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350 5th Avenue
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 Waiting for the elevator by scottishvisitor
Kept thinking "What if the cables snap - help" Well worth the trip for the views from the top. Leave a Comment Phone: (212) 947-1360Directions: 1, 2, 3 or 9 (Seventh Avenue Lines), A, C or E (Eighth Avenue Subway) to 34th Street/Penn Station.Website: http://www.esbnyc.com/
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 Empire State Building
from Washington Square
Park by toonsarah,
2 more photos
The Observatory is on the 86th floor, 1,050 feet (320 meters) above street level. Over 3.5 million people ascend each year, which explains the aforementioned queues. You can speed things up a little by booking in advance, but you’ll still have to queue for the lifts, so come prepared to wait. There is an additional Observatory on the 102nd floor, for which tickets can’t be bought in advance, so that’s another wait if you want to go higher. Note that this is currently closed for renovations so check the website before you go. And if all this waiting sounds too much, you can buy an Express Pass, which entitles you to go to the front of every line, but this will cost you - $47 at the time of writing rather than the regular adult charge of $20.
If like us you decide not to go up the Empire State Building, do go take a look at it nevertheless. It was built in1930, during the Great Depression, as a deliberate (and successful) attempt to build the tallest building in the city and in the world, an honour it retained until 1972, when the World Trade Center took that honour. Following the destruction of the latter, the Empire State Building again took over as the tallest in New York, but other have meanwhile surpassed it elsewhere in the world. Just the same, while craning your neck to look up at it, you won’t be thinking it’s on the small side!
Make sure you check out the building at night time too, as the floodlighting is very effective. The colours change from time to time, depending on the time of year, current events and holidays etc. For instance, on the 5th November 2008 the building was lit up simply in blue, to celebrate Barack Obama’s victory in the previous day’s US Presidential election. Phone: (212) 947-1360Directions: Nearest subway stations are 34th Street/Penn Station (lines 1, 2, 3, A, C or E) and 34th Street/Avenue of the Americas (lines B, D, F, N, Q or R)Website: http://www.esbnyc.com/tourism
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 Don't hurt your neck
looking up.... by KarenTaylorLeave a Comment Phone: (212) 947-1360Directions: 1, 2, 3 or 9 (Seventh Avenue Lines), A, C or E (Eighth Avenue Subway) to 34th Street/Penn Station.Website: http://www.esbnyc.com/
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 Who said chewits ? by sourbugger
The view from Midtown back to the financial area is certainly like nothing else on earth. It is no longer the highest skscraper, no longer the most dramatic - but it is probably the one that would come top of our survey when asked "Name a skyskraper"?
Although well worth the twelve dollars to take the lift to the top, I think is is crying shame that you cannot actually walk up all 86 floors - if you can do it in the Eiffel Tower, why not here?
It is however possible once a year in the annual race. Australian Paul Crake currently holds the record, and his feat is mentioned in the Guinness book of World Records. He took just 9 minutes 33 seconds to ascend the 1,576 steps in the 26th annual run-up, on February 4, 2003, shaving 4 seconds off his previous record. Leave a Comment Phone: (212) 947-1360Directions: 1, 2, 3 or 9 (Seventh Avenue Lines), A, C or E (Eighth Avenue Subway) to 34th Street/Penn Station.Website: http://www.esbnyc.com/
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At the time it was built on 5th. Avenue, the Empire State Building broke all records and was dubbed 'the 8th world wonder'. The building had 64 elevators (now 73) and was constructed in only 1 year and 45 days. It was one of the last skyscrapers built before the Great Depression hit the real estate market. Its height of 381 meter (1253 ft) wouldn't be topped until 1972, when the twin World Trade Towers eclipsed the Empire State Building.
It is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper in New York, NY on the intersection of 5th Ave and W 34th Street. Its name is derived from the nickname for the state of New York. It stood as the world's tallest building for more than forty years, from its completion in 1931 until the construction of the World Trade Center North Tower topped out on December 23, 1970. It is now once again the tallest building in New York, after the destruction of the World Trade Center in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
You can visit the Empire State Building's observatory on the 86th floor from where you have a magnificent view over the city of New York. The Empire State Building is situated south of Midtown, away from the skyscraper clusters in midtown and in the financial district downtown, so this is one of the few places in Manhattan where you have an open 360 degrees view.
Ticket Prices*
Adults (18-61) $16.61 (+$1.39Tx)
Youth (12-17) $14.76 (+$1.24Tx)
Child (6-11) $11.07 (+$.93Tx)
Seniors (62+) $14.76 (+$1.24Tx)
Military w/ID $14.76 (+$1.24Tx)
*A $2.00 surcharge will be added to the price of each ticket at the time of purchase.
Observatory is open 8:00 am to 2:00 am the following day everyday! Phone: (212) 947-1360Directions: 1, 2, 3 or 9 (Seventh Avenue Lines), A, C or E (Eighth Avenue Subway) to 34th Street/Penn Station.Website: http://www.esbnyc.com/
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 ESB on a rainy day, seen
from inside a taxi cab by Christophe_Ons,
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Granted, waiting lines are long. The official website (see below) allows you to prepay your ticket and print your voucher (with a unique barcode) at home. This will at least allow you to skip the initial line and move to the second line where you wait for the elevator to take you up to the 86th floor.
