Early access to the open-air 86th floor at sunrise on Saturday mornings, before public opening, with coffee and pastries included.
- DurationValid 1 day; the start time for your Saturday is shown when you book
- Starting timesSaturday mornings only, before the building opens to the public
- LanguagesChinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish
The Empire State Building Sunrise Experience Ticket costs $147 per person and gives you early access to the open-air 86th Floor Observatory before the building opens to the public, on Saturday mornings only. The Empire State Building Observation Deck operates it. A Building Ambassador greets you in the Art Deco Fifth Avenue lobby, and you go up in a small group to watch the sunrise with Starbucks Reserve coffee and Princi pastries. Afterward you walk through the museum galleries and a two-story architectural model. The price includes booking fees and sales tax, and the audio guide app comes in eight languages.
Book Empire State TicketsKey facts
night- Duration
- Valid 1 day; the start time for your Saturday is shown when you book
- Starts
- Saturday mornings only, before the building opens to the public
- Meeting point
- Art Deco Fifth Avenue lobby, Empire State Building, where a Building Ambassador greets the group
- Price
- $147 per person
- Entry ticket included
- Yes
- Languages
- Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish
- Group size
- Small group
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible. The operator states the building is fully ADA compliant and permits service dogs and motorized and non-motorized wheelchairs.
- Cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund; reserve now and pay later is available
Included
- ✓ Exclusive sunrise access to the 86th Floor Observation Deck
- ✓ Starbucks Reserve micro-blend coffee made for this experience
- ✓ Freshly baked Princi pastries
- ✓ Empire State Building greeting host
- ✓ Interactive immersive museum galleries
- ✓ Two-story architectural model of the building
- ✓ Audio guide (app download) in 8 languages
- ✓ Free Wi-Fi in the building
- ✓ Art Deco lobby
- ✓ Air purification system
- ✓ Booking fees and sales tax
Not included
- ✗ 102nd Floor (not listed among the inclusions)
Meeting point
350 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10118 — Bring a printed ticket: the listing states one is required. One 2024 review reports using the regular observatory entrance instead of the Fifth Avenue door, so follow the entrance named in your booking confirmation.
Nearest transit: Subway B/D/F/M/N/Q/R/W to 34th St–Herald Square, or 6 to 33rd St
What makes this different from a standard ticket
This ticket runs before the building opens to the public, on Saturday mornings only, and you go up in a small group. A Building Ambassador greets you in the Art Deco Fifth Avenue lobby, and the listing marks the ticket as skip the ticket line. Coffee and pastries are part of the price: Starbucks Reserve micro-blend coffee made for this experience and freshly baked Princi pastries.
What you see and do
You watch the sunrise from the open-air 86th Floor Observatory, with 360-degree views that take in Central Park, Times Square and the Statue of Liberty, and the listing also includes climate-controlled viewing galleries. After sunrise you continue through the interactive museum galleries on the building's construction and pop-culture history, King Kong included, and a two-story architectural model of the building. The audio guide app covers the visit in Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.
Price versus a standard ticket
At $147, this costs $97 more than the $50 Observation Deck & Museum Ticket, which covers the same 86th floor during public hours. The difference pays for the before-hours timing, the small group and the coffee and pastries, not a higher floor: the inclusions list the 86th floor, not the 102nd. Booking fees and sales tax are included in the $147.
Saturdays only: planning your morning
The listing states the experience runs only on Saturday mornings, so your trip needs a free Saturday, and the start time for your date is shown when you book. The view depends on the sky, so check the forecast; the review patterns below show how weather affected past visits. Print your ticket before you go, since the listing requires a printed ticket.
Getting in: security and what to leave behind
All guests pass airport-style security before the observatory. Leave glass items, sports equipment, paint or markers, and packages or luggage behind. The listing names the Fifth Avenue lobby as the meeting place; one 2024 review reports using the regular observatory entrance instead, so follow the entrance in your booking confirmation.
Who this suits
Book this for a special occasion, a quieter visit than any public-hours slot, or sunrise photos without crowds. Skip it on a tight budget or if your trip has no free Saturday morning; the $50 Observation Deck & Museum Ticket covers the same floor for less.
What reviewers consistently say
- All 10 reviews shown on the listing (November 2023 to August 2026) give 5 stars.
- 6 of 10 mention the small group or the lack of crowds on the deck.
- 4 of 10 mention the coffee and pastries.
- 4 of 10 mention the weather: 3 had clear skies, and 1 had rain and zero visibility and says staff offered a return visit at another time.
- 2 of 10 praise the staff.
- 2 of 10 mention the museum or exhibition hall.
- 1 of 10 notes that the souvenir shop opened later than the sunrise session.
- 1 of 10 reports entering through the regular observatory entrance, not the Fifth Avenue door.
Who should not book this
- Budget-conscious visitors: the $50 standard ticket covers the same floor
- Trips without a free Saturday morning
- Visitors who want the 102nd floor, which the inclusions do not list
-
Empire State Building Observation Deck & Museum Ticket
$504.7 28,920 reviews
if you are happy with the same 86th floor during public hours, any day of the week
Read the full page -
NYC: Empire State, Hop-on Hop-off Tour, & Guided Night Tour
$105if you want an evening visit rather than sunrise, bundled with a bus tour
How to book
Pick a Saturday date; the listing shows the start time. Print your ticket, since a printed ticket is required, and meet in the Art Deco Fifth Avenue lobby unless your confirmation names another entrance. 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
Is this available every day?
No. The listing states it runs only on Saturday mornings, before the building opens to the public.
Does the price include food?
Yes. Starbucks Reserve micro-blend coffee and freshly baked Princi pastries are included, along with booking fees and sales tax.
Do I need a printed ticket?
Yes. The listing's key details state that a printed ticket is required.
Is the 102nd floor included?
The inclusions list the 86th Floor Observation Deck, the museum galleries and the architectural model. The 102nd floor is not listed.
Is there an audio guide?
Yes, through an app you download, in Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.
Sources