Empire State Building, Observatory Ticket Info, Pictures, How-To Guides

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Empire State Building
Visitor Guide:

Observation deck hours - 8AM to 2AM daily. Last elevator trip: 1:15AM.

Getting there:

By taxi: Located at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue, it rises high above any other building in Midtown, and therefore hard to miss. Direct any cab driver to "Empire State Building" and you're sure to be taken there without any further discussion.

By subway: Nearest subway stops to the Empire State Building: 6 train to 33rd Street; A, C, E, B, D, F, Q, 1, 2, 3 train to 34th Street.

By bus: M2, 3, or 5 city bus southbound on Fifth Avenue, or the M10, M20, M4, M34 to Penn Station.

When to go: Early morning hours are least crowded, while late night visits are more romantic. Or do both - weather permitting.

Current NYC weather

The Empire State Building was a beacon of hope for a recovering world economy when it rose defiantly in Midtown Manhattan during the height of the Great Depression.

Today, just ahead of the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building is THE most popular New York City attraction, and remains a beacon to tourists from around the world who come to soak up the iconic New York City experience high atop its 86th floor observation deck.

Ticket tips:

10 to 20 thousand people visit the Empire State Building daily, so be prepared for long lines snaking up to the ticket counter. For the sheer number of of visitors eagerly waiting for tickets (on lines that sometimes lengthen to a city block) service is relatively fast. However, booking tickets online and printing them at home beforehand is by far the more sensible option.

When to go:

The great debate between daytime and nighttime viewing from the observation deck is ongoing, and both options have their charms.

Get their at 8AM when the first elevator ascends to the top, and you can avoid the crowds. During the day, the whole city is on view with all of Manhattan and almost 80 miles of the surrounding Metro New York area laid out before you - on a clear day.

Nightime, however, will give you the "Bright Lights Big City" experience and also makes for an ultra romantic date.

For the best of both experiences, time your visit to the top of the Empire State Building just before sunset, for views which in minutes can turn from warm and mellow to electrifyingly awesome. For latecomers, remember that the observation deck is open until 2AM, but the last elevator is scheduled promptly at 1:15 AM.

More about the Empire State Building around the Web:

Empire State Building - The official site, with online ticket purchase and visitor information including a virtual tour, special events and lighting schedule.

Empire State Building - Wikipedia - The complete overview with facts on how it was constructed, historical details, its role in popular culture, photo gallery, visitor information, and related resources.

Empire State Building - Great Buildings Online - Stunning photos, architectural details, historical plans and blueprints.

Photographs of the Empire State Building under construction - The grand sweep in old photos on how the world's greatest skyscraper rose above Fifth Avenue in 1931, courtesy of the New York Public Library.

Empire State Building Trivia and Cool Facts - About.com guide including data on height, steps to the top, number of windows, and related fun facts.

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