Empire State Building Facts:
- The Empire State Building is 1,453 feet, 8 9/16 inches from the base to the top of the lightning rod.
- There are 1,860 steps from street level to the 102nd floor.
- 10-20 thousand people visit the Empire State Building daily.
- On a clear day, you can see for almost 80 miles from the top of the Empire State Building.
- Lightening strikes the Empire State Building about 100 times a year.
- The lights on the Empire State Building change colors for holidays and special observances.
Tips for Visiting The Empire State Building:
Empire State Building Basics:
- Empire State Building Address: 350 5th Ave, New York, NY 10118
- Empire State Building Phone: 212-736-3100
- Nearest Subways to Empire State Building: 6 to 33rd Street; A, C, E, B, D, F, Q, 1, 2, 3 to 34th Street
Empire State Building With Kids:
- Strollers are permitted in the elevators.
- You can win free admission to the Observatory with ESBNYC Trivia Contest
- Keep kids entertained with these Empire State Building Coloring Pages
Empire State Building Admission:
- Adult (18-61) $19
- Youth (12-17) $17
- Senior (62+) $17
- Child (6-11) $13
- Toddler (5 or younger) free w/adult
- Military W/ ID $16
- Military in Uniform free
- Admission included with the New York Pass
- Audio Tour is $7 additional. Entertainment Book contains a buy one, get one free coupon for the tour
Empire State Building Hours:
- 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily
- Last elevators go up at 1:15 a.m.
102nd Floor Observatory:
The 102nd Floor Observatory has been reopened to the public since November 2005. For an additional $15 (tickets must be purchased at the Observatory box office on the 2nd floor), you can go 16 floors higher than most visitors to the Empire State Building
Express Ticket:
The Express Ticket costs an additional $26 (+$3 convenience fee), and guarantees you get to the 86th Floor Observatory within 20 minutes. You can purchase Express Tickets online making this a great option if you don't want to wait in lines. You'll be able to skip to the front of the three lines required for admission: the security line, the ticket line and the elevator line.
More About the Empire State Building:
Although it is easy to spend a good time of your visit to New York City staring up in the sky at the tall buildings, a trip to the top of the Empire State Building gives you a chance to gaze down upon New York City. The views of the city from the Empire State Building are amazing, particularly at night.
There is often a long wait to buy tickets at the Empire State Building -- on a Sunday night around 9 p.m. we waited for approximately an hour. I later learned you can buy Empire State Building tickets online, and if you print them on your printer, there is no additional charge. (Delivery by mail starts at $5.95.) You'll still have to wait on the lines for the Empire State Building elevator, but you'll save yourself quite a bit of time (which means more time for checking out the view from the 86th floor Empire State Building observatory).
