Climbing the Empire State Building

Visiting the iconic Empire State Building is an experience you have to include in your trip to New York. It is a jewel of Art Deco, inside and out, and the exhibits it houses and its views of the city will not leave you indifferent.

My first tip is to get your tickets in advance: this will save you waiting in line to buy tickets, although you will have to wait in line at the security checkpoint.

The best option

Empire State Building Tickets

Access to the mythical Empire State Building, at the best price

This is the most convenient option to climb to the top of the city, with a choice of times and the lowest possible price. Don't waste time at the ticket office and get it online!

From $ 49 at Hellotickets

The Empire State has two observation decks, one on the 86th floor and one on the 102nd floor. With this general admission ticket to the Empire State you access the 86th and my advice is not to pay the supplement needed to access the top platform, it is not worth it.

Something you should keep in mind is that the price of admission goes up in high season, and therefore, you will find a greater number of tourists in the observatory. Remember that children under 6 years old get in for free.

When you receive the confirmation, check if you have to bring your printed tickets (at least when I went up last time, they did not accept electronic tickets). If so, and for some reason you can't print them, don't worry, you can print them at the machines at the entrance, but you will have to wait in line.

I recommend you to buy your tickets to the Empire State in advance so you don't miss out on going up to this New York icon, which will make you feel like you're in a movie with views of the Big Apple at your feet.

Why I like this option: this is the cheapest option to climb the Empire State and allows you to do it at the time you want, so you can plan your visit in advance (later I leave tips on what is the best time of day to climb).

Recommended if... you are eager to enjoy the Manhattan skyline from one of its most legendary buildings.

Booking your tickets for the Empire State Observatory online and in advance you will pay around 39 Euros in Hellotickets. However, if you are traveling with children, in a group or have access to a special rate, you may get better prices. If you are worried about your budget when organizing your visit to this mythical skyscraper, you can consult my guide to Empire State tickets prices so you can see what rate you are entitled to and you can decide how to buy your tickets.

Ticket prices at the box office

Buying the tickets at the ticket office is also an option and the rate you will get will be the same, although as mentioned above, the queues can be very long (and you may run out of space to go up at the time you wanted).

The Empire State Building is located at 20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001 and the best way to get there is either walking if you are downtown or by subway to 34 St - Herald Sq and down the street. You can't miss it! Wherever you are located, I have a plan for you. Check out this article on how to get to the Empire State where I propose different routes or itineraries depending on how much time you have, what your budget or desire to visit neighborhoods and other attractions around.

For example, near the iconic building, located in Midtown, you will have from Central Park and Times Square to other key points of the city as the Flatiron Building. Also nearby is the area known as Koreatown full of bakeries, cafes, Korean barbecue restaurants and karaokes, as well as cosmetics stores with products imported directly from South Korea.

If you are trying to choose the best time to climb the Empire State Building to avoid lines and crowds, visit the Empire State Building in the morning. At 8:00 you'll hardly have to wait in line, and you'll enjoy an almost private experience any day of the week. Your other best option is to visit the building around 00:30, although on Saturdays and Sundays you are sure to meet other tourists.

When you buy your ticket you have to choose a day, when you can access the Empire State at any time you want. I am a romantic and I think that going up first thing in the morning or at midnight is a fantasy, but you can choose the time you want, as it is open every day of the year without exception from 8 am to 2 am, and the last elevator up is at 1:15 am. Here's everything you need to know about the Empire State experience at night.

Alex's Traveller Tip

Did you know that the Empire State is open until 2 a.m.? Climb the Empire State late at night to be completely alone in front of the immensity of New York, it's worth it!

There is no time limit for your visit to the Empire State Building. Most people usually spend about an hour on the observation deck, but you can stay until closing time if you feel like it.

In case you want to go up to the Empire State Building at sunset, my recommendation is to check what time the sun sets and go up to the observatory an hour before to get a good spot and enjoy the visit before it starts to fill up with tourists.

Something that distinguishes the Empire State from the rest of the skyscrapers in New York is that it is open until 2 am, allowing you to go almost any time you want. I'll let you in on a secret: climbing to the top of the building after a party and a night walk around New York is at the top of my plans.

The Empire State Building is, without a doubt, one of the most demanded points of interest in the Big Apple and therefore, its entrance is included in most of the tourist passes that exist to visit the city. Still don't know what a tourist card is or how it works?

In short, it is a card that you book in advance for a "flat rate" and will give you access to several attractions in the city, allowing you to save time (skipping the queues at the ticket office) and money.

As I said, most of these cards offer the entrance included to the Empire State. Here is a list of these cards and the links to my practical guide for each one. But if you are thinking about buying a card, I recommend you to read this article about the comparison of New York tourist passes.

