Empire State Building Observatory Tickets
Price on requestAbout 90 minutesTicket
Timed-entry tickets to the Empire State Building's 86th-floor open-air observatory, with the 102nd floor available as an upgrade. Mobile voucher, no booking fee, free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
- DurationAbout 90 minutes
- Tour typeTicket
- PickupEmpire State Building visitor entrance
- CancellationFree up to 24 hours before
No booking fee, ever
The ticket costs what the venue charges. Nothing on top.
Instant mobile voucher
Straight to your phone the moment you book.
Honest slot advice
We tell you which entry time is actually worth having.
The day, hour by hour
Choosing a slotEarly morning or late evening
The observatory opens early and closes late. The first slot of the day and anything after 22:00 are dramatically quieter than the 16:00–20:00 block.
Entrance20 West 34th Street
The visitor entrance is on 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth, not on Fifth Avenue itself.
Security and the museumAllow 30 minutes
Screening plus the second-floor exhibits sit between the door and the lift. It is genuinely good — do not rush it.
86th floorOpen-air, all four sides
No time limit. The open-air deck is the reason to choose this building over the enclosed alternatives.
What to bring
- The mobile voucher
- A warm layer — the 86th floor is open-air and considerably colder and windier than street level
What your price includes
Included
- Timed-entry ticket to the 86th-floor observatory
- The second-floor museum and the Dare to Dream exhibit
- Instant mobile voucher
Not included
- 102nd-floor observatory — available as an upgrade
- Transport
Questions people actually ask
Empire State, Top of the Rock or One World — which one?
Empire State is the only one of the three with a genuinely open-air deck on all four sides, and the building itself is the icon. Top of the Rock has the better view because the Empire State Building is in it. One World is the highest and fully enclosed. If you are choosing one, choose by whether you want to be in the view or looking at it.
Is the 102nd floor worth the upgrade?
It is higher and enclosed, with far fewer people. On a clear day the extra 16 floors change little. In bad weather, being indoors is worth something.
When is it least crowded?
The first slot of the morning, and after 22:00. Sunset is the busiest and most expensive time of day, every day.
Do you charge a booking fee?
No. The price you see is the price you pay.
Can I change my time slot?
Yes, up to 24 hours before, subject to availability in the new slot. Message us and we will move it.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The 86th-floor observatory is accessible. {{TBC: confirm current 102nd-floor accessibility with the venue}}
