Empire State Building - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Empire State Building
Empire State Building
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksArchitectural BuildingsObservation Decks & Towers
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Monday
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Friday
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
About
The Empire State Building is the World's Most Famous Building. It rises 1,454 ft from ground to antenna & features the only 360 degree open-air vantage point of Midtown. The 86th & 102nd Fl Observatories are open daily, see esbnyc.com for hours. On a clear day you can see up to 6 states. The brand-new 2nd floor museum (included in all ticket options) offers guests 10,000 sq ft of interactive exhibits that invite visitors on a journey beginning from the building’s construction to its current place in pop culture. The 102nd Fl Obs features floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass elevator with sound & light experience. It is the jewel of NYC. All signage, audio & exhibits in the building are available in 9 languages. We offer free Wi-Fi. The 34th St Lobby entrance features a grand staircase with a 2-story architectural model of the bldg & a high-tech LED exhibit that celebrates lighting ceremonies performed by famous, celebrity guests. Express guests receive red carpet VIP treatment.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Admission tickets
from $47.91
All you need to step foot in the door.
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Midtown
This is the iconic New York that so many visitors imagine before they visit - spectacular skyscrapers like the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building, iconic public buildings like Grand Central Terminal and the New York Public Library, and the non-stop hustle and bustle of the city streets. Fifth Avenue is a shopper's paradise where you can find every kind of store imaginable, with fashion brands ranging from the affordable to the ultra-fancy. Visit Rockefeller Center to experience towering Art Deco grandeur, and foodies will love the busy restaurants that stay open late in Koreatown. After dark, Midtown calms down a bit, but at any time of day or night it still feels 100% New York.
How to get there
  • 34th St – Herald Square • 3 min walk
  • 33rd St • 5 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travelers are saying
  • Thomas K
    Copenhagen, Denmark859 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Iconic landmark with amazing views of New York
    Cost a lot of money but for me it was worth it! The view is amazing. Was there at sunset and to see the lights of the city was great! Many people there, book in advance, if not you are last in line. They have a good giftshop too, and the elevator was a little show by itself.
    Thank you so much for your review!
    Written May 9, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written May 8, 2023
  • DJK
    Acworth, Georgia442 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    If you do one high rise tour!!
    So out of all the high rise tours, this is the one you must do. Incredible views unobstructed from other buildings. You can see for miles, my recommendation use come right before sun set enjoy the view. Then stay to watch the city come alive!!
    Thank you for making the Empire State Building part of your stay in New York. We hope to see you next time you visit. Thank you for the review.
    Written May 9, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled on business
    Written May 8, 2023
  • Rob S
    York, United Kingdom120 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    It’s an iconic view of NYC ❤️ But we didn’t need fast track tickets
    The amazing view speaks for itself. The bigger question is whether you should pay for fast track, red carpet, 102 etc… I think the answer depends just on when you plan to visit. We chose fast track (red carpet) to 86 but didn’t need it. Could have saved a load of dollars and enjoyed it just the same. There are lines but they weren’t long. This was a Friday 10am in May. Whatever you choose, soak up that view and feel the NYC energy from up above!
    We’re so happy to hear that you had a wonderful visit to the Empire State Building. Thank you for the review. Hope to be a part of your next visit to New York.
    Written May 9, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written May 9, 2023
  • Naomi H
    Galway, Ireland4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    City Pass purchased at Empire State Building
    We Bought our City Pass tickets from Susan B in the Empire State Building. She was great - gave us great advise . We had entry to five places and it really saved us money as we were a party of 5. Susan B was so informative and helpful. On our trip we picked to do following with this city pass - entry to Ground Zero Museum, the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island , sunset cruise of New York skyline( cost an extra 10$ each) ,Empire State Building and Natural Museum of History. Thank you Susan B for your practical help and advise!
    Thank you for the wonderful review and nice words about our staff. We will be sure to pass your message along.
    Written May 16, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 14, 2023
  • sunnyside1328
    Richards Landing, Canada2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Our Highlight!
    In the past, we booked the express ticket, a well worth the money experience. This time, we booked the sunrise tour - it was AMAZING. It's like no other experience we have had. Highly recommend this tour. With only 100 tickets sold, you do not wait in lines at the bottom, and can wander around with ease on the observation deck. It is an early morning start, (arrival at 5am for us) yet they provide complimentary coffee and pastry at the top.
    Thank you so much for the wonderful review. Glad to hear you enjoyed the experience with us.
    Written May 16, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 16, 2023
  • rico2432
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    ESB visit: 5/13/23
    The visit was excellent. Took our 87 year old father for his first visit. Staff was outstanding and could not have been nicer or more helpful. Being a resident of NYC, I did not expect to experience such a professional, well trained & attentive staff. Quite the pleasant surprise…and appreciated.
    Thank you for the wonderful review and nice words about our staff. We will be sure to pass your message along.
    Written May 16, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 16, 2023
  • Nicolejoy98
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Empire state visit - May 2023
    Great experience. We were a group of 4,2 of us are not big fans of heights and it was still enjoyable. The staff were incredible, especially the women who was on floor 102 at around 10am on the 16th. She was exceptional, she deserves a pay rise!
    Thank you for the wonderful review and nice words about our staff. We will be sure to pass your message along.
    Written May 19, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 19, 2023
  • Inspire57198583431
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Empire state visit
    Very well presented. First you visit a museum of the building under construction. Takes you back to the 1930s. Then to the 86th floor. We were there for 2 hours taking lots of pictures of the great views. I thought it was great.
    Thank you for your review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed our museum and gallery just as much as the view.
    Written May 19, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 19, 2023
  • psheirich
    New York City, New York2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning Views
    I did both the 86th floor and the 102nd and I felt it was worth the extra money. The floor to ceiling windows allow you to see and take photos unobstructed by any aspect of the building itself which is great for panoramic shots. The museum is also pretty cool and informative. If you have the time then enjoy it before you go up. I didn’t see a way to go back to it when you come back down but you can ask to be sure.
    Thank you for making the Empire State Building part of your stay in New York. We hope to see you next time you visit. Thank you for the review.
    Written June 3, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 31, 2023
  • CincyTrotter
    Cincinnati, Ohio86 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great total experience!
    Informative and fun experience! The displays enhance the visit and give great context to the history and importance of the building in a fun and interactive way. Well organized admission process. Loved visiting in the late evening with Manhattan sparkling!
    We are so happy you enjoyed the view. Thank you for choosing the Empire State Building!
    Written June 3, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 31, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles95,402 reviews
Excellent
62,245
Very good
21,856
Average
7,189
Poor
2,376
Terrible
1,745

