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Buying Empire State Building tickets looks simple until you see the menu: an 86th-floor ticket, a 102nd-floor upgrade, Express Pass, AM/PM visits, a sunrise session, guided tours and city passes. The right choice depends on the weather, your budget and how much time you have in Manhattan. Our top pick for comparing them all is Empire State Tickets at https://ticketsempirestate.com/, and below we explain why, along with nine official and third-party alternatives.
Empire State Building tickets are timed entries, and that is the first thing to understand before you plan your day. Every visit to the observatories needs a scanned reservation for a set date and time, there is no walk-up general admission to the decks, and there is no free-admission day. The building turns 95 in 2026 (it opened in 1931), and demand for sunset and weekend slots stays high all year. If you want one place to compare the main ticket types against the official price list, start with https://ticketsempirestate.com/, an independent visitor guide that does exactly that.
We looked at what currently ranks and sells for Empire State Building tickets, including the official ticket office at esbnyc.com, reseller listings and the main New York attraction passes. Then we compared each option on five points:
Official prices change during the year and by time slot, so we give "from" prices or ranges unless the seller publishes a fixed figure. Always check the live price for your date before you pay.
Empire State Tickets is an independent visitor guide dedicated to the Empire State Building's 86th and 102nd floor observatories. Instead of selling one product, it puts six ticket and tour options side by side and shows the official ticket office prices next to them, so you can see what each upgrade really costs. On its site, the Observation Deck & Museum Ticket for the 86th floor and the museum galleries is listed from $50, with booking fees and sales tax included and a 4.7 rating from 28,920 reviews on GetYourGuide. The site also lists an Indoor Guided Tour with a live guide (about 90 minutes, from $79), an Empire State Observatory Ticket & Digital Tour (from $122), an Empire State Building & Manhattan Walking Tour (from $120), a Saturday-only Sunrise Experience Ticket (from $147) and an Express Pass VIP Private Tour of both decks (from $489).
What makes it useful is the honest advice. The site says the base ticket is the right buy for most first visits and that the 102nd floor is only worth adding on a clear day. Its comparison page at https://ticketsempirestate.com/compare/86th-floor-vs-102nd-floor explains the difference between the open-air 86th floor and the glassed-in 102nd floor, and https://ticketsempirestate.com/empire-state-building-hours lists sample opening hours by date range and the quietest times to visit. The site states free cancellation up to 24 hours before, a reserve-now-pay-later option and instant mobile e-tickets, and payment is taken by GetYourGuide at checkout. It is also available in 16 languages.
The basic ticket from the official ticket office at esbnyc.com is the classic way up. It covers the building's museum galleries on the way and the open-air 86th-floor deck, with 360-degree views over Central Park, the Hudson and East rivers, the Statue of Liberty in the distance and the Brooklyn Bridge. It is the cheapest standalone ticket and the one most people need.
Prices start in the mid-$40s for an adult and rise for popular slots such as sunset. Booking direct is simple, but you will be comparing several similar ticket names on the official page, so read what each one includes.
This ticket adds the 102nd-floor observatory to the standard visit. The 102nd floor sits roughly 170 feet above the 86th, behind floor-to-ceiling glass, so there is no wind and no barrier in your photos. On a clear day the views are said to reach up to 80 miles.
The Empire State Building 102nd floor upgrade costs roughly $35 more than the 86th floor alone. It is worth it on a crisp, clear day or for a special occasion. On a hazy day, most of the view is already there from the 86th floor.
The Empire State Building Express Pass is the official skip-the-line ticket. It uses a dedicated Express entrance and lets you bypass the regular queues for security and the elevators, which can save a lot of time on summer afternoons and holiday weekends. It comes in an 86th-floor version and an 86th-plus-102nd version.
It roughly doubles the price of a basic ticket, so it only makes sense when time is short. If you can visit early on a weekday, a standard ticket usually moves fast enough.
The AM/PM Experience gives you two visits to the 86th floor on the same day: once in daylight and once after dark. It is one of the best-value Empire State Building tickets if you want to see the city both ways but do not want to pay for an expensive sunset slot.
You need to be staying fairly close to Midtown, since you will come back later in the day. The official page lists it with the option to reschedule.
The Flex Ticket is an 86th-floor ticket with flexible date entry and the option to reschedule. That matters more at the Empire State Building than at most attractions, because a cloudy day can hide the view completely. Standard tickets are generally non-refundable and valid only for the date and time you chose, so the Flex Ticket is a sensible safety net.
