The Rockefeller Center deck — the connoisseur's pick because the Empire State is IN the view.
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The verdict
Who it's worth it for
Great for
If you've only got a day
Families with kids
Couples
Solo travellers
Photographers
Depends
Travellers on a budget
Romantics
History & culture buffs
Not for
—
Worth it for if you've only got a day, families with kids and couples.
Why we say this
Insider secrets & local vibes
Spanning floors 67, 69 and 70, it gives the one skyline view that includes the Empire State Building itself plus an unobstructed Central Park to the north.
Skylift tacks $35 onto any ticket regardless of age, and the Beam is a separate upcharge — the headline experiences aren't included in general admission.
The connoisseur's pick — open-air rails, no glass glare, and the Empire State Building plus Central Park both in one frame.
First-timers
If you want the most recognizable skyline shot rather than the highest one, this beats the Empire State's own deck.
With kids
The Beam and Skylift give kids a thrill beyond just looking out — fun, but budget for the add-on fees.
As a couple
Sunset on the open-air 70th-floor terrace, with the city lights coming up over Central Park, is the date-night version of this view.
What people say
Straight from the reviews
“Top of the Rock now offers 360-degree views that take in Central Park to the north, the Brooklyn Bridge to the south, and on a clear day, the Statue of Liberty beyond.”
“Skylift is a gravity-defying thrill ride that lifts visitors three stories above Top of the Rock's uppermost rooftop terrace and 900 feet above the city streets.”