帝國大廈最佳參訪時間

最後更新:2026年7月2日
從街道抬頭仰望帝國大廈的景象

One of the most frequently Instagrammed landmarks in the States – nay, on the entire planet – the Empire State Building is the skyscraping cinematic star of downtown Manhattan. The iconic tower has featured in Hollywood classics from King Kong to Sleepless in Seattle, and its dizzying stature (all 1454ft - or 443.2 meters - of it, to be precise) means that wherever you’re staying in New York, it’s kind of hard to miss. All you need to do is look up! 

There are several ways to visit: choose from self-guided tours, skip-the-line tickets, and premium all-access packages with champagne. We break down the various options below, with our expert guide to the best times to visit the Empire State Building. Including…

  • Opening hours
  • Best time to visit
  • Getting there
  • Tickets
  • Where to eat

Opening hours

The Empire State Building is open every single day, rain or shine, from morning until late, including all holidays. Pre-booking is essential and opening hours vary, so do check the Empire State Building website for the latest information before making your booking.

With Go City, you get access to the 86th-floor observation deck with its uninterrupted 360-degree views of the Big Apple, and entry is allowed until 45 minutes before closing time. The number of NYC icons you can spot from up here is truly staggering. Tick off the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, and more from this sky-high vantage point.

Best time to visit the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is one of the most-visited attractions in the Big Apple. It’s rarely anything other than busy, but you can avoid long waits and jockeying for position on the observation decks by visiting early in the morning or late in the evening.

For families with young kids, the best time to visit the Empire State Building is in the mornings, before 11AM. And if you’re bringing the little ones, it’s worth knowing that children five or under can enter for absolutely free. Meanwhile, late evening visits (after 10PM) reward romantics with uncrowded platforms and splendid views of the illuminated Manhattan skyline.

The busiest part of the day is between 11AM and 3PM, when the tourist hordes descend - or should that be ascend - in their hundreds. Similarly, early evening tends to get busy as the offices empty out. Inevitably, weekends, especially Saturdays, are when the Empire State Building is at its busiest.

The popularity of the Empire State Building means booking is essential. We recommend reserving your slot as far ahead as possible to avoid disappointment.

Getting to the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is located on 34th and Fifth, slap bang in the center of Midtown. It’s very hard to miss, and you really shouldn’t need a map to locate it! There are stacks of ways to get there. Take the 123 or ACE line to Penn Station, from where it's just a five-minute walk. Or jump on the NQRW and BDFM lines for trains to Herald Square Station, also five minutes away. Grand Central Station, reachable via the 7 and 456 lines, is around a 10-minute walk from the Empire State Building.

Of course, if you want to do it New York style, you can also cruise right up to the entrance in a classic yellow taxi cab. And really, can you say you’ve even “done” New York if you’ve not hailed down one of these mustard-tinged wonders?

Tickets

You can pre-book your tickets directly on the Empire State Building website. Options available include access to both the 86th-floor outside observation deck and the dizzy heights of the 102nd-floor platform, with its far-reaching views across the Big Apple and beyond to six neighboring states. You can also book sunrise and sunset slots or go the whole hog with a premium package that includes a guided 90-minute tour taking in the Art Deco lobby on 5th Avenue, the Celebrity Walk and more, as well as, naturally, full skip-the-line privileges.

Save money with a Go City Explorer or All-Inclusive pass for New York attractions, which includes entry to the 86th-floor observatory via the lightning-fast elevator as well as stacks of other top attractions in and around NYC. These include the Top of the Rock Observatory, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, the Guggenheim, and the Statue of Liberty, among many, many others.

Where to eat

There is a selection of eateries on the Empire State Building’s ground floor. Head to the State Grill & Bar for New York classics like strip steaks, burgers, and Caesar salads. Tacombi is your one-stop shop for authentic Mexican cuisine, including margaritas, burritos, and tacos, but also provides less-Hispanic alternatives like specialty salads and sushi. 

Of course, here in the heart of Midtown Manhattan it’s unlikely you’ll go short of places to eat and there are dozens of top bars and restaurants in the immediate vicinity. Splash out on afternoon tea at the 5-star Peninsula hotel or hit the Grand Central Oyster Bar for buttery scallops and classic Oysters Rockefeller.

In brief...

We recommend visiting early in the morning or late in the evening on weekdays to avoid the crowds and enjoy amazing sunrise views or see the best of the famous New York City lights after dark. Don’t forget to book your tickets in advance and get ready to experience some of the best views in the Big Apple! And, if you like the above, why not check out these restaurants or grab a cheeky drink!  

 

Step up your sightseeing with Go City®   

We make it easy to explore the best a city has to offer. We’re talking top attractions, hidden gems, and local tours, all for one low price. Plus, you'll enjoy guaranteed savings compared to buying individual attraction tickets.   

See more, do more, and experience more with Go City® – just choose a pass to get started!

 

Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
自由旅行作家

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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欣賞紐約市天際線景觀的最佳去處

我們對城市天際線情有獨鍾,並致力於尋找捕捉這些美景的最佳視角。 因此,當我們派員前往紐約市實地考察時,她帶回了一份曼哈頓天際線最佳觀賞地點清單與大家分享。 地點如下: 3. 大都會藝術博物館屋頂花園 (The Roof of The Met) 在 browsing through the exhibits 之後,到大都會藝術博物館屋頂稍作休息(順便啜飲幾口美酒)。 跟隨指標前往 The Roof Garden Café and Martini Bar,上去可能需要排隊等候,但那裡的景觀絕對值得。 大都會藝術博物館定期委託藝術家創作裝置藝術並於屋頂展出,供遊客欣賞,您可以提前前往 check their website 查看目前展出的藝術家資訊。 2. 珠寶盒般的城市美景 紐約布魯克林 在 DUMBO 和布魯克林高地散步道(Brooklyn Heights Promenade)騎單車時,我每隔幾秒就停下來拍照,手機電量以破紀錄的速度耗盡,因為那裡的風景真的「太美了」。 在 Rent a bike for the day and explore DUMBO(曼哈頓大橋下區域),您可以欣賞到大橋周邊以及從布魯克林高地散步道碼頭望去的絕佳美景。 1. 經典地標景觀 Top of the Rock 觀景台 這或許是不言而喻的,但如果沒有將 unbeatable views from the Top of the Rock 納入其中,任何「紐約市景觀」清單都稱不上完整。 想要欣賞更多絕美景致嗎? 親自比較一下 difference between Top of the Rock vs Empire State Building 吧。 內行小貼士:在日落前一小時換取門票登頂,即可獲得最佳的拍照機會。 您將能在日光下俯瞰天際線,並留下來欣賞日落後燈光亮起、摩天大樓變得璀璨奪目的景色。 (快速攝影教室:日落前的一小時被稱為「黃金時段」,因為這是一天當中最迷人的自然光,能讓您的自拍照看起來格外漂亮。) 您認為是否有任何紐約市的觀景點也應該列入前 3 名的清單中? 歡迎在下方評論區告訴我們您的想法。
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