Top of the Rock Tickets, Prices & Observation Deck Guide
Top of the Rock NYC sells everything from a basic timed ticket to a $185 VIP pass, with two add-ons called The Beam and SKYLIFT in between. Here’s what each one gets you, what’s worth paying for, and how to time it so the view actually delivers.
Top of the Rock is the deck with the postcard view: the Empire State Building dead center, Central Park stretching out to the north, and open-air terraces where there’s no glass between you and the skyline. Getting there is easy. Picking a ticket is where people overspend.
The Quick AnswerWhich Top of the Rock Ticket Should You Buy?
Most people should buy the standard Timed Admission, from $42. You get all three levels and the full 360° view. Everything else is an add-on for novelty, convenience or flexibility, not a better view.
| Ticket | Best for | Includes | From* | The trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timed Admission Our pick | View-first visitors | All three deck levels at your chosen time | $42 | No extras, and you’re locked to your time slot |
| The Beam + Admission | Photo-lovers, couples | Admission + The Beam | $57 | A great photo, but a short experience |
| SKYLIFT + Admission | Thrill-seekers | Admission + SKYLIFT | $57 | Weather-dependent and very high up |
| All-Inclusive | People who want both add-ons | Admission + The Beam + SKYLIFT | $72 | Only a deal if you’d really do both |
| Skip-the-line | Tight schedules, peak dates | Admission with faster entry | $82 | Almost double the base price, for time saved |
| Anytime Admission | Uncertain weather or plans | Admission without a fixed slot | $105 | You’re paying a lot for flexibility |
| VIP Pass | Special occasions | Guided visit, priority access, lounge, private Beam, SKYLIFT, photo pass, Champagne toast | $185 | A luxury experience, not a value purchase |
| VIP Rock Pass | The splurge | Top-tier VIP package | $225 | Check exactly what’s included before you pay |
*Adult starting prices, checked September 27, 2026. Timed, All-Inclusive and VIP prices were verified on the official Top of the Rock page. Prices vary by date and time, so check your exact slot at checkout.
Top of the Rock Ticket Prices
Top of the Rock tickets start at $42 for Timed Admission. The Beam or SKYLIFT adds about $15, both together is $72, and VIP runs $185–$225.
The quick math: All-Inclusive is $30 more than standard Timed Admission and $15 more than either single-add-on package. If you know you want both The Beam and SKYLIFT, it is the simplest package; otherwise, standard admission or one add-on costs less. It’s simply the easy way to get both if you already know you want them.
Prices are dynamic, so sunset slots, weekends and December dates can cost more than the “from” price.Prices vary by date, time and ticket type, so compare the final checkout total rather than relying only on the advertised starting price. If you’re searching “Top of the Rock fees,” the honest answer is: check the final total before you pay, not the headline number.
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Where to Buy Top of the Rock Tickets
Buy online and pick a time slot. Top of the Rock uses timed entry, and the official site says buying online means skipping the box-office line. You can buy on site, but at popular times the next open slot may be hours away.
- Official source: Rockefeller Center’s own ticket site, which sells every ticket type above.
- Attraction passes: CityPASS and Go City include Top of the Rock (see discounts).
- Booking platforms: resellers sell Top of the Rock tickets too, sometimes bundled with tours. Compare the final price before you commit, and remember no reseller is “the official” ticket.
Searching “Rockefeller Center tickets” turns up the Rink, the Rockefeller Center Tour and Top of the Rock all at once. They’re separate tickets. If you want the tour or skating, see our Rockefeller Center guide. It covers everything else at the complex. Some people also search for “30 Rock tickets” or “TOTR tickets,” which usually means this deck.
When Should You Buy Top of the Rock Tickets?
Book ahead for sunset, weekends and December. Flexible weekday midday and late-night visits may have more availability than sunset and peak weekends, but check live inventory before relying on a last-minute booking.
The most requested time of day. Book as soon as your dates are set.
Tree season fills every slot around the plaza. Book early and expect peak prices.
Saturday afternoons and evenings go first. Weekdays are noticeably easier.
Check the forecast, then book the day before for a clear-sky slot.
Late evening is your friend. It’s open until midnight, with the last entry at 11:10 PM.
Top of the Rock Sunset Tickets: Are They Worth It?
Yes, if you arrive early and stay late. Sunset here is really three views in one: daylight, golden hour and the city lighting up. You only get all three if you’re up there before the sun goes down.
Aim to arrive 45–60 minutes before sunset and plan to stay about an hour after. Sunset in New York moves a lot through the year, from around 4:30 PM in December to around 8:30 PM in late June, so check the exact time for your date. The Empire State Building, to the south, catches the last light, and the sun sets over New Jersey to the west.
The trade-off: sunset is the most crowded time on the deck, and every good railing spot is taken. If you’d rather have space than drama, go at night. The lit-up skyline is just as striking, and the terraces are calmer.
