Completed in 1931 in just over a year, the Empire State Building held the title of world’s tallest building for four decades and remains the most recognizable piece of the Manhattan skyline. Its Art Deco spire has starred in more films than almost any other structure on earth, and the view from its observation decks still stops first-time visitors mid-sentence.

Construction moved at a pace that’s almost hard to believe today, with crews raising more than four floors a week at points during the roughly year-long build. That speed became part of the building’s legend, alongside its brief run as the world’s tallest structure and its decades-long status as an instantly recognizable stand-in for New York City itself in film and photography.

Best Things to Do at the Empire State Building

Take In the 86th Floor Observatory

This open-air deck wraps entirely around the building, giving you a full 360-degree view of Manhattan, the rivers, and beyond. It’s the classic Empire State Building experience, complete with coin-operated binoculars that have been a fixture for decades.

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Go Higher on the 102nd Floor

For an enclosed, higher vantage point above the 86th floor deck, the 102nd floor observatory offers an even more unobstructed view, particularly striking at sunset when the city starts lighting up below you.

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Explore the Art Deco Lobby and History Exhibit

Before heading up, the ground-floor exhibit walks through the building’s rapid construction and its decades as a cultural icon, with original blueprints and construction photographs on display.

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Watch the Tower Lights After Dark

The building’s upper floors are lit in rotating colors most nights, often tied to holidays, causes, or events, making a nighttime visit or even a glance from the street worthwhile if you’re in Midtown after sunset.

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Pair It with Herald Square Shopping

The building sits just blocks from Macy’s flagship store and the Fifth Avenue shopping corridor, making it easy to combine an observatory visit with an afternoon of browsing nearby.

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Best Time to Visit

Early morning tends to have the shortest lines and the clearest air for photos, while just before sunset offers the dramatic transition from daylight views to a lit-up city grid. Midday in summer draws the biggest crowds.

How to Get There

The building sits at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue, walkable from most of Midtown. Multiple subway lines, including the B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, and W, stop within a few blocks.

Good to Know

Security screening is required before the elevators, so factor in extra time, especially without a timed ticket. Weather can affect visibility at the top, so check the forecast if a clear-day view matters to you, and note that both observatories require separate tickets if you want to visit each one. Ticket packages that bundle both observatories together tend to work out better value than buying separate same-day tickets on-site. If you’re visiting with a broader New York CityPASS or sightseeing pass, check whether it already includes observatory access before purchasing anything separately.

However you time it, the view from the Empire State Building offers a scale of New York that’s hard to appreciate from street level. Bring a light jacket if you’re heading up after dark, since the open-air 86th floor deck catches a steady wind well above street level even on otherwise mild evenings.