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Empire State Building
The 1931 Art Deco one everybody pictures, and the 86th-floor open-air deck is the version worth doing: wind in your face, 360 degrees over Manhattan. The enclosed 102nd floor sits higher and costs more, but plenty of people come down preferring the open deck below it. One catch worth naming: you cannot see this building from inside it.
Photos: Dllu (CC BY-SA 4.0), Daniel Schwen (CC BY-SA 4.0), Dmitry Avdeev (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
The 86th-floor open-air deck is the classic New York view and the reason to come. If you want the Empire State itself in your shots, though, you are standing in the wrong building.
Worth it for
- A first trip when you want the most famous deck in the city, day or night
- Anyone who likes Art Deco, since the lobby and the climb-up exhibits deliver it
You can skip if
- You want the Empire State Building in your own photos, which means going up a different tower
- Low cloud or haze has settled in and swallowed the view
Tickets & tours for Empire State Building
Which ticket should you buy?
The two observatories
The main draw is the 86th-floor observatory, an open-air deck that wraps around the building with a 360-degree view over Manhattan and beyond. On a clear day you can see for many miles, and the open air makes it feel different from a glassed-in deck. This is where most visitors spend their time.
Above it, the 102nd-floor observatory is fully enclosed and sits much higher, with floor-to-ceiling glass. It costs extra and is an add-on to the 86th-floor ticket. The higher view is impressive, but many people find the open 86th-floor deck the more memorable of the two.
The visit on the way up
The route to the deck was rebuilt into a guided experience with exhibits on the building's construction, its role in the city, and its place in films and popular culture. You pass through these on the way to the elevators, so the trip up is part of the attraction rather than just a ride.
The building stays open late, which makes it one of the better night views in the city, with the lit-up grid spread out below. The tower's own lights change color for holidays and events, something you see from the street rather than the deck.
Tickets and timing
Entry is by timed ticket, so you choose an arrival window when you book. Sunset slots and weekend evenings are the most popular and fill first, so reserve early if you want a specific time. Same-day tickets are sold at the building, but booking ahead locks in your slot and usually means a shorter wait.
Crowds peak around sunset and on weekends. For a calmer visit, go early in the morning soon after opening or late in the evening. Weather matters: low clouds or haze can cut the view, and the open-air 86th-floor deck is exposed to wind and cold.
Getting there
The building sits in the heart of Midtown, a short walk from several subway lines and from Penn Station and Herald Square. It is easy to combine with nearby sights, and you can walk to Times Square, Bryant Park, and the shops along Fifth Avenue.
Because it is so central, it pairs naturally with a Midtown day. Many visitors go up here and also visit Top of the Rock a few blocks north, since each deck gives a different angle on the skyline.
Empire State Building: FAQs
The main open-air observatory is on the 86th floor, with a 360-degree view. A higher, fully enclosed observatory sits on the 102nd floor and costs extra as an add-on. There is also an indoor exhibit area on the 80th floor.
Tickets are timed, and booking ahead lets you pick your arrival window and usually means a shorter wait. Sunset and weekend slots fill first. Same-day tickets are sold at the building, but popular times can be gone.
Sunset is the most popular and crowded. For thinner crowds, go early after opening or late in the evening, since the building stays open late. Clear days give the best views; haze and low cloud reduce them.
It depends. The 102nd floor is higher and fully enclosed with great views, but many visitors find the open-air 86th-floor deck more memorable. If budget is tight, the 86th floor alone is plenty.
Plan one to two hours. That covers the exhibits on the way up, time on the deck or decks, and the elevator rides. Busy periods with long lines can stretch it longer, which is another reason to book a timed slot.
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