There are many great viewpoints and observation decks in NYC that you can visit to see the stunning skyline of the city, but two of the most popular ones are the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center. Today, we are going to put both of them up against each other and see which one is truly the best.
How will I do that? Well, I went up to both when I was visiting NYC, and I gotta tell you, I have quite an opinion on both of them, so without further ado, here's my take on the Empire State Building vs. Top of the Rock debate:
Quick Summary: Empire State Building vs Top of the Rock
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🏅 Editor's Choice
86th Floor
Empire State Building
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70th Floor
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My Experience: Empire State Building Observation Deck
- Great View. You can see the Liberty Island from here.
- Great for photography: Open air without obstructions.
- Great exhibitions and photoshoots.
- Excellent queue management, especially during the busy sunset time.
- Pricier ticket
- Confusing entrance
I visited the Empire State Building Observation Deck first during my trip to New York City, and my experience went surprisingly smoothly, especially considering the season and time I chose. I went in early October, a popular time for tourists, and opted for the busiest time, sunset. Here is what I liked most about the experience:
What I Like about the Empire State Building
The Great View: It's hard to be disappointed by a view of NYC's skyline, yet the view from up here still managed to blow me away. From the top of the Empire State Building, you can see much of Midtown and Lower Manhattan, all the way to the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island and Ellis Island.
Looking north, you can see the Chrysler Building, Times Square, and a glimpse of Central Park. However, much of Central Park's views are obstructed by other buildings. If you're hoping for a clear view of Central Park from above, this might not be the ideal observation deck for you.
Perfect for Photography: One of the best features of this observation deck is that it’s open-air. While the area is fenced off, the gaps are wide enough for you to put your camera through and capture stunning photos of the view, unlike at the Top of the Rock.
- NYC Empire State Building Admission Ticket (1 hour) 👍 Top Pick
- Top of the Rock Observation Deck New York City Ticket (1 hour)
The platform is spacious and offers 360° access in all directions. The flow of people in and out was also smooth, which made it easy for photographers like me to move around and take photos without having to queue for the best spots. Everywhere here is the best spot.
Great Exhibitions: Like most tourist attractions, you'll need to go through several introductory displays and exhibitions explaining the history of the place before reaching the fun part. This is also true for the Empire State Building. At least they made the experience fun and interesting here.
Right from the start, you'll be presented with the history of the building, how it was constructed, and how it became the iconic attraction it is today. One of my favorite displays was the King Kong exhibition, where the Empire State Building is featured prominently in the film. You can even take a photo with King Kong, thanks to an awesome and creative installation. Overall, I found the entire experience to be much more entertaining.
Excellent Queue Management: Last but not least, the queue management here was excellent. I visited during the busiest time of day in one of the busiest months, yet I didn’t have to wait long to get up or down from the observation deck. Everything went smoothly, and I was able to arrive just in time for the sunset, something I can’t say about the Top of the Rock.
What I Dislike about the Empire State Building
Pricier Ticket: Between the two, the Empire State Building is a bit more expensive, with a ticket price of around 44 USD. Thankfully, I had an NYC CityPass, which includes this attraction. Still, compared to the Top of the Rock, which costs around 40 USD, the difference in the view is minimal.
Confusing Entrance: There are many entrances at the Empire State Building, but you can only access the Observatory from one entrance at 20 West 34th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues, so be sure to get there about 15 minutes before your booked time slot. I almost missed the sunset because of this!
My Experience: The Top of the Rock
- From here, you can see both Central Park and the Empire State Building.
- Cheaper price.
- There are seating areas and a bar where you can enjoy a drink.
- Not ideal for photography due to blocks of mirrors that obstruct the view, causing distortion and reflections.
- Lots of waiting in line. It took me almost an hour of queuing to get down after sunset.
- Lackluster presentation.
I visited the Top of the Rock after the Empire State Building because my local friend mentioned it has better views. That piqued my curiosity, so I went there at sunset to see for myself. Here’s what I liked most about the experience:
What I Like about the Top of the Rock
The View of the Empire State Building & Central Park: My friend was right. The view is better than from the Empire State Building, as you can see two of the most iconic attractions in New York City: Central Park and the Empire State Building itself. That’s the problem with going up an iconic attraction to see the view, you can't actually see the iconic attraction itself among the scenery!
Cheaper Price: The ticket to the Top of the Rock is about 4 USD cheaper, which may not sound like much, but given the better view, one has to ask: is the price difference of the Empire State Building justified? If you want to save a bit of money and don't mind the cons I'll be outlining next, then this might be the observation deck for you.
Seating Areas Available: If you want to enjoy the view while sipping a delicious cocktail, you can do so here. The Top of the Rock has a bar with seating areas on both sides of the viewing platform. The outdoor area also features large blocks of mirrors that block the wind, which makes it much more comfortable to be outside compared to the Empire State Building.
