The Empire State Building: What to Know Before You Go
My father worked in the Empire State Building for more than 40 years, so to me it has never been just a postcard. If you are planning a visit, here is how to do it well.
Quick answer
The Empire State Building is the classic first-timer view. It’s an Art Deco icon at 34th Street, with an observatory high above Midtown. Book timed tickets ahead. Sunset can give you day and night views, depending on the season.
What you are visiting at the Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is the classic Art Deco icon of Midtown, at 34th Street, with an observatory high above the city. It offers open-air viewing. It is best for first visits and iconic photos.
Its central location is part of the appeal. You can fold it into a day that also includes Bryant Park, the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue and Grand Central Terminal, where you should look up at the famous ceiling.
When to go
Go near sunset if you can. You get day and night views in one visit. Book timed tickets ahead, since popular slots fill.
Our NYC attractions and tickets page links to tickets and tours for the Empire State Building and the other big decks.
How it compares with the other decks
- Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center has a view that includes the Empire State Building and Central Park.
- One World Observatory is at the World Trade Center and is the highest indoor observation deck in the city, with views of the harbor.
- Edge at Hudson Yards is a triangular outdoor deck with a glass floor.
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is an immersive, mirrored experience beside Grand Central.
A useful rule: if you want the Empire State Building in your photo, shoot from Top of the Rock. If you want to stand on the Empire State Building, go up the Empire State Building. Our observation decks guide compares them all.
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Where to stay near the Empire State Building
Ace Hotel New York is at 20 W 29th St in NoMad. It’s stylish, and Koreatown and the Empire State Building are close. The New Yorker sits beside Penn Station.
See our hotels near the Empire State Building, the Chelsea, Flatiron and Penn Station guide and the NYC hotels map for more options.
How to Plan The Empire State Building: Rates, Subway Access, and Seasonal Timing
When researching best time to go up the empire state building and planning around The Empire State Building, comparing block-by-block walkability, express subway connections, and seasonal rate shifts helps you get the most out of every day in New York City. Across Midtown & Fifth Avenue and neighboring Manhattan and Brooklyn corridors, nightly hotel prices and ticket demand fluctuate with Broadway schedules, midweek corporate conventions at the Javits Center, and holiday travel peaks. Reviewing our NYC hotel prices by month guide alongside our where to stay in NYC neighborhood breakdown makes it easy to spot high-value travel weeks before you lock in your itinerary.
Comparing Neighborhood Walkability and Express Transit Around The Empire State Building
Transit proximity matters just as much as the nightly room rate when moving between Midtown landmarks, museum mornings near Central Park, and evening dinner reservations in Downtown Manhattan. Choosing a hotel within a five-to-eight-minute walk of an express subway station—such as the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, A, C, E, B, D, F, M, or N, Q, R, W lines—saves both commute time and taxi fares. Travelers arriving via JFK Airport, LaGuardia Airport, or Newark Liberty International Airport should also check how directly their route connects to New York Penn Station, Moynihan Train Hall, or Grand Central Terminal when carrying luggage.
Booking Windows, Refundable Room Rates, and Total Stay Value in New York City
Before finalizing any reservation in New York, always inspect the all-in nightly price including New York City hotel occupancy taxes and any mandatory property or destination fees. Booking a flexible, refundable rate 30 to 45 days ahead lets you secure a proven room in a prime location and re-check live inventory two weeks before check-in if unsold Manhattan rooms drop in price. Pairing smart neighborhood selection with early morning arrival times ensures a smooth, stress-free New York City experience in every season.
Travelers who compare weekday corporate rates against weekend leisure pricing across Midtown Manhattan, Chelsea, SoHo, and the Upper West Side routinely save fifteen to twenty-five percent on comparable four-star rooms.
If your flight or train arrives hours before standard three o-clock check-in, nearly every full-service New York hotel bell desk will store your bags free of charge so you can start exploring Central Park, Fifth Avenue, or the High Line right away.
For families and small groups sharing a room, requesting a higher floor away from street-facing elevators and confirming whether two queen beds or a sofa sleeper.
Common questions
Where is the Empire State Building?
It is in Midtown Manhattan, at 34th Street.
When is the best time to visit the Empire State Building?
Sunset can give you day and night views, depending on the season. Book timed tickets ahead.
Which observation deck shows the Empire State Building?
Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center has a view that includes the Empire State Building and Central Park.
What else can I see on the same day?
Bryant Park, the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue and Grand Central Terminal all fit into the same day.
Which hotels are near the Empire State Building?
Ace Hotel New York, at 20 W 29th St, is near the Empire State Building. The New Yorker sits beside Penn Station.
Keep reading
NYC observation decks · NYC attractions and tickets · One day in NYC · Hotels near Penn Station · Hotels near the Empire State Building · Empire State Building vs Top of the Rock