The Empire State Building is one of the most iconic skyscrapers in the world and a major symbol of New York City. Originally designed in the art deco style to accommodate airship landings, the building now primarily houses offices across its 102 floors. At its peak, it features a popular observation deck with stunning views of Manhattan and the surrounding area. Discover fascinating facts about the Empire State Building and my tips for making the most of your visit.
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Table of Contents
How to Visit the Empire State Building
🚇 How to Access the Observation Deck
The Empire State Building is located at 350 Fifth Avenue. The closest subway station is 34 St – Herald Sq., 820 ft away, served by lines B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, and W.
Entry to the Empire State Building is through the entrance on Fifth Avenue. The observation decks are located at 1,050 ft on the 86th floor and at 1,250 ft on the 102nd floor above ground level.
The height of the Empire State Building is 1,250 ft, and its total height including the antenna is 1,454.1 ft. Both decks offer spectacular panoramic views in every direction.
🕒 Opening Hours
The Empire State Building’s opening hours vary throughout the year depending on daylight hours. It opens either at 9:00 AM or 10:00 AM and closes between 11:00 PM and 1:00 AM. The last admission is always 45 minutes before closing time.
Before your visit, always check the current opening hours on the Empire State Building website.
🎟️ Admission to the Empire State Building
Ticket prices for the Empire State Building’s 86th floor observation deck start at $48 for adults, $46 for seniors aged 62 and over, and $42 for children ages 6 to 12. The 86th-floor deck offers a full 360° view of New York City, though the experience is more limited compared to the higher 102nd-floor deck.
The 102nd-floor deck provides an even better view of New York and its surroundings. In clear weather, you can see up to 85 mi into the distance through large panoramic windows. The price for a combined ticket to the 86th and 102nd floors is $88 for adults, $86 for seniors aged 62 and over, and $82 for children ages 6 to 12. Be sure to book your ticket in advance.
Ticket prices vary by day based on current demand. The prices listed here are the lowest available, include tax, and were last updated on March 21, 2025.
💡 How to Save With The New York Pass and CityPass
If you’re planning to visit the Top of the Rock observation deck, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Statue of Liberty, and other attractions during your stay in New York, purchasing a tourist pass will likely save you money.
The New York Pass and the CityPass operate on a system where you pay a single fee and then gain access to participating attractions without additional charges. Some versions of the pass let you visit an unlimited number of attractions within a set number of days, while others limit you to a specific number of attractions.
Check out this comparison of The New York Pass and CityPass New York. From my experience, both passes are worth it—the best option depends on how you want to spend your time in New York.
If you’ll be in New York for at least four days and want to see as much as possible, I recommend buying The New York Pass. If you’ll be in New York for no more than four days and prefer a more relaxed pace, I recommend the CityPass New York instead.
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History of the Empire State Building – It Was Originally Designed for Airships
The initial preparations for construction began in 1929 on the site where the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel once stood. Excavation work started on January 22, 1930, and the actual construction of the Empire State Building began symbolically on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1930.
Over 3,500 workers were involved in the construction, most of whom were immigrants from Ireland, Scandinavia, Czechoslovakia, and other countries.
It is reported that at least five workers lost their lives during construction, falling from the structure, slipping, or being buried under heavy materials. Considering that workers labored high above the city with only basic safety measures, this number is relatively low.
The Empire State Building was completed after just 410 days of construction and opened on May 1, 1931, by President Herbert Hoover, who illuminated the skyscraper remotely from his office in the White House.
On that day, the Empire State Building became the tallest building in the world—a title it held until 1970 when the North Tower of the now-destroyed World Trade Center was completed. The Empire State Building stood as the world’s tallest building for a remarkable 39 years, with a height of 1,250 ft. This record is unlikely to be surpassed.
The Empire State Building’s spire was originally intended to serve as a docking station for airships, which led to the construction of an outdoor 103rd floor. The plan was for passengers to check in on the 86th floor and take an elevator to the 103rd floor, where they would board the airship. However, after the building was completed, it became clear that poor air currents made docking too dangerous. The ambitious plan was abandoned, and the 103rd floor is now used for technical purposes.
A tragic day in the building’s history occurred on July 28, 1945, when a military bomber crashed into the north side of the Empire State Building. The accident was caused by heavy fog, which disoriented the pilot, William Franklin Smith. Fourteen people died in the crash, including three crew members and eleven civilians in the building.
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Fun Facts About the Empire State Building
🔦 Empire State Building Lighting Colors Respond to Current Events
The skyscraper is illuminated at night, creating a beautiful sight in itself. The lighting colors change either in accordance with upcoming national holidays or in response to current global events. For instance, the tower glows red for Christmas and turns green for St. Patrick’s Day.
You can find the planned Empire State Building lighting schedule for the coming days on its website.
💲 How Much Did It Cost to Build the Empire State Building?
The construction of the Empire State Building cost $40,948,900 in 1931 dollars. Adjusted for inflation to 2025, that’s approximately $821,764,586.
The building was the brainchild of two native New Yorkers who were both politically active. John Jakob Raskob was a business magnate, former chair of the finance committee at General Motors Corporation, and a key figure in the Democratic Party. Alfred Emanuel Smith was also a Democrat, former governor of the state of New York, and an unsuccessful presidential candidate.
💯 The First Building in the World With Over 100 Floors
When it was completed in 1931, the Empire State Building became the first building in the world to have more than 100 floors.
📮 The Empire State Building Has Its Own ZIP Code
At the height of its fame, the Empire State Building was the second-largest office complex in the U.S., just behind the Pentagon. Due to its height, the skyscraper also served as a broadcasting tower for most New York TV and radio stations.
Approximately 1,000 companies are based in the building, with the number of employees ranging between 15,000 and 21,000. When ZIP codes were introduced in the U.S. in 1963, the Empire State Building was assigned its own: 10118.
🏃 Race to the Top of the Skyscraper
Since 1978, the annual Empire State Building Run-Up has challenged participants to race up 1,576 stairs—86 floors—as quickly as possible. While the race is open to the public, demand is so high that most participants are selected via a lottery system.
The current record holder is Australian professional cyclist Paul Crake, who completed the climb on February 4, 2003, in an incredible 9 minutes and 33 seconds. The women’s record is held by Andrea Mayr of Austria, who reached the top in 11 minutes and 23 seconds in 2006.
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Empire State Building Photos
On clear days, the visibility from the observation deck reaches up to 85 mi, allowing visitors to see five different states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
From the observation terrace, the grid layout of Manhattan’s streets—planned in 1811—is clearly visible.
The Empire State Building’s observation decks were originally intended to serve as a docking station for airships, but the idea was quickly abandoned due to impracticality and safety concerns.
Approximately 3,500 workers were involved in the construction of the Empire State Building, equipped with only basic safety gear. On average, 4.5 floors were completed each week.
A photo of the Empire State Building under construction, taken around 1930 by photographer Irving Underhill. In the center below is the Wills Building, and to the left is the McAlpin Hotel. The photo is from the Library of Congress archives.
A north-facing view from the Empire State Building, captured on September 11, 1933, by photographer Samuel H. Gottscho. The image is part of the Gottscho-Schleisner Collection at the Library of Congress.
A view from the Empire State Building, captured on January 19, 1932, by photographer Samuel H. Gottscho. The iconic Chrysler Building and the Queensboro Bridge can be seen in the photo. This image is also part of the Gottscho-Schleisner Collection at the Library of Congress.
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