Empire State Building
Updated January 6, 2026 -- There’s no better introduction to New York than a visit to the Empire State Building. The apex of the New York skyline, both literally (at 102 stories and 1,454 ft.) and figuratively, the view from its Observation Deck is at once instructive and exhilarating. From your bird’s-eye perch, you orient yourself geographically and see, with a clarity not possible on the ground, the miracle of Manhattan, that runt of an island that couldn’t get much wider or longer, and so did what no other city before it had done and expanded to the skies, becoming a dense, pulsating city of boxy towers set on a painfully narrow strip of land.
Look first to the south, where the Financial District’s powerful skyscrapers loom over the field of lower, mostly residential housing that stands between it and Midtown. Beyond the Financial District, in the harbor, are the Statue of Liberty to the right and the Brooklyn Bridge (the most graceful of the three bridges you’ll see in this direction). Right below you will be the triangular Flatiron building, one of the most thrillingly odd in Manhattan (it was Frank Lloyd Wright’s favorite building). Just to the side of it are the glittering gold roof of the Metropolitan Life Tower and the World Life Insurance Towers, once centers of New York’s high society and now just part of the landscape. Drift to the north side of the building and you will be among a riot of skyscrapers, thrown up in a manner that seems wildly chaotic from this vantage point. This strip of Midtown contains more office space per acre than any other area in the world. Peer through the curtain of buildings to catch a glimpse of Central Park, looking like a modest lawn from this great height.
Quick facts about the Empire State Building:
- It opened in 1931 after just 14 months of construction (total cost: $25 million).
- Tallest building in the world from 1931 to 1970, when the World Trade Center took the title. It is now the 24th tallest building on the planet.
- The oddly shaped spire at the top was meant to be a landing port for blimps, but high winds kept dirigibles from ever being able to anchor here.
- In 1945, a plane accidentally crashed into the building, killing 17 people.
- Every Valentine’s Day, 14 couples are married for free on the Observation Deck.
The attraction has been able to make the entry process much more efficient in recent years, and now offers timed tickets. To make sure you don't encounter any crowds and make the most of your time here:
- Book the first slot of the day or during the dinner hour, which are relatively uncrowded times. The first slot will be more expensive, but the lack of crowding may make up for that.
- Plan to visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday, the least popular days of the week. You’ll encounter the biggest crowds on Saturday and Sunday, followed closely by Monday and Friday.
- All guests are offered the opportunity to take the stairs (from the 79th to the 86th floor) rather than the elevator. Doing so can shave a good 10 to 20 minutes off your wait time.
- Don't rush through the exhibits prior to the views. There are 9 darn informative exhibits that cover everything from the remarkably fast construction of the building, to clips from the 600 appearances the building has made in major TV shows and films over the decades (and video games, comic books, and commercials). One of the most weirdly compelling exhibits gives you glimpses of the offices of famous companies in the building, another explains the smart ways ESB has become one of the world’s greenest tourist attractions. The QR codes embedded in the wall text are worth scanning for additional info and videos. And note that you won’t be coming back the same way you entered, so if you rush through, there’s no opportunity to return after you’ve seen the views.
Updated January 6, 2026 -- There’s no better introduction to New York than a visit to the Empire State Building. The apex of the New York skyline, both literally (at 102 stories and 1,454 ft.) and figuratively, the view from its Observation Deck is at once instructive and exhilarating. From your bird’s-eye perch, you orient yourself geographically and see, with a clarity not possible on the ground, the miracle of Manhattan, that runt of an island that couldn’t get much wider or longer, and so did what no other city before it had done and expanded to the skies, becoming a dense, pulsating city of boxy towers set on a painfully narrow strip of land.
Look first to the south, where the Financial District’s powerful skyscrapers loom over the field of lower, mostly residential housing that stands between it and Midtown. Beyond the Financial District, in the harbor, are the Statue of Liberty to the right and the Brooklyn Bridge (the most graceful of the three bridges you’ll see in this direction). Right below you will be the triangular Flatiron building, one of the most thrillingly odd in Manhattan (it was Frank Lloyd Wright’s favorite building). Just to the side of it are the glittering gold roof of the Metropolitan Life Tower and the World Life Insurance Towers, once centers of New York’s high society and now just part of the landscape. Drift to the north side of the building and you will be among a riot of skyscrapers, thrown up in a manner that seems wildly chaotic from this vantage point. This strip of Midtown contains more office space per acre than any other area in the world. Peer through the curtain of buildings to catch a glimpse of Central Park, looking like a modest lawn from this great height.
Quick facts about the Empire State Building:
- It opened in 1931 after just 14 months of construction (total cost: $25 million).
- Tallest building in the world from 1931 to 1970, when the World Trade Center took the title. It is now the 24th tallest building on the planet.
- The oddly shaped spire at the top was meant to be a landing port for blimps, but high winds kept dirigibles from ever being able to anchor here.
- In 1945, a plane accidentally crashed into the building, killing 17 people.
- Every Valentine’s Day, 14 couples are married for free on the Observation Deck.
The attraction has been able to make the entry process much more efficient in recent years, and now offers timed tickets. To make sure you don't encounter any crowds and make the most of your time here:
- Book the first slot of the day or during the dinner hour, which are relatively uncrowded times. The first slot will be more expensive, but the lack of crowding may make up for that.
- Plan to visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday, the least popular days of the week. You’ll encounter the biggest crowds on Saturday and Sunday, followed closely by Monday and Friday.
- All guests are offered the opportunity to take the stairs (from the 79th to the 86th floor) rather than the elevator. Doing so can shave a good 10 to 20 minutes off your wait time.
- Don't rush through the exhibits prior to the views. There are 9 darn informative exhibits that cover everything from the remarkably fast construction of the building, to clips from the 600 appearances the building has made in major TV shows and films over the decades (and video games, comic books, and commercials). One of the most weirdly compelling exhibits gives you glimpses of the offices of famous companies in the building, another explains the smart ways ESB has become one of the world’s greenest tourist attractions. The QR codes embedded in the wall text are worth scanning for additional info and videos. And note that you won’t be coming back the same way you entered, so if you rush through, there’s no opportunity to return after you’ve seen the views.
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