The Three Levels, The Beam and SKYLIFT
A rotating glass platform that rises about 30 feet above the 70th floor, with a 360° open-air view.
The highest standard level. Nothing between you and the skyline.
A steel beam that lifts about 12 feet off the deck, recreating the famous 1932 lunch-on-a-girder photo.
Another open-air level with its own angles on the skyline.
Enclosed views, plus drinks and light bites on the terrace.
Floor placement of the add-ons is simplified. Staff direct you to The Beam and SKYLIFT on the day.
Is The Beam at Top of the Rock Worth It?
It’s worth it if you want the photo. It’s a playful recreation of the famous ironworkers-on-a-girder picture, with the skyline behind you. If you’re there for the view itself, skip it.
You sit on a beam that rises roughly 12 feet above the deck and gives you about a 180° view. It’s quick, it’s fun, and the photos are great, especially for couples and families with older kids. It’s also gentler than SKYLIFT, so it works for people who are a little nervous about heights but still want the moment.
Skip it if you’re on a budget, you don’t care about souvenir-style photos, or you’d rather spend the $15 on a drink in the Weather Room.
Is SKYLIFT at Top of the Rock Worth It?
It’s worth it for thrill-seekers on a clear day. SKYLIFT is the most dramatic thing at Top of the Rock. On a hazy or windy day, it’s just an expensive elevator ride.
SKYLIFT is an open-air glass platform that slowly rotates as it rises about three stories (roughly 30 feet) above the 70th floor, for a full 360° view. It’s the highest you can get at Rockefeller Center, and it’s open to the air.
Skip it if heights make you uneasy, the forecast is grey, or you’re there at a crowded sunset and would rather spend the time at the railing.
The Beam vs. SKYLIFT: Which Add-On Should You Choose?
🏗️ The Beam
- Height: about 12 ft above the deck
- View: about 180°
- Feels like: a fun photo moment
- Nerves: manageable for most people
- Best for: couples, families, Instagram
🔭 SKYLIFT
- Height: about 30 ft above the 70th floor
- View: 360°, rotating
- Feels like: a real thrill
- Nerves: not for the height-averse
- Best for: clear days, adrenaline
Our take: pick SKYLIFT for the experience and The Beam for the photo. Get All-Inclusive only if you’d genuinely do both. It costs the same as buying each one separately, so it isn’t a discount.
Top of the Rock Discount Tickets, CityPASS & Go City
Top of the Rock is included in New York CityPASS, New York C3, the New York Pass by Go City and the Go City Explorer Pass. A pass saves money only if you’ll use enough of the other attractions in it.
New York CityPASS
A fixed bundle of big-name attractions. Good for a classic first trip where you’d visit most of them anyway.
New York C3
Choose three attractions. Good when Top of the Rock is one of just a few paid stops.
New York Pass (Go City)
Unlimited attractions over set days. Rewards people who pack their days full.
Go City Explorer
Pick a set number of attractions over a longer window. Good for a relaxed pace.
The simple test: add up the regular prices of the attractions you’d really visit, then compare that with the pass price. If the pass only wins because of places you’d skip, buy the $42 Top of the Rock ticket on its own.
Be wary of “discount” sites promising big savings on a single ticket, and read the fine print on dates and time slots.
Top of the Rock Hours
These are the official hours as of September 27, 2026. Holidays and special events (July 4th fireworks packages, New Year’s Eve) can change them, so check your date. The late close is a real advantage: you can go up after a Broadway show lets out.
Best Time to Visit Top of the Rock
An 8 AM opening means fresh light and thinner crowds. Great for families and clear photos.
The easiest time to pick out landmarks, but with flat light for photos.
The best light and the biggest crowds. Arrive early.
A glittering skyline, calmer terraces and a great after-dinner or after-show plan.
In December, the Christmas tree is lit on the plaza below. Go up early in the morning, or late at night after 10 PM, when the crowds thin out.
Is Top of the Rock Worth It?
Yes, for most first-time visitors. It’s the best-known skyline view in New York, with the Empire State Building in your photos, and it fits neatly into a Midtown or Broadway day.
