On the roof of the world at the top of the Empire State Building

Built in 16 months between January 1930 and May 1931 by more than 3,000 workers, the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world at its inauguration, standing 381 metres high. It was 62 metres taller than its neighbour, the magnificent Chrysler Building, which had been completed a year earlier and had previously held the record.

Made mainly of steel and concrete, the Empire State Building is one of the benchmarks of Art Deco skyscrapers as they were built between 1925 and 1935 almost exclusively in the United States. It was classified as a national monument by the American government, and even though the building has been surpassed in size many times since its construction, it remains one of the country's strongest symbols.

The Empire State Building embodies the New York of the 1930s. Its Art Deco stone façade, typical of the period, has over 6,500 windows! Its silhouette is inseparable from the New York skyline, and has featured in many films and TV series, including King Kong, Spider Man, Friends and Gossip Girl.

The interior is just as mythical! Right from the entrance hall, you can't help but be overwhelmed by the magnificence of the premises: also Art Deco-inspired, it extends over three floors and its marble and granite walls covered with works of art meet a ceiling adorned with platinum, aluminium and gold leaf. In all, 73 lifts and 1,872 steps link its 102 floors. An unusual foot race is even organised every year: the first person to reach the 86th floor on foot wins.

The second floor of the Empire State Building houses a museum that traces its construction and history. You can also see photos of the many celebrities who have visited the skyscraper: Taylor Swift, Hugh Jackman, Justin Bieber and Emma Watson... the Empire State Building has seen a lot of people come and go! Then we take the lift, which takes us up to the 86th floor in less than a minute.

Here, at an altitude of almost 320 metres, the observation platform offers an incomparable view of Manhattan and the opposite banks of the Hudson and East Rivers. You can easily make out Times Square, Central Park and the Statue of Liberty. Opened at the same time as the building itself, the observatory has welcomed more than 110 million visitors since 1931.

For a few dollars more, you can go up to the 102nd floor. Under normal circumstances, the view is much the same, but if the weather is good and the sky is perfectly clear, you can see 130 kilometres in all directions and make out Pennsylvania, Connecticut and even Massachusetts!

The Empire State Building observatory, with its unmistakable façade in the New York skyline, is a must-see on any trip to the United States. Allow around an hour for the visit (a little longer if your ticket also includes the observatory on the 102nd floor).

🚌 How do I get to the Empire State Building?

The entrance to the Empire State Building is at 20 W. 34th St., with other access reserved for people who work there. In the heart of Manhattan, it is served by a large number of underground lines:

• lines 1, 2, 3, A, C and E: 34th Street - Penn Station
• lines B, D, F, N, Q and R: 34th Street - Herald Square Station
• lines 4, 5, 6 and 7: Grand Central Terminal station

⏰ Empire State Building opening times

The Empire State Building is open every day of the year, from 10am to midnight. Times may vary, however, so check the official website to organise your visit.

👛 Price of the Empire State Building

• Full price: $44
• Over 61s: $42
• Under 13s: $38
• Under 6s: free
• New York CityPASS / GoCity Explorer Pass / New York Sightseeing Day Pass: free

👉 These prices include access to the observatory on the 86th floor, you will need to add $33 to access the one on the 102nd floor.

Other services and experiences are also available, to find out about them and book your tickets (it's not possible to buy them on site), go directly to the official Empire State Building website.