Top of the Rock Tickets

Buy your Top of the Rock tickets before you go to New York. The Top of the Rock observation deck is on the 70th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza and offers superb open-air views of New York. Take the lift to the 70th floor to discover the three viewpoints and enjoy the 360-degree views from the Top of the Rock. On one side, you’ll see a beautiful view of Central Park, and on the other, you’ll see the magnificent 103-story Empire State Building.

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Eric's Index

1 Top of the Rock Tickets
- 1.1 Top of the Rock Sunset Tickets
- 1.2 Top of the Rock VIP Tickets
2 View from Top of the Rock
3 Special Experiences at Top of the Rock
4 FAQ

Top of the Rock Tickets

You can easily order Top of the Rock tickets online through this website. After purchase, you will receive a QR code to show on your phone at the entrance of Top of the Rock in New York. Of course, you can also print it. You can skip the ticket lines and enter directly during your chosen time slot. Do know that it can get busy at the observation deck, especially during the holidays. I would advise you to get your tickets on time!

Or get a discount pass that allows you to visit the Top of the Rock observation deck, saving you money on the entrance fees.

Top of the Rock Sunset Tickets

To admire the sunset from Top of the Rock, you need a special sunset ticket with a time slot. I recommend going up 1.5 hours before sunset. After sunset, you can also stay on the observation deck to watch New York turn into the City of Lights.

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If you have a discount pass, such as the Explorer Pass or New York Pass, it is not possible to visit Top of the Rock until 2.5 hours before sunset. You will then only gain access with a sunset ticket.

Top of the Rock VIP Tickets

The Top of the Rock VIP Tickets offer you more than the regular tickets. Not only can you enjoy the views of New York, but you can also skip lines, get a private tour, have access to The Beam and the Skylift, and more! At the observation deck, the best spot to take photos is cordoned off just for you. With this ticket, you will feel like a VIP.

Buy the Top of the Rock VIP Ticket here

View from Top of the Rock

Heading up to the top of the skyscraper, you can enjoy the mezzanine exposition, a collection of photos and artefacts that tell the fascinating story of the Top of the Rock and Rockefeller Center. You’ll have even higher expectations when you’ve seen the exhibition! The ‘ride’ in the lift is spectacular! The lift’s roof is nice, so you can see the lift going up in the lift shaft.

Once at the top, you have a beautiful view over Manhattan, New Jersey, Brooklyn, and Queens! From the viewing area, you can see the Chrysler Building, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Hudson River. You can also see Central Park on the north and the Empire State Building on the south sides!

The Rockefeller Center observation deck has three levels. On the third level, you have an unobstructed view without a glass enclosure, which allows you to take great photos.

Eric’s Tip: “I personally think that the view from the Top of the Rock is nicer than the view from the Empire State Building. You are in the middle of Manhattan, and the building is slightly lower. Some newer buildings partially block the Central Park view, but the view is still beautiful. I highly recommend doing it if you can visit both the Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building. I advise visiting the Top of the Rock during the day; that way, you’ll have the best view of Central Park. If it’s dark, the park isn’t clearly visible.”

Special Experiences at Top of the Rock

Top of the Rock is not just an observation deck. There are two unique experiences that you can add to your visit: The Beam and Skylift.

The Beam Experience

The iconic photograph of 11 workers eating lunch on a steel beam, 69 stories high, was taken in 1932. The photo was captured during the construction of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the building that houses Top of the Rock. You can now follow in the footsteps of those builders in The Beam Experience. Buckle up, rise above the deck and enjoy the views of Central Park. You can buy the Beam tickets as a Top of the Rock admission + Beam combo. Tickets for The Beam Experience are also included in the VIP package.

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Skylift

Rise 900 feet (275 metres) above the streets of New York during the Skylift experience at the Top of the Rock. The open-air platform rises and rotates, giving you 360-degree views. Tickets for the Skylift are included in the VIP package.

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Practical Information

Location: The Main Entrance is on 50th Street between Fifth and 6th Avenue
Opening hours: from 09:00 to 22:00
- The last elevator goes up 50 minutes before closing time
- Opening hours may vary during Christmas and New Year’s
How to get there: The closest subway station is the 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Center station; you can take lines BDFM to get there.
Accessibility: Top of the Rock is wheelchair accessible

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Tip: Take the Rockefeller Center Tour

FAQ

You can visit the Top of the Rock from £40. If you want to visit other attractions, read about discount passes.

I would advise visiting the Top of the Rock during the day. Even better is during sunset, but it can be very busy!

After entering, you can stay on the observation deck for as long as you want. Buy tickets for Top of the Rock here.

Yes! During the day, the view you get from Top of the Rock is one of the most iconic in New York.

It can get very busy, so I recommend buying your tickets in advance, or get a discount pass for New York, so you can secure a time slot.

Allow approximately 1 to 1.5 hours for your visit without the additional experiences. If you are going on The Beam or Skylift, then you'll need some extra time.