List of passes that include the Empire State Building

My personal advice

If you can't decide on a time to go up the iconic skyscraper, I recommend buying the New York CityPASS and going up in the morning for a hustle-free , uncrowded experience and returning at sunset to enjoy the views.

To visit the Empire State with your New York City Pass, simply go to the building and enter through the specially designated gate for visitors with a New York City Pass.

From the Empire State Observatory, you can look through the famous binoculars and watch life go by in New York, with views of Bryant Park, the Flatiron Building, Fifth Avenue, One World Trade Center and of course admire the majesty of Manhattan's buildings as a whole.

From the moment of its inauguration in 1931, the Empire State Building became the star of the New York skyline, and an attraction for tourists who climbed to its observation deck. This is what you can see from the top of the Empire State Building:

If the heights make you hungry and you like to know in advance where to eat, near the Empire State Building there are a few restaurants that you will want to try. You can, for example, go to Koreatown and try Turntable Chicken Jazz or BCD Tofu House where you will find vegetarian options.

My personal recommendation is to walk a bit in the direction of the Chrysler Building and go to Urbanspace Vanderbilt, a warehouse converted into a market with stalls of all kinds of food. Still, if you feel like organizing your gastronomic journey, take a look at this list of where to eat near the Empire State Building.

If you're visiting the Empire State with kids, it's best to go as early as possible in the morning. They will let you in with backpacks, as long as they are the size of a typical backpack with handles, and if you bring a stroller they will most likely make you fold it up to go up to the observation deck.

When you get to the Empire State you can take a picture and buy it later to take it as a souvenir. It costs about $20 and I don't think it's worth it, but if you know your kids will be excited about it, make sure you don't wear any green clothing, as it will ruin the photo (they will take it in front of a chroma).

Many people wonder how many floors the Empire State Building has. Well, the exact number is 102 although the observation deck is on the 86th floor and not the last one. You can use any of the 73 elevators that the building has in total to visit them, so that uncomfortable moment of waiting for the elevator should be reduced to a minimum but not the trip in it. There are restrooms on the 2nd and 86th floors of the Empire State, so don't worry, if you get caught in an emergency up high you won't have to run down to the ground.

Camera tripods and oversized suitcases or backpacks are not allowed in the Empire State, and the building has no lockers where you can leave your belongings. If you need to, LuggageHero is quite close to the skyscraper and is the cheapest option to leave your belongings while you climb the Empire State Building.

Inside, you will also see the 'Dare to Dream' exhibition dedicated to the construction of the Empire State Building and the stories of its builders, through architectural plans, drawings, and photographs. You will also find an exhibition dedicated to explaining the building's sustainable energy use.

A bit of its history

Something that not many people know is that in the same year of its opening, the spire located at its highest point served as an anchor point for a zeppelin, since according to the architects of the building this would be the mode of transport of the future. Good thing they designed one of the greatest architectural jewels in the world, because as soothsayers they were not good for much...

Symbol of Art Deco

What makes the Empire State Building a must-see on your New York adventures is not only the breathtaking views from its observatory, but also its stunning Art Deco interior, which is a marvel. It's a complete experience that you're sure to look back on with nostalgia many years after your trip.

New York is a city made to be admired from below but also from above, and for that, you have a multitude of skyscrapers from which the views of New York are breathtaking.

One World Observatory

One World may not come to mind so quickly because of its relatively young age, but it will offer you a breathtaking view of the financial district, with stores, a fancy restaurant, and interactive activities where the kids will have a blast. If you're up for a visit, you can check out all the details in my handy guide: NYC One World Observatory Tickets: how to buy, prices and discounts.

Rockefeller Center, the Top of the Rock

And of all the skyscrapers in New York, my personal recommendation is Rockefeller Center. Its observation deck known as the Top of the Rock will offer you the best views of the city including a spectacular close-up of the Empire State Building. In fact, many visitors face a dilemma when deciding between climbing one of the two. If it helps, here is a comparison: climbing the Top of the Rock vs. climbing the Empire State Building.

Other emblematic buildings

Also, if you are one of those people who shy away from the established tourist circuits, there are many more buildings in New York that you can visit, even if they do not have an observatory. Woolworth Building, Chrysler Building, Flatiron Building and many others will delight anyone passionate about architecture.

Alternatively, if climbing a skyscraper doesn't really appeal to you but you want to enjoy the views of New York from above, you have other options like taking a helicopter tour of Manhattan or visiting one of the many rooftop bars in the city. But in my opinion, climbing a skyscraper is a mind-blowing experience you can't miss, especially on your first time in New York!

Now you just have to choose a skyscraper and get ready to see one of the most beautiful cities in the world as it deserves. Bon voyage to the heights!