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Empire State Building Tickets - Observatory and Optional Skip the Line Tickets
2 h
Popular
Ticket
Skip The Line
Instant confirmation
About this activity
Visit: Empire State Building, 20 West 34th Street, New York City, NY 10118-0114
The Empire State Building is waiting for you day or night. Come watch the sunset as New York is bathed in warm orange, red and yellow tones, then stick around as the lights come on all over town. Or come later and listen to the live music (weekends only) as the stars and lights twinkle romantically. Whenever you come, enjoy the magic without the wait.
There are 3 lines at the Empire State Building Observatory: the security line (required for all visitors), the ticket line and the elevator line. You may proceed directly to the turnstile with your voucher.
VIP Express Experience Upgrade
Speed past the lines on your way to the tallest point in Manhattan! Your VIP Express Experience voucher will enable you to proceed directly to the front of every line, saving valuable time to do all the other things New York is famous for. Don't spend your valuable holiday time waiting in line -- there's no faster way to the top of the Empire State Building!
You'll be greeted on the second floor to redeem your pass pre-security, eliminating the need to redeem vouchers at the ticket office. You'll also receive a special wristband to identify you as a VIP Express Experience pass holder.
VIP Express Experience passes are especially valuable from Memorial Day through Labor Day, from Thanksgiving until New Year's any time of day and all holiday weekends. Other times of year the pass is recommended for planned visits between 11am and 2pm, and one hour before and after sunset. Limited numbers of passes are sold, so typical wait time is under 5-minutes. Specific wait times cannot be guaranteed, only front of line privileges.
Voucher can be redeemed within a year of date purchased - plan your visit around the weather!
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The Empire State Building is waiting for you day or night. Come watch the sunset as New York is bathed in warm orange, red and yellow tones, then stick around as the lights come on all over town. Or come later and listen to the live music (weekends only) as the stars and lights twinkle romantically. Whenever you come, enjoy the magic without the wait.
There are 3 lines at the Empire State Building Observatory: the security line (required for all visitors), the ticket line and the elevator line. You may proceed directly to the turnstile with your voucher.
VIP Express Experience Upgrade
Speed past the lines on your way to the tallest point in Manhattan! Your VIP Express Experience voucher will enable you to proceed directly to the front of every line, saving valuable time to do all the other things New York is famous for. Don't spend your valuable holiday time waiting in line -- there's no faster way to the top of the Empire State Building!
You'll be greeted on the second floor to redeem your pass pre-security, eliminating the need to redeem vouchers at the ticket office. You'll also receive a special wristband to identify you as a VIP Express Experience pass holder.
VIP Express Experience passes are especially valuable from Memorial Day through Labor Day, from Thanksgiving until New Year's any time of day and all holiday weekends. Other times of year the pass is recommended for planned visits between 11am and 2pm, and one hour before and after sunset. Limited numbers of passes are sold, so typical wait time is under 5-minutes. Specific wait times cannot be guaranteed, only front of line privileges.
Voucher can be redeemed within a year of date purchased - plan your visit around the weather!
Included
- Admission Ticket to 86th floor Observation Deck
- Access to new second floor immersive exhibits
- Panoramic views of up to six states from the surrounding open - air promenade
- Admire a spectacular 360-degree view of New York City from the 86th floor observatory
- Free admission for children 0-5
- Complimentary self-guided mutimedia app in multiple languages via the App Store or Google Play
- Entry/Admission - Empire State Building
Not included
- Food and drinks
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Vouchers are valid up to a year from date of purchase
- No refunds due to weather conditions, length of lines or wait times at the building
- Infant tickets for children 0-5 years are free and can be picked up at the ticket office upon arrival
- Skip-the-line privileges are only available with the VIP Express Experience Admission Ticket option
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
Features
Tourism
70%
Cultural
50%
Original
25%
Reviews
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best way to do this tour "SKIP THE line" you get right in and no waiting and first access to elevators!!! EXCELLENT!!! Great way to see this iconic building with an amazing view!!!!!
We visited around lunchtime on a Tuesday. Didn't buy skip the line and the queues were fine. We hardly waited at all to go up or to exit. Enjoyed the exhibition on the way up. Did get quite busy at the top but it was easy enough to get good views and plenty of photos . It was a lovely sunny day. Easy booking with Viator.
Had fun with my family. Tickets are expensive though. I was afraid someone is going to drop their cell phones from that height and hit someone on the head down below in the Manhattan streets.
We arrived and were told to follow the red carpet. in many areas there was no red carpet and we just joined in with the rest. At one point we asked an attendant and were told to go in one direction and another attendant said to go another way because you would miss a lot and she was right. The first attendant was on the 2 or third lower level and sent us in the area by the bathrooms. Other that poor directions for express, the overall viewings and presentations were great. We enjoyed it and it was the anniversary of when we first met 30 years ago. Thank you
I would definitely recommend the additional cost as it reduces the queuing time greatly however you do all get in the same elevator so a bit of a bottle neck there but my advice go early in the day to avoid the queue
No waiting and worth doing as the sights from the Empire State Building give you a good prospective of midtown.
A must for anyone visiting the city. We went on a Tuesday August morning at 0930 and the queues were virtually non-existent. Staff very helpful and friendly.
The ticket achieved what it was meant to, we however didn't need to pay for the skip the line option
While the VIP treatment was awesome, I purchase tickets which were suppose to contain an audio tour. That feature is no longer available!!! Did I pay more for something not available! I was very disappointed. I thought this was something special I could share with my brother. The audio tour hasn’t been available for some time I was told. I feel mislead.
I'd rather have saved the $$$ I spent on this excursion. It was just kind of blah. I mean the view at night was pretty but worth the cost I dont think so. Look up and see NYC. There really wasnt anything special about this tour.
Went at 8am- no lines, no waiting, very few others. Gift shop was also a substantial upgrade from before! Great overall experience!
No need to buy skip line tickets, we didn't wait even 2 minutes! Awesome, recommended! Just buy and go at any time
Awesome view from viewing platform, Memorial day weekend Busy, short lines but well organised. Great attraction
Very good trip to the top of the ESB. Very courteous staff and having booked the ticket in advance made it more convenient. Overall an awesome experience with some great views of NY and Manhattan in particular.
skipping the lines was great - but you have to keep showing your passes to attendants on the way up - and we couldn't figure out if it worked on the way down a well. There was a red carpet going up so if you follow that you should be ok.
The view from the deck is amazing.
Very convenient way to skip the long ticket lines.
Fabulous
Skip the line well worth it. Amazing views.
The staff was so friendly and helpful, even gave us a complimentary upgrade to the observation deck!
Amazing view of New York from the top of this iconic building. Fast Track tickets are definitely a must. We jumped all the queues. Breathtaking view of my most favourite place on the New York skyline, the beautiful, graceful and amazing Chrysler Building.
Excellent and no queues
Skip the line well worth it..was busy from early morning . Outstanding views and the guy at the top new so much and was happy to chat.