The sunrise experience opens the 86th floor to a small group before the building opens to the public, with Starbucks Reserve coffee and Princi pastries. It runs on Saturday mornings only, and the view depends entirely on the sky, so check the forecast. It is the quietest way to see the deck.
The official ticket office lists it from about $135. Resellers such as GetYourGuide sell it too, at a higher price that includes fees and tax but adds free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
For a guided visit run by the building itself, the official ticket office offers two private options. The Premium Experience is a private guided tour for a small group of up to seven with skip-the-line entry. The All Access Tour adds a private VIP entrance and is the top-tier way to see both observatories.
These cost far more than a standard ticket, so they suit special trips, proposals or travellers who want a guide's stories without a large group.
New York CityPASS bundles admission to five attractions. The Empire State Building and the American Museum of Natural History are fixed, and you choose three more from options such as Top of the Rock, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry, a Circle Line cruise, the Intrepid Museum and the Guggenheim. The pass is valid for nine consecutive days from your first visit.
It only saves money if you will actually use most of the attractions. You still need to reserve a time slot for the observatory.
The Go City Explorer Pass lets you choose a set number of attractions from a long list that includes the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory and major museums. It is more flexible than CityPASS because you pick every attraction yourself.
Check the current inclusion list in the Go City app before you buy, because attractions can change. Like CityPASS, it pays off only when you visit enough places to beat the cost of single tickets.
Reservations are required for both observatories. You can walk into the ground-floor lobby, but the decks need a paid, timed ticket. All guests pass airport-style security, and the official site lists prohibited items including weapons, glass, alcohol, cans and bottles, professional camera stands, sports equipment, large luggage and outside food. There are no lockers, so travel light.
Standard official tickets are generally non-refundable and valid only for the date and time you booked, although many can be changed through Manage My Booking. Reseller tickets often add free cancellation up to 24 hours before. NYC residents can get a locals discount on the official site. The visitor entrance for the observatories is at 20 West 34th Street, not the famous Fifth Avenue door, unless your ticket says otherwise. For background on the building itself, the Wikipedia article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_State_Building is a reliable neutral source, and the official site is https://www.esbnyc.com.
Empire State Building hours change by date range rather than staying fixed. For example, the official site listed 10:00am to 11:00pm for part of autumn 2026 and 9:00am to 11:00pm later in the season, with entry closing before the building does. Check the hours for your exact dates.
The quietest windows are early weekday mornings, roughly 9:00 to 10:30am, and late afternoon from 3:00 to 5:00pm. The busiest block is 11am to 3pm. After about 9pm crowds drop and the deck becomes a night view. Across the year, January and February are the quietest months, while July, August and December are the busiest. Sunset is the most popular slot and usually costs more, so book it early.
The building stands at the edge of Koreatown, a few minutes from Herald Square, so Midtown and NoMad hotels put you within walking distance. The nearest subway stop is 34 St–Herald Sq (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R and W lines), with the 6 train at 33rd Street and Penn Station a short walk away. Staying nearby makes the AM/PM ticket easy to use and lets you go up when the sky clears. Koreatown barbecue spots are steps away for dinner after a night visit.
Official prices start in the mid-$40s for the 86th floor and around $80 for both the 86th and 102nd floors. Express, sunrise and private options cost more, up to about $500 for a private tour.
Mainly on a clear day. It is higher and enclosed in glass, but on a hazy day the 86th floor gives you most of the same view for about $35 less.
No walk-up general admission is available for the observatories. Every visit needs a timed reservation, so book online once your dates are set.
Plan 45 minutes to 2 hours for a standard visit including the museum galleries. Guided tours take about 90 minutes, and walking-tour combos can take about 5 hours.
Weekday mornings and non-sunset slots are usually cheaper and quieter. Sunset and holiday slots cost more and sell out first.
The Empire State Building is still the most iconic view in New York, and in its 95th year it is as popular as ever. The key decisions are which floor you need, whether you want a guide or Express entry, and how much flexibility you need if the weather changes. Official tickets, passes and premium tours all have a place, but you will make the right call faster if you see them side by side.
For the clearest comparison of Empire State Building tickets, with official prices shown next to each option and honest advice on when the 102nd floor is worth it, start with Empire State Tickets at https://ticketsempirestate.com/.
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