Rockefeller Center Rink: Overcrowded and Frustrating

At the Rockefeller Center skating rink, visitors are feeling the strain. New York’s iconic holiday spot has been labeled the most overcrowded attraction worldwide, a finding that hasn’t sat well with local residents who are fiercely protective of their city.

A recent analysis by e-SIM provider Holafly looked over TripAdvisor reviews spanning November to January. They focused on comments that included terms like “crowded,” “busy,” “long wait times,” and “chaotic.” Unsurprisingly, these reviews frequently highlighted the frustrations tourists faced due to the throngs at the Rockefeller Rink.

The study revealed that an impressive 41% of reviews during this period noted issues related to crowding, confirming it as the busiest venue on earth during the holidays.

Tourists reported long lines, cramped skating conditions, and an endless parade of onlookers taking in the spectacle from the edge of the ice.

The rink itself is situated directly below the revered Christmas tree, which is illuminated on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving and taken down in mid-January. Approximately 125 million visitors come to see the tree in the six weeks leading up to its removal.

While locals often grumble about the influx of tourists enjoying the festive vibe in Midtown, they aren’t receptive to negative commentary from those tourists about their city.

Interestingly, Rockefeller Center was the sole American attraction to make Holafly’s list of overcrowded sites. Coming in second was Britain’s Winter Wonderland, where 37% of TripAdvisor reviews expressed dissatisfaction with the crowds at London’s Hyde Park, filled with rides, market stalls, and ice skating. Following close behind was Germany’s Nuremberg Christmas Market, with 34% of reviews voicing similar concerns about the throngs.