Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center Observation Deck) – Tickets, Map, Tour, Interesting Facts

Top of the Rock is one of the most popular viewpoints in New York, offering spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline. It is located at the top of a skyscraper 30 Rockefeller Plaza in the famous complex Rockefeller Center. It is a great place to admire New York from above, both during the day and at night, when the city turns into a luminous mosaic.

Tickets to Top of the Rock

The observation deck is one of the most popular attractions in New York. Expect lines and a lot of people wanting to get in during the season. For this reason and to avoid overcrowding on the observation decks, restrictions have been introduced ticket sales limits. Tickets are sold so for a specific day and time of entry. It is not possible to enter the terrace outside the designated admission hours.
If you plan to visit other attractions in addition to Top of the Rock on the same day and have your sightseeing planned out in some neat way, then take care of your tickets in advance! If you decide to buy tickets only on the spot, you may find that you will have to wait a really long time for the next available entry dates. This can ruin your entire carefully laid plan.

Fortunately, tickets to the observation deck can be purchased online, so booking an entry for the right time becomes a piece of cake. All that remains is to decide whether you want to buy a regular ticket ticket to the Top of the Rock terrace – [click], or maybe (if you also intend to visit other attractions) opt for a cost-effective ticket package, e.g. New York CityPASS – [click] including entry to several select attractions in New York. I recommend taking the time to check out the offer, because in many cases you can save a lot of dollars.

check out: single tickets to Top of the Rock – [click]

check out: New York CityPASS ticket package – [click]

New York CityPASS is the most popular, but not the only ticket package in New York. In my case, due to the huge number of attractions I planned to visit, I had to use other ticket sets. Below I am posting links to two sets of packages. Some of them include entrance tickets to several specific attractions imposed in advance, and some are so-called flexible packages. In them, you can choose a large part of the attractions yourself. Click, check and choose the best solution for you!

check out: Tiqets Ticket Packages in New York – [click]

check out: GYG New York Ticket Packages – [click]

Top of the Rock Opening Hours

Top of the Rock is open daily, usually from an hour 9: 00 do 23: 00. Last entry to the terrace is at approximately 22:00 p.m.

Any changes or restrictions in opening hours are signaled directly on the venue's website and are visible in the online ticket booking system. If the venue is closed at some point, it will simply not be possible to purchase a ticket online.

Location and views from Top of the Rock

I have marked the location of the Top of the Rock observation deck on the map below (it is located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan). Its exact location is 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 6th Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets.
The precise location of the building entrance along with a link to GPS navigation can be found below the map.
In addition to the location of Top of the Rock, I have also marked the location of other iconic landmarks on the map that you can see from the terrace. Many people claim that Top of the Rock offers one of the best 360-degree views in New York City due to its convenient location.

Empire State Building – one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. From Top of the Rock you can admire this symbol of New York in all its glory and take great photos of it.

Central Park – from the terrace you can see the entire Central Park and its green areas contrasting with the city buildings. This view is especially beautiful in spring and autumn, when the trees change color.

Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan – although the Statue of Liberty is quite far away, on a clear day it looks beautiful against the background of lower Manhattan and New York Bay.

Chrysler Building – one of the most beautiful Art Deco buildings in New York. Its distinctive spire is easily visible from the terrace.

One World Trade Center – The tallest building in New York, with an impressive silhouette dominating Downtown Manhattan.

Entrance to Top of The Rock, GPS coordinates:
40°45’33.7″N 73°58’45.6″W
40.759361, -73.979333 - click and route

Metro - nearest station: 47-50 Streets – Rockefeller Center (lines B, D, F, M)

Architecture of viewing terraces

Top of the Rock consists of three observation decks that extend over three levels:
65th floor – the lowest terrace, partially closed with glass panes protecting against the wind and providing a safe view for those afraid of heights.
67th floor – a higher terrace, also equipped with glass barriers, but with a more open space.
70th floor – the highest level, completely open, which gives an unobstructed view of the entire city panorama. It is undoubtedly one of the best observation points in Manhattan.

Other attractions and exhibitions

Before entering the Top of the Rock observation deck, visitors can explore interactive exhibits about the history of Rockefeller Center and the construction of the complex. These exhibits provide an introduction to the history of New York in the 30s and show how the city’s architecture and urban planning changed over time.
Also of note are unique features such as a replica of the famous “Lunch atop a Skyscraper” photo, in which workers eat lunch while sitting on steel beams high above the city.

On the upper terrace there are two more (additional fee) attractions:

Skylift

A glass, rotating platform in the form of an elevator that raises another three floors above the level of the highest observation deck. Skylift thus offers the best 360-degree panorama view available in New York.
The elevator can accommodate 13 people at a time.
Price (2024): $35

The appearance and functioning of the attraction are well presented in the YouTube video:

The Beam

…a replica of a historic beam on which you can have your photo taken while sitting above the buildings of New York (similar to the workers eating breakfast in the historic photo). The beam is equipped with safe seats to hold the people sitting and slowly rises to a height of 12 feet for the photo.
Price (2024): $25

And again, the best illustration of this attraction will be a YouTube video:

The best time to visit

The best time to visit Top of the Rock is early in the morning, when the crowds are smaller and the light is perfect for taking pictures. Another popular time is at sunset, when the city is bathed in warm colors and then changes into night illumination. The view of New York at dusk is unique, especially when the lights on the skyscrapers start to glow.

A Brief History of Top of the Rock

Top of the Rock is located atop Rockefeller Center, which was built by John D. Rockefeller in the 30s. Initially planned as the headquarters for the Metropolitan Opera, the complex eventually became a business and entertainment center in the heart of Manhattan. One of the main buildings in the complex is 30 Rockefeller Plaza, also known as the Comcast Building.

Top of the Rock originally opened in 1933 and was originally intended as a public viewing point. Reminiscent of the interior style of 30s ocean liners, it offered an elegant way to see New York City from above. The viewing point closed in 1986 and reopened to the public in 2005 after extensive renovations.

Hotels and lodging near Top of the Rock

Below I have included several links to hotels located near Top of the Rock. Do not treat them as specific indications of hotels that I recommend. Treat them as a good start for further searches. The links I have included use the search engine mechanism, which, in addition to a specific hotel, always offers other, similar offers, often more attractively priced. Additionally, the links contain filters that I have prepared. They prevent the display of many offers that could unnecessarily clutter the search results and appropriately narrow the search area to the area that interests us. So you do not have to do it manually every time. I recommend using these links, because they make searching easier and save time.

Radio City Apartments – [click]

Hotel St. James – [click]

Home2 Suites By Hilton New York Times Square – [click]

New York City Sightseeing Plan

This entry is part of a large guide to New York, which is available at: New York - sightseeing plan [click].
If you are here and have skipped the main post, then definitely I recommend that you read it first. It contains a lot of practical advice related to moving around the city, access to attractions, organizing sightseeing, access to the Internet, etc. It contains additional maps with the location of all attractions, supporting the creation of your own routes and sightseeing plans, and a lot of helpful information allowing for quick orientation in the area.

In the main post you will find plans and descriptions of tours of some of the most interesting neighborhoods in New York:
- Central Manhattan
- Upper Manhattan
- Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty
- Brooklyn (neighborhoods: Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, Williamsburg)

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