A 3-hour guided walk through downtown Manhattan with Top Sights Tours, then the Empire State Building's 86th floor on your own.
- DurationAbout 5 hours: a 3-hour walking tour, then about 2 hours at the Empire State Building
- Starting timesShown when you check availability
- LanguagesEnglish
The Empire State Building & Manhattan Walking Tour costs $120 per person and combines a 3-hour guided walk through downtown Manhattan with entry to the Empire State Building's 86th-floor observatory. Top Sights Tours LLC runs it in English, in small groups. The walk starts on Wall Street, passes Ground Zero, the Charging Bull and Fearless Girl statues and City Hall, then crosses Five Points, Chinatown and Little Italy and ends near the Flatiron Building. You then visit the Empire State Building without the guide. The whole outing takes about 5 hours, and you can upgrade to include the 102nd floor.
Book Empire State TicketsKey facts
combo- Duration
- About 5 hours: a 3-hour walking tour, then about 2 hours at the Empire State Building
- Starts
- Shown when you check availability
- Meeting point
- Wall Street, downtown Manhattan; the exact meeting point is in your booking confirmation
- Price
- $120 per person
- Entry ticket included
- Yes
- Languages
- English
- Group size
- Small group; several tours may run at the same time
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible, according to the listing.
- Cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund; reserve now and pay later is available
Included
- ✓ 3-hour walking tour with a local guide
- ✓ 20+ Manhattan sights along the route
- ✓ Small tour group
- ✓ Entry to the Empire State Building 86th floor
- ✓ 102nd-floor access, if you choose the upgrade
Not included
- ✗ Food and drinks
- ✗ Hotel pickup and drop-off
- ✗ Transport, including any subway fares
- ✗ Gratuities
- ✗ A guide inside the Empire State Building: the observatory visit is on your own
Meeting point
Wall Street, downtown Manhattan; the exact meeting point is in your booking confirmation
Nearest transit: Subway 4/5 to Wall St, or 2/3 to Wall St
The walking route
The tour begins on Wall Street, the oldest part of Manhattan, with Ground Zero and the Charging Bull and Fearless Girl statues at the New York Stock Exchange. It continues to City Hall, with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge and the courthouses known for Mafia trials, then through Five Points, Chinatown and Little Italy, where the guide shares tips on local places to eat. It ends near the Flatiron Building in Midtown, after more than 20 sights in about 3 hours.
The Empire State Building visit is on your own
After the walk you go to the 86th-floor observatory without the guide; the listing states this plainly. Allow about 2 hours there. The 86th floor has 360-degree views over Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, and the operator says the view spans six states on the clearest days. You can upgrade to add the 102nd-floor glass observatory.
Getting around and what to bring
This is a walking tour, but depending on your guide and group you may take public transport, so bring a contactless credit or debit card or a MetroCard. Fares are not included, and neither are food, drinks or tips. Leave luggage and large bags behind, and expect other groups on the same route, since several tours may run at the same time.
Price versus booking separately
At $120, the tour costs $76 more than the $44 base price of the official 86th Floor Only ticket, which is what you pay for the 3-hour guided walk. Booking both together saves arranging two reservations, but it fixes your route and takes about 5 hours of your day.
Who this suits
Choose this if you want one booking for a downtown Manhattan walking tour and the observatory, and you are fine visiting the building on your own. Skip it if you want to see the Empire State Building first thing or keep the two parts of your day separate; book the $50 Observation Deck & Museum Ticket and a standalone walking tour instead.
What reviewers consistently say
- All 6 reviews shown on the listing (June 2024 to June 2026) give 5 stars, and 5 of them include a written comment.
- 4 of 6 praise the guide by name, most often for explaining the city's history clearly.
- 1 of 6 was surprised to leave the group for the Empire State Building visit; the listing states the guide does not go into the building.
- 1 of 6 says the 102nd-floor upgrade was worth it.
- 1 of 6 mentions the guide's tips on affordable places to eat.
Who should not book this
- Visitors who want a guide inside the Empire State Building itself
- Anyone who can't commit about 5 hours to one combined outing
- Travelers carrying luggage or large bags
-
NY: Empire State, Circle Line Cruise, & Hop-on Hop-off Tour
$99if you'd rather have a boat cruise and a bus tour than a walking tour
-
NYC: Top 30 Sights Tour and Empire State Building 86th Floor
$142if you want a broader multi-sight day tour instead of a focused downtown walk
How to book
Choose a date and start time, and add the 102nd-floor upgrade if you want both decks. The meeting point on Wall Street is in your booking confirmation. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. This site may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
This site may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Does the guide come with me into the Empire State Building?
No. The listing states the guide leads the 3-hour Manhattan walk only; the Empire State Building visit afterward is on your own.
How long does the whole tour take?
About 5 hours: roughly 3 hours for the walking tour and about 2 hours at the Empire State Building.
Do I need money for transport?
Possibly. Depending on your guide and group, you may use public transport, so the operator asks you to bring a contactless card or a MetroCard. Transport is not included.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
The listing marks it as wheelchair accessible. The route is a walking tour that may include a stretch on public transport.
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