Empire State Building New York City

Empire State Building – Must See Tourist Attraction in New York City

Empire State Building – Top 10 Attractions in NYC, New York, USA

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Empire State Building

New York’s famous Empire State Building, a New York City Landmark and a National Historic Landmark, soars more than a quarter of a mile into the atmosphere above the heart of Manhattan.

Located on the 86th floor, 1,050 feet (320 meters) above the city’s bustling streets, the Observatory offers panoramic views from within a glass enclosed pavilion and from the surrounding open-air promenade.

Since the Observatory opened to the public in 1931, almost 110 million visitors have thrilled to the awe-inspiring vision of the city beneath them.

86th Floor Observatory (Main Deck):

Get skyward and discover what the city looks like when you are 1,050 feet (320 meters) high at the top of New York’s most iconic skyscraper. The 86th floor observatory, with its popular 360-degree outdoor deck, also has indoor viewing galleries for guests to enjoy the views rain or shine, day or night.

102nd Floor Observatory (Top Deck): Elevate your experience and go even higher with a trip to the awe-inspiring 102nd floor observatory which is the highest point tourists can reach in the Manhattan sky, soaring 1,250 feet above the ground. 102 offers an intimate, indoor setting to take in the incomparable, 360-degree views.
Tickets are sold at the Empire State Building at a cost of $15.00 in addition to regular admission tickets. There are no advance ticket sales for the 102nd Floor Observatory.

Express Pass: Too many sites to see in the city that never sleeps? Too little time to see them all? The Express Pass is your answer to making the most of your time in New York City. Go directly to the front of the line, so you can spend your valuable time taking in the spectacular views from the Observatory and seeing all that New York has to offer.

Audio Tour: It seems only appropriate that the Official Audio Tour for the Empire State Building should be as unforgettable as the experience itself. That’s why Tony, a life-long New Yorker and retired taxicab driver has been recruited to be the voice of the tour, bringing a taste of quintessential city life to this friendly, informative guide.

The Empire State Building stood as the world’s tallest building for more than forty years, from its completion in 1931 until the construction of the World Trade Center North Tower in 1972, and is now once again the tallest building in New York after 9/11.
The Empire State Building has been named by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. The building and its street floor interior are designated landmarks of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, and confirmed by the New York City Board of Estimate.

Empire State Building Observatory Tickets

Located on the 86 th floor, 1,050 feet (320 meters) above the city’s bustling streets, the Empire State Building Observatory offers panoramic views of the City.

Adult – $21, Child – $15

NY Skyride (inside Empire State Building)Tickets

NY SKYRIDE is one of the best attractions in New York and a “must see” item in any itinerary. As the only virtual tour simulator in the city, the SKYRIDE takes you on an aerial NYC tour unlike any other.

Adult – $36, Child – $18

Admission

You can buy your tickets inside the Empire State Building, but since long lines are very common, pre-purchasing your tickets is highly recommended. Admission to the Empire State Building 86th Floor Observatory and NY SkyRide is included in the New York Pass, while you get the 86th Floor Observatory with Audio tour when you purchase the City Pass (follow the links to learn more, and compare).

86th Floor Observatory (Main Deck)

Adult (13-61): $25.00
Child (6-12): $19.00
Senior (62+): $22.00

Express Pass – lets you skip the long lines

All Ages (6 or older): $47.50

86th Floor (Main Deck) and 102nd Floor Observatory Combo (Top Deck)

Adult (13-61): $42.00
Child (6-12): $36.00
Senior (62+): $39.00

Express 86th Floor (Main Deck) and 102nd Floor Observatory Combo (Top Deck)

All Ages (6 or older): $64.50

New York CityPASS 86th Floor and 5 more NYC attractions
New York CityPASS is a booklet of admission tickets to New York’s 6 must-see attractions at 46% off the combined admission price. Save $76 per adult and $57 per youth, ages 6-17. BUY NOW

Adult (18 or older): $89.00 (ESB + 5 other attractions)
Youth (6 to 17): $64.00 (ESB + 5 other attractions)

Directions

By Subway:

1, 2, 3, A, C or E to 34th Street/Penn Station. Also B, D, F, N, Q, R or Path to 34th Street/Avenue of the Americas

By Train:

To Penn Station: Long Island Railroad, New Jersey Transit, Amtrak.
From Westchester/Connecticut: Metro-North to Grand Central Station, subway shuttle to Times Square to 1, 2, 3 subway trains Downtown one stop.

By Car:

Drive into Manhattan via any connecting bridge, tunnel or road.

By Bus:

From Northern Manhattan/Upper East Side, M4.
From Upper West Side/Harlem, M10 south.
From Downtown/West Side, M10-north.
From other Manhattan locations, any north-south bus to 34th Street and transfer to M34 or M16. Disembark at Seventh Avenue.
From Northwest Queens, take Q32.