Things to do nearRockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan, New York, is a landmark Art Deco complex celebrated for its iconic architecture, cultural history, and year-round public programming.
Rockefeller Center was developed during the Great Depression under the direction of John D. Rockefeller Jr., with construction running through the 1930s and into the 1940s. The complex was originally conceived as a new home for the Metropolitan Opera, but when those plans fell through, the project evolved into a mixed-use urban center that became one of the most ambitious private building projects in American history. Fourteen of the original nineteen buildings are designated New York City landmarks, and the ensemble is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Art Deco urban planning.
The centerpiece, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, houses the NBC Studios where the Today show is broadcast each morning, drawing crowds of onlookers to the plaza below. The complex has long been a hub of American media and culture, home over the decades to radio broadcasts, television production, and major art commissions. The public spaces are filled with murals, mosaics, and sculptures that were created by prominent artists of the era as part of an ambitious program to integrate fine art into everyday architecture.
The Channel Gardens, a pedestrian promenade flanked by the British Empire Building and La Maison Francaise, leads visitors from Fifth Avenue toward the central plaza, changing its plantings seasonally and offering one of the most pleasant walking approaches in Midtown. In winter, the plaza transforms into a skating rink overlooked by the annual Christmas tree, a tradition that dates to the early years of construction. The surrounding streets are lined with shops, restaurants, and the grand lobbies of the original buildings, each worth stepping into for their preserved interiors.
Rockefeller Center remains one of the few places in New York where architecture, public art, history, and daily life converge in a single walkable space, making it essential for anyone who wants to understand how the city sees itself.
7-day forecast
Chance of rainTips for visiting Rockefeller Center
Visit during weekday mornings in autumn to enjoy the ice rink at its least crowded and most atmospheric, with the surrounding flags catching the cool air.
Take the elevator to the Top of the Rock observation deck for a panoramic view of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline that is distinct from any other vantage point in the city.
Look up at the building facades along the Channel Gardens to study the Art Deco relief sculptures, which are among the finest examples of the style in the United States.
Try lunch at one of the concourse-level dining options on a weekday to experience the underground passageways that connect the complex and are largely unknown to first-time visitors.
Pick up a free map at the concierge desk inside 30 Rockefeller Plaza to follow the self-guided art and architecture tour, which covers murals, mosaics, and sculptural details across the complex.
Top tours & experiences near Rockefeller Center
Small Group Midtown Tour with Local NYC Guide
See iconic Midtown landmarks, from Times Square to Grand Central, on a small-group walk
Explore Gilded Age New York Around Madison Square
Walk Madison Square’s Gilded Age streets with historic images
Explore Midtown Manhattan Art & Architecture Walk
Walk Midtown from Times Square to Rockefeller Center for art and architecture insights
Private Midtown Manhattan Architecture Walking Tour
Trace Midtown's evolving skyline with a licensed architect
50-Minute Central Park Horse Carriage Ride to Times Square
Ride by horse carriage from Central Park to Rockefeller Center and Times Square
Midtown Manhattan Architecture Walking Tour
Trace Midtown’s architectural evolution with a licensed architect guide
Central Park & Manhattan 2.5-Hour Pedicab Tour
Private pedicab sightseeing with unlimited photo stops
Home Alone 2 Central Park Pedicab Tour
Follow Kevin’s New York adventure by private pedicab
Private Pedicab Tour of Central Park & NYC
A private, customizable pedicab ride with photo stops and NYC storytelling
4-Hour NYC Highlights Guided Bus Tour
Cover Manhattan landmarks and photo stops from a comfortable luxury bus
NYC 3-Hour Night Highlights Guided Bus Tour
See NYC’s night landmarks by luxury bus with a local guide
2.5-Hour Midtown Manhattan Walking Tour
Discover Midtown landmarks and Grand Central secrets with a local guide
1-Hour Pedicab Tour of Central Park & Times Square
Ride a pedicab from Central Park to Rockefeller Center and Times Square with photo stops
NYC 2-Hour Art Deco Architecture Tour
See NYC’s Art Deco landmarks from streets to underground passages
6-Hour New York City Guided Glass-Top Bus Tour
See NYC highlights by glass-top bus with guided stops and a Staten Island Ferry ride
Gossip Girl Pedicab Tour of Manhattan
Trace Gossip Girl stories by pedicab with flexible photo stops
1-Hour Guided Midtown Pedicab Tour in New York
See Midtown from an open-air pedicab with guided local context
Private SUV Guided Tour of New York City
See NYC by private SUV with a driver and local guide, day or night
Private Midtown & Central Park Walking Tour
Explore Central Park and Midtown on a private 4-hour walk with a guide
Explore New York City on a Private 4- or 6-Hour Bus Tour
Private 4–6 hour glass-top bus tour of NYC, day or night
6-Hour New York City Guided Bus Tour
Explore New York City by climate-controlled bus with a live guide and Staten Island Ferry ride
Explore New York City Night Bus Tour From Times Square
See NYC after dark on a private guided bus tour with stops and short walks
Ride a Horse Carriage Through Central Park & 5th Ave
45-minute horse carriage ride through Central Park, 5th Ave, and Rockefeller Center
Explore New York City on a Private Van Tour
Private NYC van tour with a local guide, with day or night options
Roaring 20s Tour of New York
Trace Jazz Age style and social change through New York’s Art Deco landmarks
90-Minute Central Park & Manhattan Pedicab Tour
Private open-air sightseeing with guide-led city stories
Explore Midtown Manhattan on a 2.5-Hour Walking Tour
Walk through Midtown Manhattan highlights with a private group tour
3-Hour Midtown Manhattan Guided Walking Tour
See Midtown landmarks and Grand Central with a licensed guide
Explore Midtown Manhattan Art Deco Walking Tour
Walk Midtown’s Art Deco skyscrapers, from Bryant Park to Rockefeller Center
New York City Layover Guided Tour
Turn your layover into a private tour of NYC landmarks
Manhattan 4-Hour Guided SUV Tour
See Manhattan’s landmarks with guided stops and skyline views from a comfortable SUV
New York City Private SUV Guided Tour
Tailor your NYC sightseeing from an airport meet-and-greet
Manhattan Night Bus Tour
Explore Manhattan landmarks after dark with stories, music, trivia, and humor
New York City Autumn & Winter SUV Tour
See Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens landmarks from a public SUV
Midtown Architecture Guided Tour
Explorez les secrets architecturaux de Midtown, de Broadway à Grand Central
Midtown Manhattan Movie Locations Walking Tour
See Midtown through the films shot on its streets
New York City Classic Movie Locations Guided Tour
Trace classic movie history at more than 60 Manhattan filming locations
New York City 1-Hour Pedicab Tour
See New York landmarks by private pedicab with a professional guide
Bookstore Crawl Through Midtown Manhattan's Century-Old Bookstores
Browse hidden bookshops and Midtown landmarks on a flexible literary walk
Elf Movie Sites Tour in Central Park
Follow Buddy the Elf's New York City filming locations
3.5-Hour Guided Manhattan Highlights Tour
See Manhattan with a Licensed Spanish-Speaking Guide
Private NYC TV & Movie Filming Locations Tour
See Manhattan's TV and movie locations with a local actor guide
Midtown Architecture Guided Tour With Times Square
Discover Midtown’s hidden architecture, passages, and landmark stories
Private 6-Hour Guided Tour of New York City
Customize a private New York City sightseeing route with a dedicated guide and driver