Empire State Building Ticket Prices

If you're planning a trip to New York, you've probably thought about visiting the Empire State Building, one of the city's most famous tourist attractions. But how much do tickets cost, is there a discount for visitors, do children pay admission?

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

From 46€ you can buy your tickets for the Empire State Building which gives you the opportunity to choose the time you want to go, with access to the first 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.

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

From this open-air observation deck you'll 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 such as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut.

A supplement of more than 35 euros will have to be paid to go up to the glass observation deck (Top Deck) when you book your tickets for the Empire State Building with access to the 102nd floor. You will have to pay up to 82 euros to access 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, reached by an impressive glass lift, and the immersive exhibits on the 2nd floor to discover some of the building's best kept secrets. In my view, it' s not really 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 the 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 lift that offers unique views during the ascent.

If you like to see the Big Apple from above, my advice is to invest that money in another of the skyscrapers with observation decks in the city, for example:

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

When buying tickets to the Empire State Building you should keep in mind that prices go up during the peak season in the city, i.e. in summer and on special dates such as Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas. In addition, there will be a greater number of visitors who will be sharing the tours with you.

So if you're not a fan of crowds when it comes to sightseeing and prefer to keep your travel budget low, a good time to go to New York and climb the Empire State Building is around spring or autumn when you can find good prices and less crowds compared to the high season.

Children under the age of 6 get free admission to the Empire State while older children need a ticket to enter, although there are reduced rates for the Main Deck for children aged 6 to 12 from £33.

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

With the Empire State's reduced rates you can save a little bit on your wallet. For example, certain age groups such as the over 62s and children aged 6-12 can benefit from reduced rates with tickets starting from €33 compared to the general adult ticket price (from €39).

Keep an eye on the reduced rates when booking your Empire State tickets as 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 in the morning and at sunset to get the pulse of the city at two very different times of the day.

However, as the Empire State is one of the most iconic 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 New York City Passes I recommend you read the post The best tourist card in New York.

New York City 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 Building.

Inside the skyscraper there are several restaurants where you can eat after visiting the Empire State Building 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 Building I give you some ideas.