Empire State Building

It was a hot summer day in Beijing, and the emperors of old are like, 'Not dealing with this heat in the Forbidden City.' So they built this massive getaway spot - The Summer Palace. It’s basically their version of a luxury vacation home, but on steroids. Think grand gardens, a huge lake, and these gorgeous pavilions where they’d chill, write poetry, and escape the heat & hustle. It’s history, art, and nature all in one.

Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day

The Empire State Building Ticket Prices & Promotions

  • 86th Floor Observatory Ticket

    (Multiple options available), Main Deck Ticket (86th Floor)

  • Top Deck: 86th & 102nd Floor Observation Decks

    (Multiple options available), Top Deck Ticket (86th + 102nd Floors)

  • 86th Floor Observation Deck Ticket + Express Pass

    (Multiple options available), Express Pass (Skip-the-Line Access)

Best Hotels near Empire State Building

  • Mandarin Oriental New York

    2.29km straight line from Empire State Building

  • Aman New York

    1.86km straight line from Empire State Building

  • The Fifth Avenue Hotel

    0.42km straight line from Empire State Buildinge

Reviews of Empire State Building

4.7/5
932 reviews
5/5
I recommend against buying the supplementary ticket for the top floor, as it's enclosed and the view isn't as good as the open spaces below.
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5/5
The scenery is beautiful. I recommend buying a ticket for 5:45 PM, which is cheaper and allows you to stay until 9 PM. This way you can see the scenery at three different times, which is well worth it.
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5/5
It was the best experience of my life.
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5/5
I was truly moved when I finally saw with my own eyes the scenery I had longed for since childhood! It's the perfect place to experience New York.
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5/5
a basic but solid observation tower; great views; super windy; lovely souvenir store
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Want to visit Empire State Building? As one of the top attractions of New Yor, you can't miss this place. Read this article and know everything about Empire State Building including ticket prices, transportation, opening hours, location.

Empire State Building Tickets | Location & Opening Hours

​​Empire State Building | Operating Hours​

Period

Dates

Opening Hours

Entrance Gate Closes

​​Winter-Spring​​

Feb 1 - Apr 30

10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

10:15 PM

​​Early May​​

May 1 - May 5

10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

10:00 PM

​​Summer​​

Jun 1 - Sep 9

10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

9:00 PM

​​Autumn​​

Oct 10 - Dec 12

9:00 AM - 10:00 PM

9:00 PM

​​Mid-December​​

Dec 13 - Dec 16

10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

9:00 PM

​​Holiday Season​​

Dec 17 - Feb 2

9:00 AM - 11:00 PM

10:00 PM

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Empire State Building Tickets | Ticket Prices

Empire State Building Tickets | Ticket Prices

Empire State Building Observatory Tickets​​

Ticket Type

Price (Adult)

Savings

Key Features

​​86th Floor Observatory​​

From ​​US$43.12​​

Save US$4.79

Immediate access
Conditional cancellation
No ticket collection required

​​Top Deck (86th + 102nd Floors)​​

From ​​US$77.42​​

Save US$8.60

Access to both observation decks
Immediate entry
No ticket collection

​​86th Floor + Express Pass​​

​​US$78.66​​

Save US$13.88

Skip-the-line access
Immediate entry
Conditional cancellation

​​Empire State Building | Combo & Special Experience Tickets​​

Ticket Type

Price (Adult)

Key Features

​​86th & 102nd Floors + Express Pass​​

From ​​US$117.59​​

Skip-the-line access
Immediate entry
Conditional cancellation

​​86th Floor + Statue of Liberty Boat Tour​​

From ​​US$78.23​​

Combo ticket
Non-refundable
Ticket collection required

​​Starbucks Reserve® Sunrise Experience​​

​​US$146.98​​

Individual ticket
Immersive exhibits
Conditional cancellation

How to Get to Empire State Building?

How to Get to Empire State Building?

