options to choose from when visiting the Top of the Rock, including general admission, sunset tickets and VIP Passes.
In the table below, I’ve included the prices for both adults (A) and children (C – aged between 6 and 12). I’ve also included numerous websites where you can purchase tickets for the Top of the Rock observation deck, including Get Your Guide, Viator, the official Top of the Rock website and more.
Top of the Rock observation deck tickets
| General Admission | Sunset Admission | VIP Pass | |
| Get Your Guide | A: £34.88 C: £29.65 | A: £47.95 C: £42.72 | A: £139.50 C: £139.50 |
| Viator | A: £35.34 C: £30.15 | A: £48.77 C: £43.45 | A: £141.88 C: £141.88 |
| Klook | A: £34.49 C: £29.29 | N/A | N/A |
| TOTR website | A: £31.90 C: £27.11 | A: £43.86 C: £39.07 | A: £138.91 C: £138.91 |
| Tiquets | A: £34.77 C: £29.56 | A: £47.81 C: £42.60 | A: £139.09 C: £139.09 |
Prices in the table above are accurate as of April 2024; I will be sure to update this guide as often as possible to ensure that prices are up-to-date.
General admission
General admission tickets for the Top of the Rock include entrance to all three viewing platforms on the 67th, 69th and 70th floors. These tickets are priced between £31 and £36, depending on where you buy them from.
With general admission tickets, you also have the option to purchase tickets for The Beam for an additional £20 ($25) at checkout; you can find more information about The Beam in the section below.
Sunset tickets
While sunset tickets still fall under the branch of general admission tickets for the Top of the Rock, they are more expensive than the standard admission tickets, so I wanted to include them in their own section.
They still include entry to all three viewing platforms and you can also choose to add The Beam onto your admission ticket, but sunset tickets for the Top of the Rock are usually at least £12 ($15) more expensive than the standard tickets.
VIP Pass
The VIP Pass includes entry to the Top of the Rock observation deck and all three viewing platforms, as well as skip-the-line and priority access to the elevators that take you up to the observation deck, plus a private experience of The Beam and a VIP guide to assist you with your experience. This ticket type also includes the Photo Pass and 20% off at the Top of the Rock gift shop.
VIP Pass tickets start at around £138 per person, which is a huge increase from the standard ticket price of around £31-£36. Of course, the VIP Pass includes much more than the general admission tickets, but I personally don’t think they’re worth the money.
If you want to experience The Beam, you can choose to add it onto the price of your general admission ticket for just £20 ($25) extra, so I personally wouldn’t opt for the skip-the-line admission as I don’t think that it’s entirely necessary.
Express Pass
Express Pass tickets are only available to buy directly via the Rockefeller Center website and they are similar to the VIP Pass tickets in that they include skip-the-line access to the elevators to the viewing platforms and a 20% discount at the gift shop, but they don’t include access to The Beam or the Photo Pass.
These types of tickets cost between (£67 and £75) $85 and $95 and I don’t think they’re worth the extra money just for the skip-the-line access.
I would personally recommend booking general admission tickets for sunset at the Top of the Rock as I do think that the extra $15 is well worth it to visit the observation deck in time for golden hour!
Top of the Rock: The Beam
The Beam is the newest addition to the Top of the Rock observation deck and it is a homage to the world-famous photograph that depicts 11 ironworkers perched precariously on a steel beam on their lunch break during the construction of 30 Rockefeller Plaza in 1932.
The new installation at the TOTR allows visitors to recreate the iconic image by experiencing a thrilling ascent 12 feet (3.65m) above the open air viewing deck on The Beam.
This experience is included in the VIP Pass, but you can also add The Beam to your general admission, sunset admission or Express Pass tickets for an additional $25. While I don’t think The Beam is necessarily worth it for the views you enjoy by gaining an extra 12 feet of elevation, it is a very cool and unique experience to enjoy in New York City that pays homage to the history of the Rockefeller Center.
Read more: Is Summit One Vanderbilt Worth Visiting?
