Empire State Building

Empire State Building showing a city
No trip to New York is complete without zooming up the top of this iconic building, where the views of Manhattan are unmatchable.

The Empire State Building is a world-famous landmark, synonymous with New York. It’s renowned as a backdrop in films such as “An Affair to Remember,” “King Kong,” and “Sleepless in Seattle.” In fact, it’s one of the city’s most significant and romantic skyscrapers. 

Officially opened in 1931, the Empire State Building took over the Chrysler Building’s title as tallest in the world, a record it had held for 40 years. New York owes its “Empire State” nickname to the building, which is to New York what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, or the Space Needle is to Seattle.  

The building, an impressive 1,453 feet tall including the broadcast tower, offers views of Manhattan’s twinkling lights from two observatories. One platform is on the 86th floor and there’s another at the very top level on the 102nd floor, right under the broadcast tower. On the way to the observatories, be sure to spend time in the Dare to Dream 80th Floor Exhibit. This permanent display includes photographs, construction notes, and information on the building’s engineering.

At the 86th floor, take a walk along the open-air promenade for spectacular views of Midtown, Lower Manhattan and Central Park. On a clear day, it’s possible to see as far as New Jersey and Connecticut. Pop a quarter or two in the old-fashioned binoculars for a close-up peek of nearby attractions, including Bryant Park and Times Square. 

The 102nd floor observatory is the highest public point in New York. The enclosed viewing area is ideal if you’re visiting in winter. 

The Empire State Building is located in Midtown, Manhattan, in the heart of the city, easily accessible by bus, subway or rail. The two observatories are open to the public 365 days a year. Lines for the ticket office and elevators can be long, so it’s wise to buy tickets on the Empire State Building’s official website. Wedding proposals aren’t uncommon, and a saxophone player sometimes serenades lovebirds visiting the 86th floor. 

Reviews of Empire State Building

4.5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
726
" "5 - Excellent 59.265306122448976%
4 - Good
415
" "4 - Good 33.87755102040816%
3 - Okay
77
" "3 - Okay 6.285714285714286%
2 - Disappointing
4
" "2 - Disappointing 0.32653061224489793%
1 - Terrible
3
" "1 - Terrible 0.24489795918367346%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
24 Feb 2020

We paid the extra to go to the 102nd floor observation deck. Was worth it as there were less people there, as most stay at the 82nd floor, which can be crowded. Fantastic views, especially at night. But you need a clear night.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
26 Jan 2020

Book a regular ticket outside of peak hours (11-2pm) and it is half the price of the 'skip the line' ticket.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
22 Nov 2019

Both Top of the Rock and ESB offer excellent but similar views of the City. We mixed it up slightly and visited ESB at night for a different experience.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
21 Nov 2019

get there early

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
13 Nov 2019

Great experience.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
4 Nov 2019

Would have rated higher had we not had zero visability due to cloud

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