✅ Worth it if…
- It’s your first trip to NYC
- You want the Empire State Building in your skyline photos
- You’re spending the day around Rockefeller Center, Radio City or Broadway
- You’ll go at sunset or after dark
- You like open-air decks
🤔 Less compelling if…
- It’s foggy or low cloud
- You’re already doing another premium deck on the same trip
- Your trip is all downtown
- Money is tight: the free plaza below is still great
- Heights really bother you
Top of the Rock vs. Empire State Building
Choose Top of the Rock if you want the Empire State Building in your view. Choose the Empire State Building if you want to stand on the landmark.
| Top of the Rock | Empire State Building | |
|---|---|---|
| The view | Empire State Building + Central Park in one frame | The view from the icon, without it in the shot |
| Outdoor space | Two open-air levels, wide terraces | The famous open-air 86th-floor wraparound |
| Starting price | From $42 | From about $46 |
| Add-ons | The Beam, SKYLIFT | The 102nd floor, Express |
| Neighborhood | Rockefeller Center: Radio City, Broadway, Fifth Ave | 34th St: Koreatown, MSG, Herald Square |
| Hours | 8 AM – 12 AM | Seasonal, into the late evening |
Both are great, and plenty of people do one on each trip. Weighing the Empire State Building? Our Empire State Building ticket guide covers the 86th vs. 102nd floor question. To compare all five major decks, see our NYC observation decks comparison.
What Can You See From Top of the Rock?
- South: the Empire State Building dead center, with the downtown towers and One World Trade Center behind it.
- North: all of Central Park, a green rectangle cut into the grid. It’s the view you can’t get from the Empire State Building.
- West: the Hudson River and New Jersey, where the sun sets.
- East and southeast: the Chrysler Building’s spire and the East River.
The 69th floor has tall safety-glass panels, and the 70th floor is fully open, with nothing between you and the skyline. That’s why photographers love it.
How Long Should You Spend at Top of the Rock?
Standard visit: security, the elevator and all three levels.
Add The Beam and/or SKYLIFT.
A sunset visit, from daylight to dark.
VIP, or December weekends when everything moves slower.
What Happens If the Weather Is Bad?
Low cloud and fog can erase the view completely. At 70 stories, you can be standing inside the cloud. Wind and cold hit hard on the open-air levels, and they’re the most likely to affect SKYLIFT and The Beam.
- Check the forecast the morning of your visit, and look for cloud-base height, not just rain.
- Read your ticket’s change and refund terms before buying. Timed and discounted tickets are usually stricter than flexible ones.
- Uncertain weather is when Anytime Admission earns its price, because you’re not tied to a slot.
What to Know Before You Go
Entrance
50 West 50th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Look for the big red carpet on the south side of the street.
Security
Everyone goes through security. No weapons, and no food or drinks brought in.
Accessibility
Top of the Rock provides accessible routes and support. Check the official accessibility page for details before you go.
Bring a layer
The top two levels are open-air. It’s windier and colder up there than on 50th Street.
How to Get to Top of the Rock
Top of the Rock is inside 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the tower at the center of Rockefeller Center.
- Subway: B, D, F or M to 47–50 Sts–Rockefeller Center, which is right under the complex.
- From Times Square or the Theater District: about a 10-minute walk east.
- From Grand Central: about 10–15 minutes on foot, west along the 40s.
More on the neighborhood, the plaza, the rink and the rest of the complex is in our Rockefeller Center guide. For transit details, see getting to Radio City (same block, same subway stops).
Plan a Night Around Top of the Rock
Sunset, Then Broadway
A 5:30 slot in the fall, early dinner, then a 10-minute walk to an 8 PM curtain. Start with what’s on Broadway and pre-theater restaurants.
Broadway, Then the Deck
It’s open until midnight. Catch a show, then go up at 10:30 for the city lights with fewer crowds.
Tree, Deck, Radio City
The December triple: tree on the plaza, the view from the top, then a show at Radio City. See NYC at Christmas.
Deck, Dinner, Drinks
Top of the Rock, then dinner nearby from our restaurants near Rockefeller Center, then a rooftop bar to keep the view going.
Staying the night? Hotels near Radio City put you steps from the entrance.
Top of the Rock Tickets: Frequently Asked Questions
How much are Top of the Rock tickets?
Top of the Rock tickets start at $42 for Timed Admission. The Beam or SKYLIFT with admission starts at $57, the All-Inclusive Pass with both add-ons at $72, Skip-the-line at $82, Anytime Admission at $105, and VIP passes at $185 to $225. Prices were checked September 27, 2026 and vary by date and time.
What is the cheapest Top of the Rock ticket?
The cheapest ticket is Timed Admission, from $42, which includes all three observation levels at your chosen time. Attraction passes like CityPASS can lower the cost further, but only if you use the other attractions in the pass.
Should I buy Top of the Rock tickets in advance?
Yes for sunset, weekends and December, when the best time slots sell out first. For a weekday midday or late-night visit, buying a day or two ahead is usually enough. Buying online also lets you skip the box-office line.
Is sunset at Top of the Rock worth it?
Sunset is worth it if you arrive 45 to 60 minutes early and stay about an hour, so you see daylight, golden hour and the city lighting up. It is also the most crowded time, so visitors who want more space should consider a night visit instead.
What is The Beam at Top of the Rock?
The Beam is an add-on where you sit on a steel beam that lifts about 12 feet above the deck, recreating the famous 1932 photo of ironworkers eating lunch on a girder. It offers roughly a 180-degree view and is mainly a photo experience.
