Visiting Top of the Rock in 2026: A Photographer's Guide to NYC's Classic Observation Deck
People look at the Empire State Building from the Top of the Rock. All photos by John O’Boyle / The Empty Nest Explorers
Photo Note - I backed up a bit and used a telephoto lens to compress the perspective making the buildings look closer.
Over the years, Debbie and I have been inside 30 Rockefeller Plaza many times, usually to photograph corporate events at the Rainbow Room on the 65th floor. Until this trip, we had never been up to the actual Top of the Rock observation deck two floors above.
Our Rainbow Room visits were always at night, so we already had a pretty good sense of what the city looks like from up there. We finally made the trip up to the deck itself, and we now understand why it is such a classic New York attraction.
| 📍 Address | 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112 |
| 🚪 Entrance | West 50th Street, between 5th & 6th Avenues |
| 🚇 Nearest Subway | 47th to 50th Sts / Rockefeller Ctr (B, D, F, M) |
| 🕐 Hours | Daily, 8:00 AM to midnight (last entry 11:10 PM) |
| 🎫 Admission From | $45 (timed entry, varies by date and time) |
| 🏢 Observation Levels | 67th floor (indoor), 69th (glass), 70th (open-air) |
| 📏 Deck Height | 850 feet (259 m) |
| ⏱️ Time to Budget | 1.5 to 2 hours |
Top of the Rock is located atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
How to Get to Top of the Rock
The building address is 30 Rockefeller Plaza, but the observation deck has its own entrance on West 50th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Look for the red carpet and the Top of the Rock signage on the south side of the street. One of the iconic NBC signs is on the same block, so you cannot really miss it.
By subway, the B, D, F, and M trains stop at the 47th to 50th Sts / Rockefeller Center station and put you right at the building. If you walk into the main 30 Rock lobby by mistake, just head back out to West 50th Street.
The office tower lobby and the observation deck use different entrances.
What Makes Top of the Rock Different
Two things set Top of the Rock apart from the other observation decks in NYC.
The first is the Art Deco design. The entire experience keeps the architectural style of the 1933 building. There is a giant chandelier in the entry, gold deco accents in the elevator, and period detailing throughout the space. The Welcome Gallery upstairs features a 10-foot scale model of the entire Rockefeller Center campus. The whole thing feels classy from the moment you walk in.
The second is the only one that really matters for the view. The top observation level on the 70th floor is set back from the edge of the building, which means there is no glass and no railing in front of you. It is the only fully open-air observation experience in New York City. From a photographer's standpoint, that is a real advantage. There is no glare, reflections, or fingerprints. Just the city in front of your lens.
Debbie, wearing a scarf on her head because of the very windy conditions. We are standing on the 70th floor and as you can see there is no glass in front of you. Photo note - Tripods are not allowed but for night time photos you can rest your camera concrete wall.
The Experience: What to Expect Once You're Inside
The Sky Shuttle Elevator
Once you clear security, you board the Sky Shuttle elevator. The car is decorated in Art Deco gold, and the ride to the 67th floor takes about 43 seconds. Look up during the climb. The glass ceiling has an animated light show projected onto it about the history of NYC and the building. The elevator alone made it obvious to us that this was going to be a classy operation.
The multimedia presentation was brief and informative.
The Welcome Gallery and Multimedia Presentation
The elevator drops you on the 67th floor, which Top of the Rock calls the Welcome Gallery. Before you head up to the views, there is a short multimedia presentation on the history of New York City and the building's Depression-era construction. It was informative and well done, and worth a few minutes. Debbie and I have lived here all our lives, and we have learned a thing or two about NYC history.
This floor is mostly the Welcome Gallery, the gift shop, and the Weather Room Café and Bar. There is not much reason to linger here on the way up. Head for the escalator to the next two floors.
Pro tip - as you get on the escalator, wait so there is nobody in front of you. As you ascend the escalator, all you see is blue sky. It looks like a highway to the sky, very cool.
One of my favorite parts of Top of the Rock is the “escalator to the sky”.
The 69th Floor
The 69th floor is the first true observation level. It is open to the air, but the perimeter has frameless safety glass running around the perimeter.
