NYC's most iconic skyscraper, with an open-air 86th-floor deck and a floor-to-ceiling-glass 102nd-floor observatory.
The Empire State Building Observatory is the classic New York view: an interactive museum on the 2nd floor, then an elevator ride to the open-air 86th-floor deck that wraps around the building's spire, with 360-degree views across Manhattan and beyond.
For an even higher vantage point, the 102nd-floor observatory adds floor-to-ceiling windows about 1,250 feet up. Tickets are dated and timed; sunset and evening slots are the most popular.
The building sits on Fifth Avenue at 34th Street, a short walk from Herald Square and Koreatown.
**Tickets & prices:** 86th Floor from $44 adults, $38 children, $42 seniors; 102nd + 86th Floor from $79 adults, $73 children, $77 seniors — buy at [esbnyc.com](https://www.esbnyc.com/buy-tickets).
*Photo: Famartin, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) via [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2021-10-02_14_15_30_View_southwest_(225_degrees)_from_the_southwest_side_of_the_86th_Floor_Observatory_of_the_Empire_State_Building_in_Manhattan,_New_York_City,_New_York.jpg).*
The story behind Empire State Building Observatory.
Completed in 1931, the Empire State Building was the world's tallest building for nearly four decades and remains one of the most recognizable skyscrapers on earth.
Its observatories have welcomed visitors since opening day, and the 86th-floor deck has appeared in countless films.
Some views never get old. Standing in the open air on the 86th floor, wind in your face and the whole city below, is the quintessential New York moment.
— The 7Days7Nights editors
Don't miss these.
- 1Open-air 86th-floor deck with 360-degree views
- 2102nd-floor observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows
- 3Interactive exhibits on the building's history
- 4Open daily into the evening
- 5Steps from Herald Square
Plan your visit.
Reservations
Online timed tickets save time — sunset slots sell out first.
Best time to visit
Sunset or late evening for city lights
Nearest subway
34 St–Herald Sq (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, W)
Hours
Open daily; hours vary by date (generally morning until late evening) — check the official site for the day you visit.
Seasonal note
Great year-round, with a different feel each season.
Insider tip
Go on a weekday afternoon to skip the lines and get the best photos.
Price range
Expect $$$ pricing. Budget accordingly and check the website for the latest.
Who this is for.
On the map.
Subway: 34 St–Herald Sq (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, W)
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