Top of the Rock observation deck restaurants – The Weather Room
The Weather Room is another relatively new addition to the observation deck which is a dining establishment located on the 67th floor of the Rockefeller Center.
Specialising in light bites such as sandwiches, pastries and mezze platters, The Weather Room is named after the Doppler Radar that once provided the daily weather report for the city from the 70th floor of the Rockefeller Center. Today, the exciting Weather Room is a great place to enjoy the views of the Manhattan skyline will tucking into some delicious cuisines.
General admission tickets for the Top of the Rock are required to visit The Weather Room.
Read more: 50+ Best Places To Eat In NYC
Top of the Rock observation deck FAQs
If you still have more questions about visiting the TOTR, check out the frequently asked question section below which will hopefully answer any questions you might have about my favourite observation deck in NYC!
How tall is the Rockefeller Center observation deck?
The Top of The Rock observation deck height is a whopping 800ft (243m) on the 70th floor open air observatory. The building in which the Top of the Rock observation deck resides (30 Rockefeller Plaza) is 850ft (260m) tall.
Where is the Top of the Rock observation deck?
The observation deck can be found at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan, just over the road from St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Saks Fifth Avenue and just a 10-minute walk from Central Park to the north and Bryant Park to the south.
To access the Top of the Rock observation deck, you will enter the Rockefeller Center complex on West 50th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenue. The closest subway station to the observation deck is the 47-50 Streets-Rockefeller Center Station and you can take the B, D, F, or M trains to this station from many subway stations around New York City.
Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112, United States.
When is the best time to visit the Top of the Rock New York?
The best time to visit the Top of the Rock observation deck in New York City is at sunset, ideally around an hour before the sun is due to set. This will allow you to enjoy views of the city during daylight hours, during golden hour and at night.
Of course, as sunset is the best time to visit the Top of the Rock to enjoy the most magical views, this also means that it’s the most expensive and busiest time to visit. If you want to visit the TOTR with fewer crowds and for a cheaper price, I would suggest booking an early morning admission slot.
Top of the Rock observation deck hours
The observation deck is open daily from 8 AM to midnight, with the last entry at 11.10 PM, so you can experience the Top of the Rock from early in the morning until late at night.
Read more: 40 Fun Things To Do In NYC At Night
Is there a time limit at the observation deck?
There is no time limit for how long you can spend at the Top of the Rock. Once you’ve been through security and headed up to the three viewing platforms, you can spend as long as you want admiring the remarkable views of the New York skyline.
I would personally recommend allowing for at least one hour at the Top of the Rock, but you can easily spend much longer there, especially if you head up just before sunset as you’ll probably want to stay and enjoy views from the Top of the Rock at night.
Read more: 25 Best Winter Date Ideas In NYC For Romantic Couples
Do you need to purchase tickets in advance?
While it is advised to purchase tickets for the Top of the Rock online in advance, it’s not essential to do so as it is possible to buy tickets at the attraction itself on the day of your visit.
However, if you want to guarantee a certain day/time for your visit and especially if you want to visit at sunset, I would recommend purchasing tickets online in advance.
Can I use a New York City Pass to visit Top of the Rock?
If you have a Go City All-Inclusive Pass, a Go City Explorer Pass, a New York Sightseeing Pass or a New York CityPASS® then you can visit the Top of the Rock for free as entrance to the attraction is included in all the major NYC Passes.
In order to use your Go City All-Inclusive Pass, Explorer Pass or Sightseeing Pass to visit the TOTR, you must redeem your tickets in person at the attraction’s box office on the day of your intended visit. You will be able to choose to use your pass for the next available time slot at the Top of the Rock or you can book a date in the future and redeem your pass for entry to the observation deck.
If you have the New York CityPASS®, you can redeem your tickets to the TOTR online in advance on the New York CityPASS® website. You’ll need to purchase the type of CityPASS® that you want and then use the My CityPASS® App to make a reservation to visit the Top of the Rock.
Purchase a New York City Pass here and read my huge comparison guide below!
Read more: Which New York City Pass Is Best?
Can you get a refund for tickets at the TOTR?
