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Top of the Rock vs the Empire State Building: A complete, in-depth guide to deciding which you should visit if you can only choose one.

The Empire State Building and Top of the Rock are two of New York City's most iconic observation decks, each offering breathtaking panoramas of the city skyline. But which one reigns supreme?


To spare you the analysis paralysis, this guide will help you to navigate the decision-making and go through some pros, cons and useful information for both of New York's top viewing platforms. Let’s dive in and help you discover the perfect perch for your urban exploration.

The Empire State Building from Top of the Rock observation deck, NYC
A vintage coin-operated viewer offers a stunning perspective of the Empire State Building against the backdrop of the New York City skyline.

Empire State Building vs Top of the Rock:

While New York has several observation decks including One World Observatory which overlooks the World Trade Centre memorial and new kid on the block, 2020's Edge NYC, in this blog we'll compare the 2 biggies: the Empire State Building (ESB), and the Top of the Rock (TOTR).


The Empire State Building is arguably one of the most recognisable buildings in the world, a true NYC icon of legendary proportions and according to Tripadvisor's 2024 Travellers' Choice Awards, The Top Attraction in the World, and the #1 Attraction in the U.S. for the third year running! Opened in 1931, then the tallest building in the world, the beautiful Art Deco skyscraper became an international superstar following the 1933 release of King Kong.


Top of the Rock, located on top of another Art Deco beauty, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, opened just 2 years after the ESB in 1933 and is built to resemble the upper decks of a 1930s luxury ocean liner.

Both New York landmarks offer outstanding views across the city, so lets consider several factors to guide your choice:


  1. Fame:

There's no escaping it, The Empire State Building's iconic status is undeniable. Its famous shape instantly identifies New York City on postcards worldwide - and this alone is enough to place a visit at the top of many peoples bucket lists. While the Rockefeller Center is also  a renowned landmark, if you only have time to visit one New York observation deck, its hard to turn down the most famous one.

Views of the Chrysler Building from the Empire State Building
Views of the Chrysler Building from the Empire State Building
  1. Height:

The Empire State Building is the taller of the two, with two observation decks on the 86th floor. You can also pay an additional fee to go up 16 floors higher in a glass elevator to the new Top Deck on the 102nd floor.


Top of the Rock's three observation decks are lower than the EBS, on the 67th, 69th and 70th floor, but still offer amazing views of New York.


  1. Views:

Both buildings offer jaw dropping 360 degree views from their viewing platforms.


The Empire State Building is centrally located in Midtown Manhattan, right amongst the New York skyscrapers. It's great for southern views over the Statue of Liberty, the Chrysler Building and lower Manhattan. From the 102nd floor Top Deck you can see for 80 miles on a clear day, taking in the entire length of Manhattan Island and 6 States!


HOWEVER! Much like the Eiffel Tower, if you're up the Empire State Building, you can't see it. This means if you want to photograph the city skyline including the Empire State Building, you'll need to go up to the Top of the Rock.


The Top of the Rock is further north than the EBS, closer to Central Park, making it ideal for those wanting to capture the park's beauty from above. It also has spectacular unobstructed views of the Empire State Building for truly iconic New York photos.

The Empire State Building and lower Manhattan from Top of the Rock
The Empire State Building, One World Trade Centre and the Statue of Liberty from Top of The Rock
  1. Tickets and Cost:

Ticket costs for both buildings main decks are somewhat comparable, with the Empire State Building starting from $44 (or from $79 for a combined 86th and 102nd floor ticket) and TOTR's tickets starting from $43.55 ($40 plus tax).


It's worth noting that Top of the Rock offers a weather guarantee that the Empire State Building does not - if poor visibility affects the day of your visit, Top of the Rock will reissue your ticket for a different date for free. You can also can also change the date of your visit to TOTR up to 24 hours before your booked time, whereas the Empire State Building's tickets are non-refundable, even if your plans change. The EBS also adds a $5 transaction fee when you book online which the TOTR doesn't, making Top of the Rock the less expensive option.


Both venues require advance booking of a specific time and date (certain time slots are more expensive, such as around sunset) and adult rates for both start from the age of 13. Under 5s are free at both.

