Tips for going up the Empire State Building

Statue of Liberty

Times Square

Central Park

Brooklyn Bridge

Hudson River

These are a must-see once in a lifetime and if you are in New York you have to get some eye-catching view of these from the empire state building. Of course, you can see these from the streets of New York City as well but for a great view you must visit the iconic building which stands tall with 102 floors and has a great design and decor from the insides of it. You will cherish the visit. It has many businesses running inside this building and has its own zip code - 10118. The website of this iconic structure gives you complete information about what is inside along with other details. Getting here is easy as there are trains servicing this tourist attraction. Check out more details on the website. Trains 1, 2 or 3 to the Penn station and walking two blocks straight from there if you walk east, you will see the iconic beauty standing tall right in front of you. The empire state building is in 338^th avenue between the 33^rd and 34^th street and it is open 365 days irrespective of the weather conditions. The timings are from 8 am to 2 am and the last elevator is at 1.15 am after which it will be shut down. There is a change in timings on 24^th December, 26^th December and on New Year. If you are planning to visit Empire State Building as a family, then it would be interesting for the kids to walk around seeing the exhibits about the history of the building, and dining in from the restaurants in the building itself. If you plan as a couple, then you can get private moments if you visit between midnight and 1 am or just after 8 am. There is a special saxophonist who plays from Labor Day to Memorial Day. If you have any doubts you can always ask the uniformed personnel inside the empire state building. There are offers if you plan to visit as a group of 20 or more people. Plan your visiting hours as the place will be crowded during weekends and holidays. Though the visiting hours are from 8 am to 2 am, it is better to visit from 8 am to 11 am and night after 10.45 pm, as during the rest of the time it will be crowded. If you are visiting during winter, make sure you bring your coats as it will be cold up there but the view will be clear even in the cold air.

So when you are in New York and have decided to visit this tall structure, here are a few things you should know before you plan the visit: that could be of help.

Empire State Building is open to the public from 8 am to 2 am daily. The tickets for can be purchased online or through the main ticket counter. Buying tickets online will save your time of waiting in the long ticket queues at the empire state building. The standard pass for the main deck on the 86^th floor starts at $38 for adults, $36 for senior citizen and $32 for children. The entry is free for kids below 6 years of age. The express ticket is priced at $67 for adults which lets you skip past the security queue. If you are bringing a stroller, you must fold them before taking them inside the elevator. There is a premium pass for the 86^th floor that includes a 90-minute guided tour with VIP priority access and a souvenir photograph. The cost for this is $161.55 which is an all visitors pass. There is also a special pass to watch the sunrise from the 86^th floor that will cost about $100 per person, this is a limited ticket as they allow only 100 people per day. The combo offer of AM/PM pass lets you visit the Empire State Building during both morning and evening to enjoy the spectacular views of both times and the cost of a ticket will be $53 for adults. When you are visiting the Empire State Building then you have to pass through three queues, first the direct ticket queue, the security queue, and the elevator queue.

The empire state buildingis the world’s largest skyscraper soaring at a height of 1,455 feet and it is one of the most famous attractions in Manhattan. A visit to New York is incomplete without the visit to the empire state building. This iconic landmark gives a panoramic view of the city featuring the Hudson River, Times Square, Statue of Liberty and much more. The best time to visit the Empire State Building is in the mornings from 8 to 11 am and nights after 10.45 pm. The most crowded times are during weekends and the evening times after office hours. Try to avoid the afternoon hours from 11 am to 3 pm as this is the time you can expect the tourist crowd. The evening hours are magical at the empire state buildingas the whole building is lit up with spectacular lights and watching the sunset over the city is awesome. The light changes according to the holidays and special events. There is no time limit once you reach the top of the building, you can stay for as long as you like. The best time to visit Empire State building is both mornings as well in the evening as both give a different experience because during the day time you can admire the building steely architecture and the lighting effect during the night. For the best photographic effects, the sunset would be the most desirable time as the amber hues setting behind the New York skylines will be mesmerizing. No matter at what time you visit, there is something spectacular you get to see at all times. Here are a few timing concerns:

If you are visiting with family, 8 AM to 11 AM is the most peaceful than any other time of the day.Especially if you have kids and elderly persons with you it gets hectic to stand in the long lines.

If you are traveling with your partner then chose to go there at 11 PM. This is when you get to see the city filled with lights of the night. The crowd is less and you can surely get into some romance. Romance and this place go hand in hand and you will witness it alive here.

If you are a photographic enthusiast and are here for the best clicks, then sunset is the best time as you can get a spectacular view of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Hudson River and even the Statue of Liberty. The sky is painted by Pink and Orange hues and your camera is going to love the view.

