The 103-story Empire State Building in midtown stood as the world's tallest building for nearly four decades, from its completion in 1931 until 1970, when it was surpassed by another New York skyscraper. Considered an American cultural icon, the building underwent a massive renovation in 2010 to make it more energy efficient and eco-friendly. Admire the Art Deco mosaics in the lobby, and then take an elevator to the observation deck at the top, where you'll have 360-degree views of the entire city. If you don't have time to wait in line for the top, visit the 86th-floor observatory, which at 320 m (1,050 ft) high still provides remarkable views. If you're in the city in the evening, try to catch a glimpse of the building to see its pinnacle bathed in lights. Use our New York City trip itinerary maker app to visit Empire State Building on your trip to New York City, and learn what else travelers and our writers recommend seeing nearby.
Tours to Empire State Building
Empire State Building reviews
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Very easy, fast, and organized. All personnel the MOST PROFESSIONAL AND FRIENDLY of any place I’ve been in NYC! Throwback courtesy and attraction.
Very easy, fast, and organized. All personnel the MOST PROFESSIONAL AND FRIENDLY of any place I’ve been in NYC! Throwback courtesy and attraction. more »
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The Empire State Building staff were absolutely outstanding. Each person we spoke to was as kind as could be. It was my mother’s first time to the Empire State Building and every one of the staff...
The Empire State Building staff were absolutely outstanding. Each person we spoke to was as kind as could be. It was my mother’s first time to the Empire State Building and every one of the staff... more »
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Amazing art deco building absolutely loved it inside and out. The building is so beautiful and has been respectfully modernised so that you can barely notice. The journey to the observatory has a wealth of historical information on the construction and foundations of the building which is hugely interesting. The staff are there at every step,helpful and polite and courteous. Would highly recommend a visit for everyone and of course the stop at the gift shop. Fabulous day out.
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It was a great experience. One of the perks of using the City Pass was that I was able to get into the building both in the morning and in the evening. I highly recommend visiting at night as the view from the top is truly breathtaking. The city lights sparkle and it's a great way to see the city from a different perspective. The price for admission without the City Pass is quite steep, so I recommend getting the pass if you plan on visiting multiple tourist attractions in the city. Overall, it's worth the visit for the spectacular evening view.
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