SumitD
Costa Mesa, CA6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Couples
This was our first visit to New York and visiting Empire State building was a must. We visited on the 27th of December. I had the option of buying my tickets online beforehand but did not do that since weather forecast had chances of rain.Once i saw that there were no chances of rain that day i bought my tickets for the 86th floor observatory(includes 80th floor and museum) inside the building (automated kiosk so the queue moves fast). I visited around 3 pm so that i could enjoy both day and the night time views of Manhattan. Another thing i noticed is that buying tickets online makes you choose time of visit while buying tickets at the building itself has no such option. Also once inside no one checked for the time of my visit so i think that is just to regulate the crowds. The 86th floor observatory is a visual treat and is worth the money. Especially the night time views of Manhattan are simply out of this world. Didnt do the 102nd floor since it was double the ticket cost and is not an open air observatory like the 86th floor. All in all spent around 3 hours there, took a lot of pictures and selfies with the manhattan skyline backdrop and had a great time in the 'most famous building in the world'.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kayla G
Manchester, UK61 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
We decided to visit the ESB after watching a musical on Broadway, as we had found out that the last lift up is as late as 1:15am. We arrived around 11:30pm to discover a very short queue (probably under 50 people). Annoyingly, after queuing for security for about 10 minutes, another 50 or so people arrived and walked straight past the queue towards the member of staff who was monitoring the queue. The staff member seemed annoyed and radio'd reception to ask why he had been sent so many people all at once when he should only have one queue at that time. I'm not sure what was said back but he seemed annoyed and then just let them merge with the current queue, which was irritating for the rest of us. Once past security, we got up to the 86th floor pretty quickly and the views were spectacular. We were relieved that there were heat lamps up there, as it was VERY windy that high up. We didn't go right to the top (which is believe is something like the 103rd floor) as a staff member told us it would be another $30 each to upgrade our tickets, which seems a bit extortionate. Overall, the view made up for the slight inconvenience of the queue, and we didn't feel that the view could be $30 better less than 20 floors up.
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

