NYC’s only open-air rooftop ice skating rink opens this week

Ice skating in New York City is a must during the winter, with spots like the festive rink at Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park’s winter village, and even newbie Runway Rink at the landmarked TWA Hotel. But there’s only one NYC ice rink where you can “skate the skyline.” Returning for a second season, The Rooftop at Pier 17 in the Seaport District opens this week, promising an even more spectacular season of skating as the city’s only open-air rooftop rink.

Illustration by Cody Muir on behalf of The Howard Hughes Corporation

Pier 17’s “Winterland Rink” first debuted last season, with rink admission and skate rental starting at $23 during the week and $26 on the weekend. This year, the rink, reportedly bigger than last year, opens for the season on Friday, Nov. 22.

Located on the East River at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, Pier 17’s rooftop ice rink offers unbeatable views of the cityscape. The Winterland Rink includes a 5,400-square-foot skating rink, skate shop, winter market, and a “warming hut” with food and beverage options.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2018 approved a plan from the Howard Hughes Corporation to transform SHoP Architects’ Pier 17 into a rooftop winter village. Now in its second year, the rink and market have helped transform the Seaport District into a year-round attraction.

Buy skating tickets ahead of the rink’s Friday opening here. Tickets are also available to purchase in person at the Seaport Skate House.

RELATED: 

• South Street Seaport’s Pier 17 will be transformed into a rooftop winter village
• Winter festivities come early to NYC, with ice rinks and holiday markets opening this month
• The Urban Lens: The Museum of the City of New York looks back at NYC ice skating over the centuries