Rockefeller Center & Top of the Rock

Rockefeller Center is one of those places that captures everything famous about Midtown Manhattan, but Top of the Rock is the real highlight for me. The observation deck offers panoramic views that include the Empire State Building, which you can’t see from the Empire State itself.

I like going just before sunset so you get daylight and city lights all in one visit. It’s one of the most visited attractions in NYC, and the views truly deliver. The timed-entry tickets keep things moving, and the space never feels too crowded. If you’re looking for a big-sky moment in the middle of the city, this where to get it.

The Rockefeller Center is a series of 19 commercial buildings in Midtown, Manhattan just off of Fifth Avenue and a mere ten minutes walking from Times Square. 30 Rockefeller Plaza is the crown jewel, and odds are you’ve seen it on TV and in the movies.

Remember the end-scene for Home Alone 2. Lost in New York? Or the ice-skating rink final battle in Marvel’s Hawkeye? Or any episode from the The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon? They’re all filmed here!

Riddled with shops, restaurants, the city’s best observation deck, and a bustling plaza, most first time visitors will find one reason or another to visit.

The entirety of Rockefeller Center feels like NYC’s living room, made evident by the large groups of visitors that congregate here every day of the year, but especially so during Christmas to see the beloved Rockefeller Tree.