There’s something a bit special about Top of The Rock. Perhaps it’s the swoonsome views of the Empire State Building, framed head-on in close up as it soars space-rocket-like out of the skyline. Or maybe it’s because its open-air observation deck up top promises entirely uninterrupted views and phenomenal photo ops. It might just be the old-school Art Deco charm of 30 Rock itself. Or maybe it’s because its relatively modest height (and we use the term advisedly) makes for a more intimate experience – nestled within the Manhattan skyline, rather than soaring above it like some of its more dizzying 21st-century counterparts.
We’ve got the scoop on
- What you should expect from your trip to the Top of The Rock
- How to get in with your New York Pass
- Where to snag the best snaps (and the best snacks)
- Details of a couple of fairly nerve-jangling add-ons
- Where to head when you're done
Ok I’m interested, tell me more…
Attraction names don’t come much more literal than Top of The Rock, NYC’s second-oldest observation platform after the Empire State Building, set on floors 67-70 of the Rockefeller Center. Or, if you like, at (you guessed it) the top of the Rock.
Casually knocked up during the Great Depression, the Rockefeller Center remains one of the landmark projects of that era; a skyscraping slice of Art Deco eye candy that soars 850 feet over the streets of Midtown. And, as if 360-degree panoramas and tantalizing Empire State close-ups weren’t enough, ToTR has recently added a couple more optional experiences for all you thrill-seekers out there. Skylift and The Beam promise even loftier, even unobstructier views than from the viewing platform itself.
Give me three good reasons why I should visit…
- The Empire State views are unbeatable. And we really mean that. There’s no better spot to frame clear, unobstructed views of King Kong’s favorite New York landmark. And, hey, the views of Central Park, the Chrysler Building, the Statue of Liberty, the Hudson and the One World Trade Center ain’t half bad either!
- 30 Rock is a Big Apple icon in its own right. Don’t skip the chance to ogle the building’s grand Art Deco exterior or to be dazzled by the comically opulent Joie Chandelier, a 14,000-crystal confection that rises three stories through the Grand Atrium lobby. Visit during the festive season for the chance to pap the legendary Rockefeller Christmas tree, which has been known to soar up to 100 feet high.
- Top of The Rock not thrilling enough for ya? No problem: optional Skylift and Beam experiences add extra adrenaline-surge opportunities from the uppermost observation decks. However, only those with nerves of steel need apply.
How do I find it?
There’s not a single New Yorker alive who wouldn’t be able to point you in the direction of Rockefeller Plaza. You’ll find the main entrance on 50th Street in Midtown, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. As befits your celebrity status as a New York Pass holder, a red carpet marks the way in.
Subway: take the B, D, F or M train to the 47–50th Street Rockefeller Center stop. Trains also serve nearby 49th, 50th and 51st Steer stations.
Bus: Take the M1, M2, M3, M4, M5 or M7 bus to 50th Street.
How do I get in with my New York Pass?
Book a time slot in advance via the Go City app, and flash your booking confirmation and pass to staff as you sashay across that big red carpet. There’s a security screening, after which a brief exhibition about the Rockefeller Center’s history sets the scene for the experience that awaits up top. Elevators take a mere 43 seconds to whisk you to the 67th floor – the first of Top of The Rock’s three levels of observation decks.
Your New York Pass is good for general entry to the observation decks, with The Beam and Skylift experiences available to be added on direct for an extra fee. But that’s not all: your New York Pass unlocks big savings more than 100 essential NYC tours, activities and attractions. We’re talking MoMA, Madame Tussauds, Intrepid Museum, RiseNY and so many more.
Tell me more about what I can see and do at Top of The Rock…
Besides those stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, you mean? Sure. There are three levels of observation decks up top. The first, on the 67th floor, has a substantial indoor space plus north- and south-facing outdoor terraces. The second, on the 69th, is known as the Breezeway and has a 360-degree terrace. But it’s the views from the 70th that bring the real wow factor. The whole deck is open-air, promising unobstructed 360-degree vistas of everything from the Empire State Building to the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, the Yankee Stadium and the Statue of Liberty. Awesome.
Top of the Rock is intended to mirror the design of an opulent 1930s cruise liner, so look out for those details and try not to get seasick up there. Also keep your eyes peeled for celebs. The NBC studio is in the building, so it’s not unknown to see the likes of Jimmy Fallon wandering about. Jason Momoa and — you really couldn’t make it up — The Rock have also been spotted up here at Top of The Rock.
Any other facilities worth noting?
- The Weather Room café on the 67th floor has terrace seating and some of the best views you can get with a sourdough grilled cheese, classic New York hit dog or — if you need a little extra Dutch courage for The Beam or Skylift — a signature Kir Royale du Rock.
- The 67th-floor gift shop has all your souvenir needs covered, assuming your souvenir needs include a NYC snow globe perched atop a yellow taxi cab or a Top of The Rock tote adorned with the famous ‘Lunch atop a Skyscraper’ shot that inspired The Beam attraction.
Where are the top photo ops?
This is kind of a no-brainer. You’ll want to make straight for the very top of Top of the Rock – a mighty 850 feet up on the open-air 70th-floor observation deck. In one direction: unobstructed views of the Empire State Building’s iconic Art Deco facade. In the other: the full length of Central Park stretching out in front of you. Arrive early for crisp, clear views and fewer crowds, or head up top for golden hour, when the skyline’s jungle of glass and steel fairly glows beneath skies painted in burnished tones of orange, pink and gold.
For an extra fee, you can recreate the ‘Lunch atop a Skyscraper’ photo on The Beam. You know the one: that vertigo-inducing sepia-tinted image of Rockefeller Center construction workers casually tucking into lunch while chatting, unsecured, on a suspended steel girder 850 feet above terra firma. Pro-tip: get someone from your crew who doesn’t fancy a go on The Beam to head up to the 70th floor and snap the shot for you.
Ok I’m all done here, where should I go next?
Top of The Rock’s prime Midtown location puts you within a bagel’s throw of dozens more must-visit NYC attractions. Many of these are — like Top of The Rock itself — included with your New York Pass. And the more you visit, the more cash your pass will save you. Here’s just a smattering of our nearby faves…
Any more optional extras?
What, Top of The Rock not high enough for ya? Well, you’re in luck: there are two optional add-on experiences (fees apply), one of which will take you even further above the New York skyline than the 70th floor deck. We;re talking the Skylift’s revolving open-air glass platform, which spins you an additional three stories above Top of The Rock for really and truly unobstructed skyline views. No need for selfies: there will be souvenir snaps available when you exit the attraction.
Meanwhile, The Beam is your opportunity to recreate that famous 1930s photo of daredevil construction workers lunching on a steel girder. Thankfully, this iteration of the suspended girder is entirely safe and, yes, you will be strapped in. The ride rises 12 feet above the 69th-floor platform and rotates 180 degrees for stellar Manhattan views and just a smidgen of adrenaline-surging terror.
Enjoyed this little slice of New York?
Our complete guides to Edge, the Empire State Building and the One World Observatory are packed with visitor tips and money-saving hacks, and might just tempt you to one or two more of the city’s loftiest viewpoints.
With The New York Pass®, you can skip the stress and save big on One World Observatory tickets plus dozens of other must-see attractions, all with one easy-to-use pass.
🗽 Don't explore the Big Apple without this
💰 How much can you really save in NYC?
