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Empire State Building

Towers & observation decks ·New York ·Closed
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#1Towers & observation decks in the US#1Towers & observation decks in New YorkTravelers' Choice Best of the Best 2026
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About

The Empire State Building is a New York City Art Deco skyscraper with observatories on its 80th, 86th and 102nd floors.

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Empire State Building

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Why go

  • The 86th-floor observation deck stands 320 metres above street level, with views across New York.
  • The tower was built in 410 days.
  • It has appeared in more than 250 films and television series since King Kong (1933).

Opening hours

Today09:00 – 23:00Show all
Monday09:00 – 23:00
Tuesday09:00 – 23:00
Wednesday09:00 – 23:00
Thursday09:00 – 23:00
Friday09:00 – 23:00
Saturday09:00 – 23:00
Sunday09:00 – 23:00

What you see

  • The 80th-floor observatory is indoors.
  • The 86th floor has an enclosed gallery and an open-air viewing area.
  • The 102nd floor has floor-to-ceiling windows.

Know before you go

  • Most tickets include the 86th floor; access to the 102nd floor costs extra.
  • An elevator connects the 86th- and 102nd-floor observatories.
  • Ticket options include sunrise access, a guided tour with VIP access, and a package with two visits in one day.
  • The spire’s top level is closed to the public.

Best time to visit

  • Sunrise access is available as a ticket option.
  • The 86th-floor observatory stays open year-round in any weather.

Photo spots

  • 86th-floor city panoramaPhotograph New York from the open-air observation area.86th-floor observatoryDuring your booked visit

Interesting facts6

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  1. 10,000 square

    The Observatory Experience spans 10,000 square feet and draws on the building’s original plans and designs.

    Empire State Building - Wikipedia (part 3)
  2. 1945

    Betty Lou Oliver survived a 75-floor elevator fall after the 1945 aircraft crash, a Guinness record.

    Empire State Building - Wikipedia

  3. More than a hundred Mohawk ironworkers worked alongside European immigrants on the construction crew.

    Empire State Building - Wikipedia

  4. The plans were completed in two weeks and drew on designs for the Reynolds Building and Carew Tower.

    Empire State Building - Wikipedia
  5. 6,514 windows

    The building has 6,514 windows and an Indiana limestone facade.

    Empire State Building - Wikipedia
  6. 60,000 tonnes

    Its riveted steel frame used about 60,000 tonnes of steel.

    Empire State Building - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

  1. 1893William Waldorf Astor opened the Waldorf Hotel on the site.
  2. 1929The Waldorf-Astoria closed and was demolished.
  3. 1930Construction began on 17 March.
  4. 1931The building opened on 1 May. President Herbert Hoover inaugurated it by switching on its lights from Washington.
  5. 1945A B-25 Mitchell bomber struck the north face at the 79th floor in thick fog on 28 July, killing 14 people.
Show all
  1. 1970The World Trade Center’s North Tower surpassed its height when it was topped out.
  2. 1980The building and its ground-floor interior became New York City landmarks.
  3. 1986The building became a National Historic Landmark.
  4. 2001–2013After the World Trade Center was destroyed in 2001, the building became New York City’s tallest again. One World Trade Center surpassed it in 2013.
  5. 2010An interior renovation improved energy efficiency, refurbishing about 6,500 double-glazed windows and adding insulating film.

How to get there

  • On footObservatory visitors enter at 20 West 34th Street.
  • TrainThe original lobby entrance is on Fifth Avenue, on the tower’s east side.
  • Train34th Street–Herald Square subway station is one block west.
  • Train33rd Street subway station at Park Avenue is two blocks east.

Sources: Empire State Building - Wikipedia · Empire State Building - Wikipedia (part 2) · Empire State Building - Wikipedia (part 3) · Empire State Building - Wikipedia · Empire State Building - Wikipedia · checked 26 Sep 2026

Where
20 West 34th Street, NY, New York City

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

Are all 102 floors of the Empire State Building open to visitors?

No. Most floors are used for commercial purposes; observatories are on the 80th, 86th and 102nd floors.

Does an Empire State Building ticket include the 102nd-floor observatory?

Most tickets include the 86th floor. The 102nd floor costs extra.

Is there an elevator between the Empire State Building observatories?

Yes. An elevator connects the 86th- and 102nd-floor observatories.

What special ticket options does the Empire State Building have?

Options include sunrise access, a guided tour with VIP access, and a package with two visits in one day.

Can visitors go to the top level of the Empire State Building spire?

No. The spire’s top level is closed to the public.

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