You simply cannot miss Rockefeller Centre; it’s literally a must-see on every visit. After all, it’s not just one tourist attraction, but several.

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Rockefeller Centre is the beating cultural heart of New York and also an architecturally exceptional complex covering an area of almost 25 acres, with all the buildings sharing a unified modernist style.

Our tips and recommendations:

• Book your tickets in advance if you wish to visit the observation deck at sunset
• Expect higher prices at sunset
• Allow 45–75 minutes for your visit

What can you find at Rockefeller Centre?

In this extensive complex of 19 buildings, you can look forward to attractions such as:

• Top of The Rock Observation Deck
• The Channel Gardens
• NBC Studios
• Radio City Music Hall
• Winter ice rink by the Prometheus statue
• Christmas tree during the festive season

Viewpoint Top of the Rock

The highlight, of course, is the Top of the Rock observation deck, which we believe is the very best in New York. You can enjoy Top of the Rock from the indoor level with its café or from the outdoor terrace, which offers a stunning 360° view.

And why is Top of the Rock the best in New York? Although it’s located in New York’s 32nd tallest building, the famous 30 Rockefeller Plaza skyscraper, its height of 260 metres is more than enough to provide fantastic views across the whole of Manhattan.

Moreover, Rockefeller Centre stands out not so much for its beauty as for its practicality, so there’s no need to linger over the view of the building itself.

From here, you’ll see New York’s most iconic skyscrapers, such as the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and the distant One World Trade Centre. At the same time, you’ll have a bird’s-eye view of the cluster of the world’s tallest residential buildings on the southern edge of Central Park.

Admission and opening hours

The Top of the Rock observation deck is openevery day from 8.00 am until midnight (last admission at 11.10 pm).

Prices vary depending on the time of day, with evening admission being more expensive.

Ticket prices on the website are always shown excluding tax, which is only displayed in the final step.

Different prices apply at weekends, on public holidays and during peak periods (school holidays); admission on normal working days is roughly 4 usd to 6 usd cheaper.

Below are examples of prices General Admission including taxfor adults.

	Weekdays	Weekends
Morning + evening	45,73 usd	48,99 usd
Afternoon	52,26 usd	52,26 usd
Sunset	62,06 usd	65,33 usd

Prices for senior citizens are around $2 lower and prices for children around $6 lower.

It is not necessary to book tickets in advance, at least not unless you wish to visit at a specific time around sunset. You can purchase tickets at: topoftherocknyc.com/buy-tickets.

NBC Studios

NBC Studios offers tours behind the scenes at one of the world’s largest television companies. One-hour tours take place on weekdays from 8.20 am to 2.00 pm and at weekends from 8.20 am to 5.00 pm. The price is 53 usd, including taxes, and you must book your ticket in advance at: thetouratnbcstudios.com.

Radio City Music Hall

Radio City Music Hall is a concert venue that regularly hosts the most famous shows and performances. You can find the current calendar of events on the website: radiocity.com/calendar.

Channel Gardens and the ice rink

You can visit the remaining three attractions for free. The gardens lead straight to the winter ice rink. This has a unique atmosphere, particularly during the Christmas season, when New York’s most famous Christmas tree – which has featured in several films – is on display here.

Hotels near Rockefeller Centre

The Midtown area, where the centre is located, is exceptionally lucrative and is effectively the heart of New York.

You should therefore be prepared for higher prices. Right within the Rockefeller Centre complex, you can choose from the following hotels, with prices ranging from 300 usd s per night.

• Radisson Hotel New York Midtown ****
• The Jewel Hotel ****
• 3 West Club ***

History of Rockefeller Centre

At the end of the 20th century, the wealthy industrialist, businessman, banker and oil magnate John D. Rockefeller initiated a monumental project for a multi-purpose centre, which was to become one of the focal points of Manhattan’s dramatic redevelopment.

Construction of the buildings’ foundations began in 1931, and the first section was completed in 1939. All the buildings and components of Rockefeller Centre are designed in the Art Deco style.

Following Rockefeller’s death, his son, John D. Rockefeller Jr., took over the management of the centre and continued to expand it between 1953 and 1973. His main idea was to develop Rockefeller Centre into a large entertainment and educational complex focusing primarily on television production, and this remains the case to this day.

Photograph: Lunch atop a Skyscraper

Incidentally, one of the world’s most famous photographs, entitled ‘Lunch atop a Skyscraper’, dates from the time of its construction (1932).

It captures 11 workers having lunch on a steel girder 260 metres above the ground and was taken from the 66th floor of the then-under-construction RCA Building, one of the skyscrapers on Rockefeller Plaza.

How do you get there?

The Rockefeller complex is situated in the Midtown area of Manhattan and is bordered by 6th Avenue and the famous 5th Avenue.Central Parkand Times Square are also within a 15-minute walk.

The nearest underground station

• 47–50 Sts/Rockefeller Centre (approx. 50 metres) – Orange Line (B, D, F, M)
• 5th Ave/53rd St(approx. 150 metres) – orange line M and blue line E
• 49 St (approx. 250 metres) – yellow lines N, R, W

Buses M1, M2, M3, M4, Q32, X27, X28, X37 and X38 also run along Fifth Avenue in the immediate vicinity of the centre, whilst buses M5 and M7 run along Sixth Avenue. The local M50 service runs from west to east.

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