Observation deck

Empire State Building Observatory

New York's most famous skyscraper and its open-air 86th floor

Dllu / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

The Art Deco icon of Midtown Manhattan, opened in 1931, with an open-air observation deck on the 86th floor and an optional 102nd-floor observatory.

Admit America is an independent ticket seller. This is not the official website of Empire State Building Observatory. Official website

Tickets

Same as the official online price, checked Oct 26, 2026.

Ticket type

86th Floor Observation DeckLowest priceThe view the movies made famous. Walk the open-air 86th-floor deck all the way around — Central Park, the Hudson and downtown spread out at your feet. The complete Empire State visit, with the museum exhibits on the way up.from$46Flex TicketThe full 86th-floor experience on your own schedule: arrive whenever you like on your date. Perfect when your day in New York might change.from$66AM/PM ExperienceSee New York twice in one day — once in daylight, then again when the city lights up at night. Two completely different views from the same deck.from$6786th & 102nd Floor Observation DecksBoth levels: the open-air 86th floor, then up to the 102nd-floor observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows high above Manhattan.from$8186th Floor Express PassThe 86th-floor deck with express entry, so more of your time goes to the view and less to waiting.from$87Express Pass: 86th & 102nd FloorsExpress entry to both the 86th and the 102nd floors — the whole building, fast.from$122Starbucks Reserve SunriseBe up top as the sun rises over Manhattan, with early access before the day's crowds and Starbucks Reserve to warm your hands.from$135Premium Experience (private guided tour)A private guided tour of the building and its decks, with a guide telling the stories behind the icon.from$175All Access TourThe building's most exclusive tour, for a once-in-a-lifetime Empire State moment.from$500

Date

October 2026

Loading…

Time

Pick a date to see times.

General admission

from$46

0

Official starting price — the price for some dates and times is higher.

Total—

Why visit

The open-air 86th-floor deck
An Art Deco landmark from 1931
Exhibits on how it was built
Optional 102nd-floor observatory

Overview

What's included: Entry to the 86th-floor observation deck
Museum exhibits on the way up
Not included: 102nd floor (separate ticket)
Express entry
Opening hours: Daily 9 AM–11 PM
How to use your ticket: Your ticket arrives by email and in your account right after payment. Show it on your phone at the entrance, with a photo ID if asked.
Do I need to print it?: No printing needed — show the ticket on your phone.
Cancellation and changes: The building's policy: tickets are non-refundable, but you can change the date through its booking portal.

Location

Directions in Google Maps Directions in Apple Maps

The pin marks the visitor entrance when we know it.

About this place

Few views say New York like the one from the Empire State Building. The 86th-floor deck wraps around the building in the open air, with Central Park, the Hudson and downtown spread out below.

Before you go up, exhibits on the 2nd and 80th floors tell the story of how the building rose in just over a year. The 102nd-floor observatory adds floor-to-ceiling windows high above the city.

Questions about Empire State Building Observatory

Why does the price say "from"?

Prices vary by date and time. We show the official starting price; popular times such as sunset cost more.

Should I also go to the 102nd floor?

It's higher and enclosed in glass; the 86th floor is the open-air deck most people picture.

Sources and verification

Information status: Checked against the official source

Information checked on Oct 26, 2026

Operated by Empire State Realty Trust

www.esbnyc.com/buy-tickets

Tickets

Same as the official online price, checked Oct 26, 2026.

Ticket type

86th Floor Observation DeckLowest priceThe view the movies made famous. Walk the open-air 86th-floor deck all the way around — Central Park, the Hudson and downtown spread out at your feet. The complete Empire State visit, with the museum exhibits on the way up.from$46Flex TicketThe full 86th-floor experience on your own schedule: arrive whenever you like on your date. Perfect when your day in New York might change.from$66AM/PM ExperienceSee New York twice in one day — once in daylight, then again when the city lights up at night. Two completely different views from the same deck.from$6786th & 102nd Floor Observation DecksBoth levels: the open-air 86th floor, then up to the 102nd-floor observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows high above Manhattan.from$8186th Floor Express PassThe 86th-floor deck with express entry, so more of your time goes to the view and less to waiting.from$87Express Pass: 86th & 102nd FloorsExpress entry to both the 86th and the 102nd floors — the whole building, fast.from$122Starbucks Reserve SunriseBe up top as the sun rises over Manhattan, with early access before the day's crowds and Starbucks Reserve to warm your hands.from$135Premium Experience (private guided tour)A private guided tour of the building and its decks, with a guide telling the stories behind the icon.from$175All Access TourThe building's most exclusive tour, for a once-in-a-lifetime Empire State moment.from$500

Date

October 2026

Loading…

Time

Pick a date to see times.

General admission

from$46

0

Official starting price — the price for some dates and times is higher.

Total—

More in New York

Midtown Manhattan and the Empire State Building at sunset from Top of the Rock

Observation deck

New York, NY

Top of the Rock Observation Deck

Three observation levels atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza, with an unblocked view of Central Park to the north and the Empire State Building to the south.

from$40Adult (13+) · Price may vary by dateChoose date & time

The Edge sky deck jutting out from 30 Hudson Yards

Observation deck

New York, NY

Edge Observation Deck

An outdoor sky deck that extends from the side of 30 Hudson Yards, with angled glass walls and a glass floor panel high above Manhattan's West Side.

from$36General admission · Price may vary by dateChoose date & time

Visitors in SUMMIT's mirrored room with the Empire State Building beyond

Observation deck

New York, NY

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

An immersive observation experience atop One Vanderbilt, entered from Grand Central Terminal, with mirrored rooms, glass ledges and art installations above Midtown.

from$44General admission · Price may vary by dateChoose date & time