Two New York icons; two architectural giants; two mighty Manhattan must-sees. Sure, we already know what Top of the Rock and the One World Observatory have in common. But what sets them apart? Which is taller, which is older and which has the better Empire State Building views? We’re here to answer all the important questions, and a few not-so-important questions besides. Read on to find out:
- What’s included with general admission
- Where each observatory is located
- How the views from each observatory stack up
- The fascinating histories of these Manhattan monsters
- Expert tips for your visit
- What else you can do nearby
Thinking about visiting Top of the Rock or One World Observatory? Or perhaps both? Save up to 50% on admission to these and 100 more New York attractions with the Go City New York pass!
Vital statistics
Top of the Rock
Where: Midtown Manhattan.
When: The Rockefeller Center opened in 1933. The observation deck came a little later, in 2005.
Height: There are decks on floors 67, 69 and 70. The height on the 70th floor is 850ft (260m).
One World Observatory
Where: Lower Manhattan.
When: The One World Trade Center opened in 2014, with the observation deck following in 2015.
Height: Way up on the 100th–102nd floor, this one tops out at a lofty 1,268ft (386m).
What’s included with general admission
What’s included with general admission
There’s more to Top of the Rock and the One World Observatory than their observation decks alone – both also feature special exhibits and experiences as part of general admission. Here’s a quick summary of what to expect from each experience…
Top of the Rock – general admission
- Exhibition highlighting the history of the Rockefeller Center, including photos and artifacts that explore the life of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the building's construction during the Great Depression, and the advent of Top of the Rock.
- Sky shuttle elevator ride that ascends 850 feet, taking you right to the top in less than a minute.
- Access to three floors of indoor and outdoor observation decks. The 67th floor is fully enclosed and includes the Radiance Wall (an eye-popping Swarovski artwork) and the gift shop); the 69th has the Breezeway, a 270-degree outdoor walkway). Last but not least, the 70th floor has a completely open-air roof deck, with stunning views across New York and beyond.
NB: note that the Skylift and Beam experiences are not included with general admission and are ticketed separately.
One World Observatory – general admission
- Exhibition about the tower’s construction, including a walk through the very Manhattan bedrock on which it’s built.
- Sky Pod Elevator ride with virtual time-lapse footage illustrating 500 years of NYC's ever-evolving landscape.
- Entry to the See Forever Theater, an audio-visual experience that explores NYC's changing skyline.
- Admission to the main 100th-floor observatory on the 100th floor with 360-degree views of New York, New Jersey and beyond.
Location and views
Location and views
Top of the Rock: Located in Midtown Manhattan close to Times Square, Central Park and Fifth Avenue.
One World Observatory: Located in the Financial District near the southern tip of Lower Manhattan, close to The Battery, Wall Street and the water.
Though only four miles apart, the views from the two buildings couldn’t be more different. Tucked down in Lower Manhattan on the site of the former World Trade Center, One World Observatory has commanding bird’s-eye views of the Financial District's surrounding buildings and across the water to New Jersey, Governors Island and the Statue of Liberty. Meanwhile, Top of the Rock’s Midtown location (and slightly more modest height) means it sits amid a forest of skyscrapers, with fine views of Radio City Music Hall and Times Square and a direct sightline to Central Park (which you can't see at all from One World Observatory).
Both observatories offer stunning views of the Empire State Building. Look south from Top of the Rock for some of the best close-up views of the Art Deco icon, and gaze north from One World Observatory. While One World Observatory is completely enclosed within soaring crystal-clear glass windows (and is so high that you can see the curvature of the earth), Top of the Rock offers both enclosed and open-air viewing decks.
Top of the Rock spotter’s guide:
- Empire State Building
- Chrysler Building
- One World Trade Center
- Central Park
- Bank of America Tower
- Flatiron Building
- Times Square
- Radio City Music Hall
One World Observatory spotters’ guide:
- Empire State Building
- Chrysler Building
- Grand Central Terminal
- Flatiron Building
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Guggenheim Museum
- Rockefeller Center (partially obstructed)
- Trump World Tower
A little bit of history
A little bit of history
Even though One World Observatory is almost a century younger than Rockefeller Center, they were both built in response to great tragedy and stand as symbols of American resilience, hope and prosperity.
Top of the Rock
Completed in 1933, the Rockefeller Center is one of the most recognized skyscrapers in New York and embodies the architectural style of its time, with lots of classic Art Deco details – much like its (marginally) older sibling and near-neighbor the Empire State Building. The building was commissioned by John D. Rockefeller and construction began and continued during the Great Depression, sealing the building's status as an icon of American prosperity and hope in times of economic downturn and despair.
30 Rockefeller Plaza is the official address of the Center's tallest building, home of Top of the Rock and location for TV show 30 Rock, starring Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski and others.
One World Trade Center
Completed in 2013, One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the 10 tallest in the world. The building was part of the reconstruction project on the site of the former World Trade Center, destroyed in a devastating terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. A proud symbol of defiance, the One World Trade Center stands precisely 1,776 feet high from top to toe – a reference to the year the Declaration of Independence was signed.
The observatory itself sits at a little over 1,250 feet, making it the highest observation deck in the States, and second only to Toronto’s CN Tower platform in the Western Hemisphere.
Tips for visitors
Tips for visitors
Top of the Rock:
- Visit early in the morning and/or on a weekday to avoid the biggest crowds.
- Plan to spend at least an hour here and take your time at the exhibitions – once you’ve passed through, you can’t backtrack to the exhibits.
- Entry tickets are timed. Book your preferred slot the easy way: via your Go City app.
- If you want to catch the sunset, aim to get to the top in plenty of time (one hour before sunset offers the best lighting for photos).
- Download the free Top of the Rock app for audio tours and a skyline guide that identifies what buildings you’re looking at.
- Bring layers to wear and remember: it's likely colder and windier on the open deck up top.
- Pack a camera and binoculars to capture the best views.
- Visit nearby attractions included with the Go City New York pass, including MoMA, Madame Tussauds, Radio City Music Hall and the Museum of Broadway.
One World Observatory:
- To avoid the crowds, plan to visit first thing in the morning. Weekday visits tend to also be less busy.
- Be prepared to pass through TSA-style security to keep lines moving at a quick pace.
- Check the forecast before you go, a low-visibility day will affect what and how far you can see.
- Check the time of sunset before you go if you want to be at the top for the golden hour before sunset.
- Consider renting a One World Explorer iPad (advance purchase required) to enhance your visit with building and landmark identification as you scan the horizon.
- While you’re in the area, use your Go City New York pass to visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, take a walking tour of Wall Street, cruise out to the Statue of Liberty or head to Governors Island for a fun afternoon of Surrey biking.
- Heading somewhere else? Don’t miss the extraordinary architectural marvel that is the Oculus transportation hub, right by the One World Trade Center, for connections to New Jersey’s PATH trains and the NYC metro.
In summary
In summary
Both attractions offer unique experiences and are extremely popular with tourists, but the biggest differences lie in the views from the observation decks – from Top of the Rock you get a close-up look at Midtown Manhattan and its most famous landmarks (Central Park, the Empire State Building, et al). From One World Observatory you get a close-up view of the Financial District and the best elevated Statue of Liberty views in town. Top of the Rock offers both indoor and outdoor viewing platforms while One World Observatory is indoor only.
Still can’t decide which to visit? Well, here’s the good news: With Go City’s New York attractions pass, you don’t have to!
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