What I Dislike about the Top of the Rock
Not Ideal for Photography: That said, the blocks of mirrors that block the wind also obstruct your view, making it nearly impossible to take good photos. The distortion, smudges, and light reflection, especially during sunset and at night, are extremely challenging to overcome.
To make matters worse, there are tiny gaps between the mirrors, and you'll often see people scrambling to fit their cameras into these small spaces to take photos, creating an unnecessary bottleneck. I often had to wait quite a bit before I could get a chance to take photos. If you're a photographer, you might find the experience at the Empire State Building to be better!
Lots of Waiting in Line: The queue management at the Top of the Rock is far worse than at the Empire State Building. Right from the get-go, you have to line up on the street outside the building to wait for your time slot. Once you get in, you will have to wait again to get into the presentation hall. After that is done, you will have to wait again to get on the elevator.
If you think that's bad, wait until you have to head down! I went up right after sunset, having missed the actual sunset time due to all the queuing. Even though I waited for an hour after sunset, I still had to line up to get down.
That took more than 45 minutes! There simply aren’t enough elevators to accommodate the flow of visitors, unlike at the Empire State Building. It’s just a lot of waiting here, which is far from ideal.
Lackluster Presentation: With all the waiting, you'd think the presentation would at least be interesting here, right? Unfortunately, it wasn't for me. It was just a video about its founding history, and that was it! I much preferred the presentation at the Empire State Building, considering I had to wait so long and ended up missing the sunset because of it!
Which Observation Deck is for you?
So which observation deck should you go with? It will depend on what you want to do up there. If you are a photographer looking to get the best photo of NYC's skyline, then the Empire State Building is for you.
If you want to save a bit of money or prefer to sit and relax at the observation deck while enjoying your favorite cocktails, then the Top of the Rock is for you. Also, if you want to see Central Park from above along with the Empire State Building, and don't care much about photography, this is a great choice for you as well.
My Take: Personally, I prefer the Empire State Building over the Top of the Rock. The entire experience of going up the Empire State Building was much smoother for me, and as a photographer, the open-air, unobstructed view from the top makes capturing beautiful cityscape photos so much easier.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Northeast USA
If you are looking for more articles about the Northeast USA, here are a few articles that might help you plan your trip:
- First time visiting the USA and looking for a complete itinerary? Check this out: First Time USA: 2 Weeks Itinerary Without Cars.
- Planning to visit Washington DC for 3 days? Here's an itinerary for you: 3 Days in Washington DC: A Backpacking Itinerary.
- First time visiting the US? Why not start Washington DC, its capital city known for its world-class museums and iconic landmarks like the White House and the Capitol. Here are the 10 best things to do in Washington DC.
- Here's a quick guide on how to get from Dulles Airport to Washington DC Downtown: How to Get From Dulles Airport to Downtown Washington DC.
- Want to visit world-class museums in Washington DC, but not sure where to begin? This is the article for you: 8 Best Museums to Visit in Washington DC.
- Have a day to spare in Washington DC? I highly recommend you check out Georgetown. Here are the 8 Best Things to do in Georgetown, DC.
- Looking to visit Philly for the weekend? Here is the ultimate 2-day Backpacking Itinerary for Philly.
- If you’re a fan of food and history, Philadelphia offers the perfect blend with its incredible museums and some of the best food scenes in the country. Check out the 12 Best Things to Do in Philadelphia (Philly).
- Philly is best explored with your stomach and taste buds. Here are the 7 Best Places to Eat and Drink in Philadelphia (Philly).
- New York City is truly one of the best cities in the world and if you are planning to visit the city, here are the 15 Best Things to Do in New York City.
- Planning to visit New York City, but not sure where to begin? Check out our 4 Days New York City's Backpacking Itinerary.
- Looking for the best places to eat and drink in NYC? You might want to check out: Places to Eat & Drink in New York City: My 9 Favorite Places.
- Chelsea, one of my favorite neighborhoods in NYC, is one awesome place to explore. Here are the 8 Awesome Things to Do in Chelsea, NYC.
- Central Park deserves an entire day of exploration. Here is a complete travel guide to Central Park.
- Is it worth buying the CityPass for your trip to New York City? Let's find out: NYC CityPass: Is it worth it?.
- Want to visit Boston? Here are some of the things you do not want to miss! 15 Best Things to Do in Boston.
- Wondering how long to spend in Boston? Check this out: 3 Days in Boston: A Backpacking Itinerary.
- Want to walk the Freedom Trail in Boston, but not sure where to begin? Check out: Boston's Freedom Trail: A Walking Guide.
- Planning to visit Salem? Here's a travel guide for you: Discover Salem: 10 Highlights You Can't Miss.
- To see all articles about the United States of America, be sure to check out our USA travel guide page.
- For a complete itinerary of both the US and Canada, check out: One Month in USA & Canada: A Backpacking Itinerary without Cars.
- Looking for more travel guides for North America? You will find more over at our North America page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.
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