/ / Empire State Building or Top Of The Rock: Best View Of NYC 

Empire State Building or Top Of The Rock: Best View Of NYC 

| |

Sharing is caring!

Are you wondering whether you should go to the Empire State Building or the Top of the Rock for the best views over Manhattan? Find out which of these observatories in NYC you should visit for the best view below!

When going on a trip to New York City, you might want to visit an attraction that will show you the best views over the city, but where can you find the best view? Two of the most popular places in NYC for an amazing view are from the Empire State Building or the top of The Rock. 

The Empire State Building view is of course very stunning and a has a great vantage point of every angle of Manhattan, however, the Top of the Rock NYC in my opinion has the best view! Looking out from the Top of the Rock vs. the Empire State Building, the Rockefeller Center comes out on top, because it has the Empire State Building in it’s view!

The Empire State Building is such an iconic building that it would be a shame to not get some great pictures of it, which is what the top of the Rockefeller Center has to offer.

View from the Top of the Rock of Central Park

Of course, if you have the time and want to spend the money on it, you could definitely go up in both buildings since they’ll both offer different experiences. 

There are many great observatories in NYC to visit if you like to see a city from above, but when it comes to Top of the Rock vs. Empire State Building, if you’re short on time or budget, the view from the Top of the Rock is the winner here.

If you’re wondering if the view from the Top of the Rock is better at night or day, that’s really up to you! The view is amazing at any point, so it’s easy to fit in with your schedule. If you want to experience both, you can show up around the golden hour before the sun sets, and watch the sun begin to set over the city! This way you’ll get a glimpse of the view with sun, the warm sun set, and the crisp night! 

If you want to choose a time around sunset, just be aware that it’s the busiest time to visit the Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center and will cost an extra $10 (at the time of writing this post Feb 2020). 

Empire State Building view from the Top of the Rock

Another option if you decide you want to check out the view during the day and night is to buy a ticket called the Sun and Stars. You can choose this option when you’re purchasing your ticket by choosing to upgrade. This ticket allows you to visit The Rockefeller Center twice in a 24 hour period!

If you’re visiting the Top of the Rock with friends or family, you can easily take pictures of each other for free, no problem! If you’re on your own, you can also opt to get pictures taken of you that you can buy. Of course this is a pricier option, but I chose to do it because it was my first solo trip and I wanted to make sure I had some pictures to remember this experience by. 

If you opt to check out the view from the Empire State Building instead, you can grab your tickets for that here. 

Another great way to see both of these buildings and their views over New York City is to purchase the NYC CityPASS. Buying the CityPASS is a great way to see the city if you find that you’re interested in visiting the attractions that it covers. You can find out more about what attractions are included here. 

When you use the CityPASS, you have 9 days to use the tickets in the pack, so it’s great for a trip to the city to see as much as possible! Plus it’s a great way to save money on admission tickets, especially if you planned to visit these places anyways! You save about 44%!

If you’re interested in learning more, you can check out Empire State Building reviews here, and you can find Top of the Rock reviews here. 

Top 10 Places In New York City

Times Square In August

Getting into the Christmas Spirit in New York City

Toronto CityPASS: Seeing The Best Tourist Spots In The City

Is New York Safe for Solo Female Travellers? Safe Travelling in NYC

Comparing the Empire State Building or the Top of the Rock pin for blog post
Pin for where to find the best views in New York City
Manhattan and Empire State Building view from the top of the rock

Empire State Building or Top Of The Rock: Best View Of NYC

Similar Posts