Empire State Building Ticket Prices

If you are planning a trip to New York you have surely thought about visiting the Empire State Building, one of the most famous tourist attractions in the city. But how much do tickets cost, is there any discount for visitors, do children pay admission?

In the following post we clarify all these questions and some more, so you can evaluate in more detail how much budget you need to see New York at your feet in all its splendor.

From 46 ¤ you can buy your tickets for the Empire State Building that give you the opportunity to choose the time you want to go, with access to the second floor where you can see the museum that houses to learn the history of the construction of the legendary Empire State and of course to enjoy the best 360º views.

Climbing to the viewpoint of the 86th floor of the Empire State Building is an indispensable plan that you must do on your trip. You may have seen it many times in movies and television, but seeing in person this jewel of the Art Deco movement is a different story.

From this open-air viewpoint you will have spectacular panoramic views of the New York skyline (Flatiron Building, Bryant Park, Chrysler Building, Times Square, the Statue of Liberty ...) and on clear days you can even see other states like Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut.

A supplement of more than 35 euros you will have to pay to go up to the glass observation deck (Top Deck) by booking your tickets for the Empire State Building with access to the 102nd floor. Up to 82 euros you will have to pay for access to the observation deck with large windows that extend from the floor to the ceiling at all points.

It also includes access to the 86th floor observation deck, which you'll reach in an impressive glass elevator and the immersive exhibits on the 2nd floor to discover some of the building's best kept secrets. In my view, it' s not too worth it having enjoyed the magnificent views already on the Main Deck which are pretty much the same.

What is the difference between the Main and Top Deck of the Empire State Building?

The main difference between the two is the height at which each observation deck is located inside the skyscraper (320m vs. 373m.) and that booking tickets for the Empire State Building with access to the 102nd floor is a more exclusive visit as it is done with a transparent glass elevator that offers unique views during the ascent.

If you like to contemplate the Big Apple from the heights, my advice is to invest that money in accessing another of the skyscrapers with viewpoint that are in the city for example:

• The Edge
• One World Observatory
• Top of the Rock

When buying tickets to the Empire State you should keep in mind that prices go up when it is high season in the city, that is, in summer and on special dates such as Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas. In addition, there will be a greater number of visitors who will share the visits with you.

So if you are not a friend of crowds when it comes to sightseeing and prefer not to alter your travel budget too much, a good time to go to New York and climb the Empire State is towards spring or autumn when you can find good prices and less crowds compared to the high season.

Children under 6 years old get free admission to the Empire State while older children need a ticket to enter, although there are reduced rates to access the Main Deck for children from 6 to 12 years old from 33 ¤.

This way you will save a little bit on your budget to visit the Empire State with your family, it never hurts!

With Empire State's discounted rates, you can save a little bit on your wallet. For example, certain age groups such as seniors 62 years and older or children 6 to 12 years old can benefit from reduced rates with tickets starting at $33 compared to the general adult ticket price (from $39).

Keep an eye on the reduced rates when booking your Empire State tickets because they will help you save money that you can spend on other activities during your stay.

From $116 you can get the New York CityPASS to go to the Empire State both in the morning and at sunset to take the pulse of the city at two very different times of the day.

However, as the Empire State is one of the most emblematic tourist attractions in New York, most of the tourist cards that exist to see it include it, although except with the New York CityPASS, with the others you can only access it once.

If you want to know more about the tourist passes in New York I recommend you read the post The best tourist card in New York.

New York Sightseeing Passes

In any case, in this table we compare at a glance all the tourist cards that allow you to enter the Empire State.

Inside the skyscraper there are several restaurants where you can eat after visiting the Empire State Observation Deck if you get the itch: Tacombi, State Grill & Bar or Chipotle...

However, if after enjoying the views of the New York skyline you want to take a walk near the skyscraper and discover other places to try American cuisine, in the post Where to eat around the Empire State I give you some ideas.