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Empire State Building, New York City

4.4
#4 of 1,731 in Things to do in New York City
Must see · Observation Deck · Architectural Building
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The 103-story Empire State Building in midtown stood as the world's tallest building for nearly four decades, from its completion in 1931 until 1970, when it was surpassed by another New York skyscraper. Considered an American cultural icon, the building underwent a massive renovation in 2010 to make it more energy efficient and eco-friendly. Admire the Art Deco mosaics in the lobby, and then take an elevator to the observation deck at the top, where you'll have 360-degree views of the entire city. If you don't have time to wait in line for the top, visit the 86th-floor observatory, which at 320 m (1,050 ft) high still provides remarkable views. If you're in the city in the evening, try to catch a glimpse of the building to see its pinnacle bathed in lights. Use our New York City trip itinerary maker app to visit Empire State Building on your trip to New York City, and learn what else travelers and our writers recommend seeing nearby.
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Empire State Building reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
93,942 reviews
Google
4.7
TripAdvisor
  • My 3rd visit to new York and this is my favourite building, its changed from last time we went, there more to see now, 
    My 3rd visit to new York and this is my favourite building, its changed from last time we went, there more to see now,  more »
  • Really great views of course. Staff is all excellent, friendly, courteous, and helpful but it is so expensive and then you have to exit through a gift shop full of cheap ugly items. 
    Really great views of course. Staff is all excellent, friendly, courteous, and helpful but it is so expensive and then you have to exit through a gift shop full of cheap ugly items.  more »
Google
  • Amazing art deco building absolutely loved it inside and out. The building is so beautiful and has been respectfully modernised so that you can barely notice. The journey to the observatory has a wealth of historical information on the construction and foundations of the building which is hugely interesting. The staff are there at every step,helpful and polite and courteous. Would highly recommend a visit for everyone and of course the stop at the gift shop. Fabulous day out.
  • It was a great experience. One of the perks of using the City Pass was that I was able to get into the building both in the morning and in the evening. I highly recommend visiting at night as the view from the top is truly breathtaking. The city lights sparkle and it's a great way to see the city from a different perspective. The price for admission without the City Pass is quite steep, so I recommend getting the pass if you plan on visiting multiple tourist attractions in the city. Overall, it's worth the visit for the spectacular evening view.

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