abbiev2016
London, UK180 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Friends
We pre-booked our tickets to visit the Empire State Building at night online and paid $93 pp to visit the 82nd and 102nd floors. It was lovely seeing all the lights of the City that never sleeps, but ridiculously cold and windy on the observatory tower we didn’t stay out there long. If you go at night it’s definitely not half as busy as day tickets so prob no need for the VIP (as there were no extras we noted) but there was a lack of staff visible too. Would recommend the night experience.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Pauline2425
Edinburgh, UK27 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Friends
Having visited NY twice previously and used other viewing platforms to see the Empire State Building, with the new glass viewing platform on 102nd floor we thought it worth a whirl.
My main complaint is the lack of supervision when queuing to go from the 88th floor to the 102nd floor using the elevator. There were numerous adults skipping the line (queue). There were many families with young children, standing inline patiently, however several couples just walked to the front. They were never confronted by staff. If there was more staff supervising this could be managed better and the problem be eliminated. My group (4) and others felt frustrated and annoyed. This made the trip
It cost almost $90 to go to both viewing platforms, its just not good value for money.
Written January 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Pauline2425, We are always looking for ways to improve the Empire State Building experience, so we greatly appreciate your feedback. We work hard to provide a unique experience for all our guests, and hope you were able to enjoy the other activities we offer, including our timeless Art Deco and architecture as well as our new and exciting interactive exhibits. Thank you for visiting. - Empire State Building
Written January 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Pathfinder691843
2 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Couples
The check in was relatively fast, there was not a line because the visibility was low that night. There were many workers but it seemed like we were an annoyance asking for help when the ticket reader wasn’t working and letting us through. The lady yelled over to me “scan it to go through” and I said it’s not working and she rolled her eyes and said scan it. I asked if someone could come help us because it wasn’t working. We paid extra for skip the line and the “red carpet” and were not treated very kindly at all. The view from the top was pretty great but trying to get up there was extremely frustrating and made us want to immediately leave. When you pay over $200 to look off a tall building you at least want the staff to be helpful when their scanner isn’t working. Made us not ever want to come back and be really irritated at the money we spent.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Pathfinder691843, We read your review about your recent visit to the Empire State Building Observatory. While we aim to do our best at all times, we recognize that sometimes we fail, and from our failures we learn. We are very sorry to hear that your experience was a disappointment, and we very much would like to improve. Would you please be kind enough to reach out to us at roomtoimprove@esbonyc.com with the date, time, location, and any other specifics from your visit. It will help us and future visitors. We are excited about the recent opening of our newly renovated 102nd floor Observatory. If you are kind enough to share your experience with us, we will happily email you a discount coupon for your next visit. We will also happily email you a unique, high definition image of the Empire State Building. Once again, we are sorry, and many thanks in advance for your help! - Empire State Building
Written January 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Maps618538
1 contribution
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Friends
First off, we did not see the advantage of paying more for a "avoid the line" ticket. The Red Carpet does not extend throughout entire tour.
My husband and I wanted to experience the Observation Deck of many favorite movie locations for ourselves, so together with another couple we purchased $40.00 tickets online for a Thursday afternoon just after New Years. We did expect some wait and we also expected a smooth experience. It was a smooth experience for those with a LOT of patience. This is not an experience for young children. Once we got onto the first elevator to the 80th floor we waited to get a spot at one of the windows to catch a view. Then the unorganized (no designated/corded line) wait for the next elevator to the 86th floor observation deck where the magic of movies happened seemed to take forever! Again the volume of other tourists lined up around the deck (which appears MUCH wider in the movies) made the experience less than romantic. The staff was attentive once you got close to the elevators and exits.
So our bucket list item was checked...glad that's over!
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Maps618538, We appreciate your feedback and are sorry to hear your experience with us was less than memorable. For future reference, to avoid peak-hour lines and crowds, we recommend arriving during off-peak hours: between 8-10 am or after 11 pm. Thank you for visiting. - Empire State Building
Written January 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tammynp26
New York25 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We went on a Sunday and surprisingly there was NO line. I heard you can stand in line for 45mins to an hour. Staff are very helpful. Tickets was $45 each. If you plan to visit NYC and want to do more than 3 attractions, I recommend purchasing the city pass. you'll save money that way. The security process is kinda like the airports TSA. Basically everything off onto the bin, only thing is you can keep your shoes on. NO Glass bottles are allowed. You'll walk through the exhibit with lots of displays for you to take photos, read and watch. Then you'll proceed to the elevator which take you up to the 80th floor. While in the elevator it'll show you a small imax video of the process of building the empire. On the 80th floor you get the view of the entire city. You have an option to go outside for a better view too. They do have heated lamps all around to keep you warm during winter. To go up to the highest floor 102. its an additional cost. For me 80th was good enough. I'm sure its the same view. The experience was ok. I wouldn't pay to go again. Not worth the money.
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

HC
Portsmouth, UK92 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
When booking tickets for the Empire State Building I upgraded to the VIP package which included the express line and access to the 102 floor. Always a risk as you don’t know how busy it will be but luckily on this occasion the queues were huge and the risk paid off. Fantastic views from the top, we were lucky as we had a clear day. Also worth seeing it during the evening, New York looks stunning lit up. All in all a wonderful experience.
Written February 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrew P
Manchester, UK214 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
The Empire State is absolutely the most iconic representation of New York. I know for others it will be the Statue of Liberty, Central Park or even Times Square, however, for me it's the Empire. We had to wait a number of days before our visit due to bad weather. When the weather was clear enough to promise great views our family, and many others, queued for our visit. Despite being quite busy we flowed through the exhibition areas, security and the ticket area. The staff were friendly and courteous.

One glitch in the matrix was that to go to the top of the attraction you had to pay more money. Not something a family want to hear for an already squeezed holiday budget. We paid for our visit using a city pass so potentially missed out on the ticket options that would have informed us of the extra charge.
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tony C
Clonmel, Ireland2 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
Like most attractions in US Airport security screening applies, which in this day and age should be a comfort to all despite the additional time it takes to process through same.
Once through security things moved fairly seamlessly with the opportunity to browse in the pictorial and video gallery or to proceed directly to the lifts to the 80th floor. Lift very smooth and you would hardly know you were moving. Good picture ops on 80th floor through windows however you can go up to 86th floor by lift or stairs and that floor is open to the elements with possibly better picture ops but fairly chilly with wind chill when we visited in early January. It was possible to go up to 102nd floor but I think this required an additional ticket (and possibly additional payment). Overall a good experience and would recommend it .
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Empire State Building - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Empire State Building

Empire State Building admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost $47.91, while a popular guided tour starts around $7.08 per person.

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