NY Top of the Rock at Night

New York shines at night. Literally! Contemplating the city's night-time landscape is a great plan, especially if you do it from somewhere as iconic as the Top of the Rock. Fancy it?

Isabel Catalán

Isabel Catalán

8 min read

NY Top of the Rock at Night

Night views from the Top of the Rock | ©Sven Becker

New York at night is enjoyed in a different way, especially if you can see it in all its splendour in the heart of Manhattan from such a privileged spot as the Top of the Rock.

Climbing to the Top of the Rock at night is one of the most exciting experiences you can have during your stay in the Big Apple. Leave your fear of heights behind and dare to take the pulse of the "city that never sleeps" from above.

You'll see the Empire State Building lit up like never before and much more. Let me tell you why it's worth visiting the Top of the Rock at night.

How much does it cost to see Top of the Rock at night?

Empire State Building from the Top of the Rock| ©Jorge Gobbi
Empire State Building from the Top of the Rock| ©Jorge Gobbi

Enjoying the New York skyline at dusk is as easy as purchasing your tickets to the Top of the Rock and booking a night-time slot on the date you choose to visit. Starting at £35, you can buy a skip-the-line ticket to the Rockefeller Plaza observation deck.

The best option is to buy tickets to the Top of the Rock online, as this observatory is one of the most iconic in Manhattan alongside the Empire State Building, and there are often long queues at the ticket office to get tickets.

There you can get tickets from around £35, but given the huge crowds that gather around the building, you run the risk of not being able to book a night-time slot if there is no availability. After sunset, dusk is a very popular time for tourists to see the Big Apple from above.

Buy your tickets for the Top of the Rock

How late is the Top of the Rock open at night? Night-time opening hours

Inside the building before enjoying the view| ©Nick Night
Inside the building before enjoying the view| ©Nick Night

The Top of the Rock is open every day of the week and year from 10 AM to 10 PM. These flexible hours are perfect for tourists, as they allow you to visit the Rockefeller Center observation deck at virtually any time of day and well into the evening. Even so, we recommend that you buy your tickets for the Top of the Rock online to avoid queues.

However, if you want to see other tourist attractions in the area before visiting the Top of the Rock at night, remember that the last lift available is at 9:10 PM. Keep this in mind when planning your day's sightseeing so that you don't miss out on going up.

If you visit New York at Christmas, going to Rockefeller Center during the festive season will not only give you the best views of the city, but also offer you plenty to see in the surrounding area, such as the ice rink and the Christmas tree.

When does night-time opening start at the Top of the Rock?

In all New York skyscrapers, night-time hours begin at sunset, which means that this time varies throughout the year and in each season.

For example, during winter in New York, it gets dark around 4:30 PM, while in summer in New York, the sun doesn't set until 8:30 PM. Knowing this information about sunset and dusk in advance will help you plan your evening visit to the Top of the Rock in detail.

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What are the night views like from the Top of the Rock?

Night view of New York from the Top of the Rock| ©Mack Male
Night view of New York from the Top of the Rock| ©Mack Male

It's hard to find the words to describe that moment when you have New York at your feet. You have to experience it! Seeing it at night from a bird's eye view is amazing, as it gives you a unique perspective of the city that never sleeps.

As the sun sets, the stars will gradually appear, but it's not the sky that will catch your attention at the summit of the Top of the Rock (even if it feels closer), but the beautiful cityscape that will stretch out before you, dotted with small coloured lights that adorn the Big Apple.

If you decide to buy tickets for the Top of the Rock, when you go up at night you will feel like you are in a privileged place. From the observatories on floors 67, 69 and 70, you will have magnificent 360º views of Manhattan and discover the soul of New York through the skyscrapers that rise on the horizon.

One of them is the Empire State Building, whose silhouette can be seen perfectly from here and which shines in a special way at night. It may be a little more difficult to identify other tourist attractions in the distance at night, but if you pay attention and look closely, from the Top of the Rock viewpoint you can also see:

Seeing New York at night from the top of this American Art Deco gem is truly magical. It's the icing on the cake after a sensational day in the streets of the Big Apple.

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Can children go up to the Top of the Rock at night?

Breezeway Room with LED lights| ©Ansel Adams
Breezeway Room with LED lights| ©Ansel Adams

Of course! Kids will love this experience. First, they'll take one of the Sky Shuttle elevators from the skyscraper, which will transport them at lightning speed to the top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza in less than a minute. Travelling 260 metres in less than 60 seconds will seem like magic!

Then, at the observatory, they'll be amazed when they discover how high they are and see the immense night-time landscape of New York lit up by thousands of coloured lights.

And finally, they can play in the Breezeway with LED lights that move as visitors walk by. It will be a wonderful memory of your trip that you will never forget!

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Why is it worth going up to the Top of the Rock at night?