Views are excellent from here, and the glass is clean enough that you can shoot photos through it without too much trouble. The Beam attraction is also on this floor.
The panes of glass looking south on the 69th floor.
The 70th Floor: The Star of the Show
The 70th floor is the reason to come. The deck here is set back from the edge of the building, so there is no glass and no railing at eye level when you walk to the perimeter. At 850 feet above the street, the perspective is more intimate than the higher decks, and we think that actually works in its favor. You feel part of the skyline rather than floating above it.
Looking south, you get the classic New York City postcard view. The Empire State Building lines up right in front of you, with the One World Trade Center tower rising behind it. From this same vantage point, you can see two of the other big NYC observation decks at once: The Edge sticking out from Hudson Yards to the west, and Summit One Vanderbilt sitting next to Grand Central to the east.
Debbie brought binoculars, and she could clearly see people inside the Summit One Vanderbilt playing with the iconic silver balls.
The fantastic view of Central Park.
Turn around to the north, and you get something most NYC observation decks cannot offer. You look straight up Manhattan, past the slim Billionaires' Row supertalls on West 57th Street, and into the green expanse of Central Park. This is the cleanest view of Central Park from any observation deck in the city.
The Beam Experience
The Beam rises above the 69th floor.
The Beam is the newer photo experience on the 69th floor. It recreates the famous 1932 "Lunch Atop a Skyscraper" image. You sit on a replica steel beam, get safely harnessed in (the harness is hidden in the photos), and the beam lifts you about 12 feet above the deck. It rotates 180 degrees while professional photos are taken. The whole thing runs about five to ten minutes.
Minimum height is 42 inches with an adult, or 52 inches to ride alone. The Beam costs extra and is most often booked as a combo with general admission. Sessions fill up, especially on weekends and near sunset, so reserve ahead.
The Skylift
The Skylift is the most recent addition, launched in 2024. It is an open-air rotating glass platform that lifts you three stories above the 70th floor, putting you around 880 feet up with nothing around you but glass and sky.
We had tickets to ride the Skylift on our visit. High winds shut the attraction down right before our scheduled time, which apparently happens often enough that we would say check the weather forecast before adding it to your ticket. If conditions cooperate, it is a unique experience. If they do not, the attraction can close on short notice.
Speaking of winds, be prepared for gusty conditions. It was not windy on the ground when we visited, but up on the 70th floor, it was windy enough to cancel the ride.
Debbie had to put a scarf on her head to stop her hair from blowing around like crazy.
Top of the Rock vs the Other NYC Observation Decks
| Observation Deck | Height | Vibe | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top of the Rock | 850 ft | Classic, open-air | Photography, Central Park & ESB views |
| Empire State Building | 1,050 ft | Historic, iconic | History buffs, first-time visitors |
| The Edge | 1,131 ft | Modern, thrilling | Glass floor, Hudson views, City Climb |
| Summit One Vanderbilt | 1,063 ft | Immersive art | Mirror rooms, social moments |
| One World Observatory | 1,268 ft | Tallest, historic | Harbor & downtown views, 9/11 context |
New York City has five major observation decks now, and each one is best at something different. Here is how Top of the Rock stacks up.
If you want the best skyline photography view in NYC, Top of the Rock is the answer. If you want sheer altitude, The Edge or One World Observatory will take you higher. If you want immersive mirror-room art, Summit One Vanderbilt is the unique choice. The Empire State Building has more history.
We have visited four of the five and have full, firsthand reviews of each.
Ticket Options and 2026 Prices
Top of the Rock uses timed-entry tickets. We strongly recommend buying online in advance, since sunset slots and Beam sessions sell out, sometimes days ahead. One thoughtful feature: Top of the Rock has a Worry-Free Weather Guarantee that lets you reschedule if visibility on your booked day is poor.
| Ticket | Starting Price | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| General Admission | From $45 | All three observation levels, Welcome Gallery, Weather Room Café |
| Beam Combo | From $73 | General Admission plus The Beam photo experience |
| Skylift Add-on | $35 | Open-air rotating platform (added at venue, weather permitting) |
| RockMoMA Combo | From $63 | Top of the Rock plus MoMA admission |
| VIP Pass | From $207 | Priority entry, private guide, Beam, Skylift, photo pass, champagne (21+) |
Children under 5 enter free. Prices vary by date and time, with sunset windows running noticeably higher.
