A private licensed guide and Express Pass access to both the 86th and 102nd floors, with an optional hotel pickup.
- Duration2 hours, or 3.5 hours with private round-trip transfers (about 1.5 hours of that is driving)
- Starting timesShown when you check availability
- LanguagesEnglish, French, Italian, Spanish, German
The Express Pass VIP Private Tour of the Empire State Building costs from $489 per person and pairs a private tour for your own party with Express Pass tickets to the 86th-floor main deck and the 102nd-floor top deck. Rosotravel runs it with a licensed guide in English, French, Italian, Spanish or German. The Express Pass is timed and skips the ticket lines, with a faster security check and separate elevators. The 2-hour option covers the building; the 3.5-hour option adds private round-trip transfers from your New York accommodation, in a car for 1 to 3 people or a van for 4 or more.
Book Empire State TicketsKey facts
private- Duration
- 2 hours, or 3.5 hours with private round-trip transfers (about 1.5 hours of that is driving)
- Starts
- Shown when you check availability
- Meeting point
- Rosotravel emails the meeting details the day before; the 3.5-hour option picks you up at your New York accommodation
- Price
- $489 per person
- Entry ticket included
- Yes
- Languages
- English, French, Italian, Spanish, German
- Group size
- Private: your own party only, up to 25 guests per guide
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible, according to the listing. Tell Rosotravel in advance about any assistance you need.
- Cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund; reserve now and pay later is available
Included
- ✓ Private tour of the Empire State Building with Express Pass; the itinerary depends on the option selected
- ✓ Licensed guide in the language you choose
- ✓ Express Pass tickets to the 86th-floor main deck and the 102nd-floor top deck
- ✓ Commentary on New York City history, architecture and skyline
- ✓ Private round-trip transfers from your accommodation (3.5-hour option only)
Not included
- ✗ Private transfers on the 2-hour option
What Express Pass and private mean here
The Express Pass is a timed ticket that skips the ticket lines and gives you a faster security check and separate elevators; the security check itself still applies. Private means the tour is for your party only. Your licensed guide takes you to both the open-air 86th-floor main deck and the enclosed 102nd-floor top deck, and covers New York's history, architecture and skyline along the way.
The 2-hour vs 3.5-hour option
The 2-hour option is the private tour of the building. The 3.5-hour option adds private round-trip transfers from your New York accommodation, with about 1.5 hours of driving that varies with where you are staying. Rosotravel sends a standard car for 1 to 3 people and a van for 4 or more. Choose the transfer if getting to and from Midtown is the hard part of your day.
Price versus the official Express Pass
The official ticket office sells its Express Pass from $85 for the 86th floor, without a guide, plus a $5 booking fee per transaction. This tour starts at $489 per person, so the difference of about $400 pays for the private guide, the 102nd floor and, on the longer option, the transfers.
Group size, languages and planning
Rosotravel limits groups to 25 guests per guide and adds guides for larger parties, which can change the price. Guides work in English, French, Italian, Spanish and German. Check your email the day before for the tour details, and tell the operator in advance about any special requests or accessibility needs.
Who this suits
Book this for a special occasion, a family or group that wants no shared queueing, or visitors who want both decks and a private guide in one booking. On a tighter budget, the $79 Indoor Guided Tour adds a guide to the 86th floor for much less, without the 102nd floor or the privacy.
Who should not book this
- Budget-conscious visitors: the $79 Indoor Guided Tour adds a guide for much less
- Travelers happy to share a guide with other visitors
-
Indoor Guide Tour with Ticket of Empire State Building
$79if you want a guide on the 86th floor without paying for a private tour
Read the full page
How to book
Choose the 2-hour option or the 3.5-hour option with transfers, then a date and time. Rosotravel emails the meeting details the day before. 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 include both the 86th and 102nd floors?
Yes. Express Pass tickets to the 86th-floor main deck and the 102nd-floor top deck are included.
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 New York accommodation, about 1.5 hours of driving, in a car for 1 to 3 people or a van for 4 or more. The 2-hour option does not include transfers.
Which languages do the guides speak?
English, French, Italian, Spanish and German, according to the listing.
Is the price per person?
Yes, from $489 per person. The operator limits groups to 25 guests per guide and adds guides for larger parties, which may change the price.
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