must-visit in New YorkViewpoint

Empire State Building

📍 United States, New York State, Manhattan, 350 Fifth Avenue (34th St)

1 photos

4.7/ 5.0

★★★★★

Quick Facts

Location: USA, New York
Category: Viewpoint
Duration: 1–2 hours
Opening Hours: Hours vary by season: Mar-May 9/10am-10pm-midnight, Jul-Aug peak until 1am, Sep-Nov 9/10am-10/11pm, Nov-Mar 10am-10pm. Last elevator departs 45 minutes before closing.
Ticket Price: Adult: Free · 86th floor from $46; 86th+102nd from $81; child 6-12 $38/$73, under 6 free; Express from $89. All tickets are timed entry. Source: esbnyc.com
Address: United States, New York State, Manhattan, 350 Fifth Avenue (34th St)
Coordinates: 40.7484, -73.9857

Introduction

The Empire State Building is an Art Deco Midtown landmark, completed in 1931 with 102 floors and about 443 m including the antenna—long the world's tallest. The 86th-floor open-air observatory offers a 360-degree view over Manhattan's grid and the Hudson; the enclosed 102nd-floor deck rises even higher. The tower lights change color for holidays and anniversaries, a classic symbol of the New York night and a favorite film location.

✨ Highlights

86th-Floor Open Observatory

A wraparound outdoor deck overlooking Central Park, the downtown skyline and two rivers.

102nd-Floor Observatory

A fully glazed enclosed deck, higher still; on clear days see several surrounding states.

Art Deco Lobby

The reconstructed second-floor Art Deco gold lobby and exhibits tell the building's story.

Night View & Lights

At night the sea of lights is spectacular; the crown colors shift with the calendar—an iconic city image.

Tickets and queues

Buy timed tickets online; the hour before sunset is the most popular — and most worthwhile — slot, so expect longer queues.

Quieter times

Opening time and late evening are quietest; going up an hour before closing gives the same night view far more calmly.

🛈 Practical Info

→View comparison：To photograph the Empire State itself, go to Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center - from the ESB decks you only look out over Manhattan, not at the building beneath you. The two decks are only 61 metres apart, and most visitors find the 86th floor enough; add the 102nd only to escape wind and cold or to avoid the wire mesh on the 86th-floor barriers.

→Free Art Deco lobby：The Art Deco lobby on Fifth Avenue is free and has its own entrance at 350 Fifth Avenue - no observatory ticket needed. It is one of the finest interiors in the country, with a second-floor exhibit on the building's history. Do not confuse it with the observatory entrance, which is ticketed and on West 34th St.

→Best Time to Visit：Go up an hour before sunset to catch daytime, dusk and night views in one visit.

→Avoid Peak：Weekends and holidays mean long lines; buy online and choose early or late slots.

→Wind & Warmth：The 86th floor is open-air and windy; bring warm layers in winter and at night.

→Buying tickets：On-site tickets are sold at the office at 12 West 34th Street, also timed and often sold out - book online in peak season. Online tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. No outside food, large bags, tripods or selfie sticks on the decks; a cafe and Starbucks Reserve operate on the 86th floor.

→Opening Hours：Hours vary by season: Mar-May 9/10am-10pm-midnight, Jul-Aug peak until 1am, Sep-Nov 9/10am-10/11pm, Nov-Mar 10am-10pm. Last elevator departs 45 minutes before closing.

→Transportation：Metro (34th St-Herald Sq Station)

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Adult	Free

86th floor from $46; 86th+102nd from $81; child 6-12 $38/$73, under 6 free; Express from $89. All tickets are timed entry. Source: esbnyc.com

💡 Tips

• Sunset is the most crowded; go up early to claim a spot and wait for dark.

• The crown color has symbolic meaning; the official site posts each night's scheme.

• Prices and hours follow the Empire State Building's official announcement.

• Glare only comes from the floor-to-ceiling glass on the 102nd floor. The 86th floor is open-air with no glass, but its barriers carry wire mesh - push the lens through the gaps for the cleanest shots.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Empire State Building?

Hours vary by season: Mar-May 9/10am-10pm-midnight, Jul-Aug peak until 1am, Sep-Nov 9/10am-10/11pm, Nov-Mar 10am-10pm. Last elevator departs 45 minutes before closing.

How much is the admission for Empire State Building?

Adult: Free; 86th floor from $46; 86th+102nd from $81; child 6-12 $38/$73, under 6 free; Express from $89. All tickets are timed entry. Source: esbnyc.com

Any practical tips for visiting Empire State Building?

Sunset is the most crowded; go up early to claim a spot and wait for dark. The crown color has symbolic meaning; the official site posts each night's scheme.