Whenever I travel to a new city, I make it a point to end the trip with an overhead view of the landscape. From the roof of Barcelona’s Casa Milà to the top of Copenhagen’s Round Tower, I’ve tracked my footsteps from above, pointing out the zones I visited as well as the ones I missed, making mental notes for my return. It’s a lovely way of orienting oneself, of feeling as though you have a better grip on this place you once called foreign. I’ve lived in New York City for five years now—and right across the river in New Jersey before that—yet before this fall, I had never ascended to the top of the Empire State Building. My time in the city is far from done, but I’ve always been curious about the skyscraper I spent the entirety of my life marveling at from afar.
Recently, on a sunny September day, I finally made my way to 350 Fifth Avenue, ready to visit the same observation deck featured in classic movies like Sleepless in Seattle. It’s a funny thing, how the main draw of visiting the Empire State Building isn’t actually about visiting the Empire State Building (if you want to appreciate its exterior beauty, you’re better off viewing it from the Top of the Rock), but rather the bird’s-eye view it offers you of everything surrounding it. Beyond the views, there are also some wonderful exhibits on the 2nd and 80th floors offering a historical overview of the building’s construction and legacy. Did you know it was built in just 13 months? These were the bustling days of the 1930s, when architectural ambition reached historic new heights.
Ready to experience the Art Deco masterpiece yourself? Read on for everything you need to know before visiting the Empire State Building, including how to get tickets, what’s worth it, the best times to visit, and insider tips for how to make the most of your tourist dollars.
What is the Empire State Building?
The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper located in Midtown Manhattan. Designed by the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, it was constructed swiftly between the years of 1930 and 1931. That translates to an astonishing pace of about 4.5 stories per week, making it one of the fastest large-scale construction projects in human history. Standing at 1,454 feet tall, it proudly held the title of the world’s tallest building for almost 40 years, until the North Tower of the World Trade Center claimed the top spot in 1970. Today, it stands as the eighth-tallest building in New York City and serves as a major commercial hub, housing over 150 corporate offices, most notably companies like LinkedIn, Workday, and Expedia.
The skyscraper is visited by more than 2.5 million people each year. Along with the Statue of Liberty, it remains one of the most photographed and recognizable icons in New York City, having appeared in over 250 movies and television shows, most famously in the 1933 classic King Kong. Its famous illumination tradition began in 1976, when the Empire State Building flashed floodlights of red, white, and blue to honor the United States Bicentennial. This pioneered a lasting tradition of lighting the spire in dynamic color combinations to celebrate seasonal events, cultural milestones, and major holidays. Furthermore, the building underwent a massive, four-year, $165 million renovation in 2019. This extensive project included a complete modernization of the 2nd and 80th-floor exhibition spaces, alongside a thoroughly reimagined 102nd-floor observatory designed to elevate the visitor experience.
The Empire State Building is situated in the very heart of Manhattan. The dedicated visitor entrance is located at 20 West 34th Street, which is easily walkable from major transit hubs like Port Authority, Penn Station, and the PATH, as well as an array of subway lines including the 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, N, Q, R, W, B, D, F, M, 4, 5, 6, and 7 trains. The original, historic Art Deco lobby situated at 350 Fifth Avenue is typically reserved for building tenants, but visitors are treated to its splendor upon exiting the observatory. For travelers needing to purchase tickets on-site, the physical ticket office is conveniently located nearby at 12 West 34th Street.
How do you buy tickets for the Empire State Building?
The Empire State Building is open 365 days a year, rain or shine, meaning visitors can access New York City’s landmark even on major holidays, offering unique perspectives like catching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from high above the streetscape. Tickets can be purchased in advance online through the official website at esbnyc.com, as well as via authorized third-party platforms like Viator and GetYourGuide. While prices across platforms generally balance out, purchasing ahead helps secure specific time slots. On a recent visit on a Monday morning in September at 10 a.m., numerous ticket slots were readily available from touchscreen kiosks for times as early as 10:15 that same morning.
