The Empire State Building is an Art Deco skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan that held the title of world’s tallest building for nearly 40 years after its completion in 1931.
Visitors can access two observation decks: the open-air 86th floor, offering 360-degree views with outdoor heaters for cooler months, and the fully enclosed 102nd floor about 1,250 feet up, with floor-to-ceiling windows for the highest vantage point in the building.
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours covering both decks, and the building tends to be busiest in the first two hours after opening and the hour after sunset. Booking timed tickets online in advance helps skip the ground-floor queue.