The one New York viewpoint that puts the Empire State Building in your photo instead of under your feet. Three levels of terraces above Rockefeller Center, with Central Park stretching away to the north.
Rockefeller Center was built in the 1930s as a city within the city, and its central tower, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, had an observation deck almost from the start. It closed for decades and reopened in 2005 after restoration, with Art Deco details and terraces spread over the top floors of the building.
Face south and the Empire State Building stands at the centre of Midtown, with One World Trade Center far downtown behind it. Face north and Central Park opens up in a long green rectangle between the towers of the Upper East and Upper West Sides. The top terrace has no glass panels in front of you, which makes it the best level for photographs.
The Empire State Building is the more famous experience, but from its deck you cannot see the Empire State itself. Top of the Rock gives you the skyline with the Empire State in it, plus a far better view of Central Park. If you only have time for one deck, many travellers choose Top of the Rock for the view and the Empire State for the history.
Pair Top of the Rock with the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and a walk through Central Park in our complete New York guide — or let the AI build your day-by-day itinerary.
New York City Guide