Empire State Building
The art-deco icon and its 86th-floor open-air deck — the most famous skyline view in the world.
The call
Worth it if you are traveling with kids and you are traveling as a couple.
Why
- 01
The deco lobby and the building's own legend carry it, and from the 86th floor the city sprawls in every direction.
Our read - 02
But the lines snake, the upsells stack, and you can't photograph the building you're standing on.
Our read - 03
Time Out calls the renovated 102nd-floor Top Deck the '(quite literal) crown jewel,' reached by a glass elevator with a 24-window panorama 1,250 feet up.
timeout.com - 04
On the clearest days the view stretches up to 80 miles, far enough to take in six states from a single vantage point.
esbnyc.com
Is it a fit?
Go if
This is your first trip to New York
It's the most storied skyline view in the world; the 86th-floor open-air deck is the iconic one, and the 102nd adds height and weather protection.
You are traveling with kids
With kids, Empire State Building works.
You are traveling as a couple
As a couple, Empire State Building works.
You are traveling solo
Solo, Empire State Building works.
Think twice if
You are watching the budget
On a budget, weigh it — Empire State Building isn't cheap for what it is.
You only have one day
Empire State Building is a real time commitment — fit it in only if it's a priority.
History and culture matter to you
For history & culture, Empire State Building is hit or miss.
You are planning for two
For romance, Empire State Building is hit or miss.
Plan it well
- Cost
- $44 (86th); more for 102nd
- Timing
- Open until midnight; go around sunset or after dark, and aim for clear days for the long-range view.
- Booking
- 86th floor from $44; 86th + 102nd Top Deck from $79; Express Pass from $120. Buy timed tickets online to skip lines.
- Allow
- 1.5–2 hrs
- Accessibility
- Both observatories and the museum are wheelchair accessible by elevator.