One World Observatory Ticket + Top of the Rock Observation Deck
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Instant Confirmation
E-tickets accepted
Flexible Tickets
USD 75
The two great vantage points of New York City — one downtown, one midtown — giving you the full measure of Manhattan's skyline from both ends. One World Observatory at One World Trade Center delivers the highest views in the city with 360° panoramas from 1,268 feet. Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center delivers what many consider the most photogenic view in New York — a frontal perspective of the Empire State Building framed against the full Manhattan skyline — from three levels of indoor and outdoor observation decks 70 stories up. Together, they cover every angle of the city you came to see.
Key Highlights
- Explore One World Observatory for the highest public views in NYC with 360° panoramas up to 45 miles on a clear day.
- Experience sweeping views of Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Brooklyn Bridge from One World Observatory.
- Visit Top of the Rock for the most iconic Midtown skyline view featuring the Empire State Building and Central Park.
- Enjoy multiple viewing levels at Top of the Rock, including both indoor and open-air terraces.
- Discover the Welcome Gallery and immersive elevator experience at Top of the Rock before reaching the observation deck.
About One World Observatory Ticket + Top of the Rock Observation Deck
Choosing between New York’s observation decks is one of the city’s most common visitor dilemmas, but One World Observatory and Top of the Rock offer completely different perspectives of the skyline. One World Observatory, located in Lower Manhattan, provides sweeping views north across the entire city and south toward New York Harbor, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty.
In contrast, Top of the Rock, at Rockefeller Center in Midtown, delivers the classic postcard view of New York, including the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and Central Park. It is also the only observatory where you can actually see the Empire State Building itself as part of the view.
Top of the Rock also enhances the experience with the Welcome Gallery, featuring architectural exhibits and a detailed model of Rockefeller Center before the elevator ride up. Together, these two observatories offer distinct and complementary ways to experience New York’s skyline.
Book your tickets now on Thrillark!
In contrast, Top of the Rock, at Rockefeller Center in Midtown, delivers the classic postcard view of New York, including the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and Central Park. It is also the only observatory where you can actually see the Empire State Building itself as part of the view.
Top of the Rock also enhances the experience with the Welcome Gallery, featuring architectural exhibits and a detailed model of Rockefeller Center before the elevator ride up. Together, these two observatories offer distinct and complementary ways to experience New York’s skyline.
Book your tickets now on Thrillark!
Inclusions
- Skip the Line
- Audio Guide
- Live Commentary
- Welcome Gallery, and multimedia exhibition on Rockefeller Center's history
Exclusions
- Skylift experience at Top of the Rock (available as a separate upgrade)
- The Beam Experience at Top of the Rock (available as a separate upgrade)
- Dining at ONE Dine at One World Observatory (additional charge)
- Personel Expenses
Insiders' Tips
Visit One World Observatory in the morning and Top of the Rock at sunset — the timing perfectly captures the two most spectacular lighting conditions of a New York day. The midday view from One World is clearest for photography of the distant landmarks and harbor. Top of the Rock at sunset delivers the most famous view of New York — the Empire State Building gradually illuminated against an orange and pink sky — and is widely considered the single best observation deck moment in the city. At Top of the Rock, arrive at your booked time to scan your ticket at the box office on 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues (look for the red carpet).
Additional Information
Operating hours
- One World Observatory:
- 09:00am - 09:00pm
- Top of the Rock Observation Deck :
- 08:00am - 12:00am
- Children under 6 free of charge
- Top of the Rock Observation Deck
- The Beam:
- Guests must be at least 132cm in height to ride The Beam alone. Guests between 107-131cm in height must be accompanied by a paying adult to ride The Beam.
- The maximum weight limit to ride The Beam is 136kg.
Cancellation Policy
Non-refundable: All bookings are final once confirmed. Please review your visit date carefully before completing your purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Top of the Rock considered the best place to photograph the Empire State Building?
Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center is the only major observation deck in New York that has a direct, unobstructed frontal view of the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building sits roughly in the middle of the Manhattan skyline when viewed from Top of the Rock, with the full midtown canyon of skyscrapers extending in both directions and Central Park visible behind it to the north. From the Empire State Building itself, you can see everything except the building you are standing in. From One World Observatory, the Empire State Building appears smaller and at a distance. Top of the Rock's elevation and position make it the definitive photographic vantage point for the city's most famous building.
Is it worth visiting both decks in one day?
Yes — One World Observatory and Top of the Rock offer genuinely different perspectives that complement rather than duplicate each other. One World is in Lower Manhattan and provides the best views of the southern part of the city — the harbor, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and the Financial District. Top of the Rock is in Midtown and provides the best views of the northern part — Central Park, the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings, and the iconic Midtown skyline. Together they give a comprehensive view of Manhattan that neither can achieve alone. Allow approximately 1–1.5 hours at each observatory, and plan travel time between Lower Manhattan and Midtown (approximately 30–40 minutes by subway).
What is the Skylift experience at Top of the Rock?
Skylift is a glass platform at Top of the Rock that rotates 360° while rising to 900 feet above street level — making it the only fully panoramic motorised aerial experience at any New York observation deck. Available as an upgrade to standard admission, Skylift takes visitors even higher than the main 70th floor deck for a brief but spectacular 360° orbital perspective of the cityscape. The experience also features a nighttime light show during evening hours. The Beam Experience, another upgrade, recreates the famous 1932 photograph of ironworkers having lunch on a steel beam during the construction of 30 Rockefeller Plaza — participants sit on a steel beam 900 feet above street level.
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