Empire State Building

Empire State Building: The Observatory Comparison Worth Knowing

The Empire State Building opened in 1931 after 410 days of construction. At the time of completion it was the world’s tallest building, a title it held until 1970. The Art Deco exterior - limestone and granite cladding, stainless steel spandrels - was designed by Shreve, Lamb and Harmon. The building has 102 floors and stands 443m to the roof (with antenna, 443m becomes 443m - or 443m to the roof, 553m to antenna tip). It is at 350 Fifth Avenue, between 33rd and 34th Streets in Midtown Manhattan.

The two observatories

The 86th floor observatory is the traditional observation deck, enclosed and open-air (the outer terrace is genuinely outdoors). It sits at 320m and offers a 360-degree view of Manhattan, the East and Hudson Rivers, and on clear days extends to Connecticut, New Jersey, and the Catskills. Entry for adults costs USD 44 for the main deck (2024 pricing). Lines without advance booking can be 60-90 minutes; online pre-booking gives priority access.

The 102nd floor observatory is at 373m - the building’s actual top - and is glass-enclosed. Entry requires a separate upgrade ticket (around USD 20 additional). The viewing platform is significantly smaller than the 86th floor and holds fewer people. The views are better in absolute terms but the practical difference is modest.

One question worth considering before committing USD 44-60: the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 67 floors, USD 42 adults) includes a view of the Empire State Building in its skyline panorama, which some photographers prefer to the view from the ESB’s deck. Neither observatory is objectively superior; the ESB is historically significant, the Top of the Rock has the ESB in frame.

Timing

Clear days with low humidity give the best visibility. Summer weekday afternoons are the worst for haze. November through March typically has the clearest air. Evening visits (the building stays open until 02:00 year-round) show the Manhattan light grid at its most photogenic and are less crowded than sunset and the two hours following it.

The building’s light show

The ESB’s tower lights change colour for holidays, sporting events, cultural anniversaries, and awareness causes throughout the year. The lighting schedule is published on the building’s website. Empire State Building lighting has become a peculiar institution - there are enthusiasts who track the schedule and photograph the specific colours.

Nearby

Bryant Park, one block west of Fifth Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets, is one of the better-managed public spaces in Manhattan and a useful free alternative to sitting in a hotel lobby. The Morgan Library and Museum at 36th Street (USD 25 entry, closed Mondays) has the finest collection of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts in the United States and is about one-third the price of the observatory with considerably more to see.