Why a visit to the Empire State Building still belongs on every New York City itinerary

The Empire State Building is definitely New York City’s most iconic attraction. Millions of visitors flock to the area to catch a glimpse of this towering building in the heart of NYC. No trip to NYC is complete without a peek at this gigantic building towering over the city. It draws over 2.5 million visitors annually, which is mainly due to its popularity as an iconic building in NYC. Read on to learn why a visit to the Empire State Building belongs on every NYC itinerary.

Why a visit to the Empire State Building still belongs on every New York City itinerary

A visit to the Empire State Building: Is it worth it?

Yes, a visit to the Empire State Building is definitely worth it, as it is one of NYC’s most recognizable landmarks. When it comes to New York City’s list of observation decks, this towering building is definitely going to top the list. It has the two highest viewing decks in Manhattan. On a clear day, views from these observation decks span six states. These states are New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Delaware. Moreover, a visit to the building will let you experience a piece of NYC history and Art Deco architecture. A visit to this iconic building will leave you with an experience that you cannot get from anywhere else.

What are the opening hours of the Empire State Building?

The opening hours of the building may vary, but it is open all year round. A trip to the Empire State Building could be well arranged at any time of the year you are planning to have a holiday in NYC. You may want to watch the sun set over the NYC skyline or the city illuminated by lights, which is all possible from the top of the highest observation decks in the city. Open all year round, the Empire State Building is accessible between 9 am and 10 am to 9 pm and 11 pm. This time varies based on the time of the year. However, you must have a pre-booked ticket to access the building.

What are the best times for a visit to the Empire State Building?

Avoid visiting the building in the morning and evening hours. This time seems to be the busiest in the tower. Visit out of these hours and go on a clear day to get the best photographs. Avoid visiting during the early morning hours and the time post sunset. The first two hours after opening and the hour post sunset are the busiest at the viewing decks. A midday time between 12 pm and 2 pm is ideal for excellent viewing with fewer crowds.

How long do you need for a visit to the Empire State Building?

A couple of hours is recommended to get the best out of visiting the Empire State Building. However, if you’re on a tight schedule, plan to spend at least an hour here. This applied to the standard ticket and not the fast-track ticket. You need time to explore the lobby and the 2^nd floor of the building. These floors will give information about the construction, history, and architecture of the building. Moreover, you must visit the observatories on the 86^th and 102^nd floors. From here, you can spot the One World Trade Center, the Statue of Liberty, and more.

Empire State Building: Ticket & Tour Options

You can visit and experience the Empire State Building in several different ways. Pre-book your tickets, where the entries are timed every 15 minutes. The two standard options for visiting the observation decks are as follows.

• Obtain a ticket to the 86^th floor located at 320 m
• Obtain a ticket to the 86^th floor and 102^nd floor located at 381 m

Other options include the following:

• VIP ticket that lets you skip the lines and go straight to the view
• Guided tours that take you to otherwise out-of-bounds areas

How do you get to the Empire State Building?

The Empire State Building is situated at the corner of W 34^th Street and Fifth Avenue, at the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The tower is just a 10-minute walk from Grand Centre Station, NYC. If you don’t want to walk that distance, you can get on the subway to reach the building. The closest stations to the building are 34^th Street/ Penn and 34^th Street/ Herald Square. Both of these stations are just about a 5-minute walk away. Furthermore, you can go on the NYC hop-on hop-off bus that will drop you right outside the Empire State Building.

What are the other attractions near the Empire State Building?

There are so many attractions to visit near the Empire State Building, either a short walk or subway ride away. The building is centrally located so that you can go to see many popular places in Manhattan. These include Madison Square Garden, Macy’s Herald Square, Broadway, Times Square, and Rockefeller Center. There’s also Central Park and Madame Tussauds New York, just a short distance away.

What should you wear on your visit to the Empire State Building?

You must consider the weather when choosing clothing to wear on your visit to the Empire State Building. Ground-level conditions are different and are often heightened as you go up. Wear clothes that make you feel warm in the winter. Don’t forget to bring a broad-rimmed hat on a summer day. Moreover, pack something warm on a breezy day.

Facts about the Empire State Building

Here are some interesting facts about the Empire State Building.

• It attracts over 2.5 million visitors annually.
• When it opened in 1931, it was the world’s tallest building at the time.
• The tower has been featured in several films like King Kong, Independence Day, and Sleepless in Seattle.
• It only took 20 months to build.
• The building is so big that it has its own ZIP code: 10118.
• At its top floor, the building stands 380 m tall.
• The building is 443 m tall if you count the antenna and spire.
• It is the 4th-tallest building in New York City and the 6th-tallest in the United States.
• It is the 43rd-tallest tower in the world.
• The building has 103 floors, with 1860 steps from ground level to the observation deck on the 102^nd

A visit to the Empire State Building: Special Experiences

On some days, the building has a special celebrity lighting ceremony. It begins in the lobby and goes up to the observation deck. You might be lucky enough to click a picture in the same area where the celebrity is doing the ceremonial lighting. A special sunrise tour is also something you can try to make your visit to the building a memorable one. These special moments collectively give you an amazing experience while visiting the Empire State Building in NYC.

Wrap-Up

A visit to the Empire State Building must be on every New York City itinerary. It is an experience that you must not miss when you are in NYC. The sheer size and beauty of this special building will fill your vacation with unforgettable memories. So, why should you miss such an amazing opportunity the next time you visit NYC?