The Empire State Building is without a doubt New York’s most iconic skyscraper and a must-see on your first visit. The building, all 380 metres – excluding the antenna – and 102 storeys of it, can be spotted from miles away and is a landmark wherever you go in the Big Apple.
Construction on this Art Deco skyscraper, designed by Shreve, Lam & Harmon, began in 1930 and lasted 410 days. A remarkable 4.5 floors were built per week. Although the building was initially nicknamed the ‘Empty State Building’ due to a lack of tenants, it is now impossible to imagine Manhattan without it – rivalled only the Statue of Liberty as the symbol of New York. During your visit, you’ll zoom from the chic lobby in lightning-fast lifts to the 86th or 102nd floor, where you can marvel at the skyline. From the observation deck, you can see Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Center and many more attractions. On a clear day, you can see no fewer than six states.
It was the tallest building in the world for 40 years until 1971, when it was beaten by the World Trade Center. Today it has even more competition and is New York’s fourth tallest building and is ranked 43rd worldwide.
Things to know before you go
The Empire State Building is completely wheelchair accessible
Guide dogs are allowed
Upon entry, all visitors must go through a security check
Strollers can be taken in the elevator without any problems, but they must be folded on the observation deck
The consumption of food and drinks is not allowed, nor are you allowed to take bottles, cans, flasks, etc. with you
Taking pictures is allowed, but you cannot bring professional camera equipment and tripods
There are no lockers available
Opening hours of the Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is open 365 days a year. Specific opening hours vary by season so check for the date of your visit. The last lift goes up 45 minutes before closing time.
How to get there
The Empire State Building is located in the middle of Midtown Manhattan, at the intersection of 34th Street and 5th Avenue. The tourist entrance is located at 20 W 34th St.
If you’re in Midtown, all you have to do is look up to find your way to the building.
If you come from further afield, there are several metro options:
34nd Street Station – Penn Station (lines 1, 2, 3, A, C, E): five minutes walk
34th Street Station – Herald Square Station (Lines N, Q, R, W, B, D, F, M): 5 minute walk
Grand Central Terminal (lines 4, 5, 6, 7): a ten minute walk
While we don’t recommend driving, there is a parking lot nearby, AZ Parking, on 33rd St. between 5th Ave and Broadway.
