Top of the Rock Observatory

Taking in the skyline 70 stories above.

Top of the Rock offers sweeping views of the midtown Manhattan skyline and of Central Park. It’s notable for a close up of the Empire State Building with the Statue of Liberty and One World Observatory in the background. We were excited to see the breathtaking skyline and compare experiences with One World Observatory.

Upon getting there, we had no lines for entry and picked up our tickets at Will Call. A staff ushered us on a quick elevator ride for security screening. Again we were surprised to see no lines. Once admitted, you can opt for a professional photograph session or make your way over to watch a short film about John D. Rockefeller and a history of Rockefeller Center or skip as well. After that, take a ride up in the Sky Shuttle elevator to the 69th Floor in under a minute while watching a light show from above. Top of the Rock has three floors to explore from, with indoor and outdoor spaces. There is a small gift shop and an indoor seating area. Make sure to check out the Radiance Wall installation specially created for the space.

Annie enjoyed the Top of the Rock over One World Observatory because she was able to see more, it was not as crowded as One World Observatory. The seating area inside also allowed for all of us to sit together while that was not the case at One World Observatory. The rest of the family liked One World Observatory because of its 360 views. Personally, I appreciated the fact that the lines were shorter, the staffs were by far more attentive to wheelchair users and I still get that “New York feels” looking at the Empire Building. More importantly, I had to call and reschedule our tickets three times, explaining to the staffs our transportation issues and each time, they were absolutely polite and understanding. Reserve your tickets to enjoy a memorable experience.

Suggested Duration: 1-1.5 hours

Important Tips:
- Summer is peak season and sunset is peak visiting time throughout the year so plan accordingly.
- Purchase tickets ahead of time and print or download to your phone to save extra time.
- If staffs do not see and acknowledge the wheelchair user in your party, go ask if you can make it to the front of the line or at least if the wheelchair user can wait up front.

Accessibility:
- Fully Accessible
- Accessible restrooms
- Service animals are welcomed with proper ID and documentation.
- Printed transcripts for all short films played during the experience are available upon request from any Top of the Rock staff.
- Audio headsets are available for tours. You can ask guides to speak slowly or louder.
- There are times this block can be very busy and during the holiday season it’s blocked off to transportation. We suggest using Radio City Music Hall address, 1260 Avenue of the Americas as the drop off/pick-up point for private transportation. Then it’s a short 4 minutes walk to the entrance of Top of the Rock.

Location:
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
Phone: 212-698-2000
 https://www.topoftherocknyc.com/
Email: info@rockefellercenter.com

Schedule: 8am-midnight daily
Holiday schedule differ, please refer to the website.

Standard Tickets:
Adult Standard (ages 13-64) ranges $40-61
Youth Standard (ages 6-12) ranges $34-55
Senior Standard (62+) ranges $38-$59
Prices vary based on time and date of visit. More ticket options available on the website.

Public Transportation:
Fifth Avenue (going south) or Madison Avenue (going north): Take the M1, M2, M3, M4 or M5 bus to 50th Street. Buses run north and south.
From Broadway: Take the M7 bus. Exit at 50th Street and walk east to Rockefeller Center. Buses run north and south.
From 49th and 50th streets: Take the M50 bus. Exit between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. Buses run east and west.

Important: Information is subject to change, please visit https://www.rockefellercenter.com/ for the most up to date details.
Sep 2024