There are two observatory decks in the empire state building, the main deck on the 86^th floor and the other on the 102^nd floor. The 86^th floor is about 1050 feet and it can be reached by a lightning fast elevator which opens to a glass-enclosed area, but the main attraction lies outside. The 86^th floor is the main deck and the most crowded, you can get a 360-degree view with partial view of the Central Park and it has indoor and outdoor space. The 86th-floor in the empire state building is the highest open-air observatory in New York, and you can see that most of the famous scenes from movies have been shot here. If you are a photographer, you will enjoy the photographic scenery from the 86^th floor, especially during the sunsets when the amber hues set behind the New York skyline. Tripods are not allowed in the observatory deck so make sure you make necessary arrangements for photography. The 102^nd floor gives a full 360-degree view of the Central Park and on a clear day, you can even see the skyscrapers that are up to 80 miles away. This floor has a more dramatic view of the city of Manhattan and it is also less crowded so you get more space for photography. There is no time limit for staying up in the observatory deck, so you can be there for as long as you wish. Make sure you have high-powered binoculars to get the amazing view from the observatory deck.

It is a huge crowded place as many tourists visit the empire state building every day. Long ques are common here starting from the point of entry. There are 3 lines in total, namely ticket line, security line, and elevator line. The last two lines are mandatory while the first one i.e. the ticket line can be skipped to save time. The wait time to enter itself is usually 45 minutes to 1 hour and it can be more on the weekends as these are the busiest days. Weekends during summers are busier and waiting times may go up to more than an hour. The best way to get away from the long line is to get there early in the morning. Never plan a trip to the empire state building later during the day or do not club it with any other place visits. By doing so, you will waste both time and energy. If at all you want to be there at night to witness the spectacular lightings of the entire city, then 11 PM is the best time as the crowd is considerably less at this hour. There is also an option to purchase skip the line tickets at $38 which will have quick access into the building. However, keep 2 hours of your tour time dedicated to visiting the empire state building. Also if you buy the tickets online, you get a one-year validity and you can visit the place anytime based on your convenience.

Once you are at the topmost floor of the building, at the observatory on the 102^nd floor, you can witness the stuff that movies are made of, the city light sweeping and illuminating the whole sight of view. This floor is at a height of 1250 feet above the ground. Though the main deck is the 86^th floor of the empire state building, it is the 102^nd floor where you will find the most spectacular view of the city. Instead of a partial view of the Central Park from the 86th-floor observatory deck which is overcrowded most of the times, the 102^nd floor gives you the full view of the park and clearer views of the brilliant grids of the Manhattan streets. If you visit this floor on a clear day, you can see as far as 80 miles beyond the skyscrapers. Just to give you a bit of interesting history of the 102^nd floor, there are stairs from this floor which lead to the 103^rd floor. This floor was a mooring mast for airships where passengers disembarked and came down to the 102^nd floor, as the article served as customs and official port of entry to the United States. Definitely the 102^nd floor is worth the effort of paying that extra 20 USD from the 86^th floor, as this floor is less crowded and you can always have the pride of saying that you visited the top of the building. Never miss out this floor as many opine that this is a very small deck comparatively. It is worth the penny paid!

With a briefing of the place as read above it is now time to get some tips to visit this beautiful building and get a spectacular view of New York City without any hassles.

1. Buy the tickets online so that you get one-year validity and can access the place.

2. The online ticket, however, does not you give access to enter the 102nd-floor observatory deck. For this, you can get an up-gradation at the ticket kiosk on the 86th floor

3. Make sure you download the Empire State Building Experience App on your phone so that it helps you through a guided tour which is available in 8 different languages. This helps you understand the place better.

4. This iconic place is wheelchair accessible.

5. Children below the age of 6 get free entry.

6. Bottles and glasses are not allowed inside.

7. Cameras and camcorders are allowed.

8. You have to carry the entire luggage with you as there is no luggage cabin here. Avoid carrying heavy bags with you.

9. It is best to visit The Empire State Building on a weekday as the crowd is comparatively lesser.

10. Check the weather before you go and carry a coat or jacket as it gets colder as you go up on the floors.

11. Go through the website carefully before visiting and know what timings suit you as you will be watching the best it has to offer. For instance, if you want to watch the tower lights, then check out the best time to visit.

12. After the second floor, there are no restrooms so make sure you use them before entering the elevators.

13. The entrance for people with disabilities is open only from Monday to Friday till 6 PM from 34th street.

14. Make sure you keep the tickets handy for verification at all entry points.

15. The city which never sleeps can be viewed from THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING until 2 AM. The last elevator, however, goes up at 1.15 AM.

16. Ensure to browse the building exhibits on the floor available.

17. Take the assistance of the staff available.
18. Enjoy and experience the beauty and wonderful art before you capture it.

19. You will be able to experience the advanced technology at the venue - You can see Day turn night in few mins at the sunset floor... don't miss it!

20. Plan your budget - Each floor visit is S20 per person. Remember that visiting the 102nd floor will give you the best experience.

A well-planned trip to any place cannot always be hassle free but you can always make it less disappointing. If you don't have a proper plan, then you will miss out on the important aspects of the place. As The Empire State Building is a huge one, you will need a proper plan before visiting especially if you are taking kids with you. Make sure you plan the trip well within your budget; trip.com is here to help you out with. You can get many offers at great prices based on what you want to see here. Time matters a lot here as the whole visit to this building takes around 4 - 6 hours.