Guides Prices checked September 30, 2026
Ice skating in NYC, priced: Rockefeller, Bryant Park, Wollman and the rest
The famous rink is the most expensive, the free one makes you bring skates, and the cheap ones are in Central Park and Brooklyn.
The short answer
Rockefeller Center's rink opens October 10 with tickets from $22 before skate rental. Bryant Park's rink (opens October 28) is free if you bring your own skates. Wollman Rink in Central Park opens October 24 and charges adults $16 to $40 depending on the time, plus $12 to rent skates. Prices checked September 2026.
- Rockefeller from $22 · opens Oct 10
- Bryant Park Free with own skates · opens Oct 28
- Wollman $16 off-peak to $40 prime · opens Oct 24
- Gottesman $5 off-peak · opens Nov 1 (secondary source)
- Lakeside Dates not announced yet
Free. One email each morning. One-click unsubscribe. Never sold.
The rinks, priced
| Rink | Opens | Adult price | Skate rental | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockefeller Center | October 10 | From $22; VIP Skate from $131 | Extra; price not posted on the ticket page | Timed tickets at rockefellercenter.com |
| Bryant Park (Winter Village) | October 28 to February 28 | Free with your own skates; fast pass with your own skates $18.42-$36.86 | $18.72-$64.48 depending on date, fees included; fast pass with rental $87.52 | bryantpark.org |
| Wollman Rink, Central Park | October 24 to March 16 | Off-peak $16, peak $28, prime $40; children 4-12 $12; 65+ $12; 3 and under free | $12; locker $8 | Online or at the box office |
| Gottesman Rink, Central Park (formerly Lasker) | November 1 | Adults $5 off-peak, $10 peak; kids 4-16 $5 | $10 | Per centralpark.com; the Conservancy did not post prices |
| Lakeside, Prospect Park | Not announced yet | Adults $10 Tue-Fri; $15 evenings, weekends, holidays; Mondays $5 | $10 | Online registration opens October 26 |
Which rink, honestly
Rockefeller Center is a small rink under a very large tree, and the price is for the setting; tickets are timed, so book a slot before you travel. Bryant Park is the best deal if you already own skates, and its rental price swings widely by date, so look at your actual day before assuming the low end. Wollman is the classic with the skyline behind it, and cheaper than both on an off-peak weekday; the prime price is not. Gottesman and Lakeside are the local rinks, at a fraction of the cost.
Our advice: midweek afternoons are cheapest wherever there are tiers, and the ice is emptier. Holiday weeks and weekend evenings are the expensive and crowded ones. The markets guide covers pairing a skate with shopping at Bryant Park.
-
Wollman Rink, off-peak
The best value for the postcard: Central Park, the skyline, and $16 before rental on an off-peak weekday.
-
Bryant Park, with your own skates
Free admission, long hours, and a holiday market around it.
-
The Rink at Rockefeller Center
The one from the movies. Pay for the setting, and book a timed ticket ahead.
The questions people actually ask
How much does it cost to ice skate at Rockefeller Center?
Tickets start at $22 before skate rental, and a VIP Skate starts at $131, per rockefellercenter.com (checked September 2026). The page shows only the starting price, and rental is extra.
Is ice skating at Bryant Park free?
Admission is free if you bring your own skates. Rental runs $18.72 to $64.48 depending on the date, fees included, and a fast pass with rental is $87.52 (checked September 2026).
How much is Wollman Rink?
Adults pay $16 off-peak, $28 peak or $40 prime; children 4 to 12 and seniors 65 and up pay $12; skate rental is $12 (checked September 2026). The 2026-27 season runs October 24 to March 16.
What is the cheapest ice skating in NYC?
Bryant Park if you own skates (free). Otherwise Gottesman Rink in Central Park at $5 off-peak plus $10 rental, per centralpark.com (checked September 2026), a secondary source.
Do you need to book NYC skating in advance?
Rockefeller Center sells timed tickets, so yes. Lakeside takes online registration starting October 26 and allows walk-ups. Wollman sells online or at the box office.
The sources
Where the prices and rules above come from. Check them yourself:
- Rockefeller Center: The Rink tickets — from $22, VIP from $131, opens October 10
- Bryant Park: The Rink — free admission, rental and fast-pass prices
- Bryant Park: Bank of America Winter Village — season dates and hours
- Wollman Rink: plan your visit — 2026-27 season, prices and hours
- Central Park: ice skating — Gottesman Rink; a secondary source
- Lakeside at Prospect Park: public ice skate — prices and registration
The prices on this page change.
When one moves, this guide is corrected and the morning brief says so. Get the brief and you get the update the day it lands, with the rest of New York explained alongside.
Free. One email each morning. One-click unsubscribe. Never sold.