A man looks through a viewfinder towards the Empire State Building. He is wearing a baby in a backpack carrier.
Free entry for under 5s at both buildings! Leave the buggy at home...
  1. Unique Extras and Visitor Experiences:


The Empire State Building has fantastic historical exhibits on the 2nd and 80th floors as you make your way to the observation decks, full of information, life size dioramas, amazing audio visual effects and fun photo opportunities like posing in King Kong's clenched fist! A collage of screens shows a collection of 600 clips from all the famous films, comics, TV adverts and games that the Empire State Building has featured in, from On The Town to Spiderman.


For a more exclusive visit you can book a Premium Experience for $175 which includes a 90 minute guided tour that takes in the ESB's Art Deco lobby, the Celebrity Walk, exhibits and both the 86th and 102nd floor observation decks. You'll also enjoy priority access throughout the building and skip the line privileges, and take home a souvenir photo.


If you really want to push the boat out, the Empire State Building has a $500 super luxe All Access Tour where you can visit like the rich and famous: Start with a champagne toast in the exclusive celebrity green room, full of photos and memorabilia, then skip the lines on private guided tour of the building and both observation decks.


At Top of the Rock, your visit begins a walk up a spiral staircase past the epic Joie Chandelier - 14000 Swarovski crystals hung on 450 strands are supposed to depict the shape of 30 Rockefellers silhouette. The newly opened Welcome Gallery on the Mezzanine is full of information and photographs about Top of the Rock, the Rockefeller Center and Mr John D. Rockefeller himself! The lift up to the 67th floor takes a dizzying 42 seconds and features a brief photographic history of the building, and before boarding you can watch an immersive 5 minute multisensory film that brings the Rockefeller Center's history and vision to life, along with the story of NBC studios and the Rockettes.


When booking, you can pay extra for special attractions like the Skylift, a rotating viewing platform rising a further 30ft on top of the building ($35pp) and The Beam ($25pp), where you can buckle up and sit on a replica of the famous 1932 photo of construction workers taking a precarious lunch break on a metal beam for a unique photo opportunity above New York.


If it's a special occasion, you can even book a VIP Pass for $190 which includes a guided tour of Top of the Rock with expedited entry, priority elevator access, a champagne toast, a photo pass, 20% off in the gift shop and private access to Skylift and The Beam!


Other useful information:


  • The subway stations closest to the Empire State Building are 34th Street-Herald Square and 34th Street-Penn Station, both about 5 minutes walk away. Grand Central Station is about a 10 minute walk.

  • For Top of the Rock, the closest subway station is 47th–50th Street Rockefeller Center which is about 3 minutes walk away.

  • Both the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock are fully wheelchair accessible.

  • Both buildings have airport style security checkpoints with bag scanners.

  • No food, drink or weapons of any kind are permitted, and only collapsible pushchairs are allowed inside. Save yourself the hassle and leave the buggies at home - we took Jamie in a backpack carrier to both the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock which was much easier for navigating the busy observation decks and lifts!


So should you visit the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock?

Choosing between the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock for your NYC skyline views can be tough. In an ideal world and if you have the time, visiting both would provide a comprehensive view of NYC from different perspectives. If you're planning on doing lots of sight seeing, both buildings are included on various travel passes like Go City or Citypass which will save you up to 50% off entry fees of lots of top attractions.


However, if you can only choose one: The Empire State Building beats TOTR in terms of height and iconic status, offering expansive panoramic vistas and that amazing 102nd floor Top Deck. However, Top of the Rock boasts a unique advantage with its unobstructed views of Central Park and the Empire State Building itself, creating a truly memorable photo opportunity. For the iconic New York skyline views and a better look at Central Park, in our opinion the choice has to be Top of the Rock. While the observation deck is lower than at ESB, you wont get a better view of the Empire State Building anywhere else. But then again, if it's your first time in New York, how can you turn down a visit to the city's most iconic, historic building? For the bucket list tick alone, most people will opt for the Empire State Building. It depends what your priorities are.

Central Park and the Empire State Building from Top of the Rock


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