Lenses to help you see better at Top of the Rock| ©Mack Male
Lenses to help you see better at Top of the Rock| ©Mack Male
  • Going up to the Top of the Rock at night will allow you to see the Big Apple from above like you've never seen it before. You'll feel like you're on top of the world and everything will look tiny and colossal at the same time. It's amazing!
  • From the observatory, you'll have the best night view of New York and you'll be able to see the Empire State Building lit up in all its glory. You won't regret buying your tickets to visit this place. Everything looks so beautiful from a privileged spot like this! You won't get tired of taking photos!
  • In this sense, going up to the Top of the Rock at night will allow you to record lots of videos as souvenirs and take amazing photos with all of New York lit up in the distance. It's a very romantic moment.
  • Another reason to visit the Top of the Rock at night is that there are usually far fewer visitors at the observatory after dark, as the peak time is at sunset. At night, there is no hustle and bustle at the viewpoint. Everything is quiet and peaceful. At times, you will even feel like you are up there alone, as if you were on a private tour.
  • And finally, a night-time visit to the Top of the Rock is worthwhile because you'll have the whole day free to make other plans without rushing and finally end a day of sightseeing in New York in style (never better said!).

Buy your tickets for the Top of the Rock

Tips for visiting the Top of the Rock at night

Couple at the Top of the Rock| ©Pascale Amez
Couple at the Top of the Rock| ©Pascale Amez
  • The Top of the Rock is one of New York's main tourist attractions, so if you want to avoid the queues at the ticket office, I recommend buying a skip-the-line ticket to the Top of the Rock online in advance.
  • To organise your night-time visit to the Top of the Rock, when booking your visit, remember that it is open every day and closes at 10 p.m., with the last lift up to the observatory at 9:10 p.m.
  • If you have already purchased your tickets to go up to the Top of the Rock with your family and your children are still young, I recommend taking the night tour as early as possible so that they don't get too tired, as they will have to get up early the next day and be fresh to continue exploring New York.
  • Take advantage of your visit to the Top of the Rock to have a few drinks at Bar Sixty-Five at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. You'll find it on the 65th floor, below the observation deck. It's a fantastic place to continue enjoying the views of Manhattan and put the finishing touch on a very special day in the city.
  • When visiting the Top of the Rock at night, you'll probably leave the observation deck late. Don't worry, this shouldn't stop you from making the night-time visit, as the New York underground runs 24 hours a day and you can quickly return to your hotel. I'll tell you how to get to and from the observatory in the post How to get to the Top of the Rock.
  • Taking photos from the Top of the Rock at night is a temptation you can't resist, but getting them to look good if you're not an expert photographer takes a bit of skill. To ensure your images come out well despite the low light, I recommend activating your camera's night mode, using the shutter release to avoid blurry images, or setting the ISO to 400.

Buy your tickets for the Top of the Rock

Can you use a tourist card to go up to the Top of the Rock at night?

Tickets to the Top of the Rock| ©HelloTickets
Tickets to the Top of the Rock| ©HelloTickets

Yes, you can! If you're thinking of getting a tourist pass to make the most of your trip to New York and would like to use it to go up to the Top of the Rock at night, you're in luck because , starting at £59, you can find options that include a visit to this Rockefeller Center observatory, such as the New York Explorer Pass, the New York Pass, the New York CityPASS or the New York Sightseeing Pass.

In the post The best tourist card in New York, you can find more information about the different tourist passes available in the Big Apple. I recommend taking a look because I'm sure it will help you choose the one that's right for you.

How does the tourist card work at the Top of the Rock?

When you go to the Top of the Rock with the tourist card that includes this attraction, you will need to go to the ticket office to exchange it for a voucher. At that point, you can choose whether to access the observatory at the next available time or, if it suits you better, choose a date and time for another day. It's that simple!

Let's take a look at all the tourist passes that allow you to go up to the Top of the Rock

  • New York Explorer Pass
  • From €77
  • You can go up to the Top of the Rock
  • Access to over 80 attractions
  • Valid for 60 days
  • Book
  • New York Pass
  • From €137
  • You can go up to the Top of the Rock
  • Access to over 100 attractions
  • Duration from 1 to 10 days
  • Book
  • New York CityPASS
  • From €133
  • You can go up to the Top of the Rock
  • Access to 6 attractions
  • Duration: 9 days
  • Book

Frequently asked questions

  • How much are tickets to the Top of the Rock observation deck?

    The price at the box office is usually around 35 euros, but you can also buy tickets online and skip the queues for around 42 euros.

  • Are there evening tickets?

    There are no evening tickets. Tickets are the same price at all times, meaning there is no night shift. We recommend watching the sunset from this viewpoint to enjoy the lights and skyline of New York at night. For this reason, there are many more tourists at dusk. Keep in mind that the Top of the Rock is open every day of the week and year from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

  • Can children go up at night?

    Of course, children are allowed on board. If you decide to take them with you and they are still young, we recommend taking the night tour as early as possible so that they don't get too tired.