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Sight Midtown, Manhattan

Top of the Rock

A sight in Midtown, Manhattan, pricey ($$$) and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Sunset.

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Top of the Rock in Midtown, Manhattan
Photo: Jakub Peller · Google

Why go

Open-air decks atop Rockefeller Center with a clear view of the Empire State Building and Central Park.

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Manhattan, alongside 4 places to eat, 2 sights and 1 activity. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Museum of Modern Art and Le Bernardin.

Type
Sight
Neighborhood
Midtown
Price
$$$
Time needed
1 hr
Best time
Sunset

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 4 beyond Manhattan. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Museum of Modern Art

    Van Gogh, Picasso, Warhol and a strong design collection across six floors in Midtown.

    Sight · 0.2 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Le Bernardin

    Eric Ripert's seafood restaurant on West 51st Street, with three Michelin stars and a formal tasting menu.

    Food · Midtown Manhattan · 0.2 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Gallaghers Steakhouse

    Theater District steakhouse open since 1927, with its meat-aging locker visible from West 52nd Street.

    Food · Midtown Manhattan · 0.3 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Times Square

    The billboards and Broadway theaters are at their best after dark.

    Sight · 0.3 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    New York Marriott Marquis

    Big Times Square hotel on Broadway; rooms on the right side look straight down at the ball drop.

    Stay · Midtown Manhattan · 0.4 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Times Square Ball Drop

    The ball atop One Times Square drops at 11:59 p.m., followed by confetti and fireworks over a crowd of about a million.

    Sight · Midtown Manhattan · 0.4 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Top of the Rock is a stop on our NYC Cultural Weekend route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Manhattan

Top of the Rock is our only sight pick in Manhattan; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Manhattan guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Manhattan run from 36°F in January to 85°F in July; October is usually the wettest month. For Top of the Rock itself, we suggest: Sunset.

Modelled monthly averages for Manhattan from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Manhattan weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Top of the Rock, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112, USA
Coordinates
40.75935, -73.97941
Destination
Manhattan, New York
Website
rockefellercenter.com

Top of the Rock: quick answers

How much time do you need at Top of the Rock?

Plan on about an hour at Top of the Rock. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Top of the Rock?

Our pick: Sunset. Insider tip: Sunset slots sell out; book a day ahead.

Where is Top of the Rock?

Top of the Rock is at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112, USA, in Midtown. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Top of the Rock?

Top of the Rock appears on NYC Cultural Weekend, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Top of the Rock to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Manhattan.

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Lists & regions

Also in Manhattan

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.