Skip to Content

Where Is the Empire State Building? Hours & Directions

The Empire State Building Observation Deck entrance is located on 20 West 34th Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues in Midtown Manhattan.

Open today: 9 AM - 11 PM

Buy Tickets
hours_dirs_hero.png

Empire State Building Hours of Operation

We’re open 365 days a year — rain or shine Empire State Building hours and cost both depend on when you plan to visit, so start with the dates below, then choose your ticket.

Today’s hours

9 AM - 11 PM

  • Doors close at 10 PM
Couple having fun at the Empire State Building Observation Deck

Best Time to Visit

Avoid the rush and make the most of your visit

Want to skip the line? Express Pass saves time

People on the 102nd Floor Observation Deck

Exclusive Early Access Time Slot

Access 30 minutes prior to ESB opening. Available for 86th and 102nd Floor tickets and Express Passes.

Where Is the Empire State Building?

The Empire State Building Observation Deck is located on 20 West 34th Street, in the heart of Manhattan. You won’t even need a map to find us – just look up! You may see two addresses for the Empire State Building. Some guides give 350 Fifth Avenue, because the tower fronts Fifth Avenue as well as 34th Street. Both bring you to the same corner, and the doors to the entrance are on West 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues. Use the Empire State Building map below to plan your route. Before you set out, check the hours of operation, so you know how early or late you can visit.

Open in google maps
  • transport-line.pngtransport-line-1.pngtransport-line-2.pngtransport-line-3.pngtransport-line-4.pngtransport-line-5.png

    From 123 or ACE lines, exit the train at 34th Street – Penn Station. From Penn Station, it’s a five-minute walk to the building entrance.

  • transport-line-6.pngtransport-line-7.pngtransport-line_1.pngtransport-line-1_1.pngtransport-line-2_1.pngtransport-line-3_1.pngtransport-line-4_1.pngtransport-line-5_1.png

    From the NQRW or BDFM lines, exit the train at 34th Street – Herald Square Station. From Herald Square, it’s a five-minute walk to the building entrance.

  • transport-line_2.pngtransport-line-1_2.pngtransport-line-2_2.pngtransport-line-3_2.png

    From the 456 or 7 lines, exit the train at Grand Central Terminal. From Grand Central, it’s a 10-minute walk to the building entrance.

FAQ: Where Is the Empire State Building?

Closing time at the Empire State Building changes with the season. We’re open every day, and the hours above list each date range along with the time the entry door closes and the last elevator goes up. Check the date of your visit, to confirm the hours.

The Empire State Building is on West 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues. Some listings give a Fifth Avenue address instead, because the tower fronts Fifth Avenue. Both point to the same corner, so either one will bring you to the right block.

The Empire State Building Observation Deck entrance is at 20 West 34th Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues. Come through the lobby and the elevators take you to the 86th Floor Observation Deck. A second elevator carries you sixteen floors higher to the enclosed 102nd Floor if you’ve booked it.

34th Street – Herald Square is the closest subway station to the Empire State Building, about a five-minute walk east. The N, Q, R, W, B, D, F and M lines all stop there. 34th Street – Penn Station sits a similar distance away on the 1, 2, 3, A, C and E lines.

Penn Station is about a five-minute walk from the Empire State Building, straight east along West 34th Street. Grand Central Terminal takes roughly ten minutes. Both are easy walks at street level, which is a great way to see this stretch of New York City.

Yes, the Empire State Building is a short walk south of Times Square on the same NYC street grid. If you’d rather ride, the N, Q, R and W lines run between Times Square – 42nd Street and 34th Street – Herald Square, which puts you five minutes from our doors.

Yes, the Empire State Building keeps a list of items you can’t bring inside. It covers weapons, glass items, alcoholic beverages, cans and bottles, professional camera stands, sports equipment, marking instruments, musical instruments, large luggage, non-PPE costumes and masks, and outside food. There are no locker facilities for personal belongings, so leave anything on that list behind. 

No, a standard Empire State Building ticket admits you once. A CityPASS ticket or a Night Pass upgrade will let you come back the same day, which is how plenty of New Yorkers catch both a daytime view and the skyline after dark.

Yes, the Empire State Building is open every night of the year. Please see our operating schedules, as hours vary by season.

Experience the View

Millions visit the Empire State Building Observation Deck each year, earning it top global honors.

Buy Tickets

World’s Best 2024

Named the #1 Attraction in the World by Tripadvisor's 2024 Travelers' Choice Awards.

Top U.S. Attraction

#1 Top Attraction in the U.S. in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do.

60K+ Five-Star Ratings

More than 60,000 five-star reviews from visitors around the world.