Empire State Building Tickets - Observatory and Optional Skip the Line Tickets
New York City, United States of America
The must see for any visitor to New York City, the World’s Most Famous Building is on every list for its Observatory’s spectacular indoor and outdoor 360-degree views from the heart of Manhattan. Along the way, become a part of history as you journey through this Art Deco masterpiece including the restored lobby and murals. Download our free multi-media app and experience the exhibits tracing the building’s construction, learn how the Empire State Building became one of the most energy efficient buildings in the world. Open from 8am to 2 am, along with a gift shop filled with exclusive items, there are several dining options including the fine cuisine of State Grill and Bar. Located in the heart of New York City it’s an easy walk from Times and Madison Squares and just up the street from Macy’s.
The Empire State Building is waiting for you day or night. Come watch the sunset as New York is bathed in warm orange, red and yellow tones, then stick around as the lights come on all over town. Or come later and listen to the live music (weekends only) as the stars and lights twinkle romantically. Whenever you come, enjoy the magic without the wait.
There are 3 lines at the Empire State Building Observatory: the security line (required for all visitors), the ticket line and the elevator line. You may proceed directly to the turnstile with your voucher.
VIP Express Experience Upgrade Speed past the lines on your way to the tallest point in Manhattan! Your VIP Express Experience voucher will enable you to proceed directly to the front of every line, saving valuable time to do all the other things New York is famous for. Don't spend your valuable holiday time waiting in line -- there's no faster way to the top of the Empire State Building!
You'll be greeted on the second floor to redeem your pass pre-security, eliminating the need to redeem vouchers at the ticket office. You'll also receive a special wristband to identify you as a VIP Express Experience pass holder.
VIP Express Experience passes are especially valuable from Memorial Day through Labor Day, from Thanksgiving until New Year's any time of day and all holiday weekends. Other times of year the pass is recommended for planned visits between 11am and 2pm, and one hour before and after sunset. Limited numbers of passes are sold, so typical wait time is under 5-minutes. Specific wait times cannot be guaranteed, only front of line privileges.
Voucher can be redeemed within a year of date originally selected - plan your visit around the weather!
great place to see at night and overlook the beauty of the city
Review by: Alison Y, June 2018
Skip the line well worth it..was busy from early morning . Outstanding views and the guy at the top new so much and was happy to chat.
Review by: Petersen K, June 2018
What an amazing view of the city! The VIP pass came in handy with express trip to the top. All employees were courteous and helpful.
Review by: krish, June 2018
It's actually not a very long tour, but when you look at the line even late in the night you will that yourselves for having got the beat the queue tickets, amazing trip to then top and enough time to capture the environment, the world below and selfies and family photos galore. Make sure you have good night time photographic camera which can work on low light rather than zapping its harsh flash, if visiting at night time.
Review by: Tasha74, May 2018
We visited the Empire State building during the evening to see the night lights of New York and what amazing views we had. By having the skip the line tickets we were able to get up and down without waiting for ages which is the best tickets to book. The staff are great too and make sure you get through as quickly as possible. Definitely a must see :-
Review by: Sunil D, May 2018
Just great, been up a few times already!
Review by: pamelasynnott, May 2018
Great tour. When at night time which was beautiful.
Review by: Lisa H, April 2018
Amazing Views and you don't have to wait in long lines.
Review by: Mark G, April 2018
Purchased the Skip the Line tickets. Worth the extra for the skip the line tickets as no waiting in long lines. Great view at the top from level 86.
Review by: alice s, April 2018
It is worth every penny for skip the line tickets!
Review by: mmart13, April 2018
Breezed right past a very long line with the skip-the-line tickets. Made the visit very quick and more time to see more sights! Worth the extra money for sure.
Review by: coralie r, April 2018
Julian from security was a star at the top taking photos for people, really nice bloke!_br/_ We where there at 8am and beat the que
Review by: Luke M, April 2018
This was awesome! We went at night. Unbelievable view! I highly recommend paying the extra for the VIP experience. The lines were crazy long! It took about 15 minutes for us to get to the top from the time we got out of the taxi to the time we were at the top looking at the view. If we had to wait in line it would have taken easily 2 hours or more. Longest part was going thru security! We got some dirty looks and shocked faces from people that didn't get the VIP experience when we were ushered to the front of all the lines and it was pretty funny! _br/_ We felt like real VIP's! Pay the extra !
Review by: puplisen, April 2018
Best view as always
Review by: Connie C, April 2018
If you want to see the Empire State Building without waiting in line for hours and hours then this is the best option. We walked past an extremely long double line outside and we couldn't guess how long the line was inside because it looped around the 1st floor and continued to the 2nd floor. We didn't stand in line at all! We went in the door to the escalator, received wrist bands, had to go through security and right on to the elevator to the observation deck! It was fabulous!
Review by: Maite N, April 2018
Brilliant! allways show the bracelet you get at the entrance to pass through without waiting. Amazing views!
Review by: Caz, April 2018
I paid for Skip the line_br/_ Dont waste your money on skip the line._br/_ Unempressed..._br/_ 1st told not skip the lin...._br/_ 2nd given band and reciept taken_br/_ 3rd wanted receipt...had to hunt down email...more waiting.._br/_ 4 when leaving you queue like everyone..._br/_ It took 25mins to get out...._br/_ And no one cares.
