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20 West 34th Street New York, NY Near 5th Avenue
There are taller buildings in New York now. There are newer ones, shinier ones, ones with better bars on the observation deck. None of them are the Empire State Building, and none of them carry what this one does: nearly a century of accumulated mythology, an instantly recognizable silhouette, and a place in the popular imagination that no amount of glass-and-steel competition has managed to dislodge.
Completed in 1931, this 102-story Art Deco tower at 350 Fifth Avenue has defined the New York City skyline for nearly a century. It held the title of world’s tallest building for 40 years. Today it holds something arguably more durable: icon status. If you’re visiting New York for the first time, it belongs on the list. If you’ve lived here for decades and never been up, it’s worth fixing that too.
The Empire State Building sits in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, between 33rd and 34th Streets on Fifth Avenue. The architecture is pure Art Deco — limestone and granite facade, setback silhouette, the kind of craftsmanship that was possible when labor was cheap, and ambition was unlimited. Over 3,400 workers built it at a pace of 14 floors per week at peak construction, completing the entire structure in just 410 days. By any measure, it remains one of the great feats of American engineering.
The lobby on Fifth Avenue is worth stopping in, even if you’re not going up. It holds historic landmark status from the Landmarks Preservation Commission — one of the few interior spaces in New York City to receive that designation — and the Art Deco detailing is genuinely stunning. Entry to the lobby is free.
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The 86th Floor Observation Deck is the world-famous open-air experience, with breathtaking 360-degree views of New York City. Feel the breeze, hear the energy of the streets below, and take in the Manhattan skyline from the heart of it all. It sits 1,050 feet above street level and has appeared in more films than most actors. This is the one you’ve seen in the movies. It delivers.
The 102nd Floor is the premier indoor observation deck, located 1,250 feet above street level and reached via a glass elevator ride. Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and a fully climate-controlled environment, it offers the highest and most expansive views in the building. On a clear day, visibility stretches up to 80 miles. This is the better option in cold or wet weather, and a worthwhile upgrade if you want to go as high as the building allows.
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**What is a City Pass? City Pass is a Pass that offers discounted rates on packages of Manhattan landmark attractions. When you buy a City Pass, you save as much as $125/person (for an adult!)
Empire State Building tickets start at $44 for adults for the 86th floor. The 86th and 102nd floor combo starts at $79. The Express Pass — which skips all lines — starts at $89. The exclusive Sunrise Experience is $137 per person. Children under 6 enter free. All tickets require a timed entry slot. Purchase CITY PASS HERE for great discounts on combinations!
All tickets include access to exhibition displays on the 2nd and 80th floors, which cover the building’s construction history, pop culture legacy, and sustainability initiatives. Book online in advance — it is strongly recommended to book online rather than purchasing on-site at the ticket office, as advance bookings are the most reliable way to secure your preferred date and time and avoid long wait times and potential sellouts.
If you’re visiting multiple attractions, CityPASS offers bundled savings. One CityPASS purchase saves up to 42% at the Empire State Building plus four other top NYC attractions.
Morning often has clearer air and shorter lines. Sunset offers dramatic light but sells out early. Night visits have their own appeal with the city lit up below, the crowds thinner than at peak hours. Whatever time you choose, most people spend between one and two hours visiting, including time at the museum and the observation decks. The Empire State Building is open 365 days a year, rain, shine, or snow. Hours vary by season; check the official site before your visit for current times.
You can walk to the Empire State Building from multiple subway lines. The 1, 2, 3 or A, C, E trains to 34th St/Penn Station are a 15-minute walk; the N, Q, R, W or B, D, F, M to 34th St/Herald Square is about the same.
Want to learn more about the observation decks in Manhattan? Click here!
Standard tickets start at $44 for adults (86th floor only). The 86th and 102nd floor combo starts at $79. Express passes start at $89. Children under 6 are free.
Yes. All visits require a timed reservation. While tickets are available on-site, booking online in advance is strongly recommended to secure your preferred time and avoid sellouts.
The 86th floor is the classic open-air experience — the deck from the films and the postcards. The 102nd floor adds 200 feet, a glass elevator ride, and a quieter enclosed observatory ideal in cold or rainy weather.
Yes, the building is open 365 days a year. Hours vary seasonally.
Most visitors spend between one and two hours, including the museum and observation decks.
Take the 1, 2, 3 or A, C, E to 34th St/Penn Station, or the N, Q, R, W or B, D, F, M to 34th St/Herald Square — both are a five-minute walk.
Yes. The Art Deco Fifth Avenue lobby is free to enter and holds historic landmark status from the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The Empire State Building stands 1,454 feet tall including its antenna. The roof itself is 1,250 feet high.
Construction began in March 1930 and the building officially opened on May 1, 1931. FUN FACT: The Chrysler Building was supposed to be taller, and then the Empire State Building pushed out its antenna!
How many floors is the Empire State Building?
It took about 410 days, roughly 13 months, to build the Empire State Building, an astonishingly fast construction timeline even by today’s standards.
According to official records, five workers lost their lives during the construction of the Empire State Building between 1930 and 1931. The documented accidents involved:
While rumors and contemporary newspaper rumors occasionally alleged higher numbers (ranging from 14 to 27), none of those extra casualties were ever officially documented. Given that up to 3,400 people worked on the project daily at extreme heights without modern safety harnesses, the actual death toll was remarkably low for the 1930s.
(Note: If you ever see a mention of 14 deaths associated with the building, that number actually refers to a completely separate tragedy in 1945, when a B-25 bomber accidentally crashed into the 79th floor of the skyscraper in heavy fog.)
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