Visit the Empire State Building in New York: tickets, prices, schedules

Passing to New York? Don’t miss visiting the Empire State Building in New York: the city’s most iconic skyscraper!

Evoking New York without mentioning the Empire State Building – the third building in New York City by its height – is impossible, as is a visit to Big Apple without passing through the famous American building. In addition to being historical, the site offers an exceptional panorama that is worth seeing.

To help you organize your visit, we have listed all the important information: from time to time to time, to the history of this essential New Yorker, you will be ready to visit the Empire State Building the eyes closed!

History of the Empire State Building

The history of the Empire State Building begins well before 1930, the year of its construction: In 1799, the city of New York then sold a blank land to John Thompson for the modest sum of $2,600, to make it a farm! The land was sold several times to different people until they fell into the hands of John Jakob Raskob . Then follows a competition between the latter and Walter Chrystler to build the highest skyscraper in New York.

The construction of the Empire State Building began on March 17, 1930, under the direction of the architects Shreve, Lamb ' Harmon Associates, and was completed only 410 days after, for 4.5 floors a week: a feat at the time! With its 381 meters (443.2 m with the antenna) and 102 floors, this race at the highest building in the world was largely won by the Empire State Building of John Jakob Raskob at the time. 57,000 tons of steel, 3,400 workers and $24.7 million were needed to build this giant tower... nothing but that!

It was the largest skyscraper in the city until the construction of the famous Twins Towers. Since the destruction of these, he has regained his status as the largest building a few times, even though today the construction of the building One World Trade Center instead of the Twins Towers relegated it in second place. The tower remained the highest in the world until the construction of the tour Ostankino in 1957 (537 meters) in Moscow.

Today, the Empire State Building is 6,144 windows, 73 lifts, 1,872 steps and about 2,5 million visitors per year! Many films have staged the building, including the famous King Kong movie of 1933, where the giant gorilla is shown to climb it, Superman or Independance Day, or in many TV shows such as How I Met Your Mother, Friends, Sex and the City or Gossip Girl.

What to see and do to the Empire State Building?

A true symbol of the twentieth century, the Empire State Building is also a very strong symbol of the city of New York as the Eiffel Tower in New York Paris and is sometimes cited among the seven wonders of the modern world. Everything starts outside with the Art Deco style of the tower, its four stone facades – all visible from the street – and its large windows.

You can then head to the entrance of the building which is located on the 5th Avenue and enter the hall, also of Art Deco inspiration, which consists of three floors of polychrome marble and granite, and a ceiling decorated with aluminum, gold leaf and platinum. This same entrance hall serves as an exhibition hall for works of art from the many museums in New York. Since 1963, he has been home to eight massive paintings by Roy Sparkia and his wife Renee Nemerov.

You will then take a lift that will take you quickly to the 86th floor at some 320m altitude. From there you can see Central Park , Times Square , Statue of Liberty or the MET thanks to the panoramic view that extends in front of you. You can also go to the second observation platform on the 102nd floor. This will certainly cost you more but if the weather is perfectly clear, you can see 130km in the round and try to observe 4 of the 50 American states, with of course the state of New York under your eyes: the New Jersey on the other side of the Hudson River, with Pennsylvania in the South, Connecticut in the North and Massachusetts beyond it. Not bad, right?

Good to know. : If you like music, know that a saxophonist plays at the Observatory on Thursday to Saturday, from 22:00 to 1:00. And if you’re in a romantic mood, you can even ask him to play a particular music!

How to visit the Empire State Building?

Visiting the Empire State Building requires the preparation of its arrival, including the main information about the site. From the time of visit to the accessibility of the site, we selected the most frequent questions:

What is the best time to visit the Empire State Building?

If you want to visit the Empire State Building without too many people, it is advisable to come from 8h to 11h , or between midnight and 1 hour , although the peak hours may vary depending on the season.

Is it possible to climb the stairs of the Empire State Building to reach the top?

The stairs are closed to the public. It is still possible to borrow them if you participate in the annual race

How long does a visit last? Is the duration limited?

Allow at least one hour for your visit, or even a little more if you visit both observation posts. Know that the duration is not limited and that there are no fixed visiting times.

During peak hours, especially in the summer, waiting for the sales office and elevators can be longer. You can save time if you decide to buy your ticket online , which will allow you to prioritize all waiting points and thus save time!

Good to know: A free media visit is included with each ticket to the Empire State Building.

Can we restore ourselves to the top of the Empire State Building?

There is no no restaurant or shop at observation posts, but you can restore yourself to the main hall.

What items are prohibited?

- All weapons, including scissors – Alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages - Professional cameras, equipment and device supports: monopods, bipods and tripods - Skateboards, skates, balls, and other sports equipment – Cases, hand luggage, packages... - If you come with a stroller, you will have to fold it before entering the elevator

Good to know: The Empire State Building does not have a storage space for personal effects.

Are pets allowed?

No, unfortunately you can't come with your pet on the Empire State Building site.

Accessibility

The site is fully accessible : Washrooms for persons with disabilities are available at the 86th Floor Observatory of the Empire State Building, which is also equipped with observation walls, ramps and lowered twins. Support dogs are allowed in the building. Motorized and non-motorized wheelchairs are allowed. On the other hand, the 102nd floor is only equipped with a high wall, and is therefore not accessible to all visitors.

How to get to the Empire State Building?

The best way to get to the Empire State Building (5th Avenue, between 33rd and 24th Street) is to look up in the sky and be guided! You can also access it:

• By metro: 34th Street/Penn Station (lines 1, 2, 3, A, C and E) or 34th St – Avenue of the Americas (lines B, D, F, N, Q and R)
• By bus: lines M2, M3, M4 M5, M16 and M34
• By car: The nearest parking lot is located on 33rd Street, between Fifth Avenue and Broadway

If you are interested in taking transport to New York, please read our article “ Transportation in New York: how to move to New York? »

Timetables and tariffs of the Empire State Building

HORARI

Open 365 days a year, regardless of the weather from 8am to 2am. Last elevator at 1:15.

RATES

• Main terrace – 86th floor

Standard pass: ADULT $38 / CHILD $32 / SENIOR $36 VIP express pass: $65

• 86th and 102nd floors

Standard pass: ADULT $58 / CHILD $52 / SENIOR $56 VIP express pass: $85

You can find more information and offers on the official website .

If you want to avoid long queues and take advantage of discounts to visit the must-see sites of New York including the Empire State Building, then opt for the Pass New York !