Planning to visit the Empire State Building? Well, of course you are! After all, a trip to NYC without the Empire State Building is like a sandwich without pastrami. King Kong’s favorite skyscraper is just the place to take your NYC vacation to new heights – 1,050 feet to be precise. We’ve got the lowdown (and the high-up) on what to expect from a visit to this Art Deco icon, including:
- Why you should visit and a quick potted history
- How to get there and how to get in
- What you can do (and see!) there
- When to visit and where to snag the best selfies
- The nearby New York attractions to visit next
So what’s so special about the Empire State Building?
Whaddya mean what’s so special about the Empire State Building! Only one of the most recognizable buildings on the planet, this striking Art Deco skyscraper was built in record time during the Great Depression, taking just 13-14 months (and around 3,500 construction workers) to complete – pretty impressive even by modern standards.
The ESB was officially opened by President Hoover in 1931, and remained the world’s tallest building for four decades, until the World Trade Center’s North Tower usurped it in 1971. It stands at 1,454 feet from top to toe, boasting 102 floors, 6,500 windows, 73 elevators and 10 million bricks (give or take) and is said to have starred in more movies than any other building, most notably King KIng (obvs), Sleepless in Seattle, Love Affair and Andy Warhol’s ominous silent film, Empire.
All very interesting, but why should I visit?
All very interesting, but why should I visit?
As well as those jaw-dropping vistas from the 86th-floor observation platform – the Chrysler Building, Central Park, One World Trade Center, the Hudson and beyond – there are also loads of immersive exhibits to explore. So come for the stellar Manhattan views, and stay for the lavish Fifth Avenue Lobby and the chance to shake hands with King Kong himself.
Sold. How do I get there?
The Empire State Building is right in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. It’s pretty tall, so you can’t really miss it. You’ll find the main visitor entrance at 20 West 34th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues). There are several subway stops nearby but it’s also easily walkable from other Midtown landmarks like Times Square and Bryant Park.
How do I get in with my Go City NYC pass?
If you’ve reserved your slot on the Go City app, you can just sashay straight up to the door marked ‘Observatory’, flash your pass and reservation confirmation at impressed staff, and you’re in!
Forgot to book a spot? Not an issue: head to the ticketing door entry instead where observatory staff (in blue and grey uniforms) can help you secure a slot with your pass.
Note that your pass includes access to the Second Floor Museum, the 80th floor exhibitions and the 86th Floor Observatory. However, the 102nd Floor Observatory right at the top of the tower is not included with Go City’s NYC pass. You can upgrade direct via the Go City app or visit the ticket booth if you’d like to pay to visit that too.
Ok, gimme more info on the Empire State Building experience
Ok, gimme more info on the Empire State Building experience
General admission tickets (and the Go City NYC pass) include access to all of the below…
The 86th Floor Main Observation Deck. Let’s be honest: this is what you came here for. Expect indoor and outdoor areas with 360-degree city views. What can you see from up here? What can’t you see, more like! Central Park, the Chrysler Building, One World Trade Center, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bride, New Jersey… in fact just about the only NYC icon you can’t see from up here is – for fairly obvious reasons – the Empire State Building itself.
The Second Floor Museum. Take a deep dive into the history of the ESB, including construction footage, sustainability initiatives, and the irresistible opportunity to snap selfies with bronze sculptures of 1930s construction workers on their lunch break, as well as the mighty King Kong himself.
80th Floor Exhibitions. There’s plenty more indoor stuff to ogle here on the 80th floor, where a massive theater showing ESB-related pop culture clips across 72 screens and a rogues’ gallery of A-list visitors are highlights. Don’t skip the Artistry in Light exhibit, with its illuminating short film on how the Empire State Building’s famed music-to-light shows are put together.
Fifth Avenue Lobby. Your visit concludes in the jaw-droppingly lavish Art Deco lobby which, with its soaring, 24-carat gold-leaf ceilings, gleaming marble walls and shimmering chandeliers is a selfie seeker’s dream-come-true.
Not included, but can be added via the Go City app…
The 102nd Floor Top Observation Deck. Fully enclosed, but a full 200 feet higher than the 86th floor deck at 1,250 feet, this one gives you even more of a bird’s-eye view of Manhattan. On clear days, you can see for up to 80 miles, including views of New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
I’m an Insta addict. Where are the best photo ops?
I’m an Insta addict. Where are the best photo ops?
- There’s a scale model of the Empire State Building en route to the first elevator. It’s the closest you’ll get to getting your beautiful face – and the whole building – into a single photograph.
- The interactive King Kong exhibit on the second floor is a laugh riot. Give it your best Fay Wray scream for the perfect selfie.
- Corner vantage points in the 86th Floor Observatory give you a full cityscape featuring the Chrysler Building, Hudson and East Rivers. Don’t forget to pose with the old-school binoculars on the al fresco deck for that classic Empire State snap.
- Don’t skip the lobby: strike your best glam pose against its glittering Art Deco backdrop.
When should I visit?
Whenever you like, really. It’s open daily, 365 days a year, rain or shine, from 8AM until 2AM, although note that sunset slots are not included with the Go City NYC pass. Mornings and late evenings are better for skipping the crowds anyway, in our humble opinion. The last elevator up to the Observation Deck is at 1.15AM.
Anything else to do near the Empire State Building?
Anything else to do near the Empire State Building?
Even if you plan 2-3 hours to enjoy those ESB views and exhibits, that still leaves you with most of the day to tick off several other bucket-listers. The good news? The Empire State Building’s Midtown location makes it easy to pair with any of the following, entry to all of which is also included with your Go City NYC pass…
- Top of the Rock. The Rockefeller Center’s observation platform has one thing the Empire State Building doesn’t: a view of the Empire State Building itself. One of the best in town, for that matter.
- Museum of Modern Art. Because, let’s face it, you can’t come all the way to NYC then not go and see van Gogh’s Starry Night, Monet’s Water Lilies and Warhol’s Soup Cans at the mighty MoMA.
- RiseNY. A wild ride through New York’s cultural landscape, followed by a wild ride over its rooftops.
- Madame Tussauds. Say hey to your favorite celebs and A-listers, albeit in wax form, including the likes of Harry Styles, Tay-Tay, Gaga and The Rock.
- Central Park. Rent yourself a bike to explore that great big green thing you spotted from up top of the Empire State Building.
Looking for more inspiration for your NYC trip? Get the lowdown on the best museums in town and take a trip to the uber-hip East Village.
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