Private guide, Express Pass skip-the-line access, and both decks — the fully premium way to visit.
- Free cancellationFree cancellation available through GetYourGuide's standard policy
- Duration2 hours (private tour only) or 3.5 hours (with private round-trip transfers)
- LanguagesGuide fluent in the language of your choice, per the listing
The Express Pass VIP Private Tour of the Empire State Building costs $489 per person for a 2-hour private tour with a 5-star licensed guide and Express Pass access — priority entry through security and dedicated elevators — to both the 86th-floor open-air deck and the enclosed 102nd-floor Top Deck. A 3.5-hour option adds private round-trip transfers from your New York accommodation. It's the most expensive product on this site by a wide margin, built for visitors who want zero queueing, both floors, and a private guide in one booking rather than assembling the equivalent from separate tickets.
Key facts
private- Duration
- 2 hours (private tour only) or 3.5 hours (with private round-trip transfers)
- Meeting point
- Confirmed at booking; the 3.5-hour option includes pickup at your own accommodation
- Price
- $489 per person
- Entry ticket included
- Yes
- Languages
- Guide fluent in the language of your choice, per the listing
- Group size
- Private — your own party only
- Accessibility
- ADA-compliant building: the 20 West 34th Street entrance and ramps are wheelchair accessible (esbnyc.com/visit/accessibility, checked 2026-09-12).
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation available through GetYourGuide's standard policy
Included
- ✓ Private tour of the Empire State Building with Express Pass (itinerary depends on the option selected)
- ✓ 5-star licensed guide, fluent in the language of your choice
- ✓ Express Pass tickets to the main (86th) and top (102nd) decks
- ✓ Guide commentary on New York City history and the building
- ✓ Private transfers with pickup and drop-off at your accommodation (3.5-hour option only)
Not included
- ✗ Private transfers with pickup and drop-off (on the 2-hour option)
What Express Pass and 'private' actually mean here
Express Pass gives priority access through security and a dedicated elevator queue, distinct from the general skip-the-line ticket sold elsewhere on this site. Private means the tour is for your own party only, with a 5-star licensed guide covering both the 86th-floor main deck and the enclosed 102nd-floor Top Deck — both included by default, unlike every other product on this site.
Price versus the official Express Pass
The official ticket office sells its own Express Pass for $85 (86th floor only, no guide). This product's $489 covers Express Pass access to both decks plus a private licensed guide, so the roughly $400 premium buys the guide, the privacy, and the 102nd floor together rather than any one of them alone.
The 2-hour vs 3.5-hour choice
The 2-hour option starts at the building; the 3.5-hour option adds a private round-trip transfer from your own New York accommodation, at a higher price point. Choose the transfer option if getting to and from Midtown Manhattan on your own is the friction point, not the tour itself.
Who this suits
Book this for a special occasion, a group that wants total flexibility and zero shared queueing, or anyone who has decided in advance that both decks and a private guide matter more than price. For a single traveler or a budget-conscious group, the $79 small-group Indoor Guided Tour covers similar ground — minus the 102nd floor and the privacy — for a fraction of the cost.
Who should not book this
- Budget-conscious visitors — see the Indoor Guided Tour for a small-group alternative at a fraction of the price
- Solo travelers who don't need a private group
How to book
Choose the 2-hour or 3.5-hour (with transfer) option and a date; a licensed guide meets your private group at the agreed point. 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 include both the 86th and 102nd floors?
Yes — Express Pass access to both the main (86th) and top (102nd) decks is included by default, unlike the other products on this site.
What's the difference between the 2-hour and 3.5-hour options?
The 3.5-hour option adds private round-trip transfers from your own New York accommodation; the 2-hour option starts and ends at the building.
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