Best Time to Visit the Empire State: Night or Day

The Empire State Building is an icon of New York City and the views of its skyline from its observation deck are breathtaking. Before getting your tickets to the Empire State, I advise you to take a look at this post to find out what is the best time to go up to the observation deck of the skyscraper and enjoy the views of the Big Apple.

The experience can change depending on the time of day, date or seasonal weather, among other things. So consider the following!

The best time to climb the Empire Statue is first thing in the morning, because you can start your day by taking the pulse of the city when you wake up and see its liveliest side. Also, considering the large influx of visitors at the Empire State Observation Deck, the early morning will allow you to enjoy the views without crowds.

Contemplate New York in all its immensity while watching the first rays of morning sunlight illuminate the facades of the skyscrapers and the bustle of the crowd gradually spreads through the streets is a unique and unforgettable experience.

Once you see the city from a bird's eye view you will surely want to repeat. The views from the Empire State Building are fabulous but if you have more free time I suggest you go up to the observation decks of other skyscrapers in New York for a more complete experience. For example, from the Top of the Rock in Rockefeller Center you will see the silhouette of the Empire State in all its splendor.

At nightfall the cityscape from the Empire State Building observation deck is fascinating and a very romantic occasion to visit the skyscraper as a couple. When you buy your ticket to the Empire State you will have to choose a day, when you will be able to enter the Empire State at the time you choose.

It opens its doors until 2 AM, so you have plenty of time to do other activities during the day and leave this cherry on top for the end. You won't be able to take your eyes off the small lights that adorn every corner of the city and seem to emulate the stars in the sky. It is a truly magical moment and the finishing touch to a perfect day.

If you want to know more about how to visit this iconic monument at night, I recommend you read the post The Empire State Building at night.

If you don't like crowds while sightseeing, to avoid the crowds and queues during your visit to the Empire State the best time to go is early in the morning around 8 AM, when there are hardly any people and you will enjoy an almost private experience.

However, another good option to visit the Empire State without crowds is in the early morning, after midnight, after attending an NBA game or aBroadway musical.

The Empire State remains open until 2 AM. After 1 AM on weekdays there are hardly any visitors, so if you are a night owl you will enjoy the experience virtually alone and can recreate taking pictures. On the other hand, on weekends there are likely to be more tourists.

The best time to visit the Empire State Building's outdoor observation deck on the 86th floor is when the weather is nice in New York, i.e. summer and autumn as there is less risk of rain compared to the other seasons of the year. In addition, the days usually dawn sunny and there are more hours of light to make a sensational photo reportage.

However, if you travel to New York in winter when temperatures are low and the wind can blow, don't worry, because you can also enjoy the beautiful views of New York from its glass observation deck on the 102nd floor. At this height, on clear days, the views can reach up to 128 kilometers. Mind-blowing, isn't it?

Anyway, to go up to the Empire State Observation Deck I give you a trick and that is not to get your tickets too far in advance and wait to do it in the 7 or 15 days before your trip to New York. This way, it will be easier for you to check the weather in the city and choose a sunny day to do this activity.

In case you are going to visit the Empire State with your family, the best time of day to go with the kids is early in the morning because they wake up with their batteries charged and are more active to make plans compared to the afternoon, when they may feel more tired after a day out doing activities.

Another advantage of getting up early to climb this skyscraper with your family is that you can avoid the crowds and queues that form in the afternoon, which could make children lose their patience. Also, with fewer people around, it is easier to keep an eye on them so they don't get lost.

Another tip I can give you is to consider the best restaurants to eat near the Empire State, especially if you go up at noon with the kids and want to plan the rest of the day.

The Empire State Building is one of the most famous landmarks of the New York skyline. Enjoying the fabulous panoramic views of the Big Apple from its observation decks is a feeling from another planet that you will want to capture with your camera at all costs.

If photography is not your forte, the morning light will be your greatest ally to take beautiful pictures of your visit and of the sites that have made the city famous because it will help you not to have problems with out-of-focus images. In addition, if you use an APP on your phone to optimize the result, you will surely get great pictures.

The best panoramic views from the Empire State Building

Sunset can also be a fantastic time to immortalize the New York skyline as you will be able to capture the beautiful play of pinkish and orange lights that tint the blue sky as the sun goes down.

In case you choose to visit the Empire State Building at night, to get a good result taking pictures at night, my advice is to increase the ISO to 400, activate the HDR mode on your camera and use the shutter release to avoid blurred images.

The Empire State Building is open every day of the year, even on vacations. However, there are certain days when a visit to the observation deck can be even more special. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, a guitarist entertains with his tunes on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights between 7 PM and 10 PM.

Independence Day (July 4th) is another great time to climb the Empire State Building and watch the fireworks over the 86th floor observatory. It's an amazing experience!

Another unique time to climb the Empire State Building is during Valentine's Day. The spectacular views of New York can only get better if you see them in the best company, don't you think?