Top of the Rock is the observation deck at the top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the Art Deco tower at the centre of Rockefeller Center. It has three levels of viewing space on the 67th to 70th floors, and much of it is open air. Many New Yorkers will tell you Top of the Rock has the best view in Midtown, for a simple reason: it looks straight at the Empire State Building, so the city's most famous skyscraper is in your photos rather than under your feet.
Why choose Top of the Rock
New York now has several observation decks, and they each do something different. Top of the Rock is not the highest, but its position is excellent. To the south you see the Empire State Building with Lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center behind it. To the north the whole rectangle of Central Park opens out, framed by the towers of Billionaires' Row and the Upper East and West Sides.
The lower two levels have tall glass panels around the edge, which make photography easy for most people. The top level, on the 70th floor, is open with no glass at all, just a low wall, and it gives the clearest views in the building.
Getting to Top of the Rock by subway
Take the B, D, F or M to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr. The station sits under Sixth Avenue and connects to the Rockefeller Center concourse. The entrance to Top of the Rock is on 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues; follow the signs from the concourse or walk along the street. It is a walk of just a few minutes.
If you are coming from the east side, 5 Av/53 St on the E and M is also close, and the N, R and W stop at 49 St on Seventh Avenue is about five minutes to the west.
Top of the Rock tickets
Entry is by timed ticket. You choose a date and an entry time, and once you are upstairs you can generally stay as long as you like. Sunset slots cost more and sell out first, especially on clear weekends and in the holiday season. The official Top of the Rock website, part of the Rockefeller Center site, lists current prices, packages and add-on experiences, including combination tickets with Rockefeller Center tours. Booking there is the safest way to get a real ticket at the published price.
Before you reach the lifts there is a security check and a short indoor exhibition, then a fast elevator ride to the top. Allow a little time before your slot.
Best time to visit Top of the Rock
There are three good options, each with its own trade-off:
- Morning: the quietest time and often the clearest air. Good if you want space at the railings.
- Sunset: the most popular slot. Arrive about an hour before sunset to watch the light change and the city switch on. Book well ahead.
- After dark: the Empire State Building lit in its colours of the night makes a classic shot, and crowds thin out later in the evening.
Check the weather before you go. Low cloud can hide the view completely, and the open-air top level can be cold and windy even when the street feels mild. In winter, bring a hat and gloves.
Most visitors spend 45 minutes to an hour and a half on the decks.
What you can see from the top
South: the Empire State Building
The view south lines up the Empire State Building with the Flatiron district and, in the distance, the Financial District and One World Trade Center. On a clear day you can pick out the Statue of Liberty in the harbour.
North: Central Park
The full length of Central Park stretches away to Harlem. It is the view that sets Top of the Rock apart from decks further south.
East and west
Look east for the Chrysler Building's spire and the East River bridges, and west over the Hudson to New Jersey and the towers of Hudson Yards.
Photography tips
- Use the gaps between the glass panels on the lower levels, or go to the top level for unobstructed shots.
- Tripods are generally not allowed, so bring something small to steady the camera after dark, or brace against the wall.
- At night, turn your screen brightness down and press the lens close to the glass to cut reflections.
Nearby on the same subway stop
- Rockefeller Center: the plaza, Channel Gardens and seasonal ice rink right below the deck.
- Radio City Music Hall: the Art Deco theatre on Sixth Avenue.
- St. Patrick's Cathedral: across Fifth Avenue, free to enter.
- Museum of Modern Art: a short walk north on West 53rd Street.
See what else is close to this station on Top of the Rock on Around the Metro, or browse every station on the New York subway map.