Get to Empire State Building by Subway

Subway Lines

Destination Station

Walking Time to Entrance

1, 2, 3, A, C, E

34th Street – Penn Station

3 minutes

N, Q, R, W, B, D, F, M

34th Street – Herald Square Station

5 minutes

4, 5, 6, 7

Grand Central Terminal

10 minutes

​

Get to Empire State Building by Big Bus Tours​

  • The Big Bus stop is located at ​​5th Ave & West 32nd Street​​ (in front of CVS Pharmacy, next to Koreatown).
  • First stop: ​​9:17 AM​​ | Last stop: ​​5:17 PM (17:17)​​.
  • Look for the ​​"STAND HERE"​​ mark on the street.

Book Big Bus Tour

Top Hotels Near Empire State Building

Best Time to Visit Empire State Building

Best Time to Visit Empire State Building

​​Empire State Building | Opening Hours & Accessibility​​

  • ​​Open 365 days/year​​, including all holidays (rain or shine).
  • Check updated business hours for last elevator times to the observatory nightly.

​​Empire State Building | Crowd Avoidance Tips​​

  • ​​Best time to visit​​: ​​12:00 PM - 2:00 PM​​ (morning rush ends by noon).
  • ​​Express Pass​​: Skip queues by purchasing Express Pass for more scenic enjoyment time.

​​Empire State Building | Romantic Experience & Proposals​​

  • ​​Ideal romantic times​​: After ​​8:00 PM​​ for fewer crowds and private NYC views.
  • ​​VIP Proposal Package​​:
    • Includes exclusive access to the ​​86th-floor observatory​​.
    • Ultra-premium experience with priority entry.
    • Check the Happiness Empire Packagefor details on Empire State Building Official website.
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What to Do & See in Empire State Building?

What to Do & See in Empire State Building?

Empire State Building | ​​Observatory Experience​​

  • ​​86th Floor Observatory​​: New York’s most iconic open-air observation deck with 360° panoramic views of Manhattan.
  • ​​102nd Floor Observatory​​: A fully enclosed, glass-walled top-floor deck offering even more breathtaking views (requires separate ticket).
  • ​​Express Pass​​: Skip the lines and enjoy faster access to the observatories.

Empire State Building | Special Activities & Experiences​​

  • ​​Starbucks Reserve® Sunrise Experience​​: Watch the sunrise over NYC from the 86th-floor observatory (advance booking required).
  • ​​VIP Proposal Package​​: A customized proposal experience with private access, champagne, and photography services.
  • ​​Serendipity 3 Sweet Treats Pop-up​​: Until September 8, enjoy limited-edition frozen hot chocolate and specialty desserts on the 86th floor.

Empire State Building | Exhibitions & Historical Exploration​​

  • ​​Immersive Exhibits​​: Explore newly renovated galleries on the 2nd and 80th floors featuring the building’s construction, Art Deco design, and behind-the-scenes stories from King Kong.
  • ​​Sustainability Display​​: Learn about the building’s eco-friendly technologies and green initiatives.
  • ​​QR Code Audio Guide​​: Scan QR codes throughout the exhibits for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and fun facts.

​​Empire State Building | Exclusive Services & Offers​​

  • ​​CITYPASS® Discount​​: Save 41% on combined entry to the Empire State Building and four other top NYC attractions.
  • ​​Ambassador Membership Program​​: Earn points with every purchase redeemable for free tickets, NFTs, and exclusive perks.
  • ​​Light Show Updates​​: Text CONNECTto 27416 to receive daily updates about the tower’s light displays and special events.

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Top Hotels Near Empire State Building

Top Hotels near Empire State Building

See All Hotels
NO.1
Mandarin Oriental New York
9.6/10137 reviews
Mandarin Oriental New York
★★★★★
Hotel in New York
NO.2
Aman New York
8/107 reviews
Aman New York
★★★★★
Hotel in New York
NO.3
The Fifth Avenue Hotel
9.3/1089 reviews
The Fifth Avenue Hotel
★★★★★
Hotel in New York

FAQs about Empire State Building

Hannah

Hannah

Travel Blooger

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Hey, I’m Hannah. I’ve been lucky enough to travel through Europe, Asia, the Americas, and far beyond, soaking up local life, discovering hidden spots, and learning what really makes a place tick. I write travel guides that combine that experience with practical advice—what to do, where to go, and little tips that make a trip smoother. For me, travel is about curiosity, connecting with people, and noticing the small things that make a place unique. I like to help readers explore with confidence but also leave room for adventure and the unkonwn!

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