From here you can enjoy unforgettable bird's eye views of Manhattan. Since the 9/11 tragedy this again is New York's highest building. On a clear day you could theoretically see more than 80 miles / 125 km - in reality the weather and air pollution will reduce that number greatly, but it's still unbelievable even on a foggy day (see pic on my intro page). Note that visibility ratings are marked in the lobby.
Some more facts : built during 1929-1931 during the great depression, space was so difficult to rent the building was nicknamed the Empty State Building. Tourism (i.e. the observatories) initially saved the building from bankruptcy.
There is an inside and an outside observatory deck, the latter may be closed during really bad weather or thunderstorms, for the public's safety. The building gets hit by lightning ca. 500 times a year. Leave a Comment Phone: (212) 947-1360Directions: 1, 2, 3 or 9 (Seventh Avenue Lines), A, C or E (Eighth Avenue Subway) to 34th Street/Penn Station.Website: http://www.esbnyc.com/ Other Contact: emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=114095
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One of the most popular skyscrapers in NYC. The entrance is very spacious made of marble. Was built before the once World Trade Center and is the symbol of the city. This tourist magnet was built in about two years from 1930 to 1931 with the height of 1,250 ft. at the 102nd floor. The full structural height rises to 1,472 ft including the broadcast antenna. The first viewing point is at the 86th floor and the highest plattform which is completely enclosed is at the 102nd floor. Leave a Comment Phone: (212) 947-1360Directions: 1, 2, 3 or 9 (Seventh Avenue Lines), A, C or E (Eighth Avenue Subway) to 34th Street/Penn Station.Website: http://www.esbnyc.com/
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Built at the beginning of the 1930s, the Empire State Building was, at the time of its completion, the tallest building in the entire world. Even if it doesn't hold that title anymore, it remains one of the most easily recognized skyscrappers in the world and the tallest one in New York City (102 floors, 381 m tall), since the destruction of the Twin Towers.
The elevator ride to the observation deck located on the 86th floor takes less than a minute and costs $19 for adults, so it's not exactly cheap, but I thought it was worth it. From the deck you get a 360° view of New York City, and you can stay as long as you want. Of course there are fences all around the deck, but there's enough space to stick your camera in between and because you're standing outside, it's possible to take some really good pictures.
Be prepared: unless you get an express pass ($45), chances are you're gonna have to stand in line for quite a bit of time, especially if you happen to be there during summer or on a long weekend. Even if you buy your tickets online, you're still going to have to wait to make it through security. The observatory deck is open every day, from 8:00 am to 2:00 am. Leave a Comment
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The Empire State Building was awesome. You have to go EARLY and yes, you do have to wait in a line. If the line is out the door--dont bother, come back later. If you can get your tickets online, definetly do it. IF YOU'VE BEEN TO EPCOT & DID "SOARING"--DONT BOTHER WITH THE SKY RIDE. ITS SO BAD!!!!! It jerks you around, its not smooth and enjoyable--too many quick flashing, odd angle and distorted pics of the city sights. And especially for the extra money...its not worth it.
One more thing....dont buy the $30 overpriced picture they take of you. They give you a picture card and the prices are a bit more reasonable when you order online. Leave a Comment Phone: (212) 947-1360Directions: 1, 2, 3 or 9 (Seventh Avenue Lines), A, C or E (Eighth Avenue Subway) to 34th Street/Penn Station.Website: http://www.esbnyc.com/
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 VIEW FROM MY LIMO by gilabrand
Like most New Yorkers, I can’t say that the Empire State Building was ever a great pull for me. It was just there. I did visit it once when I was a kid. I don’t remember having to wait on any lines. Aunt Celia bundled all 12 of us (we were a lot of cousins) into the elevator, and the button was pushed. At some point on the way up, I turned innocently to this aunt of mine and said “What if the elevator gets stuck?” I have never forgotten the look she gave me. “Shut up!” she snapped, departing for a moment from her typical British reserve. I guess I had tapped into something pretty deep. I don't think she ever forgave me.
I have very vague memories of the view, although I do remember a lot of windows. If I can’t share any personal insights, the least I can do is share some interesting factoids. The Empire State Building was built in 1 year and 25 days, and was completed ahead of schedule. It’s been open to the public since 1931. No one lives in the building. There are only offices. The observation decks are on the 86th and 102nd floors. The lights on the building change colors. They are red and green on Christmas. When Frank Sinatra died, they made them blue, to honor "Ol' Blue Eyes."
In an eerie aside, today being the 5th anniversary of 9/11: In 1945, an army bomber crashed into the Empire State Building after getting lost in the fog. One of the plane engines went right through it, and landed on another building, killing 14 people. One of the elevators plunged 75 floors to the ground, i.e., 1,000 feet. Betty Lou Oliver, the elevator operator, miraculously survived the fall and holds the Guinness World Record for the longest elevator fall ever recorded. Leave a Comment Phone: (212) 947-1360Directions: 1, 2, 3 or 9 (7th Ave. Subway), A, C or E (8th Ave. Subway) to 34th Street/Penn Station.Website: http://www.esbnyc.com/
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