Carnegie Hall Interactive Seating Chart & Seating Review

The Best Carnegie Hall Seats

The best seats depend on what show you’ll see and your preference. Generally, the best seats will be between the Parquet section and the First Tier. If you’d rather have the orchestra-type view (which is level with the performers), the best seats are in the Center Parquet, between rows F and M. Sit any closer, and you’ll experience a stiff neck and a lack of depth and perspective in your view. The Tier seats will provide you with a great Balcony or box seat-type experience.

Once again, the box you choose may depend on the performance. The boxes along the side will get you closer to the stage; however, you’ll no longer have the straight-on view. For a concert, I’d likely choose a box closer to the stage, while for more traditional shows, I’d probably resort to boxes closer to the center of the Music Hall.

Carnegie Hall Official Seating – Errors

While compiling the Carnegie Hall seating map, we noticed discrepancies on the Official Carnegie Hall Website. Depending on the event and the performance of ticket sales, the same section, row, and seat number were labeled differently. Seat 41 in Row C of the balcony was labeled as “Side Balcony Obstructed View”, while for another event it was labeled as “Center Balcony”. However, when you look at the notes for both concerts, you will see that the seat was labeled “Obstructed View.”

So what’s the point of bringing this up? Ultimately, it’s simply to share this valuable information with our fans. If you’re going to buy the best tickets in the house, you probably don’t need to worry about this, but when you’re on a budget, these small details are essential and can make the difference between having an enjoyable time and not.

User Reviews of Carnegie Hall Seating

1. Carnegie Hall Overview From a Fan on Yelp

There are bathrooms and bars on the ground and middle floors. Though the bars serve light refreshments and drinks (including bottled beers and wine), only bottled water is allowed back in the boxes.

The museum is on the 2nd floor (up from the ground floor). It’s a fun little reminder that you’re in a culturally crucial historic monument. There are also bathrooms located within the museum area.

The acoustics in the auditorium are excellent!  Also, though the place is decent-sized, it felt very intimate. Free throat lozenges stations are set up at several key points filled with Ricola cough suppressants, which everyone should take. The number of coughs I heard throughout the performances was inexcusable, especially when free lozenges are available.

Carnegie Hall is magical, and everyone, from the ticket takers to the ushers to the performers, endeavors to make your evening a pleasant experience. I’ve never been so well cared for at a performance venue before, and I can’t wait to return.

2. Best Seat Feedback – From Fodors

I prefer either the First Tier or the Second to the Parquet; there are locations downstairs where, believe it or not, the sound is not particularly good.

Should you choose either the First or Second Tier, try for seats in the first or second row, Seats 1 through 6. Avoid Seats 7 and 8. In the Second Tier, they are tucked between structural walls that extend about a foot from the back wall of the box, restricting the sound, in my opinion. This option is not so bad in the First Tier, though it’s still preferable to avoid 7 and 8, even in those boxes.

3. Second Tier vs Dress Circle Feedback

The box office agent was very friendly and helpful, too. They don’t just try to sell you a ticket; they also make sure you have a good view. I really wanted the second tier, but he strongly advised against it since the seats left had partial views. I’m happy we listened to him!

4. Dress Code Info – Balcony Seats

You just don’t even want to or shouldn’t walk in here without at least being dressed business casual. And another thing, the seats were made so you do not have to bring too many things … really nothing more than your coat and your purse.

This was my first visit to Carnegie Hall to watch a string orchestra presented by what looked like teenagers and young adults from a music school.  I was someone’s guest with an extra ticket, and we sat in the nosebleed seats.  Very high up there, but we had a fantastic and unobstructed view (that could have been caused by a beam or people’s heads if they leaned forward).

5. Carnegie Hall Tour

The Carnegie Hall Tour is potentially the best $8 I have ever spent in NYC. We had heard about the tour through a friend and decided to give it a go while we were in the area. The tour guide was great, the access to the facility is fantastic, and the history and crazy facts will keep everyone at your party entertained.

6. Wheelchair Access Information 

Wheelchair access: Absolutely fantastic. When you get your tickets, they ask whether you’d like a chair removed. I sit in my wheelchair, so they removed a seat for me. The morning of the show, they called to confirm this is what I wanted – how great is that? There’s an elevator to the lower level and an accessible bathroom. Sometimes historic establishments use their ‘history’  as an excuse not to be very accommodating – not Carnegie Hall. The people and place get a standing (in spirit) ovation.

7. Parquet User Feedback

In addition to the excellent lighting, one of the great things about Carnegie Hall is that the seats and the floor elevation are designed so that even if the person in front of you is tall, you can still see the stage.

8. Restricted Legroom Feedback

We sat in row M of the balcony. The legroom was practically nonexistent. I’m only 5’4″, but my legs were right up against the seat in front of me. I just prayed I wouldn’t accidentally knee the head of the woman in front of me. I had no room to re-position my legs, cross them, or do anything.

9. Tight Seating Feedback

As for the concert hall itself, the main stage, called the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, is the original “Carnegie Hall”. There are four levels, and the people are packed like sardines. They will seat you behind a door if you let them. There are many seats with obstructed views and limited legroom.

I highly suggest you avoid these, as the regular seats are pretty limited in legroom. I can’t imagine having less legroom. The acoustics, however, are superb. You can hear every note, even from the very top of the balcony. The entire auditorium is ancient, although well-kept. You can tell that this place belongs to another time and generation. I highly recommend the experience, even with all of its bodily discomfort.

Handicapped & ADA Seating at Carnegie Hall

For those who are confined to a wheelchair and/or those looking to attend an event at Carnegie Hall with somebody who is, there is some important information that you’ll want to know. If you’re seeking ADA or handicapped seating, you’ll usually find accessible rows at the top of the lower levels of the venue.

If necessary, folding chairs will be provided for guests, such as those looking to sit with a fan confined to a wheelchair. One trick you can use to filter tickets that are handicapped or ADA accessible is to use our “Additional filters +” button on the event page. This button allows you to select “ADA (wheelchair accessible),” which shows all seats that the seller has marked as handicapped seating.

How to Buy Carnegie Hall Tickets

With high prices come high service fees with many marketplaces, but not TickPick. Here at TickPick, we have no service fees, making us your source for cheap Carnegie Hall tickets on the secondary market.

If you haven’t used TickPick before, sign up for $10 off your first purchase. If you have any questions about Carnegie Hall tickets, please don’t hesitate to submit a request here.

Carnegie Hall Event Schedule

You can find all Carnegie Hall events below. If you’re looking to buy concert tickets (without hidden fees on TickPick) or want to see the Carnegie Hall Calendar, see below.