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Best Value

Empire State Building Best Value Ticket

Couple looking at each other with the NYC view behind them

What’s Included In Your Ticket

2nd Floor Exhibits

IMMERSIVE EXHIBITS

  • Museum-Quality Galleries
  • The Site in the 1920s
  • Opening Day Experience
  • Construction History Exhibit
NYC views from the 86th Floor Observation Deck of the Empire State Building

NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE VIEWS

  • 360° NYC Views
  • Central Park & Brooklyn
  • Statue of Liberty & Manhattan
  • View Up to 6 States
Heidi Klum at the Empire State Building

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES

  • Art Deco Lobby Photos
  • Interactive Kong Exhibit
  • Celebrity Wall Photos
  • Grand Staircase Photos

Upgrade Your Ticket To Access The 102nd Floor

  • Access to 102nd Floor Observation Deck

  • Access to 86th Floor Observation Deck

  • Access to 80th Floor Viewing Gallery

  • Indoor & Outdoor Views

  • NYC Skyline Views

  • Immersive Museum

  • Reschedule Anytime

Family at the 102nd Floor Observation DeckMost Popular

FAQ

The Empire State Building Best Value Ticket includes access to the building’s most iconic experiences at the best available price. You will enjoy entry to the 86th Floor Observation Deck, where you can take in panoramic views of New York City, along with access to the immersive exhibits on the second floor, which highlight the building’s construction, history, and cultural significance. This ticket is available for select time slots and is designed to offer the best value for visitors who wish to experience the Empire State Building’s main highlights.

Best Value Tickets are available during non-peak hours throughout the day, including select times in the afternoon and nighttime.

From the Empire State Building 102nd Floor you can see up to 80 miles on a clear day. That reach covers six states, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Delaware. The Empire State Building view from the top also takes in Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, the Chrysler Building, the World Trade Center, and the Brooklyn Bridge, with the Hudson River running down Manhattan's western edge.

Most visits to the 86th Floor Observation Deck take at least one hour. The experience also includes access to the exhibits on the second and 80th floors on the journey to the observation deck. There is no time limit once you arrive, so you are free to enjoy the experience at your own pace. To save time, consider an Express Pass to the 86th Floor Observation Deck, which bypasses the exhibits and the elevator lines.

Peak times vary by season, but the Empire State Building is typically busiest during the first two hours after opening and the hour immediately after sunset.

For fewer crowds, consider a visit between 12 PM and 2 PM EST, after the morning rush has passed. If you wish to skip lines altogether, you can add an Express Pass at checkout for a faster entry experience.

For both daytime and nighttime views, the AM/PM Experience allows guests to visit during the day and return again that same night.

The Empire State Building stands apart from other decks for its blend of historic significance, immersive exhibits, and iconic observation decks, which include the open-air 86th Floor Observation Deck and the enclosed 102nd Floor Observation Deck. Unlike newer attractions, the Empire State Building Observation Deck offers a full museum experience that showcases its construction, cultural impact, and role in American history. Its observation decks deliver a classic Manhattan skyline experience, while its global recognition and Art Deco design make it one of the most authentic and memorable ways to see New York City.  

Popular Tickets

Family taking selfie

86th Floor Observation Deck

Buy Tickets from $46
  • Access to 86th Floor Observation Deck

  • Reschedule Anytime

  • NYC Skyline Views

Buy Tickets from $46
Buy the Empire State Building Flex Ticket
Flexible Entry

Empire State Building Flex Ticket

Buy Tickets from $66
  • Access to 86th Floor Observation Deck

  • Reschedule Anytime

  • NYC Skyline Views

  • Flexible Date Entry

Buy Tickets from $66