Are you planning to visit the Empire State Building? We will tell you everything you need to know before your visit to the iconic art deco skyscraper. The Empire State Building is one of the most famous buildings in New York City. You will probably recognize the Empire State Building from movies or from just looking at Manhattan’s skyline. A visit to the Empire State Building will give you a breathtaking view of New York City from the 86th or 102nd floor.
Click here to purchase tickets to the Empire State Building.
| Address: 20 W 34th Street, New York NY 10001 |
| Entrance: The main entrance is on 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue. |
| Opening hours: Empire State Building’s opening hours can vary throughout the year, but they are normally open 10am-midnight. |
Everything you need to know about visiting the Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is one of New York City’s most famous landmarks and is located in Midtown, Manhattan. A visit to the Empire State Building will give you an incredible view of New York City. Their observation decks will give you a view of Brooklyn Bridge, One World Trade Center, Madison Square Garden, a close-up view of the beautiful Chrysler Building, and more. The Empire State Building is 1,454 feet (443 meters) tall if you also count the antenna.
During the time when the Empire State Building was being built, there was a competition of who could build the world’s tallest building. The rivals were the 40 Wall Street Bank of Manhattan building and the Chrysler Building. It only took them 20 months to finish the Empire State Building which was a record time. When it was finished in 1930, the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the whole world for 40 years until the first World Trade Center building was finished in 1970.
The Empire State Building celebrates many cultures and causes in the world community with iconic lighting on the outside of the building. Their LED tower lights allow them to put off an incredible light show for everyone in New York City to enjoy.
How to get to the Empire State Building
It’s hard to miss the Empire State Building since you can spot it from all over New York City if you just look up. The skyscraper has a few different entrances. With your standard ticket, you enter from the main entrance which is located on 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue.
Subway
Many subway lines will take you to the Empire State Building. To get to the closest Subway Station 34 Herald Sq, you take the B D F M N Q R or W line.
You can also take the subway to other stations close by. It’s honestly easier to walk a little extra instead of switching subway lines. It can be a little confusing for someone visiting New York City for the first time. Other closeby subway stations would be 33rd St, 28th St, or Grand Central. If you take the subway from 14 St Union Square, you can walk up Fifth Avenue and enjoy a view of the Empire State Building the whole time.
Walk
It’s very hard to miss the Empire State Building walking around. You can see it from all over New York City unless you’re too close and other buildings are blocking the view. The coolest way to walk to the Empire State building is along Fifth Avenue.
The Empire State Building opening hours
The Empire State Building is open all year round, in all weather conditions. The Empire State Building’s opening hours can vary depending on what time of year. Normally they are open 10am-midnight.
The Empire State Building tickets
We strongly recommend that you book your ticket as early as possible. Their tickets get sold out fast, especially during the weekend or popular times. You need to pick a specific time and day when you book and remember that you can’t get a refund if it turns out to be bad weather.
Click here to purchase tickets to the Empire State Building.
86th floor
You will definitely recognize the Empire State Building’s 86th-floor main deck from movies such as Sleepless in Seattle or the tv-show Gossip Girl. This floor will give you a breathtaking view of New York City. You can see all the way to New Jersey, Queens, Bronx, and Brooklyn as well as famous landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and the Chrysler Building.
86th floor – Express Pass
If you are planning to visit the Empire State Building during a busy time like sunset or during the weekend, we recommend their express pass. If you’re not in a rush to get up and down the building as quickly as possible we recommend the standard ticket which is much cheaper.
102nd + 86th floor
If you can afford it, we recommend this alternative which gives you access to their main deck as well as the 102nd floor another 16 floors up. From the Empire State Building’s 102nd floor you will get an incredible experience with 360-degree views through floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The 102nd floor offers you the chance to experience breathtaking panoramic views of New York City and beyond.
VIP – Experience the 86th floor at sunrise
The Empire State Building offers tickets at sunrise, where you can see the city wake up from the 86th floor’s observation deck. They only have 100 tickets per day and only do this a couple of days a month. If you don’t want to miss out, make sure to book this one on time! We strongly recommend this ticket to all the photographers out there. You can book this experience here.
Price: $125
Click here to purchase tickets to the Empire State Building.
The Empire State Building with a discount – CityPass
A CityPass is a little more affordable to buy if you are planning to visit multiple attractions in New York City. There are many companies that offer a similar package deal, but we want to recommend CityPass. City Pass is a discounted admission ticket that will give you entrance to a couple of attractions.
Your City Pass includes entrance to:
- The Empire State Building
- American Museum of Natural History
- Top of the Rock Observation deck or Guggenheim Museum
- A boat ride to the Statue of Liberty or the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
- 9/11 Memorial Museum or Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
You can purchase your CityPass here.
Best time to visit the Empire State Building
The best time during the day
Are you planning to visit the Empire State Building and want to avoid crowds? Then we recommend visiting directly when they open in the morning or during the day.
If you are a photographer or just want to take beautiful vacation photos we recommend visiting during sunset. If you arrive one hour before sunset you will experience sunset and golden hour but also the sparkling city lights at nighttime.
The best time during the year
The best time during the year to visit the Empire State Building is when it’s a little warmer out during summer, fall or spring. But don’t worry, if you happen to be visiting New York during the winter months of January through March it’s not a problem. The Empire State Building has both indoor and outdoor sections and you can stay warm by going back and forth.
The best time with kids
If you are planning to visit the Empire State Building with kids we recommend the morning when kids normally have more energy. It’s also less crowded in the morning, which makes it easier to keep an eye on them.
The Empire State Building or Top of the Rock
Both the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock will give you unforgettable experiences and will give you magical views of New York City. The biggest difference is that Top of the Rock will give you a better view of uptown and Central Park. Top of the Rock is also a little higher up than the Empire State Building’s observation deck which makes the view a little different. From Top of the Rock, you get a great view of the Empire State Building if you are looking downtown. The Empire State Building is one of the most famous buildings in the world and it gives you a very special feeling when visiting their observation deck.
Common questions about The Empire State Building
Is the Empire State Building the tallest building in New York?
No. The Empire State Building is not the tallest building in New York. The tallest building in New York year 2022 is One World Trade Center, the second tallest building is the Central Park Tower and the third tallest is the 111 W 57th Street building. The Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world until the word World Trade Center building was built in the year 1970.
What movies take place at the Empire State Building?
The Empire State Building is featured in many classic and famous movies and tv shows such as King Kong, Sleepless in Seattle, On the Town, An Affair to Remember, Empire, The Producers, Superman, Independence Day, Elf, How I Met Your Mother, Gossip Girl, and The Mindy Project.
What is the Empire State Building’s height?
The Empire State Building is 1,454 feet (443 meters) tall if you also count the antenna.
How many floors does the Empire State Building have?
The Empire State Building has a total of 102 floors. Their observation decks are located on the 86th floor and on the 102nd floor.
How much does it cost to visit the Empire State Building?
Click here to purchase tickets to the Empire State Building.
Sara
Thursday 27th of October 2022
Love the Empire State Building!