What is SKYLIFT at Top of the Rock?
SKYLIFT is an open-air glass platform that slowly rotates as it rises about 30 feet above the 70th-floor deck, giving a 360-degree view. It is the highest experience at Rockefeller Center and is best on a clear day.
Is The Beam or SKYLIFT better?
Choose SKYLIFT for the bigger thrill and full 360-degree view, and The Beam for the classic photo. The All-Inclusive Pass includes both, but it costs about the same as adding each separately, so it only makes sense if you want both.
Is Top of the Rock included with CityPASS?
Yes. Top of the Rock is included in New York CityPASS, New York C3, the New York Pass by Go City and the Go City Explorer Pass. A pass only saves money if you will visit enough of its other attractions.
What are Top of the Rock hours?
Top of the Rock is open daily from 8 AM to 12 AM, with last entry at 11:10 PM, according to the official site as of September 27, 2026. Hours can change for holidays and special events, so check your date.
Is Top of the Rock worth it?
Yes for most first-time visitors. It offers the classic New York skyline view with the Empire State Building in the frame and Central Park to the north, open-air terraces, and an easy location near Rockefeller Center, Radio City and Broadway. It is less worthwhile on foggy or low-cloud days.
Is Top of the Rock better than the Empire State Building?
It depends on what you want. Top of the Rock is better if you want the Empire State Building in your view and a location near Broadway and Radio City. The Empire State Building is better if you want to stand on the landmark itself. Many visitors do one on each trip.
How long should I spend at Top of the Rock?
Plan 45 to 60 minutes for a standard visit, 1 to 1.5 hours if you add The Beam or SKYLIFT, and 1.5 to 2 hours for a sunset visit. Allow extra time on December weekends.
What happens if the weather is bad at Top of the Rock?
Low cloud or fog can hide the view completely, and wind and cold can affect the open-air levels and add-ons. Check the forecast before you go and read your ticket’s change and refund terms before buying, since flexible tickets like Anytime Admission cost more but are not tied to a time slot.
Where is the Top of the Rock entrance?
The entrance is at 50 West 50th Street, on the south side of 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Look for the red carpet. The closest subway stop is 47–50 Sts–Rockefeller Center on the B, D, F and M lines.
Can you visit Rockefeller Center without a Top of the Rock ticket?
Yes. The plaza, Channel Gardens, public art and the Christmas tree in season are free to visit. You only need a Top of the Rock ticket to go up to the observation deck.
The Bottom Line on Top of the Rock Tickets
- Timed Admission ($42) is all most people need.
- The Beam and SKYLIFT are optional fun. Pick the one that fits you.
- All-Inclusive makes sense only if you’d do both. It isn’t a discount.
- Sunset is spectacular but crowded. Night is the calmer choice.
- Passes pay off only if you’d use the other attractions.
- It’s the deck for the Empire State Building view, and it pairs perfectly with Rockefeller Center, Radio City and Broadway.
You’ve Seen It From the Top — Now Go Out In It
Top of the Rock sits in the middle of Midtown’s best night out. Here’s everything around it: the other big views, the rest of Rockefeller Center, a show, dinner and a place to stay.
Rockefeller Center Guide
The plaza, the rink, the tree, the official tour and what’s free. Everything at 30 Rock besides the deck.
Explore the Complex Compare the ViewsNYC’s Best Observation Decks
Top of the Rock, the Empire State Building, SUMMIT, Edge and One World, side by side.
Compare DecksMore NYC Sightseeing
Views & big sightsEmpire State Building
Stand on the landmark instead of looking at it: 86th vs. 102nd floor, Express passes and prices.
ESB Ticket GuideCentral Park
The green rectangle you saw from the 70th floor is a 10-minute walk north.
Explore the ParkStatue of Liberty
Plan the ferry trip and choose the right access.
Plan the VisitNYC Museums
MoMA is three blocks away. See which museum fits your day.
Pick a MuseumNYC in One Day
Fit the deck into a full first-timer day.
Plan the DayNYC at Christmas
The tree below, the windows on Fifth: the whole holiday map.
Holiday GuidePlan the Night Around It
Shows, dinner & a place to stayBroadway Shows
The Theater District is a 10-minute walk west. Go up before the show or after.
Browse ShowsRadio City Music Hall
Same complex, one block west. Deck plus show is the Midtown double.
Radio City GuideRestaurants Near Rockefeller Center
From concourse bites to rink-view tables.
Find a TableBest Pre-Theater Restaurants
Sunset deck, early dinner, 8 PM curtain.
Pre-Theater PicksNYC Rooftop Bars
Keep the skyline going with a drink.
Rooftop PicksHotels Near Radio City
Steps from the Top of the Rock entrance.
Compare Hotels