Empire State Building: Entry + 86th Floor Observation Deck Access

Additional Information & Description

The Empire State Building’s 86th Floor Observatory puts New York’s skyline all around you, with open-air views in every direction. Voted the city’s #1 top attraction, this Midtown Manhattan landmark combines a visit above the streets with a closer look at the building itself.

See New York from the 86th floor

Your ticket includes entry to the Empire State Building and access to its 86th-floor observation deck, the highest 360-degree open-air observatory in New York City. At 1,054 feet above Midtown Manhattan, the view stretches from Central Park to the Statue of Liberty and beyond. The outdoor setting is a defining part of this visit: you see the city from an open-air deck rather than through an enclosed gallery’s windows.

Explore the building’s story

Begin with museum exhibits on the 2nd and 80th floors, tracing the Empire State Building’s record-breaking construction, cultural legacy and Hollywood fame. Access to the immersive 2nd-floor exhibits is included. The displays connect the skyscraper’s engineering story with its screen appearances, from “King Kong” to “Sleepless in Seattle,” adding context before you reach the observatory. Completed in 1931, the building has a history that extends well beyond its skyline views.

Admire the Art Deco lobby

The restored Fifth Avenue lobby brings the building’s Art Deco design into focus at ground level. Its golden architecture gives you a different part of the landmark to admire, distinct from the exhibits and observation deck. The Empire State Building stands at Fifth Avenue and 34th Street, in the heart of Midtown Manhattan.

Use the included audio guide

A downloadable audio guide app accompanies your visit, with free high-speed WiFi available on-site. The guide comes in Mandarin Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish, giving you nine language choices for the audio commentary.

Know your ticket’s access

Tickets are delivered instantly and can be presented on a smartphone. The attraction is wheelchair accessible, and the visitor entrance address is 20 West 34th Street. Access to the 102nd-floor Observation Deck is not included; it is available on-site for an additional fee. That upper observatory has reimagined floor-to-ceiling glass windows and views reaching up to six states.