You can also book through Viator:Top of the Rock tickets on Viator.
A quick note: some links here are affiliate links. That means if you book or buy something through them, we earn a small commission. You pay nothing extra, and it helps keep this blog going. We only recommend things we actually believe in.
How Long to Visit For
We spent about two hours up there. You could move through faster, or you could easily stretch it past two hours if you ride the Beam, eat at the Weather Room, or wait around for sunset.
If you want to catch sunset from the 70th floor, give yourself ninety minutes minimum and arrive around forty-five minutes before sunset to claim a good spot at the railing-free edge.
Tips for Photographers
A few things worth knowing if you are shooting up there.
The 70th floor is the only place to shoot without glass in front of you.
Tripods are restricted. Travel light and rely on stabilization or a steady hand.
Resting your camera on the stone parapet can help on the 70th floor if you want a longer exposure. This is the only observation deck with a feature on which you can rest your camera.
The light changes fast around sunset. Aim for a slot starting about ninety minutes before sunset. You get a full daylight view, golden hour over Central Park, and the night skyline before you leave. Top of the Rock stays open until midnight, so you have plenty of cushion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What floor is Top of the Rock on?
The observation experience spans three floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza: the 67th (indoor Welcome Gallery), the 69th (outdoor with frameless glass), and the 70th (fully open-air, no glass). The Skylift, when running, rises three stories above the 70th floor.
How tall is Top of the Rock?
The 70th-floor observation deck sits 850 feet above street level.
Is Top of the Rock better than the Empire State Building?
For views and photography, I would have to say yes. Top of the Rock gives you the classic head-on view of the Empire State Building itself, which the Empire State Building obviously cannot offer. It also has the cleanest view of Central Park from any NYC observation deck. The Empire State Building has more history and is taller. If you have time for both, do both. If you have time for one and the view is your priority, our pick is Top of the Rock.
Can you see Central Park from Top of the Rock?
Yes, and we think it is the best view of Central Park from any of the NYC observation decks. The 70th floor faces north straight up the park, past the slim Billionaires' Row skyscrapers.
Is the Skylift worth the extra money?
If conditions cooperate, the Skylift gives you a unique open-air rotating platform three stories above the 70th floor. It can close on short notice for the wind, so we cannot give you a firsthand verdict yet. Our visit got canceled due to gusts. If you want to do it, book it knowing it might not run on the day.
How long does a visit to Top of the Rock take?
Plan for 1.5 to 2 hours. You can do it in under an hour if you skip the multimedia presentation and the gift shop. Add the Beam, the Weather Room, or a sunset wait, and you can stretch it past two hours.
When is the best time to visit Top of the Rock?
Sunset is the most popular and the most expensive slot. Early morning is the quietest. For photography, the slot starting about ninety minutes before sunset is the sweet spot. You get daylight, golden hour, and the night skyline in one visit.
Does Top of the Rock get crowded?
Yes, especially during sunset and on weekends. Book a timed-entry slot online in advance, and you avoid the worst of it.
Are strollers allowed at Top of the Rock?
Strollers are allowed in indoor areas and on the elevators. Check with staff once on the deck levels.
About the Authors
|
John and Debbie O'Boyle are the team behind The Empty Nest Explorers. John is a professional photographer whose work has been published by The New York Times, NBC News, and Getty Images. He is a member of the American Society of Media Photographers, has been part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team, and has received two New York Emmy nominations. Debbie is a writer with 30+ years of professional photography experience, formerly with The Star-Ledger and NJ.com. Together, they create in-depth travel guides for couples and empty-nest travelers who want to make the most of every destination. |
Well reviewed NYC activities:
A quick note: some links here are affiliate links. That means if you book or buy something through them, we earn a small commission. You pay nothing extra, and it helps keep this blog going. We only recommend things we actually believe in.
Other NYC blog posts:
Top of the Rock is the deck most people will tell you to visit first, and after finally making it up there ourselves, we understand why.
Here is everything we learned about tickets, timing, and the open-air view you cannot get anywhere else in the city.