Review by: Loretta M, April 2018
great trip highly recommended
Review by: ntldulce, March 2018
Viator NEVER fails us! Great experience and skipping the lines was an added bonus :-
Review by: Robert J, March 2018
Well worth the cost of getting jump the cue tickets, a must for anyone coming to N.Y..
Review by: Gaye M, March 2018
Worth while getting the vip experience to skip the queue
Review by: misstcat, March 2018
March was a good time to visit and I recommend seeing the ESB at night..it was so beautiful!! The staff there was really amazing..so proud to work there and you could tell they enjoyed what they did. Visited at 10:00 pm so there was no line.
Review by: Paul B, March 2018
It was nice to skip the lines and not wait out in the cold.
Review by: ebbs97, March 2018
One of the great landmarks to dominate the New York skyline. Worth every penny, great history and spectacle, alongside fantastic views. Even the elevator ride was something out of this world !!!
Review by: Tracey H, March 2018
Brilliant ! Great way to skip the queues !
Review by: Mrs S M Blood B, December 2017
Another must see and paying a little extra for the express tickets so avoiding the queues is highly reccomended
Review by: Diane B, December 2017
Bus was cold no heat on trip up and back to NY, once in NY took a taxi ride to get to the Empire State Building. Once in the building it went pretty quick since I had pre purchased tickets online. Once at the top we had limited view because we actually had snow on December 9th. Need better access for seniors. My MIL has arthritic knees and it was hard on her
Review by: gail y, December 2017
EXCELLENT !!
Review by: James G, December 2017
Skip the line the line tickets are always a great value at Viator, we have used them from Rome to NYC! The Empire State Bldg is always a classic and fantastic stop in NYC. Great Art Deco Building, great views and awesome downtown location to explore more of the city. Great tour !
Review by: Tessa J, December 2017
Absolutely fantastic .What an experience.Very well organized.
Review by: nhalper, December 2017
It could not have been easier as there were so many Viator employees to guide us quickly through the express lines. Definitely worth the extra money,
Review by: Delia P, December 2017
The second bus we had had no heater.
Review by: Jennifer F, December 2017
We did the skip the line yet there was no line at the time we went. Expected long lines for the time of year. We arrived at 9:00pm on a Thursday evening. Beautiful views! Something everyone should do at least once.
Review by: Heather C, December 2017
Enjoyed very much
Review by: Marion P, December 2017
Well worth the skip the line tickets. Views are fantastic
Review by: Megan S, December 2017
This was an amazing view of the city. We went at night and I would highly recommend. Also the skip the line tickets were worth every penny since we were traveling with 4 kids! it made is so easy.
Review by: Brooke H, November 2017
We booked this tour in line as we were waiting to go through security! The entry fee without a ticket was going to be 65USD each and we thought 48AUD was excellent. The views from the top are excellent as everyone will tell you and definitely try and make sunset. Definitely recommend and save yourself some and book here!
Review by: Jeff S, November 2017
Skip the line worked well.
Review by: Dan W, November 2017
Loved this.
Review by: Steve, November 2017
Well organised, lift attendents and staff were fun. Went up at night, great views and worth an hour of your time.
Review by: Andrea G, November 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Alina B, November 2017
We are so glad we took the skip the line option. It was worth every penny! The minute you arrive they give you a bracelet and tell you to NEVER stand in any lines. They mean it. Several lines are skipped. The second the staff see the bracelet, or you go to the front and show them, they immediately put you on the next elevator or send you down a hallway that is otherwise cordoned off bypassing seemingly endless lines. We were up in just a few minutes instead of 2 hours. Since we were in NY for a short trip, this was a great time saver and made the experience so much more pleasurable.
Review by: Leonard L, November 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: kcfeline, November 2017
Fantastic visit and super convenient booking thanks to Viator. We traveled from San Diego, CA to NYC for a quick two night trip to NYC and wanted to make the most of our short amount of time. We were visited the Empire State Building the day after Thanksgiving, so I paid for the skip the line tickets - we highly recommend the skip the line tickets. Right away at the street entrance, a maroon coated Empire State Building employee directed us to enter separately from the huge zig-zag line on the street. We were ushered through the interior section to a no wait security checkpoint, then right to the elevator. The views from the 86th floor were amazing, and since we had gone to some sights the day before were able to locate them from the top and check them out from the multiple free viewfinders. Thanks again to our skip the line tickets we had no wait for an elevator down. Take lots of photos, and as you enter the building take a few minutes to really appreciate the beautiful Art Deco interior. A great time was had by our group!
Review by: JANET B, November 2017
Great experience but staff were not as organised as some of our other trips round New York. When purchasing a bauble in the gift shop as a keepsake for our Xmas tree I asked the assistant to wrap as I did not want it to get damaged when carrying it around, she then proceeded to bounce it up and down and say, 'why it wont break, see' with rather a lot of attitude, not good
Review by: suzytrucker, November 2017
We worth skipping the line . Up to the top and photographing in 8 mins I would recomend it
Review by: lyndasmith2310, November 2017
Your staff need to cheer up _br/_ They was so miserable
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