Official site
Skip-the-lineMain Deck 86th Floor
Official price Direct seller
per ticket$46
Buy →Empire State Building
Compare Empire State Building ticket types, live seller offers, refund rules and checkout caveats before you buy.
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Which ticket should you pick?
Short and honest — no marketing noise.
Lowest listed price for a standard visit
The official Main Deck 86th Floor ticket is listed at 46 USD, lower than the partner options.
See the offers →You want an indoor guide with your admission
This GetYourGuide product combines an indoor guided tour with an Empire State Building ticket.
See the offers →You need a pre-booked ticket bundled with transport
The product title explicitly includes pre-booked tickets and transfer.
See the offers →Choose by situation
Find your scenario — the right ticket is already picked.
Lowest listed priceOfficial site — "Main Deck 86th Floor"Direct booking for the standard visitOfficial site — "Main Deck 86th Floor"Guided context inside Empire State BuildingGetYourGuide — "NYC：Indoor Guide Tour with Ticket of Empire State Building"Pre-booked ticket with transfer includedGetYourGuide — "Empire State Building NYC Tour, Pre-booked Tickets, Transfer"Shortest straightforward observatory visitOfficial site — "Main Deck 86th Floor"You prefer a hosted experience over self-guided entryGetYourGuide — "NYC：Indoor Guide Tour with Ticket of Empire State Building"
Good to know
Practical notes before your visit.
TimingFor fewer crowds, visit between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., after the morning rush; Tuesday through Thursday are generally quieter than weekends. The Empire State Building is typically busiest during the first two hours after opening and the hour immediately after sunset, so sunset slots offer the most popular views but usually the highest demand. Opening hours vary seasonally, and the Empire State Building is open 365 days a year.
EntranceEnter the Empire State Building Observatory at 20 West 34th Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues; the ticket office is at 12 West 34th Street. Penn Station and 34th Street–Herald Square are about a five-minute walk away. The main entrance is wheelchair-accessible, motorized and non-motorized wheelchairs are permitted, and strollers must fold in observatory areas. Allow time for security screening and follow the voucher’s arrival instructions.
PriceThe official benchmark shown for the "Main Deck 86th Floor" is 46 USD. The partner options shown are 57.36 USD for "NYC：Indoor Guide Tour with Ticket of Empire State Building" and 294.81 USD for "Empire State Building NYC Tour, Pre-booked Tickets, Transfer"; compare the exact inclusions and check the final checkout total before paying.
DiscountsReservations are required for admission. The official site recommends booking ahead, although tickets can also be purchased at the onsite ticket office at 12 W 34th Street. Check the official ticket page for current age-based, free, reduced, or special-eligibility rules before relying on a discounted ticket.
Planning your visit
The Empire State Building, also called ESB, stands in Midtown Manhattan at 350 5th Avenue, near Fifth Avenue and 34th Street. Its Art Deco architecture was designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, and the building’s “World's Most Famous Building” galleries connect its history with pop culture, including the King Kong exhibit and views toward the Chrysler Building.
A Main Deck ticket covers the 86th Floor Observatory, where the open-air platform gives 360-degree city views. The 102nd Floor Top Deck is enclosed behind floor-to-ceiling windows, while the 2nd floor interactive exhibits explain construction, tenants, and the building’s place in film history. The Otis high-speed elevators carry visitors through the experience, and the ESB official audio guide app adds historical commentary on personal devices.
A General Admission ticket is the straightforward choice for the observatories; an Express Pass skip-the-line option is designed for visitors who want faster entry through the attraction’s queues. A Sunrise Experience ticket suits visitors seeking an early-day visit, while a VIP guided tour adds hosted interpretation rather than a self-guided route. The Tower lights schedule is visible from across New York and changes for special occasions.
The main visitor entrance is at 20 West 34th Street, close to 34th Street - Herald Square subway station and about a five-minute walk from Penn Station New York. Grand Central Terminal is about a ten-minute walk away. Operating hours 365 days means the Empire State Building opens year-round, rain or shine; security screening applies, large bags have no on-site storage, and strollers must fold on the observatory levels.
Before you buy
Concrete caveats: security, bags, cancellation, time slots.
- Timed admission does not remove security screening: all visitors still pass through the Empire State Building security checkpoint, so budget time for screening and the admission queue.
- Large bags, suitcases, carry-on luggage, oversized items, outside food and drinks, glass containers, and tripods are not permitted, and the Empire State Building has no luggage-storage or locker facility.
- A standard reservation is tied to its scheduled arrival time; late visitors may need to be moved to the next available time slot rather than admitted immediately.
- A mobile ticket still requires the reservation details to match the selected visit time, so an incorrect or missed time slot can create an on-site rebooking problem.
- The GetYourGuide option titled "Empire State Building NYC Tour, Pre-booked Tickets, Transfer" includes transfer in its product title, while the official "Main Deck 86th Floor" row does not; compare the transport inclusion before paying more.
Frequently asked questions
The things people ask most.
Do Empire State Building tickets require a time slot, and can I use a mobile ticket?
Admission to Empire State Building requires a reservation for a specific time unless the ticket explicitly offers flexible entry. Follow the seller’s voucher instructions for mobile presentation, printing, or kiosk collection before you arrive.
Can I cancel or get a refund for an Empire State Building ticket?
Do not assume that tickets are refundable. Cancellation and refund terms depend on the seller and product, so read the conditions shown at checkout before paying.
Should I buy from the official site or a partner seller for Empire State Building?
The official site is the clearest choice for a standard visit and direct ticket support. A partner may be worthwhile when you specifically want an added service, such as the transfer included with “Empire State Building NYC Tour, Pre-booked Tickets, Transfer” or the guide included with “NYC：Indoor Guide Tour with Ticket of Empire State Building”.
What bags and items are prohibited at Empire State Building?
Do not bring large luggage, outside food, bottles or cans, glass items, alcohol, weapons, sports equipment, musical instruments, professional camera stands, or marking instruments. Empire State Building has no lockers for personal belongings.
What happens if I arrive late for my Empire State Building time slot?
Arrive as close as possible to the reserved time. If you are late, Empire State Building may require you to move to the next available time slot through the ticket office or the booking-management portal.
Are children or other visitors eligible for free or reduced admission at Empire State Building?
Children under 6 enter free, while children aged 6–12 and seniors aged 62 or older receive reduced admission; active military in uniform can enter free. Because every visit requires a timed reservation, include free children in the booking process rather than arriving without a ticket record.
Does skip-the-line access at Empire State Building remove security checks?
No ticket should be treated as a way to avoid required security screening. Priority access can reduce waiting through admission, exhibits, or elevators, but prohibited-item checks and the attraction’s entry procedures still apply.
What is the main bottleneck inside Empire State Building?
The busiest points are usually admission and elevator access, especially during the first two hours after opening and around the hour after sunset. Timed entry helps control admission, while priority access is most useful when reducing waits through entry, exhibits, and elevators matters.