When navigating ticket options, visitors essentially choose between access to the 86th floor or a combined ticket covering both the 86th and 102nd floors. Both options include full access to the interactive museum exhibits and feature flexible rescheduling policies for the selected date. The 102nd floor offers a slightly more direct view of Central Park and is entirely indoors, making it an ideal retreat on a rainy day. However, on a clear sunny afternoon, travelers might prefer to save that extra cash and put it toward a nice meal in nearby Koreatown. While "Flex" and "Express" add-ons exist for expedited entry and open-ended dates, the relatively smooth and swift lines during typical visits mean these upgrades can often be skipped.
For tourists embarking on a comprehensive sightseeing journey across New York City, bundled options such as the New York CityPass or the New York Pass by GoCity provide access to the Empire State Building alongside several other top-tier local attractions at a discounted rate spread over a set number of days.
Do you have to purchase tickets in advance?
In line with post-pandemic operational shifts, the Empire State Building utilizes a timed-ticketing system designed to mitigate overcrowding at the ticket kiosks and manage queue lengths heading up to the observation decks. Dan Rogoski, senior vice president and observatory general manager, emphasizes the recommendation to secure tickets in advance online to guarantee preferred dates and peak times, especially around sunset and major holidays. Nevertheless, for travelers with flexible schedules, same-day availability remains quite common given that the landmark operates every single day of the year.
Are there guided tours to see the Empire State Building?
Guided options are available for visitors looking for a more exclusive experience, though they come at a higher price point. The Premium Experience provides a private small-group tour for up to seven guests, complete with expedited skip-the-line entry. For a more elite outing, the All Access Tour channels the experience of the numerous celebrities who frequent the landmark, granting you and your party entry through a private VIP entrance, relaxation in the celebrity green room with complimentary refreshments, and a personalized guided tour.
What can you expect from a trip to the Empire State Building?
Upon arriving at the visitor entrance on 20 West 34th Street, guests pass through an airport-style security checkpoint before heading to the second-floor exhibition spaces. Here, interactive museum displays document the historic construction of the skyscraper. Afterward, an attendant escorts visitors to an elevator that whisks them up to the 80th floor for an initial indoor glimpse of the city. This level features the "NYC: Above and Beyond" artwork, an impressive mural of the Manhattan cityscape constructed entirely from memory by artist Stephen Wiltshire following a brief 45-minute helicopter tour.
Continuing the journey, guests ascend to the legendary 86th-floor open-air observatory, the epicenter of the 360-degree viewing experience. Surrounded by the building’s classic architectural metal gates and equipped with overhead heaters for colder months, visitors can easily point out their favorite neighborhoods and landmarks across the island. On an exceptionally clear day, the vantage point stretches across six distinct states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Delaware. Visitors holding tickets for the 102nd floor enjoy similarly sweeping vistas from a climate-controlled enclosure. While there is no strict time limit once inside, planning for one to two hours allows ample time to absorb the experience. The exit routes guests through the official gift shop before returning them to the landmark Art Deco lobby. For dining options, the building hosts the sit-down State Grill and Bar, a Starbucks Reserve, and a Tacombi location.
When is the best time to visit the Empire State Building?
Like many major global destinations, the Empire State Building is exceptionally rewarding when visited during the shoulder seasons. Spring and fall bring pleasant weather and distinct visual highlights, such as Central Park blanketed in cherry blossoms or rich autumn foliage. Winter carries its own festive charm, drawing crowds wrapped in heavy coats during the holiday season.
Regarding daily timing, mornings and sunset hours represent peak operational windows. For early risers, the Sunrise Experience ticket grants access before public hours begin, complete with a beverage, a pastry, and unobstructed views of the sun coming up over the Chrysler Building. Midtown professionals looking for a midday break often find that the hours between 1 and 4 p.m. experience the lowest visitor volume. Additionally, AM/PM ticket options allow guests to experience the view during daylight and return later that same evening for a dual perspective of the city lights.
