Hotels near Top of the Rock

Top of the Rock occupies the 67th to 70th floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, and its advantage over every other observation deck in New York is direction. It faces north, straight up the length of Central Park. During peak foliage weeks you are looking down at 843 acres of colour with the Empire State Building behind you in the frame rather than underneath your feet, which is the shot the southern-facing decks cannot give you.

The deck first opened in 1933, closed for decades and reopened in 2005. Tickets are timed and sunset slots sell out weeks ahead through foliage season. The upper level is open-air with no glass, which matters for photographs and also means it is genuinely cold once the sun drops in late October.

Pro Tip: Book the slot about 45 minutes before sunset and you get the park in daylight colour plus the switch to city lights on a single ticket. Bring one more layer than you think you need, because the open deck at 850 feet is far colder than street level.