The Rink at Rockefeller Center
New York City, NY
Skating at The Rink at Rockefeller Center is one of New York’s favourite wintertime activities. For the ultimate festive experience, glide past the golden Prometheus statue and the extravagant Rockefeller Christmas tree at this holiday season staple, which warms up the winter months with a fun program of events.
The basics
Thanks to its global acclaim, The Rink at Rockefeller Center tickets tend to sell out weeks in advance. Buying your pass in advance is essential if you don’t want to spend hours waiting, particularly between Thanksgiving and New Year. You can choose between a General Skate ticket for a 1-hour slot on the rink, or a Premium Skate pass, which grants you access for 1.5 hours and includes skate rental and gift shop discount.
Things to know before you go
- If you plan on skating multiple times, it might be more cost effective to buy a season pass.
- Ticket prices for The Rink at Rockefeller Center vary depending on the date and time.
- Skating is a serious workout; you might start off feeling cold, but you’ll soon want to shed your big winter coat. Wear layers in preparation.
- To restore your energy post-skate, you can grab a warm drink, snack, or meal from The Tipsy Baker or Café Grumpy on the way out.
How to get there
You’ll find The Rink at Rockefeller Plaza between 50th and 49th Streets. If you’re taking the subway, the closest station is the 47-50th Street Rockefeller Center stop, served by the B, D, F, or M trains. The M1, M2, M3, M4, or M5 buses also stop outside.
When to get there
The Rink opens from October until March; the exact opening date differs each year, so check the website ahead of your visit. As you’d expect, it’s busiest from mid-November through mid-January. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your time slot to grab your skates; you can’t leave and re-enter the rink.
The best wintertime activities in NYC
For the ultimate festive experience in New York City, combine The Rink at Rockefeller Plaza with a visit to the cozy igloos in Bryant Park—a holiday season tradition in the Big Apple. Other must-dos include admiring the shop windows along Fifth Avenue and watching the Radio City Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall.
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