Empire State Building
The 1931 Art Deco skyscraper whose 86th floor open-air deck remains the classic New York observation experience.
Example
The 86th floor deck is open air with the wind included, and the trade off is that the skyline you photograph cannot contain the building you are standing on.
Best tours and tickets
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All-Access 9/11: Ground Zero Tour, Memorial and Museum, One World Observatory
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Related terms
Landmarks
Top of the Rock
Rockefeller Center's observation decks, prized for the head-on view of the Empire State Building and Central Park.
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SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
The mirrored observation experience atop One Vanderbilt by Grand Central, part art installation, part skyline deck.
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Keens Steakhouse
An 1885 Midtown chophouse famous for its legendary mutton chop and 45,000 antique churchwarden pipes on the ceilings.
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Statue of Liberty
The 1886 copper colossus on Liberty Island, reachable only by the official Statue City Cruises ferry from Battery...
Pages that mention this term
- 1945 Empire State Building Plane Crash: One Woman Fell 75 Floors and Lived
- Manhattanhenge: When the Sun Obeys Manhattan’s Street Grid
- Sleepless in Seattle at the Empire State Building: The Valentine’s Day Wedding You Have to
- NYC Labor Day Weekend 2026: Sunday Subway Schedule, Broadway Season, 9/11 Events
- NYC Labor Day Weekend 2026: Reggae Festival, Broadway Subway Set, and the 86th Floor View
- The DUMBO Shot: Washington Street's Manhattan Bridge Frame and the Hour It Empties
- The Edge Observation Deck Is NYC's Highest Open-Air View at 1,131 Feet
- Rockefeller Center: skip the three queues and see the art, the rink and the skyline in one
- Manhattan helicopter flight: the real airborne time and the bag rules
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: a mirrored art show that splits visitors
- One World Observatory: the view that puts the harbour in front of you
- Manhattan Travel Guide: The Only One You Need (2026)
Frequently asked questions
Empire State or Top of the Rock?
Top of the Rock to photograph the Empire State in your skyline, Empire State for the open-air Deco classic and the movie history. Romantics pick the Empire State.
When should I go up?
Either the first morning slot or after 10 pm. Both dodge the lines, and the late-night city lights are the underrated version.
Is a late night visit worth it?
Yes. The building runs to well after midnight, crowds thin considerably and the city lights version of the view is the one most visitors never see.
