What Is at the Empire State Building? | Floors Worth Seeing

The Empire State Building has observatories, exhibits, dining, shops, and skyline views from the 86th and 102nd floors.

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The Empire State Building is not just a tall office tower with an elevator to the view. For travelers asking what is at the Empire State Building beyond the skyline, the paid visitor route includes museum-style exhibits, photo stops, the open-air 86th-floor deck, and optional access to the enclosed 102nd-floor deck.

The main visitor entrance is at 20 West 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan. Most first-time visitors should think of the experience as three parts: the exhibits before the elevators, the observation decks, and the food or shopping stops before or after the visit.

Once you know which floor you want, ticket choice gets much easier. The main comparison point is whether the 86th-floor deck is enough, or whether the higher 102nd-floor deck is worth the upgrade.

For timed entry and the main ticket options, compare the current availability before choosing a slot:

Inside The Empire State Building: What Each Floor Adds

The Empire State Building visitor experience centers on the 2nd-floor exhibits, the 80th-floor viewing gallery, the 86th-floor Main Deck, and the 102nd-floor Top Deck. The building also has a restored Art Deco lobby, restaurants, shops, and office space that regular visitors do not tour.

The 2nd-floor galleries are the part many visitors rush through too fast. These exhibits cover the building’s 1930s construction, its opening day, its place in film and pop culture, and the famous King Kong connection.

The 80th floor works as a bridge between the museum and the sky. Visitors get more skyline context before heading up to the open-air deck, so the view feels less like a random photo stop and more like a city map from above.

The 86th floor is the classic Empire State Building moment. The deck is outdoors, wraps around the building, and gives 360-degree views toward Central Park, Lower Manhattan, the East River, the Hudson River, Brooklyn, Queens, and New Jersey.

How Much Does The Empire State Building Cost?

Empire State Building tickets currently start around $44 for the 86th-floor Main Deck, with higher prices for flexible entry, express access, sunrise entry, and the 102nd-floor upgrade. A booking charge may be added, and sunset slots can cost more than daytime slots.

The official ticket menu changes by date, demand, and special events, so treat these as starting prices rather than a promise for every time slot. The Empire State Building ticket page lists the current ticket types, inclusions, and starting prices before checkout.

Best value for most visitors: choose the 86th-floor Main Deck if you mainly want the classic outdoor view. Choose the 102nd-floor ticket if clear weather and height matter more than price.

The 86th Floor Is The Main Viewpoint

The 86th-floor observatory is the reason most travelers buy an Empire State Building ticket. The deck is open-air, wide enough for slow laps, and easier for photos than the glassy, enclosed decks found at some newer towers.

The best views depend on the side you face. Looking north puts Midtown towers and Central Park in frame. Looking south lines up the Flatiron District, Lower Manhattan, and One World Trade Center. Looking west gives the Hudson River and New Jersey; looking east gives the Chrysler Building, Queens, and the East River bridges.

• Go early for fewer people at the rail and clearer air on many days.
• Go near sunset for the richest photos, but book ahead because those slots are popular.
• Go after dark if you care more about city lights than distant landmarks.

The 102nd Floor Is Higher But More Specialized

The 102nd-floor Top Deck is an enclosed, higher observatory with a more compressed, aircraft-window feeling. The view is dramatic, but the upgrade makes the most sense on clear days when long-distance visibility is strong.

Skip the upgrade if clouds are low, haze is heavy, or your budget is tight. The 86th floor already gives the defining Empire State Building view, and it is the deck most visitors remember.

Exhibits, Photos, And The Kong Room

The Empire State Building exhibits add history and pop culture before the elevator ride. The route includes construction galleries, celebrity displays, a grand staircase photo stop, and a King Kong exhibit with large hands appearing to break through the walls.

These galleries are useful for families because they break up the wait with things to see. They also help first-time visitors understand why the building matters beyond its height: it opened in 1931, became a New York City symbol, and still anchors the Midtown skyline.

The photo stops are part of the appeal, not an afterthought. The Art Deco details, Kong display, and observation decks all give different kinds of photos, so do not save every picture for the top.

Food, Shops, And Nearby Hotels

The Empire State Building has dining and shopping on or near the visitor route, but most travelers should plan a real meal before or after the observatory visit. Midtown has better variety within a 10-minute walk than the building itself can offer.

Staying near the Empire State Building makes sense for a first New York trip if you want easy subway access, walkable Midtown sights, and a simple late-night return after a deck visit. The area is practical rather than quiet.

For hotels near Midtown, Bryant Park, Koreatown, and Herald Square, compare the area on a map before choosing a room:

Which Empire State Building Ticket Should You Buy?

The right Empire State Building ticket depends on how much you care about height, timing, and lines. Most visitors should buy the 86th-floor ticket, photographers should consider sunset or sunrise, and short-on-time travelers should look at express entry.

• Buy the Main Deck ticket if you want the classic experience at the lowest normal price.
• Buy the Top Deck ticket if the forecast is clear and the 102nd-floor height is part of the draw.
• Buy Express if your New York schedule is packed and waiting would cost more than the upgrade.
• Buy AM/PM if you want both daytime landmarks and night skyline lights.
• Skip the 102nd floor if clouds, haze, or budget are working against you.

If the Empire State Building is part of a bigger New York sightseeing day, guided city tours can pair it with Midtown, Fifth Avenue, Grand Central Terminal, or other observation decks: