Empire State Building Observation Deck: Is It Worth It?
The Empire State Building lit in red, white and blue. All photos by John O’Boyle / The Empty Nest Explorers
Debbie and I finally made it back up the Empire State Building. We have been up over the years, but we wanted to see what had changed before writing a proper review of the Observation Deck. So we picked a clear evening in August and rode up for sunset.
A quick heads up first. Sunset in August is about the busiest time you can choose. Some of what follows might read as harsh because of that.
So here's our short answer. If someone asked us whether the Empire State Building is worth it, we'd say yes. The history and the location carry it. That said, our favorite deck is Top of the Rock. The decks are wider, and you get that classic view of the Empire State Building itself, which you obviously can't get while standing on it.
| 📍 Location | 20 West 34th Street, Midtown Manhattan. Ticket office at 12 W 34th Street. |
| 🎟️ 2026 Tickets | 86th floor from $44, plus a $5 booking fee. 86th + 102nd from $79. Best Value from $39. NYC residents save 25%. Sunset and evening slots cost more. |
| 🕐 Hours | Open daily. Hours vary by season, often around 9am to midnight. Check the website. |
| 🏙️ Two Decks | 86th floor open-air at 1,050 ft. 102nd floor enclosed at 1,250 ft, extra ticket. |
| ⏰ Best Time to Go | A clear evening for sunset, arriving early. Crowds ease about 30 minutes after sunset. |
| ⏳ Time Needed | About 1.5 to 2 hours, including exhibits and elevator waits. |
| 📅 Opened | May 1, 1931. The original New York observation deck. |
| 🌐 Website | esbnyc.com |
What the Empire State Building has over the competition
Here is what this building has that the newer decks do not.
It is one of the most iconic structures on earth.
It sits right in the middle of Midtown, so it is easy to reach.
On a nice night, standing outside in the open air is hard to beat.
How this deck basically started the whole business
There is a good story behind why New York has so many observation decks now. For years, the Empire State Building kept its finances quiet. That changed in late 2011.
The family that controls the building filed a long prospectus to take it public as a real estate trust. Buried in those pages was a surprise. The observation deck earned about $60 million in profit in 2010. The office space, in one of the world's most famous buildings, made almost nothing next to it.
The New York Times ran the numbers that December. One developer called it an astounding amount of money. Other owners took notice.
The company went public in 2013, and newer decks followed over the next decade. One World Observatory, Edge, and Summit One Vanderbilt all opened after that reveal. In a way, the Empire State Building showed the whole city that a view could be a goldmine. We go deeper on this in our roundup of the New York decks. For now, know you are standing on the one that started it.
New York has five major observation decks, and each one offers something a little different. Here is how the Empire State Building compares to the rest, from height to price to the kind of experience you get.
| Observation Deck | Height | Vibe | Best For | Our Post |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire State Building | 1,050 ft | Historic, iconic | History buffs, first-time visitors | You are here |
| Top of the Rock | 850 ft | Classic, open-air | Photography, Central Park & ESB views | Read Guide |
| The Edge | 1,131 ft | Modern, thrilling | Glass floor, Hudson views, City Climb | Read Guide |
| Summit One Vanderbilt | 1,063 ft | Immersive art | Mirror rooms, social moments | Read Guide |
| One World Observatory | 1,268 ft | Tallest, historic | Harbor & downtown views, 9/11 context | Read Guide |
Tickets and what we paid
We bought our tickets online, standing right outside the building on my phone. We were not sure exactly when we would get there, so buying on the spot made sense. The process was quick and easy.
We paid $52 for the 86th floor at sunset. That included a premium for prime evening hours. Prices here move around based on the date and time, and a slot half an hour later would have cost us less.
As of now, 86th floor tickets start around $44, plus a $5 booking fee. Adding the 102nd floor starts around $79. Sunset and evening slots run higher, so check esbnyc.com for the exact price on your date.
You can also buy your tickets easily through Viator. Here is a link.
A quick note: some links here are affiliate links. That means if you book or buy something through them, we earn a small commission. You pay nothing extra, and it helps keep this blog going. We only recommend things we actually believe in.
| Ticket | What You Get | From |
|---|---|---|
| Main Deck (86th Floor) | The classic open-air deck. This is the one most people want. | $44 |
| Top Deck (86th + 102nd) | Adds the higher, enclosed 102nd floor above the main deck. | $79 |
| Express Pass | Skip the line to the 86th floor. Worth it on a busy evening. | $85 |
Every order adds a $5 booking fee. Sunset and evening slots cost more than the starting prices above. A cheaper Best Value 86th floor ticket starts around $39 for flexible off-peak times, and New York City residents save 25%. Check esbnyc.com for the exact price on your date.
Go City includes the Empire State Building, Edge, One World Observatory, and much more. If you're visiting several attractions in a few days, it can be a good deal. Just do the math first. Add up what you actually want to see, then compare it against what the pass covers. Click below to learn more.
View of Chrysler Building from the Empire State Building.
Getting There
One of the best things about the Empire State Building is where it sits. You are right in the middle of Midtown, so you have plenty of ways to reach it. The entrance is at 20 West 34th Street.
The closest subway stop is Herald Square, about a block away. The B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, and W trains all stop there. Penn Station is a short walk west, with the 1, 2, 3, A, C, and E. Grand Central sits about ten minutes east on the 4, 5, 6, and 7.
Coming from New Jersey? The PATH train stops at 33rd Street, right around the corner.
You can also just walk. If you are already out in Midtown, you are probably closer than you think.
The Empire State Building Observation Deck experience
Lining up on 34th Street to enter the Empire State Building.
At the other four New York decks, we walked right in with no wait. This one was different. Because we came at sunset in August, everyone lined up out on 34th Street. We walked past the Empire State Building at midday a few weeks earlier, and there was no line outside. So if you aren’t visiting at sunset, the crowding should be much better.
Here is something that bugged me. On the street, staff barely checked tickets. The people next to us had tickets for a later, cheaper slot. They walked in at the premium time anyway, and nobody stopped them. We paid extra, and they did not.
You go through metal detectors before the elevators. That part is normal for a big attraction. The catch is that you empty your pockets and take off your belt. A lot of New York attractions have switched to newer scanners that skip all that. The Empire State Building would feel much smoother with those machines.
The ground floor displays are genuinely well done. As you walk toward the elevators, you pass the story of the site and the construction through the years. There are movie posters and video screens for the films shot here. My favorite touch was the 1920s photos on the walls. Look through the viewer and the image comes to life. Very cool.
The art deco elevators were a treat. A short video about the construction plays on the ceiling, and it was fun. The One World Trade Center elevators are still my favorite, since their screens wrap around every wall. This ride was more modest, and I enjoyed it anyway.
The first level you step out onto felt like a letdown. The windows there looked like the ones from the old King Kong days, and they are not real observation deck windows. There are a few activities for kids, but this is not the view you came for.
What threw us was the signage. It was not clear that the actual deck was another elevator ride up. We heard a man ask a staff member, "That's it?” He thought he had already seen the best of it. The staff were kind and pointed him upstairs, but the building really needs clearer signs.
Because the crowd slowed us down, the sunset was already fading. So we hopped back on the elevator for the 86th floor. This is the real observatory.
You step outside onto a 360-degree walkway that wraps the building. The open-air deck is wonderful. We got lucky with a beautiful night. We stayed about an hour and watched the sky go from sunset to full dark. Looking out in every direction was a treat. Glancing up at the lit spire, so close overhead, was a highlight for both of us.
There is a wire mesh safety fence in front of you. The gaps are wide enough that it does not really block the view. If you have been to the Top of the Rock, the fully open air up there is nicer, and the deck is wider. The Empire State Building view still held its own.
Sunset views from Empire State Building.
The crowd thinned out about 30 minutes after sunset. If you can wait, that is a good window. One note on weather. On a cold or wet night, the big indoor windows at One Vanderbilt or One World Trade would probably feel better than an open deck.
The 102nd floor is an extra ticket, not part of the standard deck. That was not obvious while we were up there, and I had to Google it on the spot to be sure. If you want the highest, enclosed view, you buy the Top Deck ticket.
Be ready for a lot of elevator waiting too. You do not just go straight up and down. Between the ground floor, the gallery level, and the deck, we counted at least four rides in all. That is the price of a building this old.
View from Empire State Building looking north.
The gift shop
The gift shop might be the best we have seen at an attraction like this. The poster collection alone is worth a look, and the quality was high across the board. We usually skip souvenirs in New York, since the city feels like home rather than a trip. This time Debbie picked up a Starry Night espresso cup. That tells you how nice the items were.
Our honest take
Some of this is not entirely fair, since we came at one of the busiest times of the year. The crowds and chasing the fading light shaped a lot of what we felt.
Even so, the Empire State Building is the granddaddy of observation decks. It set the standard the others chased. We just wanted a little more from the visit. Better signage, faster screening, and a cleaner ticket line would go a long way.
While we prefer the Top of the Rock for the classic NYC observation deck, the Empire State Building is worth it. On a clear evening, out on that deck with the whole city lit up below you, it is still one of the great New York moments.
View of the Empire State Building spire.
Empire State Building FAQs
What time should I visit the Empire State Building?
Sunset is beautiful but very busy, especially in summer. If you want the sunset colors, arrive well before the sun drops. If you want smaller crowds, the deck thinned out for us about 30 minutes after sunset. Early morning is another quiet window.
How much are Empire State Building tickets in 2026?
The 86th floor starts around $44, plus a $5 booking fee. Adding the 102nd floor starts around $79. Prices rise for sunset and evening slots, so the same ticket can cost more at prime times. Check esbnyc.com for the exact price on your date.
Is the Empire State Building worth it?
Yes, for a first visit to New York, we think it is worth it. The open-air 86th-floor deck and the iconic setting are hard to beat on a clear night. Our personal favorite is Top of the Rock, mostly for the wider decks and the view of the Empire State Building itself. If you only want the newest, roomiest decks, you might lean toward Summit One Vanderbilt or the Edge. For us, the history and the open-air view make this one special.
Which is better, the 86th or 102nd floor?
The 86th floor is the classic open-air deck, and it is the one most people picture. The 102nd floor is higher and fully enclosed, and it costs extra. On a clear night, we would take the open-air of the 86th. For bad weather or a bucket-list splurge, the 102nd adds the highest view.
How long should I spend at the Empire State Building?
Plan on about an hour and a half to two hours. The ground floor exhibits are worth some time, the elevator waits add up, and you will want a while on the deck itself. We spent about an hour on the 86th floor alone.
Empire State Building or Top of the Rock?
Both are great. Top of the Rock gives you a wider, fully open deck and a view that includes the Empire State Building itself. The Empire State Building gives you the iconic tower, a central location, and the history. We compare all the decks in detail in our roundup.
About the Authors
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John and Debbie O'Boyle are the team behind The Empty Nest Explorers. John is a professional photographer whose work has been published by The New York Times, NBC News, and Getty Images. He is a member of the American Society of Media Photographers, has been part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team, and has received two New York Emmy nominations. Debbie is a writer and photographer with 30+ years of experience, formerly with The Star-Ledger and NJ.com. Together, they create in-depth travel guides for couples and empty-nest travelers who want to make the most of every destination. |
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We went up the Empire State Building on a busy August evening.
Here's what the visit was really like, what tickets cost, the best time to go, and how the granddaddy of observation decks compares to the newer ones.