As the double decker bus tour of NYC, we get asked lots of questions about the city and its attractions. One of the most common questions we see comes in the form of a this or that situation. People always want to know which is really the best observation deck in NYC: Top of the Rock or Empire State Building. Well, the answer’s really not all that clear.

First, let’s look at the stats.

Number of Decks

Top of the Rock: 3
Empire State Building: 2

Number of Stories

Top of the Rock: 68^th floor, 69^th floor, 70^th floor
Empire State Building: 86^th floor, 102^nd floor

So if your main criterion for your decision is height, the Empire State Building goes over 30 stories higher than the Top of the Rock. But you also have to consider what you want to see. Both of these buildings have incredible views of NYC, but when you go to the Top of the rock, you also get Manhattan’s most famous building in your view: The Empire State Building. Also, the Top of the Rock is closer to Central Park, which is one of the coolest aerial views around.

Ultimately, I’d recommend making your decision based on how you answer these questions:

Do you want to go during the day or night?

Day: Top of the Rock
Night: Empire State Building

Do you care more about the view of Central Park or the financial district?

Central Park: Top of the Rock (You can’t really see Central Park at night, though)
Financial District: Empire State Building

Do you want the Empire State Building to be in your pictures?

Yes: Top of the Rock
No: Empire State Building

Really, you should just do both and decide for yourself which is the best way to see the city from above. If not, here are some pictures to help you make your decision: