Run by the Empire State Building Observation Deck: the 86th-floor deck plus 12 museum galleries, with a 102nd-floor option at checkout.
- DurationValid 1 day at your booked time slot; plan 45 minutes to 2 hours inside
- Starting timesTime slots are shown when you check availability
The Empire State Building Observation Deck & Museum Ticket costs $50 per person through GetYourGuide and admits you to the open-air 86th Floor Observation Deck plus 12 immersive museum galleries on the building's construction, King Kong and its celebrity history. The Empire State Building Observation Deck operates it, and the price includes booking fees and sales tax. Children under 6 enter free. At checkout you choose a General or Express skip-the-line ticket and can add the 102nd floor. The official ticket office sells 86th-floor access alone for $44 plus a $5 booking fee, so the gap is small once fees are counted.
Book Empire State TicketsKey facts
entry-ticket- Duration
- Valid 1 day at your booked time slot; plan 45 minutes to 2 hours inside
- Starts
- Time slots are shown when you check availability
- Meeting point
- Observatory entrance, 20 West 34th Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues) — a different door from the building's 350 Fifth Avenue mailing address
- Price
- $50 per person
- Entry ticket included
- Yes
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible. The operator states the building is fully ADA compliant and permits service dogs and motorized and non-motorized wheelchairs. Restrooms, including accessible restrooms, are on the 86th floor only.
- Cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund; reserve now and pay later is available
Included
- ✓ General or Express skip-the-line ticket, depending on the option selected
- ✓ Access to the 86th Floor Observation Deck
- ✓ 12 immersive museum galleries: construction history, King Kong, celebrity history and more
- ✓ Access to the 102nd Floor, if you select that option
- ✓ Art Deco lobby
- ✓ Free Wi-Fi in the building
- ✓ Free entry for children under 6
- ✓ Booking fees and sales tax
Not included
- ✗ 102nd Floor on the base option
- ✗ Live tour guide
Meeting point
20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10118 — No collection needed; show the e-ticket on your phone at security. Date or time changes go through esbnyc.com/visit/manage-booking or the on-site ticketing office.
Nearest transit: Subway B/D/F/M/N/Q/R/W to 34th St–Herald Square, or 6 to 33rd St
What the ticket includes
The ticket covers the 86th Floor Observation Deck, the open-air terrace with 360-degree views that take in Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge, plus 12 immersive museum galleries you walk through before you step outside. The galleries cover the building's construction, its Art Deco design, King Kong and its celebrity history. Choose the 102nd-floor option at checkout for the enclosed upper deck, which the operator describes as recently reimagined with floor-to-ceiling windows and visibility of up to 80 miles on a clear day. There is no live guide.
General or Express: the two entry options
The listing sells a General ticket and an Express skip-the-line ticket. The operator describes Express as priority access and the fastest way to the top. Both options include the museum galleries and the 86th floor, and $50 is the starting price for the base option; the price for Express or the 102nd floor is shown at checkout.
Price versus the official ticket
At $50 with booking fees and sales tax included, this ticket costs $6 more than the $44 base price of the official 86th Floor Only ticket at esbnyc.com, which adds a $5 booking fee per transaction. Both cover the 86th floor. If you also want the 102nd floor, the official Top Deck ticket starts at $79, or you can add that floor here at checkout.
Getting in: entrance, security and timing
Use the observatory entrance at 20 West 34th Street, not the 350 Fifth Avenue mailing address. Every visitor passes security. Leave glass items, sports equipment, paint or markers, and packages or luggage behind. Arrive as close to your time slot as you can; the operator says it will do its best to fit in late arrivals. It suggests visiting between 12pm and 3pm for the best experience, which is also the building's busiest stretch. Plan 45 minutes to 2 hours inside, and make date or time changes at esbnyc.com/visit/manage-booking or the ticketing office.
Who this ticket suits
Book this for a straightforward first visit, including with young children, since kids under 6 enter free. Choose the Indoor Guided Tour if you want a person explaining the history, or add the 102nd-floor option for a clear-day visit. Restrooms are on the 86th floor only, so plan for that with small children.
| Ticket | Price | Floors | Fees and tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| This ticket (GetYourGuide) | $50 | 86th, 102nd optional | Booking fees and sales tax included |
| Official 86th Floor Only | $44 | 86th | Plus a $5 booking fee per transaction |
| Official Top Deck | From $79 | 86th and 102nd | Plus a $5 booking fee per transaction |
What reviewers consistently say
- All 10 of the most recent reviews (13–17 September 2026) give 5 stars.
- 7 of 10 single out the view from the top.
- 3 of 10 recommend going in the evening or at night rather than by day.
- 3 of 10 describe the visit as well organized.
- 2 of 10 praise the staff as friendly or helpful.
- 2 of 10 mention the museum section or the history on display as worth the time.
- 2 of 10 found the decks only moderately busy or not crowded.
- 1 of 10 points out the free binoculars on the 86th floor.
Who should not book this
- Visitors set on the 102nd floor who don't want to pay for the upgrade (see the 86th vs 102nd floor comparison)
- Anyone who wants a live guide (see the Indoor Guided Tour instead)
- Visitors arriving with luggage or large bags, which security does not allow
-
Indoor Guide Tour with Ticket of Empire State Building
$79if you want a live guide included rather than a self-guided visit
Read the full page -
Empire State Observatory Ticket & Digital Tour
$122if you want narrated context through an audio tour on your phone
Read the full page
How to book
Choose a date, a time slot and the General or Express option, and add the 102nd floor if you want both decks. The e-ticket arrives by email; show it on your phone at the observatory entrance, 20 West 34th Street. 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 this ticket include the 102nd floor?
Only if you select that option at checkout. The base ticket covers the 86th Floor Observation Deck and the 12 museum galleries. At the official ticket office, the Top Deck ticket with both floors starts at $79.
How long does the visit take?
The ticket is valid for one day at your booked time slot. Plan 45 minutes to 2 hours: the museum galleries come first, then the 86th-floor deck.
Do young children need a ticket?
Children under 6 enter free, according to the listing.
Is this cheaper than buying from the Empire State Building directly?
Not quite. The official 86th Floor Only ticket is $44 plus a $5 booking fee per transaction; this ticket is $50 with booking fees and sales tax included, and it is operated by the Empire State Building Observation Deck.
What can't I bring?
Everyone goes through security before the observatory. Leave glass items, sports equipment, paint or markers, and packages or luggage behind.
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