It is possible to get a refund for Top of the Rock tickets if you can no longer use them, providing that you cancel your tickets at least 7 days in advance of your original scheduled visiting date. However, note that the Top of the Rock does not issue refunds for bad weather.
If you cancel your tickets within 7 days of your visit, you won’t receive a refund, but you will be able to exchange your ticket for a different date/time. Use the contact page on the Rockefeller Center website to request your refund.
Read more: 7 Day New York City Itinerary For First-Time Visitors
Are there toilets available at the TOTR?
There are toilets available on the 67th floor of the Top of the Rock observation deck.
Read more: 50 Fun Things To Do In NYC With Kids
Is the observation deck wheelchair accessible?
The observation deck at the Rockefeller Center is fully accessible and you can ask any member of staff/security guard for any further assistance that you might require.
Can you see the Rockefeller Tree and The Rink from the Top of the Rock?
Despite them all being located in the Rockefeller Plaza area, unfortunately, you can’t see the Tree or The Rink from the Top of the Rock observation deck.
If you are visiting New York at Christmas, however, you can just head back down to The Rink Level once you’ve visited the TOTR and experience the magic of the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and ice skating rink.
Read more: 20 Best Christmas Trees In NYC
Is the Top of the Rock open in all weather conditions?
The Top of the Rock is open in all weather conditions, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, no matter whether it’s glorious sunshine outside or a torrential rainstorm/snowstorm! Of course, there will often be significantly reduced visibility due to bad weather such as rain/fog/snow and the attraction will happily reschedule your visit for another time and date if the weather conditions are too poor to properly enjoy the views.
In extreme weather conditions such as bad snow and ice, some outdoor sections of the observation deck will be closed and you will be notified about bad weather conditions prior to your visit.
Read more: 22 Things To Do On A Rainy Day In NYC
Rockefeller Center at Christmas
The Top of the Rock observation deck is one of my favourite attractions in NYC and one of my favourite places in the entire world, and the Rockefeller Center at Christmas largely contributes to my adoration for this part of the city.
Seeing the infamous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is an absolute must-do if you’re visiting New York at Christmas as it’s truly one of the most beautiful things in the world. I’ve been lucky enough to experience NYC during the festive period multiple times now and every time is even more magical than the last.
If you’re lucky enough to be heading to New York at Christmas, be sure to check out the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, The Rink and the nearby FAO Schwarz store for some ultimate festive magic!
Read more: New York City Christmas Day Itinerary
Top of the Rock vs Empire State Building – which one is better?
While the Empire State Building might be the most iconic building in New York City and also one of the most famous buildings in the world, I personally think that the Top of the Rock observation deck is better than the Empire State Building observation deck!
This is because I much prefer to be able to see the ESB from another viewing platform, rather than being stood on the building itself. From the Top of the Rock, you can enjoy mesmerising views of the Empire State Building, whereas if you’re at the observation deck at the ESB, you obviously can’t see the building itself!
Other NYC observation decks that you might want to check out:
Read more: 5 New York Observation Decks For The Best Views
Top of the Rock Rockefeller Center observation deck – conclusion
I hope you found this Top of the Rock observation deck Rockefeller Center guide useful and I hope it’s inspired you to book tickets to one of my favourite attractions in the entire world!
Experiencing unparalleled views of the New York City skyline is certainly one of the best things to do in the city and the whole Top of the Rock experience is 100% worth doing!
Related posts:
- 37 Free Things To Do In NYC
- 1 Day Brooklyn Itinerary – What To Do In Brooklyn NY In One Day
- 10 Best Ice Rinks In NYC – Where To Go Ice Skating In New York
- 30 Best Museums In New York City
- 10 Best Ways To See The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
- How To Plan Your New York Itinerary With Google Maps
- 40 Best Hotels Near Times Square
- 4 Day New York Itinerary For First-Time Visitors
Pin for later – Top of the Rock Observation Deck reviews
Is the Top of the Rock observation deck New York City on your NYC bucket list? Would you like to enjoy the views from the Rockefeller observation deck? Let me know in the comments or in my New York Facebook Group!
